Raw goat’s milk is all the craze in the pet nutrition world right now. Cat parents, however, are questioning the benefits and risks of goat’s milk because dogs & cats aren’t created equal and it’s believed that milk is bad for felines.
Some say that cats lack the ability to process lactose and are therefore intolerant to milk products. While this is true for some cats, not all felines are lactose intolerant. That being said, it’s important to know that our kitties’ bodies process pasteurized milk differently than raw milk.
First we must understand the difference between raw and pasteurized milk. When milk is pasteurized, it’s heated to kill bacteria and pathogens. Because of the degree to which it’s heated, it also kills the beneficial nutrients within the milk. Bigger problem? Here in the states it’s difficult to find milk that isn’t highly pasteurized and full of antibiotics. This is why nutritionists advise people and pets to not consume milk.
Dr. Karen Becker, DVM says, “if the goat’s milk has been pasteurized, the ability of your pet’s body (or yours) to process it is diminished. If you feed any pasteurized milk products to your pet, you’re going to have a gassy pet.” So pasteurized milk is not recommended.
On the other hand, raw goat’s milk (or organic raw milk in general) is full of beneficial bacteria and antioxidants. According to Primal Pet Foods, “Raw goat’s milk can most easily be absorbed by a variety of mammals and is known as the universal milk, as it contains vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, trace elements, enzymes, protein, and fatty acids.“
Raw Goat’s Milk Is Safe For Cats
Hopefully this helps distinguish the difference between raw goat’s milk and the pasteurized milk you get at the grocery store. Raw goat’s milk is not only safe for our cats but it’s super healthy for them. We recommend adding a little raw goat’s milk to your cat’s food on a weekly basis. 🙂
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