Cat drinking evaporated milk

[ottosump]

Hello group, our 8 month old cat was fed evaporated milk (ran low on normal milk) now its all she wants, will feeding a cat evaporated milk have any side effects, particular tooth decay, or gum problems. We got the cat as a kitten from the cat protection league, she was very poorly but after a lot of time and effort we nursed her around. I wouldn't want all the effort to be in vain and the little cat to suffer again.
Regards, Otto in a sunny West Cumbria

[divegirl]

Really you shouldn't give cats milk that comes from cows as most are lactose intolerant. If you really want to give her milk buy a kitten milk from the supermarket.

Lisa x

[tonyav]

Hi otto, when I was a kid my mom would quite often give our cats evaporated milk, I never noticed any ill affects.

[wolf63]

Many years ago we had a cat who drank evaporated milk - the vet said that if he was able to digest it there would be no harm , apart from getting fat and his teeth falling out. :-)

But as divegirl says many cats are lactose intolerant and we now know much more about our companion animals.

This site is excellent for information http://www.fabcats.org/owners/index.php

Good luck

[ojread2]

Bet the neighbours noticed the ill effect from giving a cat cows milk though
Water is best for cats. None of this expensive kitten/cat milk is needed

[divegirl]

Very true Oj, that said I have a really sick cat right now and all he will drink is kitten milk, so it does have a place. Other than that I don't even put a water bowl down for my three....they prefer the dogs water buckets :0/

Lisa x

[ladybirder]

19 years ago when my cat was a kitten she would only eat porridge, custard, anything made with milk. The vet said her digestive system would not develop properly if I didn't feed her proper kitten food. I told him she refused it and he said just put your fingers in it and smear it round her mouth. She will then automatically start to clean it off and will then develop a taste for it. It worked first time I did it and she's never looked back. You really ought to try this otto as you are not doing her any favours and she isn't getting the nutrition she needs. Good luck.

[Old_Geezer]

No one gets all they want, particularly pets who ought not dominate their owners. No expert but I'd suspect as a treat it ought to be ok but it needs to learn it isn't a staple. Yes, producing a fat cat was my first thought :-)

[chi-chi66]

my cat is 18 this year, over that time she has had evap milk, but only as a
treat, a drop about every 4wks. I have bought her cat milk but she tends
to leave it, vets do say cats can't digest it, but you have to know you're
cat, and watch it's faeces, if loose, don't give it. Water is always put for her.
If I'm having cereals, especially porridge, she paws me until I leave her about
a spoonful..it's gone in seconds.

[ottosump]

Thank you for all the responses, when we got the kitten we tried it on various milks including kitten milk, she just turned her nose up. We are trying to get her on water constantly but she just keeps crying until the milk is put down for her. I guess we will have to ignore her complaining and sit this one out, so It'll be evaporated milk only occasional from now on.
Thanks again guys & gals..