Can Cats Eat Ice Cream? a guide by The Happy Cat Site.
Do you think your cat would enjoy a cold treat on a hot day?Can cats eat ice cream?
If you picture a cat in your mind, it's likely that you'll think of a cute kitty lapping up a bowl of milk.
You wouldn't be able to pick up a bag of cat food at the supermarket.You would serve a piece of brown bread soaked in milk for breakfast and small amounts of meat in the evening.
Recommendations and cat food choices have changed a lot over the years.Most of us choose to use processed cat food these days.
Your cat probably tried to paw the last few drops of milk out of your dinner glass.Your cat didn't get the health memo.
Ice cream is the perfect treat if your cat goes crazy over a bit of milk.
Is ice cream good for your cat?
If your cat eats ice cream, they won't get sick from it.
Xylitol is toxic to dogs.This is not a concern for cats.
Cats don't like sweet foods, which is one of the reasons they are different from dogs.
Research shows that cats don't like to eat sweet food items.
If you think that cats are drawn to ice cream because they can't taste the sweet taste of humans, then you need to look more closely at the ingredients.
If you think about the dairy products that you eat, you may notice how your cat likes to lick whole milk, but ignores skim or fat free milk.
While your frozen yogurt treat is completely ignored, your quart of Ben and Jerry's is being eyed by your feline.
There is a simple answer to why your cat is so picky, and it has nothing to do with the brand of treat you want.
Cats are familiar with the taste and consistency of milk, which is why they prefer it over other foods.
It can be bad in large quantities.You can give your cat an ice cream treat.
A few things can happen if ice cream becomes a daily food item.Once too much of the treat is eaten, it is likely to lead to scurvy.
They don't have enough lactase to digest the milk.Some cats have more of the enzyme than others.
Humans can eat yogurt, but they can't drink a full glass of milk.
When they are young, kittens produce a lot of lactase.As kittens move on to eating solid food, they need more enzymes to digest it.
The body knows your cat doesn't need to digest milk anymore, so milk cannot be eaten properly.
Have you ever seen your cat eat a string, some of the grass from your child's easter basket, or a mouse toy?Sometimes undigested items come out the other end in an unpleasant manner.
The undigested Lactose is present in the ice cream.The other waste comes out when it makes its way through the GI tract.
The undigested ice cream remains in fluid form, mixes with the other waste, and creates a diarrhea situation.
When it comes into contact with your cat's stomach, some of the lactose can ferment.
Ice cream and other sweet treats are not a good idea because they don't leave room for your cat to eat more healthy food.
A study done in the 1930s shows that cats are healthy if they eat raw meat and unpasteurized milk.
You shouldn't go to the grocery store just yet to start your cat on a raw food diet.
If cats are given milk and dairy products, they will thrive.It shows that your cat needs a diet that is high in taurine, which is found in raw meat.
It means that a bit of ice cream is fine if your cat is on a good diet.
If you want to serve your cat ice cream as a treat, you might be a bit curious about the best flavor.It is a good choice.
You might want to try some ice cream made from goat's milk.
The milk that comes from a cow is very different from the goat milk.Some of the natural enzymes are left in the fluid because the milk doesn't need to be Pasteurized.
You can make your own ice cream at home with a simple recipe.Cut back on the sugar and you have a treat that is suitable for a cat.
You should keep an eye out for any signs of illness.If you notice a problem with your cat, you should take it to the vet.
If you want to make your own kitty ice cream, you could add some strawberries to it.
Chocolate is not safe when it comes to the health of your cat.You shouldn't eat chocolate in any ice cream recipe.
An alkaloid is found in chocolate and cannot be processed by your cat.It can become toxic.
The lethal dose of theobromine is 100 to 200 milligrams per kilogram, according to Dr. Sharon M. Gwaltney-Brant.
Cats can develop brain freeze because they have the same nervous system pathways as humans.
Since brain freeze involves constriction of the blood vessels, your kitty could get one of those headaches.
You can learn more about the phenomenon that is likely to affect you and your feline by investigating one of the many studies conducted that scientifically explain the problem.Blood flow changes when cold foods enter the mouth are shown in a study by the FASEB Journal.
Your favorite kitty pal may just enjoy a small amount of ice cream on occasion, and this is probably fine.There is no benefit to it.
If you are unsure about whether or not a frozen treat is the best thing for your cat, you should always check with your vet.
Have you ever watched your cat have an ice cream brain freeze?Do you have a goat milk cat ice cream recipe?Let us know in the comments.
Li et al.2006The WALTHAM International Sciences Symposia Innovations in Companion Animal Nutrition is a supplement.
The American Physiological Society.Brain freeze could be caused by changes in brain's blood flow.
The Happy Puppy Handbook author is a co-author of this website's cat care information and facts.
I don't give my cat ice cream, but she wants to eat my yogurt, is that ok to let her have it?
They are called blueberries.For cats, but in moderation because they are high in fiber.They are a good source of vitamins A and C.
I give my cat ice cream, but I also give her a bowl to lick after.It doesn't cause her other problems since it's only strawberry, and it gives her the amount of treat she wants.
I keep telling my husband that licking ice cream is bad for him.He will take me seriously if I tell him that a few licks a week will hurt my baby.?
My cat craves ice cream for the first time tonight.I gave him a small amount of food and he liked it.
Whenever I eat my chocolate ice cream, I let my Siamese cat have a small amount on a spoon.Am I hurting him?I have to stop doing that.
I put an ice cream sandwich wrapper down on the table and put some chocolate and vanilla on it.Can there still be a problem after only having a little bit??
We have 5fur babies and only one of them will have anything to do with it.I will have to discuss it with her, I have seen her have a brain freeze, and she likes chocolate.?
Flat statements about cats should not be made.Most cats don't care about sweets, but I have two that go bananas over popsicles, ice cream, yogurt, tiny bits of soft caramels, and creamy peanut butter.I have two other people that love Cheetos, potato chips, salsa, and spaghettis sauce.I don't want to share my home made biscuits and gravy with anyone so we fight over it.When we are spending time on the computer or watching TV, large amounbts are not allowed.
Can you allow your cat to eat ice cream?He seems to like a little bit when I have it, but it is not very often.