Yes, cats can eat cheese. While there is a risk of causing your cat an upset stomach and digestive problems by giving them some types of cheeses, most cats enjoy eating cheese just as much as we do!
But keep in mind that any sudden change to your cat’s diet must be done gradually. So start with very small amounts until they get used to it.
Cats usually prefer aged cheeses such as Cheddar or Parmesan more than the others because they are nutritionally richer and often less likely to cause allergies or digestion troubles.
You should also avoid giving too many different cheeses at once so you will know which ones might disagree with your kitty and cut it out of their diet immediately.
What is Cheese
“Cheese is a dairy food made by coagulating milk with rennet or an edible acid, then draining the solids to create curds.”- definition of cheese according to merriam-webster.com
While most cheeses are safe for your cat, you should avoid the following types:
– Blue cheese (it can cause serious health problems)
– Unpasteurized/raw milk cheeses (they’re not heat-treated and may contain harmful bacteria) Cheese is actually healthy for cats. It provides protein and calcium they need every day to stay healthy just like it does for humans. And it’s true that most of us love eating cheese but our kitties simply adore it! So if you want to give your cat a really special treat, go ahead and offer them some delicious cheese.
– Providing cheese as an occasional dietary supplement can be harmful to cats because of their unique digestive system which is not designed to process the lactose found in milk.- says Dr. Carly Fox of the Humane Society of New York on “Catster”
Can I give my cat a little bit of cheese?
Yes, kittens can have a little bit of cheese. But you should know that it should be given in very small amounts. One little cube won’t do them any harm but avoid giving too much because their digestive system can get upset easily. Cheese is also not recommended for diabetic cats, obese ones, or the ones who are on a low-protein diet because cheese is full of protein.
You should also be aware that your cat can experience digestive problems and other health issues if they’re not used to having cheese as a part of their diet. So it’s best to introduce any new food very gradually.
How much cheese can my cat eat?
You could try giving your kitty 1-2 cubes of cheese a few times a week. But make sure you cut the amount in half if your cat doesn’t seem to be enjoying it because there’s no need to force-feed them something they don’t really want. And keep in mind that too much cheese might get them sick so never give more than 1-2 cubes at a time.
You can also try mixing a bit of cheese with their daily food to make it more interesting and appealing. But don’t do the same with dairy (milk, cream, etc.) because cats are lactose intolerant and will experience bloating and other digestive problems if they eat dairy products.
Can I give my cat any type of cheese?
Cheddar or Parmesan cheese is the best choice for your cat because they are much easier to digest. Other types of cheeses like Swiss, Camembert, Brie, and blue cheese can be more dangerous because they can make your cat sick very quickly.
What happens if a cat eats cheese?
If your cat is healthy and has no medical issues, cheese can be part of their diet as long as you feed them small amounts regularly. And keep in mind that any changes to their daily food should be done gradually.
Cat digestive system isn’t designed to process dairy products so if they eat too much cheese at once or go back to eating it after a long break, their digestive system will get upset. That’s why you should never give them more than a few cubes at a time and limit the amount of cheese in general.
What to do if my cat eats cheese?
If your kitty doesn’t have any medical issues and they just ate a bit too much cheese, there’s nothing to worry about. You can just give them some water or another type of non-dairy food to help them feel better faster. Make sure they drink enough water because pasteurized cheese can dehydrate them very quickly.
If your cat is lactose intolerant, it’s best to be careful around dairy products like cheese because even small amounts can cause serious digestive problems. And as we already mentioned, they don’t have a proper lactase enzyme that breaks down the naturally occurring sugar in dairy products this is why they can experience really unpleasant symptoms after eating even tiny amounts of cheese.
Is cheese poisonous to cats?
we do and giving them a tiny piece of it as a special treat won’t cause any health issues. But if they eat too much or go back to eating cheese after a long break, their digestive system might get upset which is why you should limit the amount of cheese in your cat’s diet.