Are cats allowed to eat cheese?
Many a cat seems to be almost mesmerised by cheese and can hardly wait to get a piece from their owner. But are cats allowed to eat cheese, or can the savoury, salty treat possibly instead harm the four-legged friends? The answer to this question is given below.
Cheese for cats: the most important facts at a glance
- Healthy cats may occasionally eat a small piece of cheese.
- Pay attention to the lactose content and give your cat only lactose-free cheese if possible.
- Cats with heart disease or milk allergy should not be given cheese.
- High-quality cat snacks are a more digestible alternative to cheese.
- Are cats allowed to eat cheese?
Lactose-free cheese for cats
As you may know, cats usually develop lactose intolerance after weaning from their mother's milk. For this reason, you should not give your four-legged friend normal cow’s milk, for example.
The question of whether cats can eat a cheese is also related to the lactose the specific cheese contains. While hard cheese is usually almost lactose-free, cream cheese contains about two to four grams of lactose per 100 grams, depending on the variety, which makes it an unsuitable snack for cats.
Before you give your four-legged friend a piece of cheese, you should therefore always check the packaging to see how much lactose it contains.
Cheese for cats with a milk allergy?
Some cats suffer from a milk allergy. While the symptoms of lactose intolerance are triggered by milk sugar, in this case certain proteins in milk or milk products are responsible for the allergic reactions.
It is therefore quite possible that your four-legged friend will not tolerate lactose-free cheeses and will get diarrhoea and flatulence after eating them. In this case, your cat should, of course, not eat any cheese.
Food tip for cats with food allergy
Cats with food allergies need a cat food that is easy to digest and free from allergens. In this case, we recommend switching to our hypoallergenic insect-based cat food.
The insect protein from the larvae of Hermetia illucens (black soldier flies) has a high biological value and can be digested excellently by cats. At the same time, it is hypoallergenic, so that it is well tolerated even by animals with severe allergies.
Get to know hypoallergenic cat food with insects
Cheese for cats with heart disease?
Cheese is known to contain quite a lot of salt. For this reason, cats with heart disease should not eat cheese, as they are generally not allowed to eat too much salt.
Blue cheese is taboo for cats
If you are one of those people who like to eat blue cheese, it is important to remember that you should never share it with your cat. The mould that gives the cheese its special flavour can be harmful to your cat's health. Cats are therefore not allowed to eat mouldy cheese.
How much cheese can cats eat?
If your cat likes cheese and tolerates it well, you should still not give them it too much. Cheese contains a lot of calories, which can quickly lead to obesity, especially in indoor cats.
A small cheese cube as a special treat from time to time is usually fine. However, you should not let your cat eat more cheese. Instead, focus on a balanced diet with a good cat food that provides your four-legged friend with exactly the nutrients they need for a vital cat life.
Cats and cheese - our conclusion
As you can see, cats are perfectly allowed to eat cheese. As long as you keep the amount small, use lactose-free varieties if possible, and your four-legged friend is neither allergic to milk nor has a heart condition, there is nothing to be said against it.
On the other hand, you should be aware that cheese is not part of a species-appropriate diet for cats. You are thus better off with a high-quality cat food such as the grain-free varieties from I Love My Cat.
By the way, you will also find a selection of healthy cat snacks in our range for four-legged gourmets. These taste at least as good as a piece of cheese and at the same time provide your cat with valuable nutrients in a digestible way.
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