Can Cats Eat Cheese?
Dairy is not a natural part of a cats diet as they are obligate carnivores however the small occasional treat won’t hurt them.
If you are going to feed them some cheese keep it to a minimum, a small piece the size of a sugar cube should do the trick for a special treat.
While most cats will be able to tolerate a piece of cheese here and there, if your cat is lactose intolerant feeding them cheese can cause them problems.
Cats are meat eaters but from time to time their curiosity can cause them to try human foods that they wouldn’t normally eat such as a chunk of cheese.
Certain food groups will peak their personal interests and almost every time all cats will be interested in dairy products.
Can Kittens Eat Cheese?
It is not a great idea to feed your kitten any food other than a good quality kitten food. Kittens digestive systems are still developing and at just 4 weeks old they are starting to ween off their mothers milk.
This means they are likely to be lactose intolerant from here on out and any milk, or dairy products will almost certainly cause an upset stomach or diarrhea.
Diarreah isn’t pleasent for anyone and your kitten would prefer if they didn’t have to go through that so stick to a high quality kitten food.
You can read a list of the best kitten food here!
Is Cheese Toxic To Cats?
Cheese is not on the list of toxic foods for cats but, as we covered should be avoided.
With vegan cheese and other non dairy cheese varieties becoming more mainstream you might find yourself wondering if that is a safer option.
Regardless if it’s vegan cheese or not, all cheese will contain salt, fat and other potentially harmful ingredients for your cat.
Some of these ingredients can actually be toxic to cats so the best practice is to just avoid it all together.
Cats Don’t Naturally Eat Cheese
If you didn’t know once a kitten has weened of their mothers milk they begin to be lactose intolerant.
Feeding cats any type of dairy including cheese can cause them to have an upset stomach.
Some cats can develop more serious health issues from eating dairy or cheese such as:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Inflammation
Cats don’t usually have food allergies however, dairy is one of the most common along with fish allergies. If youre worried about triggering a possible allergic reaction or damage their immune system, you should avoid any dairy.
Can Cats Eat Cream Cheese?
Cream cheese is once again okay but not nessesary for your cat to eat. They can have a small amount with not much trouble but, in large amounts could cause inestinal issues or health problems.
Some cat owners will scoop out half a teaspoon of cream or cottage cheese for their cats to lick as a small treat.
Can Cats Eat Unpasteurized Cheese?
Unpasteurized varieties of cheese on the maket such as blue cheese, can actually present health hazards for your cat for a few reasons, let me explain.
Different types of cheeses are made in different ways. Unpasteurized cheese is made from mildly heating milk to about 30 degrees celcius.
This causes the milk to start to ferment allowing it to eventually become cheese. Through this process of mild heating not all bacteria are destroyed and that’s what makes them taste so good.
However, it’s the exact reason why they are not safe for our cats. Studies have shown that unpasteurized cheese can allow whats known as the Toxoplasma parasite to pass into your cat.
It’s the same parasite that can cause Toxoplasmosis in humans and is quite dangerous for our pets.
For this reason you should always avoid feeding your cat unpasteurized cheese.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can cats eat smoked cheese?
There are many varieties of cheese that is safe for your cat in small amounts.
Smoked cheese should be okay for your cat as long as it is pasteurized.
Will my cat get diarrhoea from eating cheese?
It’s possible yes. Adult cats find it difficult to digest any diary products as they are lactose intolerant. That means any diary such as milk, cheese and ice cream should be avoided.
If you want to give your cat a cheesy treat feed them cheese in moderation.
How do I know if my cat is lactose intolerant?
We know that most adult cats have a lactose intolerance and will struggle to digest anything made with diary. Some signs your cat is lactose intollerant are:
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea.
- Constipation
