Can Cats Drink Oat Milk? (And Is it a Good Option?)

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Cats are gentle adorable creatures, and picking the right diet for your feline is essential to keep it in great health.

There are a lot of misconceptions regarding what cats should eat, and one of them is related to milk. Unlike regular belief, regular dairy milk isn’t actually good for your cat.

But what about oat milk? Can cats drink oat milk?

Keep on reading to find the answers.

Can Cats Drink Oat Milk?

Yes, cats can drink oat milk. However, it doesn’t provide a lot of nutritional value.

Although it’s perfectly safe for felines, oat milk doesn’t contain the necessary nutrients that cats need to stay healthy. As a result, it shouldn’t be your furry baby’s daily meal.

Nevertheless, oat milk can actually be a better option than dairy milk.

There’s a misconception that dairy milk should be a part of cats’ diet. But this isn’t true.

Although lots of cats actually like the taste of milk, it has several side effects and can make your cat extremely sick.

If your cat dislikes dairy milk, you can substitute it for oat milk. Some cats dislike oat milk, while others absolutely love it.

Can My Cat Drink Oat Milk Safely?

Yes, oat milk is safe for your cat when ingested in moderation. It’s actually gentler on the cat’s digestive system than dairy milk and can be a great option if your cat feels sick after ingesting regular milk.

You should start by giving your cat oat milk as a treat and in very small amounts. If you notice that your feline is reacting negatively, doesn’t like its taste, or shows any kind of discomfort, you shouldn’t give it to her.

However, in some cases, your cat might start to like oat milk after a while, so be patient and watch your feline. Your furry baby might develop a liking to oat milk when you offer it regularly.

Even if your cat likes oat milk and dairy milk, you should control your cat’s consumption. Too much milk can cause digestive issues like diarrhea, stomach pain, and vomiting.

What Are the Nutrients in Oat Milk?

Oat milk is a plant-based alternative to dairy milk, and it’s the water extracted from oats.

Steel-cut or rolled oats are soaked and then blended. The mixture is strained, and after removing the pulp, the remaining creamy liquid is called oat milk.

It’s a popular dairy-free milk that’s quite common for those who are lactose-intolerant. It also contains soluble fibers, so it’s easier to digest.

Oat milk doesn’t contain the same nutrients as whole oats. Still, it contains some essential nutrients like potassium, iron, calcium, vitamin A, and Vitamin D.

Here’s how oat milk can nourish your furry baby.

• Potassium is an essential nutrient that helps cats maintain a healthy blood pressure level. When the levels of potassium drop, your cat is likely to feel sluggish and weak.

Potassium is also necessary for the healthy function of muscles. If your cat doesn’t get enough potassium, it will suffer from painful muscle spasms.

• Iron is essential for both kittens and adult cats. In kittens, iron deficiency will hinder the development of blood cells, which affects the amount of oxygen in the blood.

When a kitten isn’t getting enough iron, it will also face growth and development issues.

In adult cats, iron deficiency will affect the cat’s immune system, so it will be more prone to diseases and infections.

• Cats need to get enough calcium because it protects the bones and guarantees that they won’t be soft and prone to fractures. Cats that don’t get enough calcium can also suffer from muscle twitching, weakness, and convulsions.

Nursing cats typically need more calcium because they’re breastfeeding their kittens.

• Vitamin A will keep the cat’s skin, coat, and muscles healthy. Cats that don’t get enough vitamin A can suffer from night blindness.
• Like humans, cats don’t produce enough vitamin D in their bodies, so you need to make sure that you’re providing your feline with enough vitamin D. Vitamin D combines with calcium to keep the bones healthy and protect the cat from bone deformities.

When is Oat Milk a Better Alternative than Dairy Milk?

Oat milk can be a healthier option than regular milk if your cat is lactose-intolerant. If dairy milk makes your cat sick, oat milk will be a better option because it’s lactose-free.

Oat milk also contains less fat than dairy milk. So, you can consider it if you’re trying to help your cat maintain a healthy weight.

It’s also low in calories and sugar, so it’s a healthy treat, especially if given in moderation.

Can Dairy Milk Harm My Cat?

Cats are, just like most humans and other mammals, lactose intolerant. This is because they lack the enzyme that processes and degrades lactose.

Just like us, dairy milk can cause several digestive system issues like diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain in cats.

Cats can’t completely digest the amount of sugar in dairy milk, which results in several symptoms like bloating and other painful side effects. Moreover, elevated sugar levels can lead to obesity.

In this case, oat milk will be a better option because dairy milk contains almost three times more sugar than the mother cat’s milk.

Can I Give My Kitten Oat Milk?

Although oat milk is safe for adult cats, it’s not the best option for kittens.

Kittens have sensitive stomachs and won’t be able to tolerate oat milk.

If you have a kitten, kitten formula will be a great option for kittens because it contains all the nutrients a young kitten needs.

However, this formula is too nutritiously dense for older cats and can cause unnecessary weight gain.

Kitten formula can be a good option if you have a sick or underweight cat.

You can also consider low-sodium tuna juice as a treat. It contains all the proteins and other nutrients that a kitten and an older cat needs, but it might contain too much salt.

What Symptoms Show that My Cat Doesn’t Tolerate Oat Milk?

Keep an eye on your cat after giving it some oat milk.

A tablespoon of oat milk won’t be a problem in most cases. However, if you notice the following symptoms, you should avoid giving your feline any oat milk.

• Your cat is suffering from gases.
• Your feline seems uncomfortable because it’s suffering from stomach pain.
• Your cat is throwing up.
• Your cat seems sluggish and doesn’t move as much as it usually does.
• Your cat’s stool is of unusual color or consistency.
• Your feline is unable to reach the litter box because it suffers from diarrhea.

If you notice any of these symptoms, you should avoid giving your cat oat milk. However, if the problem continues, you need to take your cat to the vet to treat the symptoms.

How Often Can You Give Your Cat Oat Milk?

Oat milk should never be your cat’s main type of food, and you shouldn’t give it to your cat on a regular basis.

Milk sold in the supermarket is heavily processed and contains preservatives that are bad for your feline. This is why you should give your cat only small amounts of oat milk.

How Much Oat Milk Should I Give My Cat?

Only two tablespoons of oat milk are enough. If you have a smaller cat or kitten, you should avoid giving them oat milk because it can cause a lot of discomfort.

Which Oat Milk is Better for My Cat?

In the supermarket, you’ll find different types of oat milk. Therefore, you should pay attention to the list of components.

Heavily processed oat milk should be avoided because it contains a lot of artificial additives. These additives can harm your cat and cause a lot of health issues.

Can My Cat Drink Vanilla Oat Milk?

Yes, vanilla oat milk is suitable for cats that suffer from lactose intolerance. As long as it’s free of nuts, soy, and lactose, vanilla oat milk can be a great option.

However, because of the added sugar, you should only offer vanilla oat milk to your cat in moderation.

Can My Cat Drink Chocolate Oat Milk?

Yes, chocolate oat milk is safe for cats if you give it in very small amounts. Chocolate oat milk contains a lot of sugar and can cause your feline to gain weight.

The artificial flavor isn’t always the best to feed your cat.

Is it Safe to Feed My Cat Homemade Oat Milk?

Yes, homemade oat milk is safe for your furry baby. Like store-bought oat milk, homemade oat milk is suitable for cats because it doesn’t contain the same amount of sugar as dairy milk.

As a plus, you can make sure that homemade oat milk is free of additives and preservatives.

It will be the right option for your feline if you’re worried about adding chemicals and additives to its diet.

Should I Give My Cat Oat Milk Instead of Water?

Oat milk and dairy milk should never be given to your cat instead of water.

Water is essential for a feline’s hydration, and if your cat feeds on kibbles, it’ll be prone to hydration.

Although oat milk and dairy milk can be hydrating, they don’t provide the needed hydration.

Moreover, oat milk contains more calories than water, so it shouldn’t be your cat’s primary source of hydration. Too much milk can cause your feline to gain weight.

Ice will be a better option if you want to offer your cat more water. Unlike milk, ice doesn’t contain any calories, so it won’t make your feline gain unnecessary weight.

Moreover, cats love the cool sensation that the ice provides, so they’ll appreciate the taste of ice instead of oat milk.

What Can You Give Your Cat Instead Of Milk?

Cats need proteins like meat, chicken, and fish to stay healthy. Although milk contains proteins, it’s unnecessary for your feline’s diet.

If you’re looking for an alternative for milk, there are several options to consider.

Cream is a good alternative because it’s lower in lactose but it’s higher in fats.

Unseasoned broth is another good alternative. Homemade broth without salt and spices will be highly nutritious and is an excellent treat for your feline.

How Can I Make Sure that My Cat is Well-Hydrated?

A lot of people consider giving their cats oat milk to increase their hydration level.

Oat milk shouldn’t be your first option if you struggle with giving your feline enough water.

You can consider switching your cat to a wet food diet. The food will contain more water and broth and will offer the essential nutrients.

You should also consider offering wet-food treats.

In the wild, cats get most of their hydration needs covered from the food they eat. As a result, cats don’t naturally have a strong thirst drive and won’t be interested in drinking water.

If you’re feeding your cat kibbles, your cat will probably not drink enough water to stay hydrated.

Oat milk and dairy milk can provide your feline with some hydration but should never be your cat’s first hydration option.

Sugary drinks should be totally avoided. They provide your feline with too much sugar and will cause your cat to gain weight.

If the cat’s drink contains too much salt, it’ll unnecessarily stress its kidneys.

Caffeine-based and alcoholic drinks should be avoided because they’re dangerous for your cat.

Can My Cat Drink Other Types of Plant-Based Milk?

Although oat milk is safe for your cat, other plant-based milk types might not be.

Macadamia isn’t safe for cats, and the extracted milk might not work for your feline. Macadamia nuts can be toxic to cats and cause several health issues like lethargy and vomiting.

The same applies to almond and soy milk. They’re not that safe for your kitten or adult cat.

Final Thoughts

Oat milk isn’t toxic to cats and won’t make your feline sick. However, it shouldn’t be your cat’s go-to snack.

You should give your cat only a small amount of oat milk to see how it reacts. Too much oat milk can cause digestive issues like stomach pain and gases.

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