We know for a fact that cats love milk. Milk is the base for many other dairy products, including yogurt. Therefore, as a cat owner, you might question whether it is safe for your cat to eat yogurt.
Yes, cats can eat yogurt. However, depending on the ingredients, it may harm your furry friend’s digestive system. For instance, yogurts that have a high sugar content can be harmful to your cat.
As you know, sugar is an ingredient found in many things. This includes lactose. It is stressful for cats to break down the lactose found in dairy products. But cats are mammals, aren’t they supposed to drink dairy?
Let’s Talk About Dairy And Cats
Newborn kittens drink milk. It is the only nourishment they receive in their first few weeks of life. Their tiny bodies are capable of digesting the lactose found in their mother’s milk. However, once they are weaned, they lose this ability.
Grown-up cats are not supposed to be eating dairy products because their bodies will not efficiently break down the lactose enzymes. It means that milk will remain for a long time in your cat’s stomach and most likely will get fermented.
Fermented food will upset your cat’s digestive system. Some symptoms you may find include the following:
- Vomiting
- Stomach bloat
- Loss of appetite
- Intestinal distress when defecating
- Lack of movement
How Do Cats React To Yogurt
Your cat won’t reject yogurt. On the contrary, the fat content in yogurt will whet its appetite.
But, you must be careful. Moderation is always crucial when you want to feed something new to your pet, especially when it comes to cats that depend entirely on animal protein.
When you are choosing cat food, you must consider the protein, fat, and carb scheme. This order is sorted from most essential to less critical nutrients. For example, one ingredient you should NEVER feed to your cat is xylitol. It is a new type of sugar beneficial to humans but could take your cat to the vet if it consumes it.
There are many yogurt options out there. Let’s review some of them and see if your cat should eat them.
American Yogurt
The traditional yogurt we buy in stores is one of the first options we consider when discussing yogurt. You may even have some in your fridge. There are many brands out there to choose from. The nutrition facts vary in function of the brand. You can have from 100 up to 160 calories per serving.
When you check the protein, fat, and carb content, you can see the lower the number of calories, the less fat it contains. This is because carbs are mostly made out of added sugar, ranging from 10g to 25g. And the protein content barely reaches 9g per serving in specific brands.
Let’s go back to our main question.
Can cats eat American yogurt? Well, the short answer is yes. Your cat can eat this yogurt. But, you must read the nutrition facts and find an option with low added sugar.
Dahi
Dahi is a low-calorie option. Most brands don’t exceed 100 calories per serving. Also, the nutrients in dahi are well balanced. It contains roughly 6g of protein and usually the same amount of carbs.
Additionally, the fat content in dahi is low. You can find 3g in the higher calorie version.
Can cats eat Dahi yogurt? Yes, they can. Dahi sounds like an excellent option for your cat. The balance between protein and carbs is just perfect.
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Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt has become popular in the past few years. There are a lot of options to choose from. Most people will suggest you go for a low-fat option for your cat.
Most options won’t go over 150 calories per serving. Some of them can go up to 190 calories; these are usually flavored options. On greek yogurt, your cat will get around 10g of protein and carbs. If you don’t go for a non-fat option, the average fat content is 4g. Now that we have explained this, let’s answer our main doubt.
Can cats eat Greek yogurt? Yes, preferably a low-fat version. As we explained, low-fat Greek yogurt adds relatively few calories to your pet’s diet.
Icelandic Yogurt
Often compared to Greek yogurt, Icelandic yogurt is also moderate in calories. Most options will not surpass 150 calories. But, when it comes to protein content, Icelandic is outstanding. You won’t find an option with less than 15g of protein. And when you compare it to the carb amount, they never exceed the protein amount.
Can cats eat Icelandic yogurt? Yes, one could say we have a winner here. Icelandic yogurt seems to be great for cats. Additionally, the ingredients list is short, making it a very natural option.
Bulgarian Yogurt
One of the advantages Bulgarian yogurt offers is probiotics. These microorganisms can boost your cat’s immune system. And also can help with digestion.
The protein and carb ratio of this version is excellent. Protein is the leader nutrient in Bulgarian yogurt. Carbs and fat are found in a 1:1 balance, approximately.
Can cats eat Bulgarian yogurt? Yes, it is a good option for your furry friend. However, we suggest you look for the probiotic version; you’ll thank us later.
Probiotic Yogurt
Here we are talking about American yogurt with probiotics added. As we mentioned with Bulgarian-style yogurt, probiotics can provide many benefits for your cat’s system. So, the answer to our main question is a no-brainer here.
Can cats eat probiotic yogurt? Yes, they can.
Homemade Yogurt
This yogurt option is healthier for your cat because you will be aware of the ingredients you add. Most people combine milk and yogurt starter and place the mixture in a yogurt maker. In about 9 hours, your yogurt will be ready.
Can cats eat strained yogurt? Yes, they can eat it. However, homemade yogurt is excellent if you are looking for a more natural option.
Plant-based Yogurt
Also known as non-dairy yogurt. As the name indicates, this version of yogurt doesn’t come from cow’s milk. Instead, you have yogurt made from oats, coconuts, soy, hemp, and almond beverages.
They are lactose-free, meaning your cat won’t have to struggle to digest this enzyme. However, if you look at the nutritional values, you may find the amount of added sugars is high.
Can cats eat plant-based yogurt? We don’t recommend you feed non-dairy yogurt to your cat. The protein content is insignificant when you compare it to the sugar content. Therefore, this type of food doesn’t add any nutritional value to your cat’s diet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can yogurt give cats diarrhea?
Yes, it is possible your cat’s stomach gets upset from yogurt, causing diarrhea. If you notice any symptoms after your cat ate yogurt, do not hesitate to go to the vet.
Can cats eat cheese?
Yes, cats can eat small amounts of cheese. Usually, people suggest you feed them hard cheese such as cheddar, gouda, etc.
Is butter bad for cats?
Yes, it is. Butter is a type of fat, and you don’t want to give this very often to your pet. Cats can digest fats. However, it would be best if you were very careful not to exceed the number of calories your cat needs daily.
Can cats eat frozen yogurt ice cream?
Yes, they can. But most likely, your cat is not attracted to it. Cats prefer foods ranging from temperatures of 105°F because it gives them the perception that it is fresh.
Can cats eat sour cream?
Yes, they can. Ensure it doesn’t have any other added ingredients such as garlic, chives, or onions because these are toxic to cats.
Can cats eat cream cheese?
Yes! Even though it is a soft cheese, cream cheese is excellent for cats. You need to be careful with the amount you are feeding them.
Can cats eat tzatziki?
No, cats cannot eat tzatziki because its preparation requires garlic and lemon. Garlic is toxic to cats. Unfortunately, we and studies have shown cats don’t like lemons.
Conclusion
Yogurt is a big YES for your furry friend. It is a matter of controlling the amounts and frequency.
In fact, all of our yes require careful supervision on your end. Cats are usually great at self-regulating when it comes to food. However, there are some cases where they can’t help it and end up overeating, leading to health problems.
As long as you follow the suggestions we gave you, let your pet enjoy this savory treat every once in a while.
Shawn Manaher is a serial entrepreneur but when he isn’t working, he loves dogs. He’s owned different pets over the years, and always gives a part of his heart to each pet.
