As is the case with many animals, cats need milk to survive during the first months of their life. Then, upon reaching adulthood, milk is no longer an essential part of their diet. However, it is still possible to give it to him, in reasonable quantities. Here are the precise quantities of milk to give to a cat at each stage of its life.
For a kitten
At birth, milk is the basis of a kitten’s diet. Naturally, it is towards its mother’s milk that the kitten turns. And this is indeed what is recommended for him.
But if the mother cannot feed her kittens or if the kitten has been abandoned, then ONLY resort to formula milk. Indeed, no other milk will be able to meet its needs. So we forget cow’s milk, goat’s milk or any other milk that is not made specifically for kittens.
Good to know : if you don’t have formula on hand, here’s how to urgently prepare milk for a weakened kitten: mix 100 ml of goat’s milk with 100 ml of crème fraîche with 12% fat and a yolk of egg. Then pour the preparation into a baby bottle.
If you need to give formula to a kitten, here are the dosages to follow:
- During the first 8 days of life : 7 times a day, at a rate of 3 to 6 ml per bottle. At the end of the first week, the kitten should weigh between 90 and 100 g.
- During the second week : 6 times a day, at a rate of 4 to 8 ml per bottle.
- During the third week : 5 times a day, at a rate of 10 to 20 ml per bottle.
- During the fourth week : 4 times a day, while continuing to gradually increase the doses. At this age, the kitten should weigh between 450 and 500 g.
- During the fifth week : 3 times a day. It is during this week that you should introduce solid food (kibbles and/or pâtés).
- During the sixth week : 2 times a day. The rest of the diet should be solid.
As time goes by, milk will gradually have to disappear from your diet, this is what we call the period of weaning. And at 2 months, the kitten normally no longer needs milk.
For an adult cat
When reaching adulthood, the cat no longer has the enzymes necessary to properly digest milk. This is why he will hydrate only with water and feed with solid food.
However, it is possible to continue giving milk to an adult cat if it enjoys it. Provided you do not exceed the following dose: 10ml/kg. So, if your cat weighs 3 kg, you can give him 30 ml of milk over 24 hours.
In addition, it must remain punctual. Indeed, if an adult cat were to drink milk every day, it could cause digestive problems.
Good to know : in addition to milk, it is possible to give dairy products (cheese, yogurt, etc.) to your cat. But always in a reasoned manner. And for good reason, not only could he have digestive problems if he consumed it too regularly, but he could also quickly gain weight. However, being overweight is a risk factor for many feline diseases.
