Can cats eat yogurt? (2024)

The essentials

  • Plain, unsweetened yogurt won’t hurt your cat, but that doesn’t mean you should feed it to them. If you do, make sure to avoid anything with added sugar, flavorings, or artificial sweeteners.
  • Greek yogurt is generally safe for cats. As long as it’s unflavored, cats can eat Greek yogurt.
  • Never feed yogurt to kittens. It can cause digestive issues.
  • Adult cats are actually lactose intolerant. Warm milk is OK for kittens, but as they grow their digestive system can’t handle it.

Are there any real health benefits?

Yogurt can be used as an occasional supplement to your cat’s food and vitamins. It’s crucial, however, that the yogurt you feed your cat is plain and unsweetened, sugar is incredibly dangerous to cats as they cannot digest it properly.

To reiterate, if you do intend to feed yogurt to your cat, ensure that it isn’t flavored or contains any additional sugar. The only suitable yogurt is plain and unsweetened. On paper, this kind can actually help provide a healthy, balanced diet and boost your cat’s health with benefits like:

  • A supplement of vitamin a, potassium, calcium, and magnesium
  • Strengthened immune systems
  • Reducing allergies
  • Probiotic-based yogurt can also ease diarrhea

With all this in mind, ensure that you only feed yogurt to cats, and not to kittens. While kittens relish in the benefits of milk, when it comes to yogurt, even the plain kind, their new and sensitive stomachs can react quite badly to it. Kittens also don’t gain any benefits from yogurt and will get more of their nutrients from milk.

If you choose to feed your cat yogurt, here’s what you need to know.

This is critical because adult cats are carnivores and lactose intolerant, so it’s important not to give them too much of any milk product on a regular basis. The buildup of lactic acid can lead to all sorts of health issues.

Although it is generally believed that things like milk, cream, and other dairy products are a great treat for cats, it’s important not to overdo it as adult cats can’t digest it. This is because as kittens are weaned off their mother’s milk and begin to favor solid foods, their bodies stop producing the enzyme that allows them to digest dairy which means by the time kittens fully develop into cats, the majority of felines would have developed a dairy intolerance.

If your cat is suffering from symptoms of lactose intolerance, you’ll observe side effects like diarrhea, vomiting, or an upset stomach. Similarly, if you’ve been feeding your cat too much yogurt, they may display similar symptoms, such as stomach pains and digestive problems.

🚨 Remember: Only feed your cat plain, sugar-free yogurt.

Don’t overdo it

The ideal amount you want to give your cat is around one to two tablespoons around three or four times a week. From this, they should gain the right amount of nutrients — alongside their usual cat-friendly diet.

Other healthy, vet-approved snacks for cats

Keep in mind moderation, cats aren’t designed to eat the food that we eat on a regular basis. So, before you give them any other human food, be sure that it’s really in their best interest.

If you’re still unsure whether or not to treat your cats to yogurt, Dr. Ernie Ward10 has confirmed that not only is yogurt good for cats, but the probiotics in the yogurt helps with healthy digestion.

And yogurt isn’t the only human food that cats can enjoy and benefit from, also on the list is:

  • Blueberries
  • Peas
  • Squash
  • Eggs
  • Carrots
  • Oatmeal

Overall, while yogurt has some great benefits for your cat, never use yogurt in place of a balanced diet. The health of your pet is always more important than a once in a while treat.

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Can cats eat yogurt? (1)

FAQs

🚨 A lot of cat owners want to know what type of yogurt is safe for cats. In general, all flavored yogurt should be avoided.

Can cats eat blueberry yogurt?

Blueberry yogurt may not be the best idea for cats to eat, due to the amounts of added sugar. However, cats are able to eat fresh blueberries, so feel free to add a few of them to plain, unsweetened yogurt instead.

Can cats eat strawberry yogurt?

While strawberries aren’t toxic to cats, they don’t add any nutritional value to a cat’s diet. It’s also worth noting that strawberry yogurt is loaded with natural sugars which can cause an upset stomach in some cats.

Can cats eat Greek yogurt?

As long as the greek yogurt is unflavoured, then in small amounts, it is safe to feed to your cat. In fact, we recommend trying multiple brands of plain, Greek yogurt to see which your cat prefers.

Can cats eat Vanilla yogurt?

We advise against feeding your cat vanilla yogurt. While vanilla isn’t technically toxic for cats, the vanilla flavoring that is often used in yogurt is made up of various other ingredients. One of those ingredients is ethanol, which can be incredibly toxic.

Can cats eat Frozen yogurt?

Frozen yogurt tends to teeter more into the dessert category than a healthy snack, so skip this one for sure. Remember: cats don’t need sugar — and they probably can’t even taste it.

Can cats eat Blackberry yogurt?

Many blackberry yogurts will be full of added sugars and flavorings, if you want to treat your cat to blackberry yogurt the best solution is to add fresh blackberries to unflavored Greek yogurt.

Can cats eat Raspberry yogurt?

Raspberries contain a natural sweetener called xylitol, so while cats can eat raspberries it’s important to be mindful to not give them too many. Due to the amount of excess sugar in raspberry yogurt, it’d be best to add a few fresh raspberries to plain yogurt, instead.

Can cats eat Cherry yogurt?

Cherries boast of anti-inflammatory properties which can be great for a cat who suffers from ailments such as arthritis, while cherry yogurt may be full of additional sugar, adding fresh cherries to a plain greek yogurt may offer a good few benefits; just ensure it’s in moderation.

I am an experienced pet enthusiast with a deep understanding of feline nutrition and health. My knowledge is grounded in evidence-based information and a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies of cat care.

Now, let's delve into the concepts presented in the article about feeding yogurt to cats:

  1. Yogurt and Cats:

    • Plain, unsweetened yogurt is generally safe for cats.
    • Avoid yogurt with added sugar, flavorings, or artificial sweeteners.
    • Greek yogurt, if unflavored, is considered safe for cats.
    • Kittens should not be fed yogurt, as it can cause digestive issues.
    • Adult cats are lactose intolerant, and their digestive systems cannot handle warm milk as they grow.
  2. Health Benefits of Yogurt for Cats:

    • Yogurt can be used as an occasional supplement to a cat's food and vitamins.
    • Plain and unsweetened yogurt can provide vitamin A, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and probiotics.
    • Benefits include a strengthened immune system, reduced allergies, and easing diarrhea.
  3. Feeding Guidelines:

    • Feed cats plain, sugar-free yogurt in moderation.
    • The recommended amount is around one to two tablespoons three or four times a week.
    • Overfeeding dairy products may lead to the buildup of lactic acid and various health issues.
  4. Other Healthy Snacks for Cats:

    • The article emphasizes moderation and mentions other vet-approved snacks for cats.
    • These include blueberries, peas, squash, eggs, carrots, and oatmeal.
  5. Cautionary Points:

    • Adult cats are carnivores, and excessive milk product consumption can lead to health issues.
    • Symptoms of lactose intolerance in cats include diarrhea, vomiting, and upset stomach.
    • Yogurt should never replace a balanced cat-friendly diet.
  6. FAQs:

    • Flavored yogurt, including blueberry, strawberry, vanilla, blackberry, raspberry, and cherry yogurt, should generally be avoided.
    • Fresh fruits like blueberries can be added to plain yogurt for added nutritional value.
    • Specific warnings about ingredients like ethanol in vanilla yogurt and xylitol in raspberry yogurt are mentioned.

In summary, while yogurt can offer health benefits for cats when fed in moderation, it is crucial to adhere to specific guidelines, choosing plain and unsweetened varieties. Additionally, the article provides valuable insights into alternative healthy snacks for cats and addresses common questions about various yogurt flavors.

Can cats eat yogurt? (2024)
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