Why do so many people think milk is good for cats?

Question: Why do so many people think milk is good for cats?

Dear About.com Cats Guide,

I just read about the definite no-no human foods for cats, and one of them is milk. Before I ever had a cat, there was a stray cat that would hang around and I fed her milk, which I now realize was a mistake.

I'm wondering WHY is it that the popular media makes us think that cats like to drink milk and that it's normal to feed cats milk, when it's really bad for them. Why is the association of cats+milk being widely propagated--to the detriment of cats? Unless one reads about cats, I think many people carry a false belief that cats drink milk, don't you think?

Jean

Answer:

Dear Jean,

That's just one of many examples of "people being people." The fact is that many cats DO like milk - undoubtedly because it is a reminder of the comfort of their mother's breast as a kitten. There's nothing inherently wrong in giving a cat an occasional small amount of milk, and I'm sure your stray suffered no lasting harm. However, she would have been better off, had you given her a good quality of cat food instead.

Large quantities of milk are not healthy for cats for two reasons:

1. Milk does not contain the essential nutrients cats need to grow and prosper. Too much milk may displace their appetites for meat-based diets, and cause nutritionally-deficient diseases.
2. Many cats are allergic to cows' milk, which leads to upset tummies. Contrary to what one might think, whole milk or even cream is less likely to trigger this allergy than skim milk.

I'm afraid only education will convince the masses that milk really isn't all that desirable for cats, even though cats like it. But the fact is that most people do not seek out that education - it's easier to fall back on old myths and beliefs, propagated by the media.