Can Cats Eat Ice Cream?

Cats and ice creams are related. If you have a cat you must be aware of the fact that how much these cute creatures love ice-creams. But can they really eat them? And all the other queries you have we will cover in this content.

Can Cats Eat Ice-cream?

The very straight answer to this question is No, ice-creams are not good for cat’s health. There are several reasons including lactose intolerance and brain freeze because of which you should not give ice-creams to cats. A lick or may be two will not affect them but they can’t eat a whole scoop.

Why is Ice-cream Not Good for Cats?

There are several reasons:

• Ice-creams have lactic acid which can cause stomach ache, gas and diarrhea in cats.
• Sugar is not good for cats.
• Cats can’t eat cold things. The cold might affect their nervous system and may lead to brain freeze.

Are Cats Lactose Intolerant?

Although this question feels shocking as cats and milk is something we are relating since our childhood but the truth is cats are intolerant to lactose. The reason behind is the enzyme lactase required to digest lactose is missing. Some cats might have more of the enzyme and some might have less.

How Do Kittens Consume Milk If They Are Lactose Intolerant?

It is a process of nature. Kittens have to consume their mother’s milk so they produce lactase when they are younger. When they grow up and move to solid diet leaving milk their bodies reduce the production of lactase and increases the level of other enzymes need for digestion. After solid food intake their bodies know that they don’t need milk consumption any more so lactase is markedly reduce.

Can Kittens Eat Ice-cream?

The answer to this question is still NO. As a kitten means until 2 months, it should not eat anything else other than mother’s milk. Neither ice-cream nor any other item. Your kitty is consuming all the nutrients from the mother. So ice-cream as a meal is a no for both the cats and the kitten.

What Does Brain Freeze In Cats Mean?

Cats’ nervous system is not very different from humans. They also have a cerebral artery supplying blood to the brain. The cold from the ice-cream will cause the change in the diameter of that artery. The artery constricts and the blood supply to the brain will decrease. Brain freeze will not kill the cat but the pain will be severe.

Can Cats Tolerate Cold?

These fluffy creatures have much high level of internal body temperature than us. This means that they cannot tolerate more cold. If you have cats and its winters you will usually find them near the fire place or at the warmest place of the house. So, cats can tolerate cold but not like us.

Can Cats have Chocolate ice-cream?

If your cat still wants to eat one. Chocolate ice-cream is still not the choice. Chocolate have cocoa powder and that has theobromine. Theobromine is an alkaloid compound which is lethal for some animals including cats. 100 to 200 mg of theobromine per kg can be lethal. So it is a no for the chocolate ice-cream.

Which Ice-cream can I Give to My Cat?

If you really want your cat to taste some, vanilla ice-cream is the best one to give. The better is to choose a vanilla ice-cream made up of goat’s milk. This milk have some enzymes that will help in digestion and the situation will not go that bad.

Can I Add Strawberries with Vanilla Ice-cream?

You can but strawberries will do no good to your cat. It is our thinking that cat likes sweet whereas cats doesn’t even feel sweet. They do not have buds for that. So the sweetness factor sets aside. As for nutrition, the strawberries are not adding any nutritional value to your cat’s meal. So better to not give or add strawberries.

Why Do Cat Loves Ice-cream?

Well let me break this surprise to you that cats don’t want ice-cream because of its sweetness. In fact it is believed that cants can’t even taste sweet. Then what is it that they always want to lick your ice-cream? Well it is the high fat and carbohydrate content of the ice-cream that attract the cats and not the sweetness. Cats are familiar with milk products so they are attracted to this treat more.

Related Questions:

Q. How much amount will cause the brain freeze?

Ice-creams are not good for your cats. A lick or maximum a tablespoon of ice-cream is enough to give to your cats. More than that will be harmful and can cause brain freeze.

Q. Is milk healthy for cats?

Unfortunately milk is not one of the healthiest items you can give to your cat, especially cow’s milk. Most of the cats are lactose intolerant and milk will cause stomach upset.

Q. Which meal is good for cats?

Cats are actually carnivores so giving them meat treats is better. You can give them cooked chicken, beef or turkey. Just don’t give them the rotten meat.