Can Cats Drink Chocolate Milk? | Waldo's Friends

Home / Blog / Can Cats Drink Chocolate Milk?

Blog

Blog Hero

Cat Food

Can Cats Drink Chocolate Milk?

Can Cats Drink Chocolate Milk?

The short answer: No.

The long answer: There are two main reasons why cats should not drink chocolate milk. The first reason is because cats cannot have chocolate. Chocolate is a treat prepared using roasted and ground cacao seeds. Served in liquid, paste, or block form, chocolates contain the compound theobromine, the stimulant caffeine, and sugar that can all cause life-threatening complications to your cat. As little as 0.2 ounces of baking chocolate, 0.5 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate or dark chocolate, and 1.14 ounces of milk chocolate can poison an 8-pound cat.

Secondly, chocolate milk generally uses cow milk. Most adult cats cannot drink cow milk because they do not have the digestive enzyme necessary to break down the lactose found in cow milk. As such, letting your cat drink chocolate-flavoured milk is a no-no. 

What to do if your cat accidentally drinks chocolate milk: Observe your cat for diarrhea, bloating, intestinal cramps, upset stomach, and vomiting in the next 24 hours. Depending on how much chocolate is in the milk drink, she may also exhibit hyperactivity, restlessness, increased thirst, tremors, increased reflex responses, muscle rigidity, rapid breathing, and seizures. A trip to the veterinarian or animal emergency clinic is needed. 

In summary: Chocolate milk should not be given to your cat, even as an occasional treat. The ingredients found in both cow’s milk and chocolate can cause digestive upset and toxic poisoning. If you are interested in giving milk to your cat, do your research to discover which kinds of milk are safe for her. Make sure they do not contain chocolate or other lethal flavourings. More importantly, get your veterinarian’s approval before making her try it. 

References:

Foods Your Cat Should Never Eat

Cats and Dairy: Get the Facts

Can Kittens Drink Milk?

Can Cats Drink Chocolate Milk? What You Need to Know!



Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. All fields are required.

Check out related posts

Can Cats Eat Cooked Mince?

Can Cats Eat Cooked Mince?

It depends. Beef is the main ingredient of cooked mince or ground meat. It becomes finely minced with the help of a meat grinder, or chopped by hand. Minced meat is a versatile ingredient. It can be turned into meatballs or hamburger patties. It can also be added to pasta sauce. Aside from beef, chicken,… Continue reading Can Cats Eat Cooked Mince?

Can Cats Eat Chicken Nuggets?

Can Cats Eat Chicken Nuggets?

It is not advisable for cats to eat chicken nuggets. Chicken nuggets consist of deboned chicken meat in a breaded casing. These matchbox-sized pieces are deep fried. As an obligate carnivore, cats can benefit from eating plainly cooked chicken as it provides them with amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. However, in the case of chicken… Continue reading Can Cats Eat Chicken Nuggets?

Can Cats Eat Pepperoni?

Can Cats Eat Pepperoni?

It is not advisable for cats to eat pepperoni because of the way it is prepared. Pepperoni is a type of cured meat consisting of beef, pork, or a combination of the two. Technically speaking, your cat can eat both plainly cooked beef and pork with some conditions. However, when it comes to making pepperoni,… Continue reading Can Cats Eat Pepperoni?