Can Cats Eat Yogurt?

The short answer: It depends.

The long answer: Yogurt is produced by the bacterial fermentation of milk. It contains calcium, potassium, and calcium—nutrients that are good for cats. However, most cats are lactose intolerant, so their bodies have stopped producing the enzyme that helps them digest the lactose found in milk and its byproducts.

If your cat is suffering from constipation, a small amount of yogurt might help her induce bowel movement. The live bacteria found in yogurt helps manage irritable bowel syndrome, bloating, gas, and other digestive issues.

How to feed yogurt to your cat: First off, give your cat a small dollop of yogurt to see if her stomach can safely digest it. Observe her body’s reaction in the next 24 hours. If she shows symptoms of lethargy, abdominal pain and discomfort, loss of appetite, increased scratching, diarrhea, and vomiting, she may be lactose intolerant.

Remember to only give her plain, unsweetened, and unflavoured types of yogurt, and those created without xylitol. Xylitol is a sugar substitute that is extremely toxic for cats.

Here are three ideas for yogurt treats your cat will love:

Add flavour to your cat’s plain yogurt by adding bite-sized chunks of fresh fruits such as apples, bananas, or blueberries.
Serve the yogurt straight from the refrigerator as a chilled treat.
Create soft cat treats using yogurt, cheese, and cornmeal.

In summary: Eating plain, unsweetened yogurt may benefit cats who are suffering from constipation, stomach cramps, and gas. If your cat can handle this milk byproduct, feed it to her occasionally. Her body will reap the benefits from its friendly bacteria. High levels of protein, calcium, vitamins B2 and B12, potassium, and magnesium are also found in yogurt.