Q: I was brought up to believe that cats not only like milk, but
it is also good for them. My brother, who works for a veterinarian,
disagrees. Who is right?
Q: I was brought up to believe that cats not only like milk, but it is also good for them. My brother, who works for a veterinarian, disagrees. Who is right?
A: I’m afraid the nod goes to your brother on this one. Many people would side with you. But regular milk can sometimes give a kitty a case of gastroenteritis, otherwise known as an upset stomach.
Cats and milk have been associated together for centuries. In an old edition of the World Book Encyclopedia, there is a picture of a cat watching a child pour a saucer of milk for him. And in English literature, there is an old adage that says a person who cannot be trusted is, “as honest as a cat only when the cream is out of reach.”
Cats love milk and especially cream. But it can sometimes cause a digestive upset. Cow’s milk is quite a bit different from the milk that a kitten gets while nursing from its mother. The differences in protein and fat can create a serious digestive problem in some felines with a sensitive gut.
Certainly, there are many people who give milk to their kitty-cat and never see any problems. But the truth is, veterinarians generally discourage giving cow’s milk to cats because of the possibility of an intestinal upset (diarrhea and vomit). There are too many felines that just can’t handle regular milk.
Here’s a safe and easy alternative. Try giving your kitty some plain low-fat yogurt or low-fat cottage cheese. You’ll find that he’ll be very happy to get this as a special treat, and you won’t have to worry about him getting a tummy-ache later on.
Q: Our cat recently was scraped or cut on her back. It is a shallow wound that is scabbing over. My wife says we should remove the scab to prevent an abscess from forming. Is this true?
A: The proper method for treating a wound varies depending on the type of injury and its location on the body. Removing this scab is probably not a good idea, because it isn’t really necessary, and it could lead to further problems. Instead, here are some other suggestions for you.
Cats are known for their propensity to develop abscesses. An abscess is a pocket of infection that usually occurs as a result of a puncture wound, often a bite or claw injury from another cat. The bacteria deep in the wound are trapped when the skin surface tries to quickly heal. The resulting infection develops a pocket where fluid pus accumulates. Abscesses can sometimes become toxic, and they can make a cat very ill.
I don’t advocate removing the scab, but I do think you should treat the wound twice daily with warm, moist compresses. Moist heat from a damp towel will help to soften any existing scab and allow infectious material to be drawn out of the wound area. The warmth also will increase the circulation to the region, allowing the body’s natural defenses to fight the infection.
Place a damp washcloth in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds to heat it up. If you apply this compress for 10 minutes, twice daily for a few days, the wound should heal nicely. You will need to reheat the washcloth several times during the treatment.
If it appears that the injury is not healing, take your cat in to the vet for a checkup. A small splinter of wood or other foreign substance could prevent the normal recovery of this wound (I’ve even found broken cat claws in some of these injuries!). Any foreign material will need to be removed before the wound can heal completely.
