However, if the mother is not there, or another issue preventing this you need to see how your kitten responds to water, or milk with water. Water is the sole beverage that your cat need as part of their diet. Many cats cannot digest the lactose in the cow's milk (yes, even cats can be lactose intolerant).
Milk Should Never Supplement Water.
The only milk cats need is breast milk from their mother when they’re kittens. Are cats milk or water drinkers? If that’s the case with your cat, adding a wet food to her diet can contribute to her daily total water intake.
As Stated Earlier, Adult Cats Like Milk But Do Not Have The Need For Milk In Their Daily Diet.
Of course, kittens need to drink their mum’s milk, but by the time they’re just a few months old they should be fully weaned, eating cat food and drinking water. If your cat is fed a high quality, balanced diet they do not need the extra fat from drinking milk, no matter how much they like it. With this enzyme gone, any milk adult cats drink will ferment inside them and cause stomach upset.
The Best Hydration For A Kitten Is Their Mothers Milk.
They also don’t like their water bowl extremely close to their food bowl. It could also be because, due to how much cats seem to adore lapping milk up, we thought the white liquid could keep them better hydrated, something many cats sometimes struggle with. In fact, unless your veterinarian says otherwise, you should not give your cat any milk.
What They Need To Drink More Of Is Water!
Instead of milk, simply give your cat what it really needs: My boys (and my dog) love a bit of oat milk mixed in their water. What do cats drink instead of milk?