Can cats eat ice cream? Not recommended. A small amount of ice cream may not make your cat sick, but a large amount of ice cream will cause stomach problems, and ice cream has no nutritional value for cats.
Although adult cats don’t really benefit from drinking milk, they do enjoy it as kittens and are not lactose intolerant. The same is true of ice cream, but with the unwelcome addition of brain freeze! To help you decide whether to give your cat a cold treat, I’ll share some interesting facts about cats and dairy today.
Can Cats Eat Ice Cream as a Treat?
Although cats can consume some ice cream flavors in extremely small quantities, this does not necessarily mean that they should.
Although it is not a suggested treat, ice cream is safe for cats in very small amounts.
If your cat has any more than that, he’s going to end up with digestive problems like:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Stomach pain
Since most adult cats are lactose intolerant, ice cream is problematic for them to eat because it contains milk.
Not to mention, ice cream contains a ton of sugar and fat, which can lead to other issues like:
- Weight gain
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Arthritis
And be absolutely certain that your dessert doesn’t contain any poisonous ingredients if you do decide to let your cat lick the spoon after you’re done eating.
The sweetener xylitol and chocolate are two components of some ice creams that have the potential to be toxic. You should never feed cats any amount of either of these ingredients.
Why Do Cats Like Ice Cream?
If you find it surprising that cats are drawn to sweets like ice cream despite being unable to taste the sweetness that most humans yearn for, you should look more closely at the ice cream’s ingredients. You might have noticed that your cat cries out for a lick of whole milk but ignores skim or fat-free milk.
You might also notice that while your frozen yogurt treat receives total disregard from your cat, your quart of Ben and Jerry’s draws the cat’s attention. Why your cat is so picky has an easy explanation, and it has nothing to do with the brand of the treat you want. The high fat and carbohydrate content of ice cream and whole milk attract cats.
Ice cream undoubtedly contains more fat and carbohydrates than other foods, but cats are accustomed to the flavor and texture of milk. In the end, kitten nutrition depends heavily on the mother’s milk.
Read about Does Ice Cream Have Eggs?
Is Ice Cream Bad for Cats?
You might be curious to know if ice cream is bad for cats now that you know why they enjoy it.
Well, in large quantities, it can be harmful. Basically, you can occasionally give your cat a spoonful of ice cream.
A few things may occur if ice cream becomes a staple food. The worst problem is likely to result from eating too much of the treat, which is diarrhea.
Are Cats Lactose Intolerant?
Like many of their human companions, cats cannot tolerate lactose. Because of this, they are unable to properly digest the lactose in milk. However, some cats do have more of the enzyme than others.
This applies to people as well, which is why your lactose-intolerant friend or relative might be able to eat a small amount of yogurt but probably cannot drink a full glass of milk.
Ice Cream Can Upset Cats’ Stomachs
The undigested lactose in the ice cream has the same effect. After passing through the digestive system, it leaves the body along with the other waste. The undigested ice cream, in contrast to the string or toy, persists in fluid form, mingles with the other waste, and causes diarrhea.
In addition, some lactose actually curdles when it comes into contact with the digestive juices in your cat’s stomach. Gas, uncomfortable stomach pain, and even more diarrhea can result from this.
Can Cats Eat Strawberry Ice Cream?
You could choose to mix some strawberries into your vanilla goat’s milk ice cream to create your own special kitty concoction. But this is probably not the best course of action.
Strawberries are sweet and not something that your cat will necessarily like. They are non toxic, so they are definitely safe, but they have no nutritional value to a cat.
Can Cats Eat Chocolate Ice Cream?
Ice cream with chocolate in it is especially bad for cats. Cats shouldn’t be allowed to consume chocolate, just like dogs. Caffeine and theobromine, which are found in chocolate, can cause vomiting, diarrhea, a rapid heartbeat, low blood pressure, seizures, cardiac failure, or even coma in cats when consumed.
Can Cats Eat Vanilla Ice Cream?
A little vanilla ice cream for your cat may be the safest reward this summer. If your cat seems to like dairy products, we suggest giving it a small amount of regular low-fat yogurt instead of ice cream.
Do Cats Eat Ice Cream Get Brain Freeze?
You should also consider whether or not you want to give your cat brain freeze. That is accurate; because cats have the same kinds of nerves and nervous system pathways as humans, they can indeed experience brain freeze.
Since brain freeze involves the constriction of the blood vessels and the reaction of the nerves, your kitty might just get one of those dastardly headaches.
Investigate one of the many studies being conducted that provide a scientific explanation for the issue to learn more about the phenomenon that is likely to affect you and your cat. One fascinating study that demonstrates changes in blood flow as a result of eating cold foods can be found in the FASEB Journal.
Read about Is Ice Cream Gluten-Free?
