- 48% of cat owners feed their cats table scraps ~7 times per month.
- Only 30% knew that most adult cats are lactose intolerant and should not be given milk.
- 23% keep their cats on vegetarian diets.
- 9 out of 10 would be willing to switch foods to give their cats a health advantage.
Table scraps are actually not nutritionally good for either cats or dogs. It does not provide the proper balanced diet or essential nutrients needed. Cow's milk should never be given to cats. They have a very high tendency to lactose intolerance with can greatly affect their digestive abilities. They may like it, but it doesn't mean they should have it! Baby kittens who do not have a mother to feed them are fed a special type of mother's milk which is not a cow based milk product.
As for the vegetarian diet, cats are born meat eaters. You will never find a cat in the wild chomping on carrots or peas. They will catch birds, mice, or other small critters. They are meat eaters. This is the proper nutrition for them and provides essential enzymes and nutrients.
If you are unsure about the diet you are feeding your feline, please check with your veterinarian for nutritional advice. There are several great brands of feline diet out there.