With the arrival of summer, many of us go back to eating ice cream to refresh ourselves. And it is that, of course, they are so delicious ... But what usually happens to us is that while we taste it, our beloved feline approaches us and sits down while with his paw and his look he does not say that he wants us to give him.
Can cats eat ice cream? We wonder as they fix their gaze on us and then on the dessert or snack we're enjoying. And the truth is, it depends a lot on the furry friend.
Is my cat lactose intolerant?
Ice cream contains milk, which contains a sugar known as lactose. Lactose can cause intolerance in some humans, but also in cats, leading to various symptoms including stomach pain, diarrhea, and flatulence . While not a serious problem, since it's a sugar the body can't digest, it's best not to overwork the digestive system because, in any case, if a person or a pet is lactose intolerant, the lactose will be excreted from the body.
Knowing this, can a cat eat ice cream? It depends on whether its body can tolerate lactose. Unfortunately, the only way to know for sure is to give it a little taste—I repeat, just a little . Half a small spoonful or even less, like whatever might be left on the ice cream stick. If it doesn't show any symptoms throughout the day, then we can give it a little more, but we should never give it more than a small spoonful (like a coffee spoon).
What kind of ice cream can I give you?
Whenever possible, we will give the cat homemade and/or natural ice creams of any flavor except chocolate because it contains theobromine, a substance that the cat's body cannot eliminate, so it accumulates and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and even death if it has ingested a large amount.
Precaution to prevent brain freezing in cats
Brain freeze? Is this a joke? Many people might think so, but unfortunately, we're talking about something very real, as real as when it happens to us humans. Although the brain itself doesn't have pain receptors, the meninges do. In an article in The Washington Post , Amy Cousino, a veterinarian and owner of Cat's Meow Cat Clinic in Sebastian, Florida, said that giving ice cream to cats "is not healthy," and that they have "nerve pathways very similar to those of people."
What happens, in both humans and cats, is that the arteries dilate with the intense and sudden cold, which makes us and them feel a very strong headache.
Now, one thing must be clear: give it a little bit (less than a small spoonful) nothing will happen to them (unless, as we said before, it is lactose intolerant), but not if it is not.
What are the symptoms and how is it treated in cats?
The most noticeable symptom is a headache . It's a sharp, intense pain, similar to the one you get when you eat or drink something very cold. It appears shortly after consuming the cold food or drink and usually subsides within 5 to 10 minutes at most. During this time, you should leave the person in a quiet room, free from any noise.
If after ten minutes you see that the cat complains, or on the contrary does not react when you call, or if it shows any behavior that worries you, do not hesitate for a second to take it to the vet.
What should cats eat?
Cats are carnivores, so they need a diet rich in animal protein . Ideally, they should be fed homemade food, at least boiled, but if that's not possible, there are some excellent grain-free cat foods available, such as Applaws , Orijen, True Instinct High Meat, Acana , and Cat's Health Gourmet , among others.
It's important that their feed doesn't contain corn, oats, or any other type of grain , as these animals lack the necessary digestive enzymes to break them down; therefore, they can't digest them properly. Furthermore, the continued consumption of grain-free feed could weaken their health, causing food allergies, infections, or even cystitis.
Please note that the price per kilo of grain-free feed is much higher than that of grain-free feed, but this is logical: a kilo of meat costs much more than a kilo of corn. The former is around €6, while the latter is around €0,20. But it is always worth spending money on quality food instead of on vets, don't you think?  .
So now you know, next time your feline asks for a little ice cream, give him a grain-free treat instead. And if he insists, give him a little ice cream  .