Food safety

Can Cats Drink Lactose Free Milk?

Safe in small amounts — Lactose-Free Milk for cats.

Safe in small amounts

Why: Lactose-free milk removes the lactose that most adult cats cannot digest, so it is better tolerated than ordinary milk. It is still a calorie-containing dairy drink, so keep it to a small treat — water remains the right everyday drink.

Safe serving: A tablespoon or two as an occasional treat.

If your cat ate lactose-free milk: No action needed for a small amount. Watch for an upset stomach if your cat drank a lot.

Related: Lactaid, Milk, Goat Milk

Why this verdict

Lactose-free milk removes the lactose that most adult cats cannot digest, so it is better tolerated than ordinary milk. It is still a calorie-containing dairy drink, so keep it to a small treat — water remains the right everyday drink.

Safe serving

A tablespoon or two as an occasional treat.

If your cat ate lactose-free milk

No action needed for a small amount. Watch for an upset stomach if your cat drank a lot.

Related foods

Lactaid, Milk, Goat Milk

Check another food

Back to the Food-Safety Checker to check all 90 foods, or see the beginner feeding guide and the feeding estimator.

Before you use the result

Use the result as a starting point for observation and planning. Cats vary by age, body condition, temperament, medical history, and household setup.

Sources: ASPCA Animal Poison Control — People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, and the Cornell Feline Health Center — Feeding Your Cat. Chocolate toxicity figures are approximate values from the Merck Veterinary Manual. If your cat ate something on the toxic list, call your veterinarian or ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435.