Can Cats Eat Cheese? Only a Tiny Bit, and Not for All Cats

Why cheese is not ideal for cats

Kittens make lactase, the enzyme that digests milk sugar, while they are nursing, and most cats make much less once they are weaned. The ASPCA notes that pets do not have significant amounts of lactase, and the Cornell Feline Health Center points out that many cats are lactose intolerant and can develop digestive upset from dairy.

Cheese is also dense in calories, fat and sodium. A one-inch cube of cheddar is a sizable chunk of a 10 lb indoor cat's daily calories, and Cornell suggests keeping all treats under 10 to 15 percent of the day's intake. Cats get everything they need from meat-based cat food, not from dairy.

Better and worse cheeses

Hard, aged cheeses such as cheddar, Swiss, Parmesan and gouda have had most of their lactose broken down during aging, so they are the least likely to upset a cat's stomach. Choose plain versions with no herbs, garlic, chives or peppers added.

Soft and fresh cheeses, including cream cheese, cottage cheese, ricotta and fresh mozzarella, carry more lactose. Processed slices and spray cheese add salt and additives, and blue cheeses carry molds that are best avoided. Skip anything flavored with garlic or onion, which are toxic to cats even in small amounts.

How to offer cheese safely

If your cat begs for cheese and has never had a reaction, cut a piece of hard cheese about the size of a pea or a sugar cube's corner. Offer it on its own, not with crackers, pizza or a sandwich, so you know what your cat actually ate.

Cheese works well as a pill pocket for some cats because the strong smell hides medicine. If your vet is fine with that, use the smallest piece that does the job, and check with them first, since dairy can interfere with how some antibiotics are absorbed.

A feeding mat under a ceramic bowl keeps any shared food in one place and easy to clean up.

How much cheese is too much

For an average 8 to 12 lb cat, a pea-sized piece once or twice a week is plenty. Smaller or senior cats should have even less, and cats that are overweight, have kidney disease or need a low-sodium diet are better off without it.

Cheese should never replace a meal or become a daily habit. Regular high-fat treats can lead to weight gain, and in some cats a fatty food binge can be followed by vomiting and a painful belly. Watch closely the first few times you offer it.

Kittens, milk and dairy

Weaned kittens should not be given cow's milk, cream or cheese as a substitute for kitten food. Their stomachs are sensitive, and diarrhea in a small kitten can quickly lead to dehydration.

If a kitten needs milk because it is orphaned or very young, use a commercial kitten milk replacer your vet recommends. Saucers of milk are a cartoon habit, not a healthy one, and that goes for adult cats too.

Signs cheese disagreed with your cat

Lactose intolerance usually shows up within 8 to 12 hours as soft stool or diarrhea, gas, a rumbling belly or vomiting. Mild cases settle within a day. Offer fresh water and skip all treats until the litter box looks normal again.

Call your vet the same day if your cat vomits more than once, has diarrhea lasting more than 24 hours, seems lethargic, stops eating, or ate a cheese containing garlic, onion or chives. Kittens and senior cats should be seen sooner, because they dehydrate faster.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.