On this website we are dedicated to bringing you up-to-date, useful information on food and drink that is safe (or unsafe) for your Bengal cat.
In this article, we are continuing with that trend.
Today we are going to answer the question “can Bengal cats drink cream?”
While cream might be a delicious (and decidedly unhealthy) treat for humans, is it dangerous for your beloved Bengal cat? Keep reading to find out!
Dairy Products Are Not Ideal For Your Bengal
The first point to realise when determining if cream is a safe choice for your Bengal is that dairy products are simply not ideal for your cat.
As we have covered in other articles on this site (such as whether or not Bengal cats can drink milk) cats are lactose intolerant.
All dairy products contain lactose. Cats lack the required enzyme to properly break down lactose into a more digestible form.
What this means is that lactose consumption from cream (or other dairy products) can cause gastrointestinal issues for your Bengal. This can include vomiting, discomfort/pain and diarrhoea.
It is unlikely that cream consumption will be fatal for your Bengal, but it can definitely cause some health issues.
Cream Is Fat & Calorie Heavy
Not only is cream a bad idea for your Bengal due to the lactose content – it is also fat and calorie-laden.
Obesity and excessive weight gain are some of the most common causes of health issues in Bengal cats (especially older ones). What would be a relatively small amount of fat/calories from cream for a human to consume could be a substantial amount for your cat, and therefore you could inadvertently be contributing to health issues.
If you want to give your beloved Bengal a milky, creamy treat, then pet milk (click here for our recommendation) is a much better idea.
Conclusion
A small amount of cream from time to time is not going to be too harmful for your Bengal, but it is definitely something that you should try to avoid as much as possible.
Firstly, Bengals (like other cats) are lactose intolerant. Cream consumption could therefore cause gastrointestinal discomfort and other undesirable issues. Secondly, cream is simply not a healthy choice due to the large amount of fat and calories present in it.
We hope you found this short article helpful!
