Can Cats Eat Goat Milk?
By Pettings · Sources checked Nov 2, 2026
Goat milk is an occasional treat at most, and only in a teaspoon or two of plain, pasteurized milk for an adult cat that handles dairy without trouble. It is sometimes sold as an easier option than cow's milk, but it is still milk and it still contains lactose. The ASPCA explains that pets do not have significant amounts of lactase, the enzyme that digests lactose, so dairy can upset their digestion and cause diarrhea.
What Goat Milk Offers a Cat
Goat milk is mostly water. The rest is milk fat and protein plus milk sugar. A cat eating a complete and balanced cat food already gets the protein and fat it needs, and the Cornell Feline Health Center points out that cats are obligate carnivores that rely on nutrients found in animal products, which their regular food supplies. Goat milk adds nothing that a cat lacks. Its appeal is mostly taste. WSAVA's treat guide lists milk and dairy products among foods to avoid because many cats are lactose intolerant, and that applies to goat milk as much as cow's milk.
Some goat milk products for pets are marketed as probiotic. Tufts Petfoodology notes that probiotic effects are very strain-specific and that many pet probiotic products have not matched their labels, so treat those claims with caution.
How Much Goat Milk Can a Cat Have?
WSAVA says treats should stay under 10% of daily calories, which works out to about 22 to 25 calories a day for a 10-pound adult cat. One to two teaspoons of plain goat milk adds only a few calories and fits well inside that limit. Offer it in place of a small part of that day's food, not on top of everything else.
Try a single teaspoon first and watch the litter box for the next day. If the stool turns soft, goat milk is not a treat for your cat. Kittens, seniors, and cats with diabetes, kidney disease, pancreatitis, urinary stones, or food allergies should only have it if their veterinarian agrees.
How to Serve It
Use plain goat milk that has been pasteurized. Merck's owner guide says raw dairy, including raw milk, should not be fed to cats. Skip flavored, sweetened, or chocolate goat milk, and skip goat milk powders meant for people, which may contain added sugar. Serve it at room temperature in a small dish and pour out what is left after a few minutes. Goat milk does not replace water, and it is not a substitute for kitten milk replacer.
If your cat has a medical condition or eats a special diet, talk to your veterinarian before offering goat milk.
Common Questions
Is goat milk better for cats than cow's milk?
Goat milk is not a clear improvement over cow's milk for cats, because it still contains lactose. The ASPCA explains that pets lack significant amounts of lactase, the enzyme that breaks lactose down, so milk and other dairy products can cause diarrhea or other digestive upset. Some cats may tolerate a teaspoon of goat milk without trouble, but the same is true of cow's milk. WSAVA advises avoiding milk and dairy products as treats for cats.
Can kittens drink goat milk?
Kittens should not be raised on goat milk. A nursing kitten gets what it needs from its mother, and an orphaned kitten needs a milk replacer formulated for kittens. Goat milk is not made to match a kitten's needs, and the lactose in it can still cause diarrhea, which is a serious problem for a very small kitten. Ask your veterinarian which kitten formula to use and how often to feed it.
Is raw goat milk good for cats?
Raw goat milk is not recommended for cats. The Merck Veterinary Manual's guide for cat owners says raw meat and dairy products, including raw milk, should not be fed to cats. The Cornell Feline Health Center adds that raw diets may contain bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can infect cats and the people who handle them. If you offer goat milk, choose a plain pasteurized product and keep the amount to a teaspoon or two.
Can cats drink goat milk every day?
Daily goat milk is not a good habit for most cats. Even a small amount brings lactose, which the ASPCA links to diarrhea in pets, and milk does not add anything a complete cat food lacks. If your cat tolerates it, a teaspoon or two as an occasional treat fits within the WSAVA guideline of keeping treats under 10% of daily calories. Fresh water should remain the cat's everyday drink.
Does goat milk help a cat with diarrhea?
No, goat milk is not a treatment for diarrhea and may make it worse. It contains lactose, and the ASPCA says dairy can cause diarrhea in pets because they lack the enzyme to digest it. Tufts Petfoodology also found no evidence that human foods such as yogurt bring probiotic benefits to pets. A cat with diarrhea that lasts more than a day, or that comes with vomiting, should see a veterinarian.