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In this article, I explore whether Greek yogurt is safe for cats. Greek yogurt is somehow different from regular or normal yogurt in a number of ways.
Therefore, we explore whether this difference makes it suitable for cats. I will also address whether yogurt can be used to treat a cat’s diarrhea and constipation, or as an antibiotic.
Article Contents
Can Cats Eat Greek Yogurt Safely?
Greek yogurt can be quite beneficial to cats because, despite the extra straining, it has live cultures that can help the cats with many nutrients.
For example, as already stated in this article, yogurt contains sodium, carbohydrates, fats, and proteins that help with the cat’s growth and development.
If cats consume the yogurt they are likely to benefit immensely from these unique benefits which would then result in a healthy pet.
The only issue with yogurt for cats is the fact that some flavors may affect the cat’s health negatively.
It is therefore advisable to avoid flavored Greek yogurt as much as possible if you intend to feed it to the cats.
Therefore, if you are looking for an answer for the safety of Greek yogurt for cat consumption, then the answer is clear: It is safe for cats to eat Greek yogurt as long as it is not flavored.
What is Greek Yogurt?
Greek yogurt is similar to regular yogurt, especially as far as the initial stages of preparation are concerned. However Greek yogurt involves taking regular yogurt into an extra stage of extensive straining.
The straining results in the removal of lactose and liquid whey. The resultant product is a thick-textured, highly viscous yogurt.
Differences between Greek and Regular Yogurt
- The first difference between the two types of yogurt concerns the texture. As already stated, Greek yogurt has a thicker texture compared to the regular yogurt
- Regular has about twice the amount of protein found in regular yogurt
- Regular yogurt contains about twice the amount of sodium found in Greek yogurt
- Greek yogurt has about 300% of the amount of fat contained in regular yogurt
- Unsweetened Greek yogurt contains about 50% of the carbohydrates in the regular yogurt
Can Cats Eat Vanilla Yogurt?
Is vanilla-flavored yogurt safe for cats?
Well, vanilla is a flavor added to many human foods such as cakes and ice cream. It is not toxic for cats and shouldn’t cause any harm to the cat when consumed in small amounts.
However, it is worth noting here that many cats do not like the taste of vanilla in their food and some cats may not like regular or Greek yogurt that has been flavored with vanilla.
Yogurt for Cats with Diarrhea
Is your cat suffering from diarrhea? And you concerned if Greek or regular yogurt can help?
Well, I am happy to inform you that yogurt is one of the many foods for cat diarrhea.
Yogurt contains probiotics that are very effective in fighting against some of the many minor causes of cat diarrhea. That, therefore, means the only worry you should have here is whether or not the yogurt has active cultures
Yogurt for Cat Constipation
If your feline friend is suffering from constipation, you may need to think of giving it small amounts of yogurt.
Constipation may be caused by bowel movement issues which may be addressed through the use of yogurt.
Yogurt is full of probiotics that help some of the causes of bowel issues in cats such as allergies.
This explains why some people observe a relief cat after consuming yogurt.
It is advisable to limit the yogurt to non-flavored brands to ensure the flavors do not create a new problem for the cats
Yogurt for Cats on Anti-biotics
If your cat is on antibiotics and you would like to find out if it is safe to give it Greek yogurt, well get this from the Pet Diaries as long as the yogurt is (preferably) not flavored, you can always give it to the cat.
The probiotics in Greek yogurt help with the renewal of the healthy bacteria in the cat’s body and thus help fight most infections.