Can Cats Eat Whipped Cream? Here’s Your Answer

Are you looking for the answer if you can allow your cats to eat whipped cream?

Well, In this article, I am going to answer this question and explain if your cat can eat whipped cream or not?

Let’s just jump right into it.

We’ve seen them in animation and in some movies where cats portray a role. Cats look cute when they are caught red-handed with little whipped cream left on their nose. As if that was not enough evidence to pin them against crime.

That view instantly melts your heart, that the next time you squeeze out some whipped cream to top a cake or a drink, you are almost tempted to give you furballs some.

But, can you? As persistent as these charming creatures can be, you shouldn’t give in when they are begging for some of that whitey icing top. Why? You’re in the right place to find that out.

Can Cats Eat Whipped Cream

Can Cats Eat Whipped Cream? The Answer is NO. Cat can not eat whipped cream because whipped cream is made of a little bit of sugar, cream & vanilla extract. It’s a dairy product and they might be dangerous to cats.

Relationship Between Cats and Whipped Cream

Remember that Tom & Jerry episode where Tom blew the whipped cream to catch Jerry, and Jerry got all smothered and covered?

It was cute alright. But, in reality, it would have been a sorry situation for Tom, if he accidentally (or by purpose) ingested some of the whipped creams.

Cats, like a lot of humans, are lactose intolerant. They have a digestive system that is simply not capable of handling milk, cream and anything dairy.

Dairy products result in symptoms like vomiting, abdominal pain, and uncontrollable bowel movements for cats.

Strangely enough, felines are fascinated and enticed by anything that tastes fatty that they would gobble whipped cream just like that without caring about the consequences.

Summary:

Research shows that cats are lactose intolerant as they grow older. Since whipped creams are made of milk, it is advisable not to feed your cat any kind of whipped cream.

Lactose Intolerance and The Cause of This Condition

Like any infant mammals, cats are born with the ability to digest the main sugar in milk – the lactose. This sugar is the young creature’s very valuable source of energy. However, when such creatures wean, they lose the enzyme from the gut that helps digest lactose.(1)

In turn, the lactose becomes indigestible that when it stays in the tummy for too long, it starts to ferment, causing an upset stomach. Thus, lactose intolerance.

It happens to cats, as humans start producing less and less lactase as they grow. The result leads to lactose intolerance.

Lactose intolerant cats who consume dairy products will have undigested lactose pass through their intestinal tract while it draws water with it.

According to Cornell University, the colon bacteria also aids in fermenting the undigested sugars, producing unsettling fatty acids. This activity leads to an upset stomach that later induces vomiting.

Your cat’s lactose intolerance will manifest in about 8 to 12 hours after consuming the whipped cream that looked harmless to them. This will show symptoms other than vomiting like diarrhea.

While cats can tolerate small amounts of dairy in their diet, most have higher lactose intolerance.

So, going back to the question of whether you can have your cats eat whipped cream or not, the best answer is no.

Summary:

A cat can also suffer from diarrhea, tummy pain & vomiting after having whipped cream.

But, Kittens Fed With Their Mother’s Milk, Right?

Yes, they did. For the first few weeks of their lives, mother cat milk was all they needed to survive.

Mother’s milk was vital to kittens as they grow up. The right amount of fat, protein, and nutrients aided in their healthy development.

Eventually, when they grew up, they also outgrew the enzyme that helps them digest lactose.

When they became adult cats, they no longer can keep up with digesting them.

What Happens When Cats Consume Whipped Cream?

Like humans with lactose intolerance, cats will experience a host of nasty, unpleasant, and severe tummy pain symptoms, flatulence, diarrhea, and vomiting. These symptoms can be so severe that their bowel movements become uncontrollable.

A harmless moment of feeding your cat a squeeze of whipped cream could instantly turn into hours of having to sequester them inside the bathroom with their litter box to keep them from leaving a huge mess around your home.

What To Do If The Cat Starts to Show Symptoms After A Gulp Of Whipped Cream

Cats are one of the most persistent kitchen aficionados. Their curiosity is just endless that they feel the need to try everything you have in the kitchen.

Do you notice just how they turn into the sweetest and most adoring cat when you just walk into the pantry?

Because they want to have a bit of what you have. And, it’s not your fault that they are so adorable and you can’t say no when they beg for that cream.

After that comes several trips to the litter box, if lucky. Otherwise, several hours of waiting in the bathroom for the cats to end their series of bowel movements.

If you gave in to those begging eyes and are now suffering the consequence along with your furball, what you should not forget is the importance of hydration.

See, your cat almost never meets their average daily water goal. Most of the time, they’d rather spill that or prefer cat milk over water. But, now is your time to intervene.

If you moggy is experiencing an upset stomach from lactose intolerance, their water intake becomes especially crucial to their recovery.

Cats lose too much body fluids from the digestive nightmare and you should manage to keep their hydration level at normal at all costs.

You can supplement your cat’s diet with wet food to aid with their hydration needs. Furthermore, cats are enticed with moving objects to lure them into drinking more water using a cat fountain. Moving water attracts cats just as laser beams do.

Summary:

Try feeding them more water if you see your cat is suffering. You can also supplement some of the delicious food like this to overcome your pet’s pain.

What Foods Are Safe to Share With My Cat?

If your kitten relentlessly begs for your food, you have to be sure the food you have is safe for them. The positive side of the food pyramid is that there is about a morsel of some human foods that you can share with your food-motivated cat.

Some of them include:

• Carrots, asparagus, green beans, chopped greens, winter squash
• Plain oatmeal
• Plain brown rice
• Scrambled eggs, but not too much as eggs have high calories
• A small amount of cooked meat like chicken, turkey, duck, salmon, tuna, crab, and herring

Just like you, your cat is susceptible to food-borne illnesses no matter how much they try to convince you with their big round eyes that they are your tiny goddess. Therefore, they should only consume cooked meat and eggs.

Does It Mean Cow’s Milk Is Also Bad for Cats?

Yes, and not just cow’s milk or whipped cream. Cat owners should avoid giving dairy products to cats.

While you may have seen cats in TV shows, print ads, or animation that gulp up a bowl of milk, it is just not a good idea in real life.

However, if you have to, some milk and dairy products are specially formulated for cats to keep up with their lactose intolerance. It certainly just comes down to how much lactose the dairy product has.

Some specially formulated kinds of milk that are specifically prepared for cats that you can try are:

-> Whiskas Catmilk for Cats and Kittens ( 98% lactose reduced )

-> PetAgCatSip and Kitten Milk (99% Lactose free / 1% low-fat milk )

Calorie Conundrum In Cats Figured Out

Catster says that your persistent food motivated mouser will be unhappy to know that they can only have about thirty calories per pound of their body weight in a day.

It means limiting extra snacks to your furballs by carefully measuring out each serving of treats and meals your cat devours to make sure they do not exceed their ideal daily calorie intake.

As stated by cat-lovers the list of high-calorie foods that are not advisable for cats includes whipped cream and other dairy products.

Aside from the potential digestive upset, it may bring, your cat’s caloric intake should be considered before sharing them as a treat.

Purchasing a low-fat or sugar-free variety of whipped cream is not so sensible either. Such products contain sugars and artificial sweeteners that could be toxic to cats.

Other Human Foods That You Should Not Share With Your Cat

No matter how much your tom will beg, never give in to their persistence, especially for foods listed as harmful.

Dairy

Despite the many sweet and appealing photos of kittens gathered around a saucer of milk, in reality, cats’ digestive systems can not handle them well.

For a more detailed explanation, here is Dr. J and his video of why cats and milk just don’t mix.

 

 

Onions and Garlic

Onions, garlic, shallots, chives, and anything that contains thiosulphate should be off-limits for cats.

Thiosulphate is a compound that can cause severe problems for cats. When more than enough is digested, it could destroy red blood cells that will result in a devastating illness called hemolytic anemia.

Alcohol

Even a tiny drop of alcohol can cause a variety of nasty symptoms if your tabby manages to even lick it.

If they do, be ready to handle your cats’ digestive upset, breathing troubles, disorientation, coma, or worst, death.

Chocolate

They may be the best food there is, enough to make people happy, but they can be toxic to cats (and dogs, too).

Their chocolates’ problems can lead to diarrhea, vomiting, a drop in blood pressure, breathing troubles, and even heart failure.

The darker the chocolate is, the more toxic it brings to your cat.

Grapes, Raisins, and Currants

These popular fruits are known to cause kidney illnesses in some dogs. And, while it has not been 100% studied yet, they just might have the same danger to cats. It would be wiser to keep them away to not put them at risk.

Coffee

There has not been at least one instance when my cat ignored me when I made myself a coffee.

But, as much as you need them in the morning, the same amount of coffee you will have is more than enough to harm your feline. Caffeine toxicity can cause the following to your cats:

• Hyperactivity
• Increased heart rate
• Tremors
• Difficulty in breathing
• Seizures

A quick lick of your coffee or any drinks may not instantly cause problems but raw coffee grounds and tea bags may contain enough to quickly build up a problem.

Raw Meat

A wild cat may eat raw meat but that is not enough reason for your domesticated to do the same.

Uncooked meat contains potentially harmful disease-causing bacteria and parasites. If you want to feed them a less-processed diet to give them that “eat in the wild” feeling, at least try to freeze and properly cook to lessen the risk of giving them parasitic infection from poorly prepared food.

Raw Dough

Even at its smallest amount, yeast can quickly produce too much alcohol and carbon dioxide that your cat can handle.

Plus, the dough itself that rises and expands within the cat’s stomach may become bigger to require surgery to remove them as digestive obstruction.

Raw Liver

The liver is an excellent source of protein, iron, and many other nutrients. But, as with most food, it should be taken in moderation.

A tad bit of liver is not enough to cause problems, but too much can build up a dangerous imbalance of Vitamin A – a condition known as hypervitaminosis A.

Raw Eggs

Aside from salmonella that humans and dogs can get illnesses with from eating raw eggs, the protein in egg whites called avidin also poses a threat to cats.

When taken raw, this can block the biotin absorption, an important B vitamin essential for cats.

FAQ

1) Can cats have Starbucks whipped cream?

Answer : No. They can not have star bucks whipped cream either.

Conclusion

Cats, as described by most animations, are fat and like food a lot. But, they can’t always have it all.

Cats cannot have whipped cream. And, you sure do not want to spend the whole day attending after each of their uncontrollable bowel movements. Let alone, vomiting here and there.

Their loving eyes may be the most adorable thing in the world that you just can’t say no to, but keep a mental note in your head that they should not have whipped cream for its high calorie and the digestive issues it may cause.

Pretty sure you want to share a long, happy and healthy life with your pet, so better consult with your vet and get the best dietary plan for them.

Resources

Epicpetclub has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our process here

1) Food intolerance in dogs and cats ( https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jsap.12959 )

2) Cat & Cow milk don’t mix ( https://www.prestigeanimalhospital.com/services/cats/blog/why-cats-and-cows-milk-dont-mix )

3) Study reveals a link between starch digestion gene, gut bacteria ( https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2019/04/study-reveals-link-between-starch-digestion-gene-gut-bacteria )

4) Diarrhea of kitten ( https://www.pethealthnetwork.com/cat-health/cat-diseases-conditions-a-z/cat-diarrhea-when-it-serious-and-how-do-i-stop-it )

5) Painful Abdomen in Cats ( https://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/digestive/c_ct_acute_abdomen )

6) Alcohol Poisoning for pets ( https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952310 )

7) Raw or undercooked animal-source protein in cat and dog diets ( https://www.avma.org/policies/raw-or-undercooked-animal-source-protein-cat-and-dog-diets )