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An orange longhair cat stands in a puddle of spilled milk on a kitchen floor with a small, guilty smile. 11 / 25

A Ginger Longhair Is Standing in the Spilled Milk With a Little Smile

AI imageorange catspilled milkkitchen

The milk spread out in a perfect white pool on the kitchen floor, and the ginger longhair stepped right into the middle of it. His fur is a warm orange and slightly damp around the paws, and he looks up with amber eyes and a tiny smile that might be an apology. A bowl, a plate and a pair of slippers sit nearby, and a bag leans against the cabinet behind him.

Cats and milk are one of the oldest pairings in picture books, but real life is more complicated. Most adult cats cannot digest cow's milk very well, since they produce less of the enzyme that breaks down lactose. A tiny lick should not hurt, but it can lead to gas or loose stools in some cats. Water is a much better drink.

If milk spills, clean it up soon so it does not sour and so nobody slips. Wipe your cat's paws with a damp cloth, since cats will lick their paws and swallow whatever is on them. If you want to treat your cat, there are lactose-free milks sold for cats, and your vet can advise on how much to give.

The ginger fellow does not seem to mind that his toes are wet. He stands in the puddle as if he planned it, calm and proud. Whatever the lesson might be, he is not learning it today.

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