Week 8 - Addicted to Yahoo answer board

How much fun are answer boards !!!
All this free knowledge where an individual can post a question and have it answered by anyone who visits the site. Like Wiki and many other sites on the web, you have to qualify the quality of information being provided. I’ve posted answers before but not for quite some time – I’d forgotten how much fun it is. I found it hard to stop answering after just one question and just kept going.
The thumbs up (or down) for other members to judge quality is good … I also liked the fact that subscribers had to be a level 2 before they were allowed to vote – thus creating an element of commitment from subscribers.

I could definitely see Manilla Library including an answer board on many subjects such as new books, recommendations, suggestions, etc. The list really is endless – much like the web!

Here are the questions and answers I posted on Yahoo. I firstly responded to the cat and lactose intolerance question citing sources (B), however, the equine question (A) was more about experience and sources were not required.

Yahoo!7Answers:

A)
Question
I'm moving away - is this care list extensive enough?
I'm moving away and having to leave my horses. My mum is looking after them with the help of the other liveries. I am writing a list of notes for each horse including details of what rugs to wear and when, what to feed them, when to worm, when to shoe etc. etc.
What other things do I need to include?
Answer

I would be inclined to also include two timetables – one being a daily timetable showing (in order) which horse gets fed, unrugged, etc and then also include a calendar timetable to make it easier for your mum.

Attach an emergency list of your farrier, vet, etc and who she can call if she needs backup and is out of her depth.

Do you expect your mum to worm, or do you use a vet? If you want her to worm your horses and she is not used to it, I’d be inclined to worm them before you go and get your mum to participate.

I’d also go through the basics of horse husbandry and explain the importance of slowly changing feeds (even from one bag to another), including what colic looks like in case this occurs.

Don’t forget to ask your mum if she has any questions! All the best.

Source:
More than 30 years experience breeding and training horses.

B)
Question
Can Cats drink the same milk as us?
My mum said that there is something in the milk we drink, cats can't digest is this true?

Answer
Cats are mammals, so you naturally think that like humans who are also mammals that we can all drink the same milk but this is not the case. I would suggest that you go to the supermarket and simply purchase some milk from the pet section which is specifically designed for cats, if you feel uncertain. My cat is almost 11yo and has been given about 3 tablespoons of milk every morning since she was 4 months old and never been sick … every time you put the kettle on she knows and starts purring and meowing for her milk – I’d like to think if it gave her a sick belly she wouldn’t keep coming back and asking for milk.

Below are a couple of links and excerpts to explain both sides of the debate further.

1)
Most Adult Mammals Are Lactose Intolerant
In humans there is a condition known as congenital alactasia, but it is extremely rare; only a few cases have ever been reported. Other mammalian babies, like most humans, produce sufficient lactase to digest maternal milk. The ability to digest milk endures until the baby is weaned. After weaning, other mammals naturally graduate to life as a vegetarian, carnivore, or omnivore. Thus, there is no question of lactose intolerance in the animal world. Most adult animals refuse to drink milk. Although many people give domesticated adult cats milk in the mistaken belief that it is needed, cats that drink milk often have diarrhoea due to lactose intolerance. In man, lactase activity drops at about age 2 or 3 and may be absent by age 5 to 10.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/482131

2)
In the movies, cats love a bowl of cold milk. In the real world, giving a cat milk can do more harm than good.

While milk might seem like a natural choice for your cat, the truth is that cow’s milk offers no nutritional value for cats, and it can cause digestive problems in many. The reason is that most cats develop intolerance to lactose shortly after they are weaned. This means that they are unable to digest the sugars that occur naturally in milk. This causes problems that include diarrhea and other unpleasant digestive problems.

Some people think that cats need to have milk in order to get all the necessary nutrients. This is not true. In fact, cow’s milk does nothing to meet a cat’s nutritional needs. If a cat was fed only milk, it would not be able to survive. Feral cats provide proof that cats do not need milk to be healthy, as wild cats do not usually have the opportunity to drink cow’s milk.

As long as your cat is eating a high quality food, and has access to clean fresh water, she is getting all that she needs. Milk alone is not a sufficient diet for any cat, and should never be given in place of food OR in place of water. Replacing a cat’s food or water with milk can cause your cat to become malnourished.

Many cats do seem to enjoy milk, and this causes a dilemma for many cat owners who love to give their cat treats that they enjoy. While most cats are lactose intolerant, some are not. For these cats, milk as an occasional treat is fine. The only way to know how your cat will react to milk is to feed her some. If she does not develop diarrhea then it is safe to assume that she is not lactose intolerant, and you can continue to give her the treat she loves. Again, milk should never be given in place of food, but as a treat.

If your cat IS lactose intolerant, but still seems to crave a bowl of milk now and then, there is a way to satisfy her without upsetting her digestive system. Milk substitute that is specially formulated for cats is sold in most pet food stores. Like regular milk, it should only be given as a treat and not as a replacement for meals. Even if you feed this "cats milk" on a regular basis, a high quality cat food and fresh water should always be available. Another option for lactose intolerant cats is to give lactose-free milk. This milk is available in the same aisle as regular milk in most grocery stores.

In addition to cat’s milk, there are a lot of other ways to treat your cats to special food.

If your cat normally eats dry food, give her some wet food once or twice a week as a special treat. Many makers of dry cat food also make wet food, so you can stick with your favorite brand if that is important to you.

Another way to treat your cats is to find ways to make their dry food special. Pet stores sell special gravy that can be poured over dry food. Several flavors are available, so you can offer your cat a variety to keep her from becoming bored with her food. Another version of this is to pour the water from a can of tuna over the dry food. You can also feed your cat some tuna, in place of wet food, as an occasional treat.

Take a trip down the treat aisle at the pet store, and you will see row after row of treats. While most of them are fine for your cat, keep in mind that treats should be given as such, and should not be fed to your cat in excess as this can cause an unhealthy weight gain.

Kittens, unlike full grown cats, DO need milk, but the milk they need is their mother’s. The mother’s milk is full of all the fat, protein and antibodies that a kitten needs to grow and survive. Until a kitten is weaned, approximately four weeks after birth, a kitten should have only milk. NEVER give a kitten cow’s milk. Obviously, the ideal milk is that from the kitten’s mother. If this is not possible due the kitten being abandoned or orphaned, you will need to feed a substitute that should be available at your local pet store. The kitten will need to be fed this milk substitute several times a day. While the pet store personnel can probably answer most of your questions about caring for abandoned kitten, you should consult a veterinarian to be sure that the kitten is getting exactly what it needs.

The bottom line is that milk is not necessary for a cat, but as long as she seems able to tolerate it, an occasional bowl isn’t going to hurt.
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/should-cats-drink-milk.html