Woman Gives Kitten Leftover Milk, but There's a Problem When He Grows Up

A cat owner has unintentionally created a breakfast-time monster-and viewers can't get enough of it on social media.

In a now‑viralTikTok clip, Sofia (@sofiaochmiriam) attempts to enjoy a quiet bowl of cereal on the sofa, only to be confronted by her wife’s fluffy, determined feline, who believes the milk belongs to him.

The video, which has pulled in over 126,000 views, shows the cat perched on the table opposite her, staring down the bowl with laser focus. He stretches out a paw, then both, pumping his little fists in the air as if demanding his share.

The text overlay explains everything: Sofia's wife, Miriam, used to let him “have leftover milk as a kitten so now this is what cereals for breakfast looks like.” At the time of writing, the clip has earned nearly 17,000 likes.

It is a familiar scene for many cat owners-give in once, and you have set a precedent for life.

One viewer wrote: “I once let [one] cat lick the smallest amount of ice cream off my finger and now every time I eat ice cream I have [two] cats begging.”

Another added that their feline “goes crazy for milk, bacon and cream.”

A third commented: “My cat loves cheese, not interested in any other human food, just the cheese, prefers shredded.”

Should Cats Drink Milk?

While it remains clear that cats love milk, should they drink it? Research from the School of Animal and Veterinary Science at the University of Adelaide in Australia showed that the vast majority of felines are lactose-intolerant.

Like all mammals, kittens begin life drinking their mother's milk, but once they are weaned-typically between 6 and 12 weeks-they stop producing lactase, the enzyme needed to digest lactose.

Without lactase, lactose passes through the digestive system undigested, eventually reaching the colon where bacteria ferment it. That process produces acids and gases that can lead to bloating, abdominal pain, constipation, nausea, vomiting and, most commonly in cats, diarrhea.

Persistent diarrhea can cause dehydration, electrolyte imbalances and malnutrition, and, in severe cases, may even become life‑threatening.

Even kittens shouldn't be given cow's milk. The lactose content in this is significantly higher than in a mother cat's milk, making it difficult for their smaller bodies to handle.

If a kitten needs supplemental feeding, a specialized kitten formula is the safer choice. On top of lactose intolerance, some felines can also develop allergies to milk or dairy products, though this is less common.

Newsweek reached out to @sofiaochmiriam for comment via TikTok. We could not verify the details of the case.

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This story was originally published April 21, 2026 at 8:53 AM.