And the answer is, honestly, yes. And no.

As far as I can tell, Jim Thompson is a smart and wonderful fellow.

How do I know this?

Because he took the time to comment on last week's column. That was the column where I described what happens when you move a cat's milk, dry food and water bowls.

If your cat is anything like our Missy Kitty, you learn one of life's lessons in the process:

Don't. Don't mess with the established order. The consequences are hardly worth it.

In his comment, Jim raised an important issue, and I think it deserves to be addressed. After all, that's why readers are allowed to comment on stories and columns and much of the content of the Southeast Missourian.

Keep in mind that Jim's comment was both civil and sincere. That's not always the case with anonymous online comments. But instead of hiding behind a made-up name, Jim puts his character and his reputation on the line by using his real name. Well, I think it's his real name. I hope it's his real name, because I'm trying to make a point here.

Jim's comment: "I always heard you shouldn't give milk to adult cats."

I know the answer: Yes. And no.

I also know Jim is a smart and wonderful fellow because of what he added to his comment: "Love your column and read it religiously!"

Folks, anyone can instantly see what a good guy Jim is.

But let's look at the issue Jim raises: Milk for adult cats -- yes or no?

Well, every veterinarian I know would tell you adult cats certainly don't need milk. And many, maybe most, adult cats are lactose intolerant. Lactose is a sugar in milk that many adult cats cannot digest. This can lead to situations best left undescribed as you munch on your Cheerios.

OK. That's what the experts say, the experts in this case being licensed graduates of schools of veterinary medicine who ought to know what they're talking about.

I do not have a DVM degree. I did not go to veterinary school. But I am just short of some sort of a diploma from the Hillbilly University of Real Life over yonder in the Ozarks. Maybe you know some of the institution's more famous alums. Or maybe not.

What I learned at Hillbilly U. was that, in the long run, it's better to rely on what you have experienced for yourself than on the experiments of others.

So, I could write you a whole essay on how barn cats love to be around milk cows, especially when said cows are being milked. If the milker (that might be me, for example) aims a few squirts in the direction of a few cats keen with anticipation, the cats think they have gone to heaven. I've never known a barn cat to suffer from drinking fresh, warm cow's milk.

Then, for further proof, I could turn to the cats that have let us live with them over the years. There was Blackie who was 19 years old when he lapped up his last bowl of moo juice. He never suffered from it.

And our current Missy Kitty thinks milk is a divine gift. Really.

Look, I know lactose intolerance is no fun. I know several humans who cannot drink milk -- or, worse yet, enjoy ice cream -- because their digestive systems can't handle it. And cats with lactose intolerance certainly should not be given any milk.

But the plain fact is every cat I know not only likes milk but pretty much demands its due.

I remember when my wife and I got our first kitten. The first thing my wife did was prepare a small bowl of milk. She even warmed it a bit. "You're not supposed to give milk to cats that have been weaned," I said, somewhat authoritatively. I had read that somewhere. My wife and the cat both looked at me like I was nuts. The cat lapped up the milk, and continued to do so for many, many years.

When I go see my doctor for my annual checkup, he gives me a little speech about my diet. He includes the "milk is for babies" line every time. Why? Because a lot of adult humans are -- you guessed it -- lactose intolerant.

But I'll bet most of you reading this are slurping the last of the milk out of your cereal bowls right this minute.

My stepfather, who loved milk fresh from the cow, would work in the fields all day and come into the farmhouse kitchen to fetch a Mason quart jar of raw cow's milk with a couple of inches of cream on top. He would stir the milk and drink it straight down. He thought that was the best treat in the world.

My stepfather had a heart attack with he was in his mid-80s. No more whole milk, the doctor said. My mother's response: He's 85 years old; he can drink anything he wants.

And he did, until he died two weeks before his 100th birthday.

So, Jim, no. Some adult cats shouldn't have milk.

But some adult cats get along with milk just fine. And live to be well over 100 in cat years.

Thanks, Jim, for your comment. And thanks for reading this column. You're a swell guy. I can tell.

Joe Sullivan is the retired editor of the Southeast Missourian.