Should i feed my cat treats

Many of us maintain a little stockpile of our favorite snacks in a cupboard somewhere. And plenty of pet owners feel that their beloved four-legged companions deserve their own stash of treats as well. But does the habit of giving treats actually benefit our cats — or is it more a matter of anthropomorphism than anything else?

Giving treats to cats is less common than with dogs. However, training is actually a great reason to introduce treats to your cat, she says. Food that is not in a bowl can be a powerful motivator.

But calories do count. Heinze, call the company and ask them about calorie information. Even for a healthy-weight cat, calories from treats should make up no more than about 10 percent of the total daily caloric intake. If your cat weighs eight or 10 pounds, she may need only to calories a day — so treats should provide only 20 or 25 calories a day.

Obesity in cats is growing at a worrying rate. Overfeeding and lack of exercise can contribute to weight gain. It is common for cat owners to give extra treats to express love and kindness. The reality is that being overweight can lead to health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, joint pain and arthritis. Many of the ingredients in some cat treats are unhealthy for your cat. Some have a very high fat content while others are simply filler ingredients with very little nutritional value.

High protein, low fat treats are the best treat options. As crazy as this may seem, some cats start to refuse to eat their normal meals and only eating treats. It is so easy to give in, wanting your cat to eat something and so the pattern continues. Cutting right back on treats is they key if this happens. Dry treats — just the sound of this bag being opened can excite the calmest kitty. Dry treats are great for activity feeders or treat dispensers. Ensure you read the manufactures guidelines for the calorific value per treat as they do vary.

We love to hide a few of these treats in the catio — our cats have great fun sniffing and hunting for the treats. Lick treats — these treats can be given to you cat straight from the packaging or can be poured over some dry food. Keeping cats hydrated in summer can be challenging, we found that pouring some lick treats over some ice cubes is a great way to keep cats cool and to help hydration. Homemade cat treats — if you enjoy cooking and are feeling creative there are so many recipes available to make your own homemade cat treats.

These two books are among our favorites that we found:. The Kitty treats cookbook by Michelle Bledsoe. This book has several lovely recipes and even comes with a fish shaped cutter! The recipes are clear and easy with great photographs too. Dinner table scraps — A quick easy treat for your cat is so save a little leftover from your dinner serving. By this we simply mean a slice of lean turkey or some small pieces of cooked beef cut into cubes.

Just a few pieces to tantalize the taste buds otherwise it may be difficult to control the calories. The following foods are not safe for cats:. This list is be no means exhaustive. Smoothies for cats — For the ultimate treat, why not make your cat their own smoothies! Seems like they can be very taste, nutritious and a great occasional treat. This is an increasing problem being posted on kitty forums and chat groups.

Well it did! For example, highly active and healthy kittens can have more treats than less active older cats. Usually store-bought cat treats will have serving recommendations.

You can find out exactly how many calories your cat needs according to their weight, health conditions and breed by visiting a vet. Signs that your cat is eating too many treats include skin reactions, foaming at the mouth, vomiting, gas, diarrhoea or constipation and refusal to eat their usual cat food meal. If you are worried about feeding your cat too many treats or they have food allergies, you can try using a cat food with a different texture than their usual one. An example is using dry cat food or kibble if your cat usually only eats wet cat food.

Too many cat treats can lead to obesity in cats, due to the high calorie content, and digestive problems such as vomiting or diarrhoea. Filling up on too many treats also means your cat is not getting the required nutrients, vitamins and minerals from their nutritionally balanced cat food. Contact a vet immediately if your cat displays any serious reactions or worrying symptoms after eating cat treats.