In order to reward your cat and show them some love, treats can come in quite handy. With that being said, it is crucial to understand what these treats could do and how to avoid them causing damage. Taking the most care ensures proper health by taking small measures like keeping an eye on the amount of logical snacks (treats) you provide.
Going back to celebrations, showering your furry friend with rewards can be extremely beneficial; however, always remember that moderation is the key. Not too much and not too less, is the right amount. If fed abundantly often with treats, they will convert to a picky eater, with a split preference to their main meal. Balance is everything, and this applies to your beloved cat’s diet as well.
Thus, to avoid allergic reactions, ensure your kitty is fed only proper cat-specific foods that are designed to serve its distinct needs of vitamins, minerals, and acids, formulated totally away from irrelevant and non-edible substances, “people food”. Sparingly show affection with treats like chicken, cheese, fish, and liver, but leave out dairy if you want to guarantee no tummy troubles.
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Avoid Giving Your Cat Elementary Foods
As a cat owner, you must ensure that certain foods like animal by-products (dairy), grapes, raisins, onions, spices, alcohol, salt, and tea are completely off-limits. Always pause and think to call the vet to confirm whether the food is safe as treats or not.
Do Not Give Treats To Cats Showing Bad Manners
Make sure to set firm boundaries when it comes to begging for food. Cats are trained to sit at the dining table only for humans to give them food while setting eye-level around the table causes unhealthy dependencies treats.
Do Not Give Cats Free Treats On Family Outing
For the overweight cats, take them to the veterinarian before the outing to figure out a suitable meal plan tailored for maintaining health. Heavily restricting such as removing snacks completely, leads to unhealthy habits. Cats need to be treated with a slow, gentle approach without adding rapid weight drop range. Losing weight frequently causes severe health issues like liver disease.
Look for Safe and Low-Calorie Cat Treats
Most cats find catnip and cat grass appealing, and they make for wonderful low-calorie treats. These plants are non-harmful and help to enrich the lives of indoor cats by providing them with mental challenges that aid in preventing boredom. Always double check plants to ensure they are safe for cats. You can find a detailed list of safe plants for cats on the ASPCA’s website.
Treats for Enrichment and Training Purposes
Treats can be given to cats in order to motivate them to participate in physical activities and engage in deeper thinking exercises. They can be used in the training of agility exercises and tricks or even given as a reward for good behavior. Along with helping the cat stay in shape, these activities also serve the purpose of strengthening the cat-owner bond.
Do not substitute affection with treats
Treats, while one way to show your cat love, should not overshadow giving them time and attention. Building a relationship with a cat requires spending time interacting with it physically and not just mentally; petting, playing and holding are a few examples of such activities. Keep in mind that treats should be used as supplements to love, not the other way around.
Homemade Natural Cat Treats
Making pet treats at home is an efficient way of ensuring they are quality. You can use ingredients such as cooked liver, fish and eggs because these can be controlled so there are no additional additives. If preferred, organic ingredients can be used too. But, always keep in mind that they should only comprise a tiny amount of the cat’s diet.
Choose Cat Treats that Benefit Health
Some cat treats are made to help with tartar build up, supplements or even medication. They should be denined to specific needs of the cat. For example, dental treats are known to provide better oral hygiene while other treats enable easy pet medication without causing anxiety.
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What to Avoid
- Grain Based Fillers: Do not buy treats with corn, wheat and rice as they have low nutritional value and can even cause digestion problems for cats.
- Artificial Additives: Avoid treats with artificial colors, flavors and preservatives. These are dangerous and bring about many health complications.
- High Calorie Treats: Obesity becomes a problem when pets are given too many high calorie treats, along side diabetes and joint issues.
To reward good behavior and show affection to your feline companion, providing them with healthy treats in moderation can be beneficial. It is important to reflect on the type of treats offered, as well as the overall health implications they may present. Nonetheless, by selecting safe and wholesome ingredients, your cat can remain happy and healthy.
As we know, every cat is different which means that tailored diets may look different for each cat. Consulting with your veterinarian will always be the best option in order to establish the most optimal diet and treat plan for your pet.
