Giving your cat treats can be a great way to bond with your pet, but there are a few things to keep in mind. Of course there is the obvious stuff such as not giving your cat too many treats, and not giving them human foods which could be problematic for them (such as milk). Finding healthy treats to give your pet is also important, so let’s take a look at some ways that you can find healthy treats for your cat:
1. Don’t over treat your cat
As you may know, allowing your cat to eat as much as it wants is a sure-fire way for it to become overweight, and this applies even more when it comes to treats. This is because many cat treats have more calories than regular cat food, kind of like how it works with snack food made for humans. Unlike human junk food though, cat treats tend to be made with the cat’s health in mind to at least some degree. When you buy cat treats always check the calorie count, serving suggestion, and other important info on the packaging. If you’re ever in doubt, talk to your vet and see what they have to say about it.
2. High protein treats
Another similarity between a cat’s diet and a human’s is that having a high protein intake is important. Protein helps the body build muscle, strengthen bones, and burn fat. It also works as an appetite suppressant, helping to keep your cat satisfied without overfeeding. Another great thing about high protein treats is the fact that protein isn’t bad for your cat’s kidneys, and can even help lower its blood pressure, which can be important for overweight cats. The only downside here is that high protein treats may cost a bit more than the generic treats your cat is used to, and they may develop a strong preference for them, making other treats obsolete.
3. Avoid feeding human foods
Giving your cat human food can have many negative consequences. Not only will your cat probably start bugging you every time you eat a meal, the human food itself could cause problems for your cat’s health. Take milk for example. While this is a common cat treat used on TV and in cartoons, it’s actually bad for cats because their bodies have trouble processing it and it can give them diarrhea. Tuna is also another good example of a problematic human food since a cat’s smaller body is much more susceptible to the Mercury contained in it. In any case, always stick to giving your cat actual cat treats. And if you’ve been feeding your cat off your plate at meal times, just give them cat treats at meal time instead.
4. Non-food treats
Believe it or not, there are ways to treat your cat that don’t involve food. One such method is using the cat brush. Most cats love this and consider it a treat in and of itself. You could also give them catnip as well if they’re responsive to it. Another option would be getting your cat a new toy for it to play with, or simply taking the time to play with your cat in general which many people neglect.
5. Be smart about treating
Cats aren’t capable of understanding how to take care of their own health. They don’t understand that eating too much can make them fat and susceptible to heart problems and diabetes, and they don’t understand the problems that humans can cause for their bodies. Also, remember that cats can be susceptible to cat food allergies as well, the same way dogs can be susceptible to dog food allergies, so always talk with your vet about what treats are safe for your cat. Be smart about your cat’s diet, and it will live a long, healthy life.
