9 Tips for Giving Cats Treats
Giving treats to your cat might sound simple, but there are a few things that you should be aware of before you treat your cat. Here are some simple tips to keep in mind while treating your cats according to experts.
Don’t Spoil Your Cat
Moderation is key and this cannot be stressed enough. If you rely on treats for everything then your cat will soon become a picky eater. You should offer treats at most three times a week. The treats should constitute a maximum of 10% of the calories that your cat eats.
Pick Tasty Treats For Training
If you are picking treats for your cat for training, then one of the tips to keep in mind while treating your cats is to pick tasty and healthy treats. You want your cat to have her full attention on you when you train. And this is possible only when the treat is irresistible to your cat. It might take a while to find out your cat’s favorite treat but it will be worth it.
Use Treats Wisely
It is easy to give treats all the time without realizing it. You should stick to giving treats when you are trying to exercise your cat through training; both mental and physical. You can give treats to your cat when you do something that the cat hates such as brushing her teeth.
Consider Green Treats
One of the tips to keep in mind while treating your cats is to try giving catnip as a treat. This low-calorie treat can be grown at home or you can buy them at stores. You want to make sure your cat can have it though and so ask your vet before you give it as a treat. Your cat might regurgitate it which is normal.
Make Treats At Home
You can make treats for your cat at home. For example, you can cook fish, liver, and eggs and use them as treats for your cat by storing them properly. Making treats at home ensures you know all the ingredients that go into it and so it is safer. But ensure you only add nutritious ingredients.
Avoid Certain Treats
You want to avoid particular treats and this is one of the vital tips to keep in mind while treating your cats. You should never feed toxic foods such as tea, grapes, salt, raisins, and onions to your cats because it can be harmful to her even in small amounts. Certain foods are not properly digested by cats such as milk which can lead to diarrhea if the cat is lactose intolerant.
Talk To Your Vet
If your cat has a health condition, then it is wise to speak to your vet before you give treats to your feline. For example, cats with kidney problems should not consume meat treats. If you are unsure about the safety of the treat, then speak to the vet first.
Be Careful When Giving Treats
Banning begging is one of the tips to keep in mind while treating your cats. Your cat might be drawn to the treats you constantly give to her but that doesn’t mean you should encourage begging. You should always exercise control when it comes to giving treats because constant additional calories can lead to weight gain.
Treats Aren’t Everything
Treats are amazing when used right, but they aren’t everything. One should keep in mind to not use treats as a replacement for the time you spend with your cat.