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.
I want to give my cat treats when she’s a good cat and just for fun, but I also want to make smart choices about her health. There are so many cat treat options – how do I choose a good one?
Treats should never supply a cat with more energy or calories than 10% of their total intake; a 5% target is preferable. In contrast to prepackaged cat food, cat treats lack complete and balanced nutrition. In fact, giving out too many treats throws off the regular ration’s nutritional balance. Some of the most well-liked cat treats have 85% protein, which is significantly more than the amount of protein present in a suitable cat food formulation.
If your cat has too many treats, it won’t be as hungry for normal food. This may eventually lead to a nutritional imbalance and make her a picky eater, which will make it more difficult to employ special diets if she needs them in the future to manage a disease.
Lastly, an abundance of treats is a major factor in cats gaining weight and becoming obese, two conditions that currently strike family cats at epidemic proportions. Activity does help maintain an ideal body condition, but the most crucial factor in the equation, according to nutritional science, is the amount of calories consumed. Treats with the labels “light” or “lower calorie” are deceptive. These do add extra calories to a cat’s daily intake and are not appreciably lower in calories than other treats.
What are the “best” treats for cats and kittens?
Giving treats to cats can be enjoyable! Who doesn’t love to hear excited meows and purrs, or see their kittyBAE batting around a treat ball with cute energy? However, in the excitement, it can be simple to forget that treats are meant to be treats and should not make up a significant portion of your pet’s diet. Here’s what to know before you stock up.
When kittens are completely weaned and eating solid food, they can enjoy treats! Treats are a great training aid. Limit yourself to a few small treats each day; the idea is for them to be memorable rather than a given.
How many cat treats can my cat have a day?
It may seem unfair, but calories count for cats, too. High-quality cat food is made to provide cats with the calories and nutrients they require. However, cat treats are typically made to be purely edible rather than healthy. Thus, giving your cat a lot of treats will result in a lot of empty calories. That could be an issue because consuming too many calories can quickly result in obesity and major health risks.
That simply means that treats shouldn’t make up a significant portion of your cat’s diet. First, find out how many calories your cat should consume each day from your veterinarian. 90% of that total should come from high-quality cat food for your cat, and only 10% should come from treats.
Examine the label on the package containing your treats once you know the total number of calories permitted for them. Selina can have four treats a day for training or enjoyment if each one has five calories, in addition to 190 calories from high-quality cat food to support a healthy body. Picking a quality pet food.
FAQ
Is it bad to give my cat treats everyday?
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Do cats really need treats?