5 Of The Healthiest Treats For Cats

Reviewed By Kyoko •  Updated: 11/11/20 •  11 min read
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While treats ought to dependably be utilized wisely, particularly for cats that tend to put on weight or are as of now overweight – most owners end up ruining their catlike accuses with treat periodically. Treats likewise have their place when training (and yes, cats can be trained). Since the vast majority of us will give our cats treats, it’s critical to pick sound choices for our pets. A similar thing that applies to meals applies to treats: cats are committed carnivores, and like this, don’t just require starches, but instead have a tendency to do ineffectively on a meal that is too high in carbs, particularly grains. These flesh-eating animals cherish meat and will chase pretty much anything they can lay their paws on.

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Be sure to read the labels of any of the foods you provide your cat. Even the treats. Depending on the age and activity level of your cat, be sure to match the food and treat to that data. Your vet can assist you as can a knowledgeable clerk at your favorite pet food store.

The idea is to keep treats as occasional snacks and not to have them completely replace a normal meal. That’s partly because the treat will not contain all the nutrients your cat should receive if it were eating a normal meal

Our Top 5 Healthy Treats For Cats

1. PureBites Shrimp Treats for Cats

PureBites treats are produced using just a single (or now and again two) dehydrated ingredients. The treats, here – the shrimp, are dehydrated raw to conserve a significant part of the aroma that is so attractive for cats. Each shrimp just has one calorie, which implies that you could give them to urge a chubby cat to exercise without adding much to their daily intake. Besides shrimp, you can get other flavours like chicken, turkey, whitefish, duck, salmon, chicken and duck, or meat liver.

The main ingredients include dried wild shrimps.

2. Get Naked for Cat treats

Cat treats provide the advantage to be easily measurable as a supplement. This specific crunchy treat with cranberry juice can help battle urinary tract diseases. Cranberries can improve urinary system flow by keeping microscopic organisms from moving to the bladder divider. This is among the best treats for cats due to its given medicinal property. These crunchy treats are great for your cat’s teeth as well!

The First 6 Ingredients includes the following: Chicken,  Yellow pea, Vegetable glycerin, Natural chicken flavor, Lentils and Chickpeas.

3. Blue Buffalo Wilderness treats for Cat

The Blue Buffalo alternative is a soggy treat, leveraging good meat. They’re without grain for cats sensitive to wheat, leveraging potatoes instead as one of the main ingredient. This gives them reasonable amount of sugars, so no need to search further for treats for cats with diabetes. For your cat, these is a great alternative that isn’t  too far-removed from a homemade recipe. This treat is also a good option for kittens. Flavors include Chicken with a number of additional ingredients such as Duck, Salmon, Turkey and Trout.

Main 6 Ingredients (Chicken and Turkey): Chicken, Vegetable Glycerin, Turkey, Potatoes, Natural flavor and Gelatin

4. HaloLiv-a-Littles Natural Treats for Cats

Like the PureBites mentioned earlier, these treats are dried bits of meat in toothsome pieces. These are somewhat bigger than the flaky PureBites treats. They’re on the harder side, so this may give your cat something to bite on for a few minutes. Lamb and Rabbit are also available.

Main ingredients (Chicken Breast): Chicken, Carrageenan Water and Sodium phosphate

5. Cat Greenies Dental Cat Treats

The cat greenies are worth testing as well as a healthy treat for cats. If you want your cat to keep clean teeth, then this might be a good option. I at times give the canine form to my dog to remove stains from their teeth, and they love it! These are probably to avoid for cats with diabetes. These bites includes catnip, hamburger, chicken, chicken and salmon, sea fish, salmon, and fish in bundles of two and a half ounces, three ounces, five and a half ounces, or twelve ounces.

Main Ingredients (Original): Chicken, Wheat,  Corn gluten feast, Poultry fat (protected with blended tocopherols), Oat fiber and Brown rice.

Should I Give Treats to my Cat?

It’s a little bit like you replacing one or two of your regular meals with snack food. You may get away with it every now and again, but to completely switch out a meal and replace it with snack food is not going to be very healthy for you in the long run. This is the very same thing to keep in mind about your cat and the feeding of treats. We want to show love to our pets. This is often translated into anything that demonstrates how we adore them and value their essence in our everyday lives. As people, however, we connect treats with being compensated, so we some of the time get a kick out of the chance to give our cats treats, as well. While dog treats have a tendency to be utilized as a training device, cat’s treats don’t have that same reputation. A few cats can unquestionably be trained, however, it’s not as usual.

Treats for cats are merely to spend a couple of minutes associating with them or to boost play

Considering cats eat as much as an ounce each time (my little Suzzy takes up to three on occasion), we would prefer not to stress as considerably over the fixings as we legitimately do with the packs and jars with a dumb deceiving name. However, I am thinking about whether every one of the exchanges about carrageenan, vegetables, and grains apply to cat’s treats because Suzzy eats them consistently and amid her most recent two weeks, she declined to eat whatever else.

What Makes a Cat Treat Healthy?

Control is vital! It is okay to feed your cats treats, yet they “ought to be a little piece of the eating routine,” How little? Numerous specialists suggest cat treats could make up close to 10% of the aggregate calories a feline eats. That is because most treats don’t add anything besides calories to cat’s diet. The 90% of your cat’s calories should originate from a high caliber, healthfully entire meal.

This verifies the point made above about not allowing treats to replace normal meals. The only exception to this rule is for a cat that just eats dry cat food. A nutritionally balanced and properly formulated wet cat food can be used as a treat. Or at least that’s what your cat will think it is. If you are using the right – nutritionally balanced – wet cat food, you can let your cat think it is getting a major treat where all you are essentially doing it feeding the same food but in a somewhat different format.

Certain human meals can be utilized as treats

Considering the way that cats are flesh-eating, certain meals which human consumes could be used as treats. Little amounts of cheddar, boiled fish, and eggs are for the most part safe treats if given moderately. Unusual as it might sound, a few cats enjoy watermelon or melon, which are likewise alright to give in little sums. Cats ought to never give onion, garlic or sweet treats like chocolate. Obviously alcohol or jazzed drinks are also off the table, even with little measurements. Concerning frozen yogurt, a couple of licks all over won’t be an issue for healthy cats.

Also be aware of the potential of food allergies. If your cat exhibits behavior that is uncommon with any other food item you serve him or her, don’t discount the possibility of an allergy. Just like humans, cats can react to certain foods that irritate them in some way. Also, a treat food that your cat liked at one stage in its life may not always be the same treat food it will like later in life. This is a good reason to keep changing up what you provide as a treat food. For example, rotate treats that contain fish, chicken, beef or vegetables as the main ingredients. You will keep giving your cat something ‘new’ where feeding the same kind of treat all the time can result in a dislike for the same old treat out of boredom or disinterest.

Why cats require healthy treats?

I think one thing cats are great at showing is Hedonism which means “pleasure seeking.” Treats can cover both delight and care. It is important to search for and purchase healthy treats for cats in order to avoid stomach issues for your pet. It is wrong-headed and wrong-hearted to ever feel like our cats are excessively centered on food consumption. Without this concentration, neither of us would get past our day cheerfully! It can be as simple as bundled snacks or as stewed chicken liver paté. However, since it is difficult for small cats (kittens) to consume certain treats, it is necessary to get special treats for kitten. We should pay special attention to our cat’s treats. It is advisable to take time to find the best treats for cats by trying a few and letting your cat pick his favorite.

1. Source of nutrition

One of the advantages of “treats” is the opportunity to offer our cats better supplements. Sometimes ago I was preparing chicken blends using rotisserie chicken. Suzzy’s reward for remaining on top of the Cat Cabinet was getting a few bites of the meal; some chicken for a good supper. This fulfilled us both. It also demonstrates the importance of ‘mixing it up’ when providing cat treats, as discussed above.

2. Source of affection

When we offer our cats healthy food, we sustain their body and soul. Similar to what we do for ourselves, a few treats are comforting while being  light on meals. By attempting to give our cats treats that are both great to eat and right, you can make their day while taking care of their health. Don’t forget that some cat treats serve a greater purpose. Some are specially formulated to eliminate bad breath. Some are meant to assist with cleaning teeth. Others are specific in helping to keep a bored cat occupied and engaged. Treats for your cat are far more that you rewarding them for doing something good. A good cat treat is also a healthy item to feed your pet.

3. Mix it up (variety)

We tend to give pet treats for various reasons. On the off chance that your cat will have its next twenty or hundred meals from the same pack, an incidental treat of another flavor will make it appreciate treats more. Remember that it is essential to keep your cat on a regular brand of pet meal to maintain a strategic distance from stomach related issues or problems, although an occasional exception won’t hurt.

4. Useful in training

When educating your animal, a positive reward enables the pet to perceive what you need it to do. Cat treats are valuable training instruments but don’t give them excessively – only every now and then. If these little “gifts” lose their positive impact, it is time to try something else! If your cat isn’t behaving as you need it to, don’t give it another treat. Be patient, and dependably give your cat the chance to succeed.

5. Aide in battling pressure

After a sickness or casualty, it is vital to get patients eating again, right? So, delicate, simple to bite, and tasty treats can allure your cat’s craving and allow it to recover it’s typical diet. It is advisable to choose treats based on reviews provided by professionals and friends. Some unpleasant circumstances can send a cat off it’s eating habits, treats can then be used to help them recover. However, for a cat recovering from a surgical procedure, as an example, a cat treat may be the one thing that gets your cat back on track with regular meals.

Nevertheless, it is advisable to take time to understand what type of treats your cats love, have it test a few and make sure to select one that will make you both happy!

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Kyoko

Kyoko is from a family of 3 and moved to New York with her parents and siblings when she was 13. Kyoko is fond of spending a great amount of time with pets, specifically her beagle Luna and cat Missy. Her boyfriend often complains that she spends too much time giving attention to their animals. Kyoko has written dozens of articles concerning pets and is aiming at owning a pet shop one day!