Easy Tips for Buying Healthy Cat Treats
If you are one of the pet owners who love to treat their cats time and again, then you should definitely know the importance of the food being healthy. If you are overwhelmed and unable to find useful tips for buying healthy cat treats then read the following. These simple tips will help you make the right choice.
What cat treats to buy?
Cat treats and their packaging may look fantastic but that doesn’t mean the product inside is just as good. One of the tips for buying healthy cat treats is to ensure you are aware of the ingredients the treats include. You want to ensure that your cat treats consist of healthy ingredients to give your cat the best treat possible.
Vets suggest that cat treats that are not balanced and complete should consist of a maximum of 10% of your cat’s total daily calorie intake. Moreover, since treats don’t make up a majority of what cats eat, you don’t always need to be on the lookout for specific ingredients. But you need to ensure you know how many calories there are in the treat so you can feed accordingly.
What cat treats to avoid?
One of the major tips for buying healthy cat treats is to avoid those treats that have salt or sodium in them. If you have dogs and cats in your home then you should ensure you are not feeding any dog treats to cats because they can cause health problems. You should avoid cat treats that have garlic, chives, leeks, grapes, chocolate, and raisins among others.
You want to avoid giving raw cat treats to your cat because these have been linked to diseases in the past. You want to avoid giving freeze-dried cat treats too because studies show that these can cause illness too. You want to avoid giving your cat treats that have any type of sugar content in them. You can cook raw meat and then feed it to your cat.
When should you give treats to your cats?
One of the handy tips for buying healthy cat treats is to remember that you need to give the treats in moderation. You don’t want to give the treats as replacements to their meal. They should constitute a very small amount of their daily intake. This is why buying tons of them might not be a good idea although the variety is good. Instead, opt for small packs of healthy cat treats.
You want to ensure that you are giving treats to your cat when you are training her and not because you are busy working on a new project. Nothing beats attention and love. While treats can be used for positive reinforcement, they shouldn’t take the place of your time. You should spend time with your cat and give them treats occasionally.
Treats for cats with health conditions
If you already know what your cat should consume then you can look for treats that contain those acceptable ingredients. Cats that are allergic to certain ingredients should be monitored closely when you are giving a new treat; even if it doesn’t contain any ingredient that doesn’t cause an allergic reaction. That is because these cats can be highly sensitive.
One of the tips for buying healthy cat treats for cats with health conditions is to speak to the vet. There are some cat treats that have claimed to be good for preventing gingivitis in cats. If your cat suffers from any health conditions then it is best to consult the vet before you make any type of modifications such as giving your pet a particular type of treat.