If you own a cat or you are just a lover of cats, you can agree with us that it is very difficult to ignore giving treats and snacks to cats whenever you come across them. Many of us do this to show love and care to these cute feline creatures. So, it isn’t rare to see someone feeding a cat food from their table by hand while they eat. Others frequently give snacks without considering the effects they might have.
Many cat owners do not know that cat treats shouldn’t be frequently given. They also don’t know that there are certain limits that they need to stay within when feeding their pets these treats and snacks. To ensure that you are properly informed about these things, we have written this article to help you treat your cat right.
Choosing the Right Treats
So many things have been classified or called treats by many due to a lack of proper knowledge. This is why so many parents feed their pets all sorts of things. Hence, even human foods are being fed as treats and snacks. This can be harmful to your feline friend.
Foods that we humans eat are known that have high levels of salt and calories. Some of these foods do not have the necessary nutrient needed by your cat. Apart from this, cats are not omnivores but carnivores; hence, their digestive system is designed to process meat rather than grains or any plant-based food.
Therefore, feeding them foods with high calories or salt and plant-based foods can lead to overfeeding. Another problem is that their diet balance can be unsettled which might even cause them to develop crankiness. Furthermore, those foods might not be good for their dental and digestive health.
Instead of feeding them with just anything, apart from their normal meal, you can feed them treats that have been manufactured especially for cats. This is to ensure that they will not give any of the problems we just mentioned.
For this reason, you should buy these products with great care. We recommend that you look for established and recognized brands to shop cat treats. Also, contact your veterinarian to confirm if you can use a treat for your cat. They will be in the right position to give you the best advice based on your pet’s medical history.
How many treats Per Day?
One thing you must understand about cat treats is that they are not made to be given frequently but occasionally. Besides, since they contain calories, they are not balanced and complete. Hence, they aren’t meant to replace your cat’s normal meal.
Therefore, any time you choose to treat your pet with one of these snacks, you must reduce the calorific amount of the main meal. The snacks given shouldn’t exceed 10 percent of the overall calorie intake within a day. Therefore, you need to balance the diet of your cat whenever you treat them.
Is Milk a Treat?
Contrary to popular belief, milk is not good for your cat. The lactose within milk can affect your tabby’s digestive system. It might even cause diarrhea in some cases. Visit https://www.vets-now.com/pet-care-advice/can-cats-eat-cheese/ to get all the facts about cats and dairy.
If you must give your pet milk, give them one that has low lactose content to prevent the attendant issues. Such special milk still has calories because which cat treats doesn’t? See, we just answered the question (is milk a treat). As a result of this, you need to employ the technique we shared above to ensure that the diet remains balanced.
Do not replace milk for water even if it has been formulated specially. Water must always be part of your cat’s diet.
Toxic Foods that shouldn’t be given as Treats
The following are foods that you shouldn’t give as treats to your cat:
1. Dairy products
Cow’s milk, cheese, cream, yogurt, etc. should be avoided because of the lactose intolerance nature of cats. These products can cause diarrhea and vomiting.
2. Chocolate
Two ingredients (caffeine and theobromine) within chocolate are toxic for your feline. These two can cause diarrhea, vomiting, rise in body temperature, seizures, and quickened heart rate or breathing.
3. Raw fish, meat, or eggs
Although we mentioned that cats are carnivores and prefer meat, we didn’t say they should be fed or allowed to eat raw ones. Such meat, fish, and even eggs can be dangerous as they might have salmonella or E. coli bacteria. Click here to read more about salmonella. These bacteria can cause lethargy, diarrhea, and vomiting. Exposure to these bacteria can be fatal to your pet.
4. Garlic and Onions
Garlic, onions, and every member that belongs to the allium family should not be given to your tabby. These foods can lead to anemia in your furry friend. Be it cooked, raw, dehydrated, or powdered; they can destroy the red blood cells of a cat. Other problems they might cause include abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.
5. Raw dough and Yeast
These can be fatal as after ingestion, the dough or yeast can rise within the stomach of the cat leading to digestive system complications. Hence, these should be completely avoided.
Curiosity killed the cat and it is no understatement. Therefore, ensure you keep an eye on your cat to protect them from coming in contact with these toxic foods.
Conclusion
Giving treats to your cats helps in strengthening your bonds, however, you must do it right.
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