Options for Healthy Cat Treats
Moderation and diligence are all you need to find the right treatment for your cat. Whereas some treats are all about taste, other treats have been specially created as part of treatment either as nutritional health or medicinal supplements. There are many unapproved or uncertified treats that could contain just sugar and many chemical additives that could potentially harm your kitten or cat. This could result in side effects and do not benefit your cat’s health in any way.
Cat treats must be carefully chosen. Few cats tend to develop preference towards treats, preferring them for meals. Cat treats are not balanced like a meal. Not more than 10% of the daily calories should come from cat treats. The main types of cat treats are as follows:
1. Raw cat treats
Cats are carnivores and their digestive systems are made to eat raw meat. Some cats prefer raw treats that have to be approved by AAFCO and have to be freeze-dried or frozen. They do not have a long shelf life, and hence have to be used within 3-5 days. Some top frozen raw cat treats are:
- Orijen Tundra Cat Treats
- Northwest Natural
2. Freeze-dried cat treats
Dried cat treats preserve the texture and flavor of the meat but one does not have to keep it refrigerated. It also retains the nutrients of the meat. Some of the top freeze-dried cat treats are:
- Halo Grain Free Chicken Breast Treat
- Life Essentials Chicken Treat
- Pure Bites Salmon
- Primal Turkey Liver Munchies
- Vital Essential Rabbit Bites
3. Wet cat treats
Some cats prefer wet and moist cat food rather than freeze-dried or dried treats. Some top and bestselling wet cat treats are:
- Hartz Delectable Squeeze Treat
- Chicken Mousse Stix from Tiki Cat
- Inaba Churu Pop Wet cat treats
4. Gastrointestinal feline treats
These are special treats that are given to cats when they are suffering from gastrointestinal diseases or conditions. These are common in cats and will go away in a couple of days. Some of the most popular treats that support a cat’s gastrointestinal health are:
- Royal Canin
- Annamaet Grain-Free GI Treat
5. Grain-free cat treats
Many treats use grains while manufacturing cat treats, directly reducing the amount of meat that the cat ends up getting. These grain-free treats are more value for money if you are looking for meatier treats:
- Sassy Cat Chicken treats
- Wellness Kittles
6. Dental cat treats
Dental diseases are something that cat parents are always concerned about. Treats that promote dental health in cats are very popular are:
- Feline Greenies Natural Dental Treats
- Purina Dental Life
- Wellness Kittles Crunchy Treats
There are many cats treats available out there. It finally comes down to you and your furry pet. It is important to remember that treats cannot substitute a real meal, and they don’t have to be fed treats every day. Cats are likely to get habituated and will start anticipating treats. This could affect their feeding routine.