Choosing the perfect cat treats has never been an easy task. First of all, you have to deal with the fact that most commercially sold treats do not have proper labeling, so it becomes difficult to know what is contained in the product.
Another thing to deal with is the selective nature of your feline. Cats are known to be very selective and might not eat what you give them even after you go through a lot of trouble.
Knowing how troublesome the entire process can be, we have decided to write this article to help you make the process a whole lot easier.
We will look at how you can select the perfect commercial treats. We then examine other options that can serve as a substitute for commercial products.
Choosing Commercial Treats
In this section, we will guide you on how to select a commercial treat that is safe and healthy for your kitty…
1. Choose Varieties
When you go shopping, we advise that you go for the foremost varieties of these products which are crunchy and semi-moist.
Your cat might prefer the crunchy variety over the semi-moist ones or vice versa. Therefore, going home with both allows you to find out which he prefers.
2. Choose Treats to meet your Cat’s Condition
Cats are faced with so many health conditions; this is why many of these snacks have been specially designed to deal and help with some of these conditions. You need to ask your veterinarian first if it is okay to get these special products.
Some special treats are:
- Grain-free – good for allergies
- Hairball prevention – the ingredients help to reduce hairballs
- Tartar control – helps in cleaning the teeth of your cat
- Protein-rich – good for cats with low protein
- Joint health – helps to maintain flexibility and mobility in the joints
3. Read the Ingredient’s Label
For the sake of your cat’s health, read the product’s label. Once you don’t recognize many of the ingredients that are listed, the higher the likelihood that the product will be bad for your tabby.
Some of the easily recognized ingredients on most products are meats, vegetables, grains, etc. Avoid products that have so many dyes, preservatives, calories, salt, and fat.
Don’t just buy products online because you like how it looks. When you see a sign saying “cat treats. shop now.”, the first thing you need to check is their reputation and if they are the type who are open about the ingredients they use.The ingredients label of that product should be clear and easy to understand.
4. Only Patronize Products Manufactured in Regulated Countries
Many treats are manufactured in several other countries apart from the U.S. Sadly, some of these countries lack animal treats manufacturing regulation. Therefore, their practices are deemed unsafe. A typical example of such a country is China.
Ensure that you do not patronize products made in such countries. To be on the safe side, always check the product for the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) seal.
5. Make sure the product hasn’t been recalled
When a product is recalled, it means it has been removed from the shelves and is no longer being sold. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) publishes names of food on their recall website that has been deemed unhealthy.
Although the FDA might have made this announcement, some of the products might still be sold in some stores. You can also ensure that the product has been certified by a reputable third party like the one you can find here: https://www.centerforpetsafety.org/pet-parents/cps-certified/. If a product is listed on this site, do not buy it.
Other Treat Alternatives
Instead of going for commercial treats, there are other alternatives you can explore. Allow us to share some of them with you…
1. Give “People Food” Moderately
Your cat can eat some of the foods you eat in little quantities and occasionally. Just as normal treats should only be given occasionally not regularly. You can replace commercial treats with these people foods:
- Tuna (canned or cooked)
- Salmon (canned or cooked)
- Cooked turkey or chicken
- Cooked eggs
- Clams (canned)
- Cooked liver
- Sardines (canned)
- A cube of cheese once in a while
- A tablespoon of milk once in a while because of cats’ inability to digest lactose properly
2. Feed it Catnip
If you want to go natural; then go catnip. This plant serves as both a toy and a treat. Catnip toys can be played with while he also nibbles on the ones you sprinkle on your floor.
You can either choose to buy from the store or grow it in your garden.
3. Cultivate Cat Grass
Another thing you can grow that will serve as a treat is cat grass. Click here to learn more about cat grass. This plant looks like wheat and oats which will catch your kitty’s attention. It can also serve as a plaything.
It can be grown by your window during the winter months or in your garden during summer months. Interestingly, it has few calories; this is something you don’t see in most commercially sold treats.
In the event your cat throws up the grass, don’t panic. It simply means their digestive system doesn’t agree with it. All you need to do is feed your pet with catnip instead.
4. Make Homemade Cat Treats
Check online for homemade cat treats recipes. Experiment with several recipes and see which ones your cat enjoys. While doing this ensure you don’t use toxic foods.
5. Avoid Toxic Foods
Toxic foods are foods that aren’t are dangerous to us but they are to cats. They are known to cause many health problems and some can be fatal.
Some of these foods are salt, grapes, raisins, avocado, nuts, chocolate, citrus, coconut, coconut oil, onions, garlic, chives, leeks, caffeine, alcohol, yeast dough, xylitol, etc.
Conclusion
We hope we’ve been able to help you choose the perfect treats for your cat. Have you tried any of the alternatives we mentioned, what was your experience? Feel free to let us know.
