Cat Treats

Cat owners have different reasons for giving cat treats to their cats. Some cat treats target health concerns like tartar control or hairball management. Cat treats can be helpful tools for training a cat, such as during litterbox training. Some cat owners just enjoy giving their cats special treats. On the average, cat owners give their cats three cat treats a day.

Cat treats have a variety of ingredients. Most cat treats contain some sort of protein such as tuna or shrimp. Some cat treats contain catnip. The cat treats should have consistency in the contents. Some cat treats can vary significantly between packages. This variation could upset the cat’s stomach.

Some cat treats are designed to minimize the cat’s need to cough up hairballs. Cat treats for hairballs often contain an oily substance that lubricates the cat’s digestive tract to promote the passage of any hairballs present in the stomach. Cat treats for hairballs often contain mineral oil and extra fiber. Giving the cat too many of these hairball cat treats can cause diarrhea or stomach discomfort for the cat.

Cat treats for dental care should not substitute regular dental care. The effectiveness of dental care cat treats is debatable. The dental cat treats often say that they can prevent plaque buildup and reduce tartar. Many people feel that the ability of dental cat treats to remove plaque and tartar has not been scientifically proven. A cat owner should follow the veterinarian’s suggestions for the cat’s dental care.

Cat treats should not be used as a substitute for a cat owner’s attention. After giving their cat a treat, the cat owner may feel a little less guilty about not being able to spend time with their cat. However, the cat owner should recognize that the treat is not an acceptable substitute for the love and attention that the cat needs.

Cat treats can be the source of unneeded calories. If the cat is overweight, cat treats should be avoided. A cat owner should check the calories and nutritional contents of a cat treat before purchasing the snacks. Giving a cat too many cat treats is never a good idea. Even cat treats that have health benefits can be unhealthy in excess. Moderation is key when giving cat treats.