Check out the homemade cat toy ideas in this list for inspiration and make one today! When using treats of this kind, do not allow the quantity to exceed 5% of your cat's total daily intake.īy making smart treat choices, we can give them a little something to reinforce the good behaviors we want repeated, and simply build our bond with them.Treat your favorite feline to some new and creatively fun DIY cat toys that are sure to be a hit. Shape into cookies and bake in a conventional oven at 350° F for 25 - 30 minutes, or until the desired level of crispness is reached. Baking does change the texture of the canned food, but still offers the appropriate nutrient profile.įor a therapeutic dry formulation, grind kibbles in a blender or food processor, and mix with enough water to form dough. Using a conventional oven, bake the pieces at 350° F for approximately 30 minutes, checking periodically for the texture you desire. Cut the food into bite-sized pieces and place them on an ungreased cookie sheet. If you are using a canned food that has a fairly firm texture, slide the contents of an entire can out onto a cutting board. Most therapeutic diets can be made into treats pretty easily, and that will not disrupt the nutritional balance your veterinarian has prescribed. If your cat eats a special diet for any reason, be sure to ask your veterinarian about recipes you are considering for homemade treats. "If your cat eats a special diet, ask your veterinarian about recipes for homemade treats." Also, because homemade treats have no preservatives, be sure to store them in the refrigerator or freezer. Watch the sugar content (remember, that honey and molasses are simple sugars) - less is better and none is best. The internet has countless cat treat recipes! When choosing a recipe for homemade treats, it is best to keep it simple. So many commercial treats have been recalled or have resulted in cats getting sick. It is surprising what cats are willing to eat when they are hungry! Be sure to check with your veterinarian before feeding any vegetables in case there are vegetables your cat should not eat.Īnother terrific low calorie snack that works great for a cat treat is air popped popcorn - no butter or salt, please! Cats enjoy the crunch, and they can have popcorn snacks nearly any time - even to provide extra volume for a meal. Fresh or frozen green beans, broccoli, and cauliflower are crunchy and inexpensive easy snacks. For instance, carrots are surprisingly calorie-dense, so they do not make good treats for cats. Not all vegetables fall into this category. Water based vegetables like green beans, broccoli, and cauliflower are low calorie snacks. I’ve been told my cat is overweight and she is eating a special food to help her lose weight. Do not be fooled by treats that are labeled 'light' or 'lower calorie.' These are not significantly lower in calorie than other treats and they do add extra calories to a cat's daily intake. While activity does play a small role in maintaining optimal body condition, nutritional science tells us that 'calories in' is by far the most important part of the equation. This can contribute to a nutritional imbalance in the long term, and can turn her into a 'fussy eater,' making it particularly challenging to use special diets should the need arise later in life to manage a disease nutritionally.įinally, too many treats make a significant contribution to cats becoming overweight and obese - both conditions now affect family cats at epidemic rates. Too many treats will interfere with your cat's appetite for her regular food. Some of the popular cat treats contain 85% protein - far higher than the amount of protein found in an appropriate cat food formulation. Providing too many treats actually upsets the nutritional balance of the regular ration. Unlike commercially prepared cat foods, cat treats are NOT complete and balanced. Treats should never provide more than 10% of a cat's energy/calorie intake, and a 5% target is better. There are some simple guidelines that can help you to make reasonable choices about treats - both quality and quantity - supporting good health and still allowing for some fun. There are so many cat treat options - how do I choose a good one?Ĭat owners in the United States spend over $3 million per year on treats for their cats! No wonder making choices among treats can seem so overwhelming. I want to give my cat treats when she's a good cat and just for fun, but I also want to make smart choices about her health.
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