We all love to treat ourselves to tasty treats. Some people buy themselves a cappuccino, others prefer a slice of pizza, and it’s hard to count how many people with a sweet tooth can’t deny themselves a piece of candy for their tea. So I want to pamper my pets. We feed from the table, pour milk, increase the portion of dry food or mix with spiders. These are not the healthiest snacks for cats.
If you do not want to prepare balanced treats and do not adhere to natural feeding, then the best solution would be to buy a ready-made product. In this article, we have compiled a rating of cat treats of different classes and price categories.
Types of treats for cats
It is better to pamper healthy pets with food additives; goodies are not recommended for kittens and pregnant animals. The attractive components of tasty food are, first of all, pieces of fresh meat. The increased caloric content means that the treat should be a small part of the daily diet.
Pet stores sell food in the form of:
- granules;
- dried slices;
- straws;
- pads;
- snacks;
- cream jelly.
All treats can be divided into three main groups:
- wet - jelly, puree, cream soup;
- hard – pieces, sausages;
- liquid – puddings, drinks.
Treats are also distinguished by their purpose, the purpose of the treat. Owners typically want:
- just pamper your furry pet from the bottom of your heart;
- make the little predator hunt for tasty prey;
- reward with a tasty treat for patient behavior during the hygienic procedures of bathing, trimming nails, and combing;
- distract your pet from the dreary anticipation if he has to be left alone for a while.
Various goodies are used to reward animals during training in order to achieve commands.
Place #1: Orijen
So, the diamond among cat treats and the undisputed leader in our rating is Orijen products from the Canadian company Champion PetFood. These delicacies consist only of fresh boneless meat and offal of the first category, without any additives:
- Wild Boar – 50% fresh wild boar meat and liver.
- Tundra – fresh deer meat (40%), fresh elk meat (15%) and liver (30%), fresh quail meat (10%), fresh rainbow trout (5%).
- Ranch Raised Lamb – fresh meat (45%), liver (45%) and tripe (10%).
- Original – fresh chicken liver (24%), fresh turkey liver and meat (24% each), fresh Cobb chicken meat (24%), fresh flounder fillet (4%).
Stunning, comprehensive composition that does not cause mistrust. The only pity is that Orijen products are not yet available in all stores. Do you agree with our rating?
Healthy treats
Treats can not only bring joy to the animal, but also help. When purchasing, it is important to examine the components. Products enriched with vitamins are beneficial for cats with insufficient intake of nutrients and minerals. If the healthy balance of nutrition is disturbed, then exceeding the daily ration will lead to digestive disorders and gain extra pounds of weight.
Manufacturers of cat food have taken care of useful components to solve health problems in caring for pets. There are special groups of treats.
For teeth
Cleaning a cat's teeth is an impossible task for many owners. But it is possible to help prevent inflammatory processes with the help of nutrition.
Dry pads or solid granules containing plant fibers and antiseptics are designed to prevent the appearance of plaque, the formation of tartar, and strengthen the enamel. In addition to teeth cleaning and preventive use, food helps in treatment.
"Kisses" for teeth
It is recommended to give treats after feeding. You can purchase GimCat Denta-Kiss products.
For hairballs
Owners are familiar with the periodic regurgitation of pet fur accumulated in the stomach. Sometimes the animal naturally finds it difficult to get rid of the wool plug (trichobezoar). The problem is especially relevant for long-haired breeds, during periods of molting animals.
Treats made from grass, vegetables, and minerals help remove hairballs and improve digestion. Gimcat Malt-Soft Paste Extra pads are designed to help with regurgitation.
Cat grass helps remove hairballs
A green lawn with sprouted grains, which always attracts pets, helps achieve the same goal.
Combined
Basic delicacies made from ground meat and vegetables, enriched with calcium and vitamins, are aimed at regulating the digestive process. Combined ones are produced in the form of cream and pudding.
The selection of components is aimed at strengthening the cat’s immunity and normalizing intestinal function. Healthy treats, such as Edel Cat pate, will keep older animals healthy.
Results
Any pets, including cats, just like their owners, need a healthy and varied diet. But to maintain the health of your pet, one daily food is not enough, so it is important that he receives various vitamins and microelements. But not every cat is ready to consume useful substances in their pure form, and here, to help owners, special tasty treats containing all the necessary components have been developed. You can also train your pet with the help of such treats and simply pamper him. As a rule, most treats can be purchased at any pet store. But some high-quality brands are not so popular and are not always available, in such cases they will have to be ordered through specialized online stores.
Composition and review of treats
Including a new product in the diet requires caution and a preliminary study of the composition of the feed. Certain ingredients (sucrose, beet pulp, corn flour, yeast) often cause food allergies and disrupt metabolism.
All competing brands have their positive and negative sides. The advantages include high quality meat, differentiation of feed by age, natural seasonings, balanced composition to improve health. The disadvantages are the basic use of by-products and questionable components.
Despite their attractive appearance, treats from many companies are unsafe due to the lack of detailed information about the percentage of components or due to the inclusion of impurities that cause an allergic reaction.
Pro Cat
Pro Cat's production facilities are located in Thailand, although the company positions itself as a European manufacturer. Pro Cat specializes in making cat food, cat treats, and cat litter.
There is a wide range of delicacies from this brand on the market. The most popular among them are crispy pillows with filling. The healthy treat includes wheat sprouts, flax, vitamins A and E, which give the coat a shine and a well-groomed appearance and have a beneficial effect on the skin.
DIY cat treats
Many cat owners prefer to prepare treats for their beloved pets in their kitchen. You can pamper cats using natural feeding mode. Sometimes it is not forbidden to give a tasty treat to those pets who receive a ready-made diet.
Cooking options:
- Fish delicacies. Mix 130 g of small oatmeal, pieces of canned tuna, add vegetable oil (1 tablespoon), one egg. Beat the mixture in a blender with the addition of catnip. Make small balls and bake in the oven for 10 minutes.
- Appetizing slices. Mix 300 g of liver, 1 egg, 200 g of oatmeal in a blender. Spread the mixture in a thin layer on a baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes. Break the pieces.
How to properly give your pussy country treats
Country Treats is a brand that makes treats for dogs and cats made from natural ingredients. Only natural products are added to sticks, straws and other goodies for animals, and the only thing such a product is subjected to is drying at low temperatures. Rustic treats for cats are available in bags that are convenient to take with you.
Village delicacies are:
- In the form of sticks made from meat products. They produce rustic delicacies made from duck, salmon, chicken and beef.
- In the form of strips or slices of beef, rabbit, lamb or chicken.
- Rustic Catnip Treats: Liquid extract or mint ball to play with.
According to owners' reviews, cats will not refuse to try the entire range of village delicacies. It should also be given with caution: to overweight cats - rarely, and with a reduction in calories from the main diet, and to other animals no more than 1-2 times a week.
Recommended daily dose of village delicacies:
- cats less than 2 kg - 10 g;
- animals weighing 2-4 kg - 15 g;
- 4-6 kg - 20 g;
- cats that weigh more than 6 kg can afford up to 25 grams of village treats.
Is it possible to give treats to kittens?
You often want to feed your fluffy baby something appetizing. But veterinarians recommend not initially mixing natural and ready-made ones from the store. You should choose among specialized products, treats made for kittens.
Homemade goodies
High-quality baby food does not contain GMOs and contains up to 93% meat. On the packaging it is important to find information about the composition, quantity, and compliance with international quality requirements. Owners who know the calorie content of the basic diet are advised to calculate how much can be added without the threat of digestive upset.
What should the goodies be like?
The pet supply market today offers a huge range of treats for pets. Therefore, owners of furry creatures should know what requirements this favorite food of domestic cats must meet.
When choosing a treat, you need to pay attention to the following parameters:
- Class. Premium treats are considered the highest quality. There are also budget options of worse quality. It is better to buy a more expensive but high-quality product;
- manufacturer. Preference should be given to well-known manufacturers. In this case, the risk of purchasing a low-quality fake will be minimal;
- compound. The treat should consist only of high-quality products and not contain synthetic compounds, dyes and flavors, as well as allergens. Otherwise, the animal may develop an allergy.
We should dwell on the composition in more detail, since this is a key selection criterion. A quality treat should consist of the following ingredients:
- offal: beef liver, intestines, kidneys, heart, etc.;
- meat: rabbit, duck, veal, beef, fish (trout, salmon), chicken. Commonly found in wet treats. In dry products, meat is not the main component;
- grain crops: rice, millet, buckwheat, wheat, barley, maize.
Also, the composition must include flavorings such as cottage cheese, milk, cheese, and catnip. They attract the animal's attention and stimulate its appetite.
Both a small kitten and an adult or aging pet can eat this food. But remember that for each age you need to select your own food with a certain composition.
Reviews from veterinarians about treats
The treats contain ingredients that are attractive to cats, so they never turn them down even if they are full. Veterinarians do not encourage frequent feeding; they recommend paying attention to a number of important factors when choosing food:
- an overweight cat – high-calorie treats will only harm the animal’s health;
- feeding with ready-made food - it is better to choose treats from a series of one manufacturer for better compatibility of products;
- pet illnesses - treats must be approved by a veterinarian.
An individual consultation on cat nutrition will help you choose the right healthy treat.
