Cat treats come in handy when you are training your pet or rewarding it for good behavior. When buying the treats, be ultra cautious and ensure you buy the right ones for your cat.

What should you look out for when buying treats? Here they are:

Nutritional value

Many people use treats for training and special occasions, but this doesn’t mean they should be nutritionally empty—they should still pack beneficial nutrients. A good rule of thumb is to buy treats made with high-quality proteins such as fish and chicken.

When making the purchase, pay close attention to the packaging. If the treats have plenty of artificial ingredients, such as artificial colors and flavors, stay away from the treats, as the cat doesn’t need the additional ingredients.

You also should watch out for treats with a lot of sugars and carbohydrates as they can lead to obesity, heart problems, and other conditions.

Some of the excellent treats currently in the market are the Vitakraft Lick ‘n’ Lap Cat Treats.

The Lick’ n’ Lap treats are made from real chicken and salmon and are conveniently packaged in single-serve squeeze pouches that make them easy to feed to your cat from your hands.

You can serve the treats to cats of any age, and they are expert-recommended for training and bonding.

The treats were named the best cat treats in 2022 by People magazine. They come in different varieties, such as smooth jelly, snacks, and meaty gravy, so you will find those ideal for your cat.

If this is the first time you are giving your cat treats, and you aren’t sure about the right ones to go for, it’s best to consult your vet, who will advise you on the best treats to give your pet and how to go about it safely.

The company you buy the treats from

The company you buy your treats from goes a long way toward determining your experience. For peace of mind, buy your treats from a reputable company selling high-quality products.

You can tell how reputable a company is by reading customer reviews, checking for certifications such as FDA and USDA, and confirming that the company follows the manufacturing best practices.

Before you buy from a company, do your due diligence and ensure that the company is reputable and manufactures only high-quality treats that you feel comfortable giving your cat.

As mentioned above, get your vet’s input if you aren’t sure about the right company to buy from.

Allergies

Like humans, cats have food allergies and sensitivities, so it’s wise to consider these before buying the treats.

If you have noticed that your cat gets itchy, develops gastrointestinal problems or respiratory issues whenever you give it certain treats, you should stay away from the brand, as chances are high that your cat is allergic to certain ingredients in the treats.

Food allergies are challenging to diagnose, but you can work with your vet and undertake a food elimination test. Here you feed your cat a specially formulated hypoallergenic diet for a couple of weeks, then gradually reintroduce the allergens one at a time until you see a reaction.

When you know what your cat is allergic to, you should be ultra cautious and ensure that the treats you buy don’t contain harmful ingredients.

Giving the treats to your cat

Most people keep cats as pets, but you should remember that they have their nutritional needs, so you should ensure that the food and treats you give them meet their needs. As a rule of thumb, always ensure that everything you give to your cat is a balanced diet.

As mentioned above, when buying treats, buy those rich in proteins but low in carbohydrates. To prevent your cat from getting obese, avoid treats rich in fat.

As much as you love your cat, you don’t want to overfeed them and make them obese. You should always keep an eye on your cat’s weight and adjust your treats accordingly.

Things you should know when giving treats to your cat.

Give treats as a reward or for training purposes.

Use treats for what they are designed for—to treat your cat. This means you shouldn’t be giving your cat treats all the time.

Vets and other animal and pet experts agree that treats should be something the cat should be looking forward to as a reward for good behavior or after learning new tricks.

This means that the treats should be special–they shouldn’t be regular food. They also should be delicious (from the cat’s point of view).

Give the treats in moderation.

As mentioned, cat treats should be special, and as a result, they shouldn’t be a replacement for regular food. Even when you give your cat the treats, don’t give them all the treats at once.

One vital factor to consider is the calorie content in the treats. Some manufacturers will have this information on the packaging, while most will have it on their website. It’s up to you to visit these websites and identify the calories in the treats.

Of course, to protect your cat from obesity and heart problems, avoid giving it too many treats than they need.

Don’t experiment with your cat.

Cats will eat most foods, and you can use a rarely eaten food as a treat. While this is the case, you should note that some foods can lead to illnesses, and stay away from them. As a rule of thumb, avoid foods or treats containing garlic, chives, grapes, onions, chocolate, and raisins, as they have been shown to be harmful to the cat.

Treats aren’t a replacement for attention.

When you are busy and don’t have time for your cat, it’s easy to toss your cat a few treats when you are in the house and think everything is in order. Unfortunately, this isn’t the right way to go about it.

If you have chosen to have a pet, set a time for it when you can play, snuggle, walk or do any other enjoyable activity together. Don’t buy treats and think your work is done.