Giving Your Cat Treats

Does your kitty have a specific treat that she likes? Maybe Fluffy starts rubbing against your legs when you open a can of tuna, or watches you closely when you’re eating fish or chicken. Treats are fine, and can actually be beneficial, but there are some things to keep in mind when giving your furball snacks. In this article, a Leesburg, VA vet offers advice on giving your cat treats.

Fluffy can have plain, cooked meat, fish, or poultry, as long as the skin, bones, and fat are removed. Sodium-free broth is also fine. Never give your kitty garlic, onion, scallions, or chives; chocolate; caffeine; grapes, currants, or raisins; pitted fruits, especially avocado; alcohol; meat on the bone; raw meat, dough, and yeast; dairy products; or anything containing xylitol.

You’ll find all sorts of treats for Fluffy in stores. We do recommend checking labels, however. Meat, fish, and/or poultry should be listed first, and should make up the bulk of the ingredients list. Avoid products with ingredient lists that read like chemical experiments. It’s also a good idea to stick to products made in North America. Pet food manufacturers here face stricter safety regulations than they do in other countries.

If you want, you can make Fluffy’s treats. Just stick to safe, suitable options. Here’s one recipe your pet may enjoy: mix canned tuna in water with plain yogurt and a bit of parsley. Divide into small portions. Then, spread the mix into a shallow baking pan. Cook at 350 for a half hour, or until they are hard.

It’s always a good idea to keep an eye on recall alerts. You can do so by following the AMVA site here or the FDA site here . You may also want to set up some email alerts.

Kitties are very skilled little ‘meowpulators.’ Many of our furry patients have their humans more or less trained to feed them on demand. Don’t let Fluffy convince you to overfeed her. Even giving your pet just ten calories too many each day can cause her to gain a pound a year. That’s a lot for a cat! Spoil Fluffy with catnip, toys, and cuddles, instead of with food.

Please contact us, your Leesburg, VA vet clinic, for all of your kitty’s veterinary care needs. We are here to help!