Give your cat treats, but in moderation. Don’t get her used to begging, avoid fatty pieces of fish and meat, and choose cat-specific treats that take care of her teeth and mouth.
Give your cat treats to reward her
Treats are essential to your cat’s development …. They’re an important part of the fun you give your cat and help strengthen the bond between you and your cat.
But when giving your cat treats, there are a few essential guidelines to follow, or you risk endangering her health and/or disturbing her behavior.
There are some rules to follow when giving treats to my cat
Giving treats to your cat
Avoid getting your cat used to “begging
Cats are instinctively tempted to beg for more food when you’re preparing a meal in the kitchen or when you’re at the table. By giving in to his demands, you are getting your cat used to exceeding his daily food intake, with the associated risk of becoming overweight.
Avoid “human” foods
Most of the time, different family members give the cat in the house table scraps as treats. These are usually pieces of meat or fish (fatty parts), dairy products (which adult cats have trouble digesting) and sweets. All of these foods contribute at best to an unbalanced diet and at worst to illness.
Choose “special” treats for your cat
Treats specially developed by veterinarians are guaranteed to provide your cat with vitamins and minerals. Soft or crunchy bites in a variety of flavors can satisfy your companion while avoiding excess.
Combine treats for your cat with oral and dental care
There are treats specifically designed to help your cat fight oral problems such as gingivitis, bad breath and scaling of teeth.
5 Do-It-Yourself Cat Treats Recipes
Treats are important and contribute to your cat’s development. They contribute to reinforce the emotional bonds with him in another way than the caresses. They also contribute to his hygiene by limiting the formation of tartar because the treats are crunchy and rub the surface of the teeth. If you want to cook these treats yourself, we suggest 5 very easy recipes.
1- A recipe for tuna and oatmeal cat treats
Oats are rich in protein, good fats and fiber. Fiber has a role in regulating cholesterol and glucose levels. This is why these treats are also suitable for overweight cats. If in doubt, ask your veterinarian for advice.
Easy to make and requiring little cooking time, don’t make too much the first time: your cat may not like the oatmeal in this recipe if it’s not used to it. If this is the case, reduce the amount of oatmeal.
Ingredients:
5 tablespoons of small oatmeal (note that organic oatmeal is usually large)
80 g unsalted tuna in oil
1 egg
Preparation:
Pour all the ingredients into a bowl and mix until you get a homogeneous, thick and sticky paste. You can use a blender if you want a fine texture.
Form small, compact, not too thick balls by hand. You can also use silicone molds. If the dough crumbles too much, add a little sunflower oil.
Bake for 12 minutes at 180°C maximum. It can be less, depending on the thickness of the treats and your oven.
2 – A recipe for cat treats with two flours
Ingredients:
250 ml whole wheat flour
60 ml soy flour
250 ml water
2 tablespoons of honey
15 ml sunflower oil
salt
Preparation:
In a bowl, first mix the two flours, then the rest of the ingredients.
Let the dough rest in a warm place for 30 minutes and preheat the oven to 200°C.
Make up the cookies by placing small piles of dough on a baking sheet covered with baking paper and flattening them.
Bake for about 20 minutes (watch).
3 – A recipe for sardine cat treats
Ingredients:
100 g canned sardine crush
30 ml skim milk powder
60 ml of wheat germ
Preparation:
Mix all ingredients and make small patties (about 24 pieces) and place on a baking sheet covered with baking paper.
Bake for about 20 minutes at 180°C (watch).
4 – A recipe for chicken liver cat treats
Ingredients:
100 g chicken liver
50 g corn flour
2 eggs
50 g milk powder
2 tablespoons of oil
Preparation:
Mix all ingredients and blend, roll out the dough with a rolling pin on a non-stick baking sheet.
Bake at 200 °C until the knife comes out clean.
Let cool and cut into small pieces with a knife or cookie cutter.
5 – A recipe for salmon and cheddar cat treats (gluten free)
Ingredients:
- 190 g canned salmon
- 30 g grated cheddar cheese (or other low-fat cheese)
- 3 eggs
- 50 g rice flour
- 3 g gluten-free baking powder
- 30 cl of water
Preparation:
- Beat the eggs, add cheddar cheese, salmon, flour and yeast and mix well.
- Add the water gradually, while stirring, until you have a sticky dough.
- Roll out the dough thinly.
- Cut out the cookies with a knife or cookie cutter.
- Bake at 180°C for about 15 minutes, until golden brown.
Three tips for caring for your cat
A treat, whether industrial or cooked by you, is still a treat: giving it to your cat must remain exceptional and constitute a moment apart in his diet.
Do not give in to your cat’s requests for extra food outside of its daily meals.
Do not give your cat table scraps as is. Pieces of meat or fish are fatty, dairy products are not easily digestible and sweets are too sweet: they may unbalance his diet, or even make him sick.