How Many Treats Should You Give Your Cat

Cat treats are a great way to reward your cat during training and can serve as a way to strengthen the bond between you and your cat. However, the last thing most cat owners think about when giving their kitty a tasty treat is the additional calories they are adding to her diet. Keep reading for some tips on how many treats to give a cat and how to use treats to your cat’s benefit.

How Often to Give Cat Treats

While many of us wish that ice cream and chocolate could make up the bulk of our diet at no cost to our waistline, these treats do not have enough nutrients to keep us healthy. Similarly, treats should not make up a large portion of your cat’s diet, as they don’t offer the same nutrition that traditional cat foods do.

While there’s no exact rule for how many treats to give a cat or how often to give them out, treats should generally not make up more than 10% of your cat’s daily caloric intake.  If you’re unsure about how many calories your cat should be eating each day, contact your veterinarian.

How to Use Cat Treats

Now that you have a sense of how many treats to give your cat, you can put them to good use! Treats can be used to show your cat affection, to solidify your bond and as a way to teach your kitty some basic commands.

Cat Training

Yes, you read that right – you can train your cat! In general, cats are more independent than dogs and more difficult to motivate. However, using a tasty treat that your cat goes crazy for can help to teach your cat basic commands. For all of your training needs, check out our Friskies cat treats, made with real meat as the #1 ingredient.

Bonding with your Cat

There’s some truth in the stereotype that cats especially love their owners when it’s feeding time! Whether you’ve just welcomed a new kitty home, or just want to bond some more with your lifelong pal, treats are a great way to show affection and for your cat to develop a positive association between you and yummy treats. This positive association can help strengthen your bond and make your cat more comfortable around you.

Avoid Using Cat Treats to Comfort your Cat

While treats can work well for bonding, it’s best to avoid them as a way to calm your cat down. This can reinforce that food is a coping mechanism for stress. If you find your cat is stressed, rather than reaching for a treat, show her affection, clean her litter box or move her to a quiet area to calm down.

Cat Treats as a Complement

Remember to view cat treats as a complement to your furry friend’s meals, not as a replacement. Giving your cat too many treats can interfere with her appetite, making her a picky eater when it comes to eating regular meals. Additionally, too many treats can cause your cat to become overweight or obese, which could lead to further health problems down the road.

If you’re worried about your cat’s weight, or simply don’t want to add calories to her diet, you can always use some kibble from her main meal as a reward for training or good behaviour. As always, make sure to feed treats and main meals along with fresh water. We hope you have gotten some insight on how many treats to give a cat. Happy treating!