Treats can be used as enticements for good behavior; we often use them as bait for training and to conceal medicine. Treats can also act as healthy supplements that treat simple or complicated health issues. Below are some useful tips:
1. Take advice
The Internet and pet parents could give you random advice but there is no better person to consult, than your vet who knows your pet well. Vets can help you understand the essential nutrients a cat needs and what points should be considered while buying a healthy cat treat. Some cats may need a special diet and a few may be allergic to some ingredients. Make a note of everything. If you have multiple cats, make a separate list so that you don’t feed the right treat to the wrong cat.
2. Skip treats with added sugars
Most of the cat treats you find in the market have sugar or artificial sweeteners to make the treats tasty. These added sugars can be bad for your cat. Sugar is redundant for cats, as they can’t taste sweeteners, it only leads to diabetes. Diabetes as a result of food is something that you can prevent. It might be cured with a controlled diet and medication, but as they say – prevention is always better than cure.
3. Avoid treats with food additives
Artificial flavors, preservatives, and dyes can make cat treats appealing, but these can be carcinogenic. Always read the ingredients in the pack to find whether the cat treats have extra-added harmful things.
4. Always opt for approved treats
You can also look for cat treats certified by the Association of Animal Feed Controls (AAFCO). This can help us find healthy cat treats. Cat treats manufactured by a few countries have been proved unsafe as they do not follow the regulatory policy. It is always better to do your research and verify before importing or ordering from other countries. It could be much cheaper, but it is always better to be safe and have the right information with you.
5. Choose treats with added nutrients
Look for treats that have a lot of added vitamins and minerals. The treats you buy should give more added vitamins and nutrients to your cat’s diet. Let the treats do more than what they are meant for. Such threats can act as a supplement to overcome any deficiency or help in curing diseases too.
6. Do your research
Animal food should display all the ingredients that go into making the product. They are also bound by law to give warnings about allergies and the use of food additives. Go through the information carefully and ensure that the product you buy will not lead to any complication to your pet.