Treats can be given regularly to your cat, but it is important that treats do not make up more than 10% of your cat’s daily calorie allowance.
Cats should have a total calorie intake of approximately 22 calories per pound of body weight (10 calories per kg). An average cat* weighs around 9-10 pounds (4-4.5kg), giving them a total daily allowance of 200-220 calories.
Your cat should stick to around 20 calories a day of treats.
Depending on the amount of treats given to your cat, you may need to reduce their regular food consumption to avoid over-feeding.
*Many cats are much smaller or larger depending on their breed. Check with your cat’s veterinarian about what their intake should be.
Table of Contents
- How Many Treats Should I Give My Cat a Day?
- How Many Treats a Day For a Kitten?
- Benefits of Giving Cat Treats
- Problems With Giving Too Many Cat Treats
- Do You Have To Give Cat Treats?
- What Are The Best Treats For Cats?
- Final Thoughts
How Many Treats Should I Give My Cat a Day?
The number of treats your cat can have daily largely depends on the treat type and your cat’s overall diet, size, and health.
In general, you might offer a few small treats each day. Always consult your veterinarian for personalized advice tailored to your pet’s needs.
Remember to subtract the calories from the treats from their main meal to avoid overfeeding.
How Many Treats a Day For a Kitten?
Kittens have different nutritional requirements than adult cats, and their smaller size means their stomachs can’t handle as many treats.
Treats should comprise an even smaller percentage of a kitten’s diet than adult cats. Appropriate for their size, a single treat or two is generally enough.
Always ensure that any treats given are safe for kittens and consider discussing this with your vet.
Benefits of Giving Cat Treats
Cats don’t need treats all the time! However, there are certain occasions when treats can be especially helpful. If you’re trying to introduce a new cat into your home, treats can be a great way to help the new cat settle in.
If you have a shy cat and want to help them come out of their shell, treats can also help with that. Treats can also strengthen your bond with your cat for example if you have a newly homed rescue cat.
If you have an older cat or one with health issues, treats can be helpful to encourage them to take medication.
You can use treats to reward your cat for good behaviour – but don’t expect to train them like a dog!
And even if you don’t have any of these situations and want to give treats just to show how much you love them, that’s fine too!
Problems With Giving Too Many Cat Treats
Too many treats can lead to a few problems.
The first is obesity. Obesity is a huge problem that can be deadly in cats. Around 50% of cats in the United States are estimated to be overweight. Obesity can lead to various health issues including diabetes, liver disease, and joint pain.
If you have an overweight cat, you should reduce the treats you give them each week. It’s also important to make sure your cat gets plenty of exercise.
Another problem that can result from giving too many treats is dental problems. The best way to prevent dental problems in cats is through proper brushing. However, many cats are not fond of having their teeth brushed. In these cases, giving your cat treats that help to reduce plaque and tartar build-up which can help prevent dental problems.
Feeding too many treats can cause your cat to dislike their normal food in favour of treats. It’s easy to think that “just one more treat” won’t cause any problems but your cat could refuse to eat anything but treats. Cat treats are not intended to replace meals and should only be an addition to a balanced diet.
Can Too Many Treats Kill a Cat?
While an excessive number of treats is unlikely to kill a cat immediately, long-term overfeeding can contribute to severe health issues such as obesity, diabetes, and heart problems, which can ultimately be life-threatening.
Moreover, certain treats may contain toxic ingredients to cats, like garlic, onions, or excessive salt, which could lead to poisoning if consumed in large amounts.
Side Effects of Too Many Cat Treats
Feeding your cat too many treats can lead to various side effects, including:
- Weight Gain: Excessive calories from treats can quickly lead to obesity.
- Nutritional Imbalance: Treats are not a substitute for a balanced diet and can lead to deficiencies in essential nutrients.
- Digestive Issues: Some treats can be hard on your cat’s stomach and lead to diarrhea or constipation.
- Behavioral Issues: Constantly rewarding your cat with treats can reinforce bad behavior and make training more difficult.
- Health Risks: Obesity and poor nutrition can lead to severe health issues, like diabetes, heart disease, and joint problems.
Is It Bad To Give My Cat Treats Every Day?
Giving your cat treats daily is not inherently bad, but moderation is key. Treats should not exceed 10% of your cat’s daily caloric intake.
Feeding them treats excessively can lead to weight gain and nutritional imbalances.
It’s best to consider treats as a form of enrichment and bonding rather than a mainstay of their diet.
Do You Have To Give Cat Treats?
You don’t have to give your cat treats; many cats enjoy them.
Owners often reward their cats in other ways if they are on a special diet or need to lose weight.
In some cases, attention, extra playtime, or new toys may be enough to make your cat happy.
Treat time can also be made longer and more exciting by combining it with playtime. It’s fun to make your cat pounce on or grab a treat by attaching it to a toy or piece of string.
Having fun with your cat keeps your cat stimulated and content, so combining playtime with treats is a great idea.
Can I Feed My Cat Treats as a Meal?
Feeding your cat treats should not replace a balanced meal. Most treats are not formulated to provide the comprehensive nutrition that cats need.
Even “healthy” treats lack the proper ratio of proteins, fats, and essential nutrients that high-quality cat food provides.
Replacing meals with treats can lead to malnutrition and other health issues over time.
What Are The Best Treats For Cats?
There are so many different types of treats, so choosing which ones are best for your cat can be difficult.
The best way to decide which treats are best for your cat is to look at the ingredient list. You want to ensure the ingredients are healthy and safe for your cat.
You should also remember that your cat’s age and health condition may affect your chosen treats. For example, if your cat has diabetes and you give them a treat with a high amount of sugar, it could cause their blood sugar to spike.
If you have more than one cat in the household, you’ll want to ensure you’re giving them treats suitable for all the cats.
Treats can come in several different forms:
- Dry Treats – dry treats are great to be used with toys or puzzles to help stimulate your cat or give them extra activity
- Lick Treats – these can be given straight to your cat or added to their food and are very useful for hiding medication
- Homemade Treats – you could always make your treats if you need to be more careful with exactly what ingredients are used. We recommend these books you can use for recipe ideas:
- Food scraps – an easy and cost-effective treat for your cat is just to save some leftover food from your meals. Small pieces of meat like chicken or turkey will be really enjoyable for them. However, many foods such as onions, chocolate and dairy are harmful to cats so always check before giving them as treats.
Final Thoughts
Treats can be given regularly to your cat, but it is important that treats do not make up more than 10% of your cat’s daily calorie allowance. This means your cat should stick to around 20 calories a day of treats.
Depending on the amount of treats given to your cat, you may need to reduce their regular food consumption to avoid over-feeding.
There are several different treats to offer your cat, including dry treats, lick treats and homemade.