Should You Give Treats to Your Cat? And What Are the Best Ones?
If you live with a cat, you already know the answer.
Yes. Obviously. You are not a monster.
The real question is not whether cats should have treats. It’s which treats make your cat happy without turning every mealtime into a dramatic TED Talk about starvation.
Should You Give Treats to Your Cat?
Yes. And not just because your cat sits politely or does a little spin that definitely wasn’t trained.
Treats are genuinely useful. They help with:
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Bonding and trust
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Training and positive reinforcement
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Stressful moments like vet visits or nail trims
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Making life feel a bit more exciting for indoor cats
Treats are not the problem.
Treats used like confetti might be.
How Many Treats Can a Cat Have Per Day?
Rule of paw. Treats should make up around 10 percent of your cat’s daily calories.
In real life terms, that usually looks like:
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A small handful of crunchy treats
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One or two meat sticks broken into bits
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A lickable treat shared slowly, not inhaled like spaghetti
Your cat will think asking for more is ok, but you know better.
Let’s Talk About the Different Types of Cat Treats
Freeze Dried Treats (Waita)
These are the clean eating gym snacks of the cat world.
Often 100% meat goodness, and cats being obligate carnivores can make them go crazy for it. Out of all the treats, these are the most like a cats real diet.
Freeze Dried Treats are:
They are brilliant for training, daily treating, and cats with sensitive tummies. You can feel smug about these. It’s allowed.
Creamy and Lickable Treats (Churu & Dreamies Creamy)
This is where Lickable Treats come in.
They are perfect for:
Cats go feral for these.
Natural Treats (Innocent Cat & Lily's Kitchen)
Brands like Lily’s Kitchen and The Innocent Cat sit comfortably in the wholesome treat category.
They offer:
Great for cats who prefer something softer and more indulgent.
Crunchy Treats (Dreamies)
Now let’s talk about Dreamies, because they are an icon.
They might not have the highest protein content, but cats love them, and let's face it we as humans can be partial to a cheeseburger or sausage roll at times can't we. Think of Dreamies as their occasional sausage roll, but in smaller more calorie controlled bites.
Dreamies are:
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Crunchy, which cats tend to love
- Huge variety of flavours
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Low in calories per treat, so portion control is easier than you think
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Perfect for training, recall, and quick rewards
They are also:
And the Dreamies meat sticks are excellent for tearing into small pieces, which makes them surprisingly practical for controlled treating.
Used occasionally, Dreamies are a fun, reliable, everyday treat that keeps cats engaged.
Sometimes a treat just needs to be delicious and easy. Not everything has to be a wellness retreat, so long as eaten in moderation.
So What Are the Best Treats for Your Cat?
The best treats are:
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The ones your cat actually eats
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The ones you can portion easily
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The ones that fit your cat’s lifestyle and personality
Some cats thrive on freeze dried treats.
Some cats want crunchy chaos.
Some want to be hand-fed something creamy like royalty.
We think most cats want a mixture of all the above.
Mixing treat types is not only fine, it’s smart. Variety keeps things interesting and stops your cat from deciding one brand is beneath them forever.
Explore all the delicious cat treats at Cat Universe by clicking HERE!
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