FAQ: Treats for cats

Treats should make up only a small part of the daily diet, usually no more than about a tenth of the calories. The manufacturer states the recommended amount on the pack, and it is worth reducing the main food portion by the same amount.

Treats come in small packs, so per kilogram they often cost much more than regular food. When comparing packs, look at the price per kilogram rather than the price per pack.

Most treats are complementary feed: they are not balanced to replace a complete food. They are for rewarding or pleasing the cat, while all the essential nutrients must come from its main food.

It marks products that are not complete and cannot be a cat's only food. They should only be given alongside a complete food, sticking to the amount stated on the pack.

The most common are crunchy dry treats, soft filled pillows, meat sticks, freeze-dried pieces of meat or fish, lickable creams in tubes and functional treats, for example for teeth or hairballs.

They are meat, poultry or fish from which the water has been removed by freezing and lowering the pressure. The pieces are light, keep for a long time and are often single-ingredient, so they suit picky or sensitive cats.

Not necessarily, cats usually happily crunch them dry. Soaking them in water does give the cat extra fluid and softens the pieces, which is handy for kittens or cats with sensitive teeth.

Crunchy treats are drier, keep longer once opened and are handy for training or play. Soft treats contain more moisture, smell stronger and often appeal more to picky or older cats, but they spoil faster once opened.

They have a crunchy shell with a soft, often creamy filling inside. Cats like them for the texture and smell, but they are usually quite high in calories, so give them sparingly and count them in the daily diet.

Meat sticks made for cats are a popular treat that is easy to break into small pieces. Choose sticks made specifically for cats and give a small portion at a time, because one stick can contain quite a few calories and salt.

Cats usually love fish treats, but variety in the diet is helpful. They can be given often as long as the daily amount is respected, but if the cat has urinary or other health problems, it is worth asking a vet.

Grain-free treats are not automatically healthier, but they may suit cats a vet has found to be sensitive to certain ingredients. It matters more to look at the overall composition, meat content and calories than only at the label claim.

Many adult cats digest lactose poorly, so ordinary cheese can cause diarrhoea. Cheese treats made for cats contain only a little and are adapted for cats, but still watch how your cat tolerates them.

Treats with only one kind of meat or fish make it easier to avoid ingredients a cat does not tolerate. If a vet has put the cat on an elimination diet, only give any treats with the vet's approval.

Dental treats with a special shape and texture can help reduce plaque when the cat chews them. They do not replace tooth brushing and vet check-ups, especially if the cat already has tartar or bad breath.

They are treats with an extra purpose, for example for hairballs, teeth, coat or calming. They can help as a supporting measure, but they do not replace treatment or a vet's advice if the cat has a health problem.

Calming treats usually contain plant substances or amino acids that help some cats cope with stress more easily. The effect varies, and if the cat stays anxious for long or its behaviour changes, it is worth seeing a vet.

They usually contain more fibre or oils that help swallowed hair pass through the digestive tract. Regular brushing is also important, especially during moulting, and frequent vomiting is a reason to see a vet.

These treats often contain omega fatty acids and biotin, which matter for skin and coat. Still, coat condition depends mainly on a complete food, and sudden hair loss or dandruff should be discussed with a vet.

Taurine is essential for cats, but a complete cat food already contains enough of it. Taurine in a treat's ingredients is not a big advantage if the cat eats a good complete food.