FAQ: Treats for cats

They are a liquid or creamy treat in small sachets that the cat licks straight from the tube or from a bowl. They are handy for bonding, hiding medicine and adding fluid, but each tube should be counted in the daily calories.

Manufacturers usually recommend one or a few tubes a day, depending on the cat's weight. The exact amount is stated on the pack, and if the cat tends to gain weight, stick to the lower amount.

Yes, the cream can be spread on dry or wet food to make it more appealing to a picky cat. In that case it also counts towards daily calories, and food with cream that has stood out for a while should be thrown away.

They contain a lot of water, so they add a little to the cat's fluid intake, especially if it eats only dry food. But they do not replace fresh water, which should always be available.

Hold the tube in your hand and squeeze slowly so the cat licks from the tip, or squeeze the cream onto a saucer or a lick mat. That way the cat eats more slowly and the surroundings stay cleaner.

Malt paste helps swallowed hair pass through the gut more easily, so hairballs form less often. Owners of long-haired cats often use it, as well as during moulting, when the cat swallows more hair while grooming.

The manufacturer states the frequency and amount on the pack: usually the paste is given a few times a week, and more often during moulting. Do not exceed the stated amount, and if hairballs keep coming back often, ask a vet.

A small amount of paste can be dabbed on the cat's paw, which it will lick off naturally, or on a finger or the rim of a bowl. You can try a different flavour, but do not force the cat so that paste time does not become stressful.

Both are meant to reduce hairballs, but the ingredients differ: some contain more malt extract, others more oils or fibre. Choose based on what your cat will lick and stick to the amount stated on the pack.

Short-haired cats get hairballs less often, so the paste is usually only needed during moulting or if the cat grooms a lot. If you do not notice hairballs, regular brushing and a complete food are usually enough.

See a vet if the cat vomits often, retches without bringing anything up, refuses food, is lethargic or is constipated. These signs can point to a gut blockage or another illness that paste will not solve.

It is a tasty supplement in paste form with vitamins, minerals or fatty acids. A healthy cat eating a complete food usually does not need supplements, so give them only when needed and after talking to a vet.

Yes, some vitamins, such as A and D, build up in the body and can be harmful in excessive amounts. So stick to the amount on the pack and do not combine several supplements without a vet's advice.

Some pastes are made specifically for kittens, with ingredients and amounts adapted to a growing body. The pack always states from what age the product can be given, so only give an adult-cat paste to a kitten if it is allowed.

Close the tube tightly and keep it in a cool, dry place out of the sun. Use up the opened paste within the time the manufacturer states, and throw it away if its smell, colour or consistency changes.

No, pastes and supplements are not medicines and do not treat illness. If the cat is ill or on treatment, paste can only be used as an extra measure if the vet has no objection.

Many owners press a tablet into a blob of paste or lickable treat so the cat swallows it more easily. Ask the vet first whether the tablet can be crushed or given with food, because some medicines must be given in a particular way.

Catnip is a plant in the mint family whose substance nepetalactone causes short-lived excitement or relaxation in many cats. It is sold dried, as sprays and inside toys.

After smelling catnip a cat often sniffs, licks, rolls, rubs or becomes more playful, and sometimes the opposite, it calms down. The effect usually lasts about 10–15 minutes, after which the cat does not react to it for a while.

Sensitivity to catnip is inherited, so a fair share of cats barely react to it. Such cats sometimes respond better to other plants, for example silvervine (matatabi) or valerian.