FAQ: Treats for cats

Cats have a keen sense of smell and often detect the medicine or spit out the hard piece. It helps to give a few treats without a tablet first, then one with it and another without straight away; if that fails, ask the vet to show you how to give the tablet.

Toss treats so the cat has to chase them, hide them at different heights or use treat balls. That way the cat moves more during the day, which helps keep a healthy weight.

A kitten or a newly arrived cat can be calmly praised or given a treat when it uses the box. The box's location and cleanliness matter more, and sudden accidents outside the box can be a reason to talk to a vet.

Cats sometimes simply get bored of the same flavour, and an opened treat may have lost its smell. If the cat is also refusing its usual food or is less active, see a vet, as it can be a sign of illness.

Not all cats like treats, especially dry ones, so try a different texture: a lickable cream, freeze-dried meat or a piece of cooked chicken. Play or stroking can also be used as a reward.

Seal the opened pack tightly with a clip or zip, or pour the treats into an airtight container. Keep it in a cool, dry place where the cat cannot reach it and tear the pack open.

Dry crunchy treats usually stay good for a few weeks once opened, while soft and moist ones dry out or spoil sooner. The manufacturer often says how quickly to use an opened pack, so choose a pack size you will get through in time.

Spoiled treats show mould, an unusual or rancid smell, changed colour or stickiness. Throw such treats away, even if the best-before date has not yet passed.

After the date, treats may lose their smell and vitamins or begin to spoil, especially if the pack has been opened. It is safer not to give them and to buy amounts the cat will finish before the date.

Soft treats or a larger batch of homemade treats can be frozen in portions and thawed as needed. Dry treats do not need freezing; keeping them airtight and dry is enough.

Most often the cat may get an upset stomach or vomit, so give less food that day and make sure water is available. If it ate a very large amount, vomits repeatedly, is lethargic or has a swollen belly, see a vet.

Most dry treats do not need a fridge, and moisture can soften them. It makes sense to keep opened lickable treats in the fridge if the manufacturer says so, as well as homemade treats.

Opened dry treats absorb moisture from the air, especially in the kitchen or in summer. Kept in an airtight container away from the stove and sink, they stay crunchy longer.

A bigger pack is often cheaper per kilogram, but opened treats gradually lose their smell and crunch. Choose an amount your cat will eat within the time the manufacturer states, especially when trying a new flavour.

Packs vary widely in size, so the easiest way is to compare the price per kilogram. On zoogidas.lt cat treats can be compared by price per kilogram across Lithuanian online shops.

No, zoogidas.lt sells nothing: the site compares prices across Lithuanian online pet shops. Once you choose a product, you buy it on the shop's own website.

Prices are collected about daily, and each product shows when its price was last checked. Before buying, it is worth confirming the final price on the shop's website.

The product page on zoogidas.lt shows price history, so you can see whether the current price is typical or has recently changed. This helps you decide whether it is worth buying now.

Each shop sets its own prices, promotions and delivery terms, so the same product can cost different amounts. When comparing, also take the delivery cost and pack size into account.

A few flavours help you find out what your cat likes and add variety to rewards. Still, if the cat has a sensitive stomach, introduce new flavours one at a time so you can tell which one does not suit it.