How many treats to give a cat a day

Many owners use treats as a way of showing affection and developing positive experiences and associations with their cat. Rewards can be offered in other ways and this is often what owners choose to do if their cat is on a special diet or needs to lose weight. Attaching the treat to a toy or piece of string so your cat has to pounce on it or grab it is a great game to play. Playtime is important to keep your cat stimulated and happy so combining this with treats is a guaranteed winner.

Overfeeding your cat with treats can lead to obesity, digestive problems and nutritional deficiencies. A cat who has had too many treats will likely not eat their regular food and may experience symptoms including:. Treats are not designed to be a meal for a cat so they are not complete and balanced in their nutritional content. This means your cat will not be getting the full nutrients they need if they overindulge on treats.

Commercial cat treats can also be high in sodium, calories and fat which can lead to other health problems, a healthier solution can be to make your own cat treats. An example is using dry cat food or kibble if your cat usually only eats wet cat food.

Too many cat treats can lead to obesity in cats, due to the high calorie content, and digestive problems such as vomiting or diarrhoea. Filling up on too many treats also means your cat is not getting the required nutrients, vitamins and minerals from their nutritionally balanced cat food.

Contact a vet immediately if your cat displays any serious reactions or worrying symptoms after eating cat treats. Read packaging labels for serving recommendations and check in with your vet to find out exactly how much to treat your cat.

Read packaging labels for serving recommendations and check with your vet to find out exactly how many treats your kitten can have daily. Menu Menu. How many cat treats is too much? Can too many cat treats be harmful? These foods are also suitable for senior cats but we recommend less food for the seniors as their digestion starts to slow down.

We base feeding amounts on their current weight as well as their age so you will need to keep increasing this as they grow. We recommend moving to adult food at around 9 months old. Read our blog on feeding your kitten for more info. The best option depends on what your cat prefers as well as what fits your lifestyle best.

Of course, if your cat is a greedy guts and likely to devour the whole thing in one, this may not be the best option. Conversely, if your cat has the ability to self-regulate their meal times and graze throughout the day, free-feeding is a viable option.

This is all down to appetite and every cat will be unique. Feeding your cat at set meal times with their daily food ration spread out between meals is another option. Ensure your cat eats at least two meals per day because cats usually prefer to eat little and often.

There are a number of benefits to this including:. We all enjoy giving treats to our cats but moderation is key!