Giving Your Cat Treats

Does your kitty teleport to your feet when she hears you open a can lid? Does Fluffy wake from a deep sleep if she catches a whiff of cooking meat or poultry? Some kitties are furry little gluttons! There’s nothing wrong with giving your pet snacks! Just be sure to stick with safe options. A San Antonio, TX vet discusses cat treats below.

Safe Foods

As you probably know, tuna is a great treat for cats. Fluffy can also have some plain, cooked meat, fish, or poultry, without the skin, bones, and fat. Shredded deli meat is also fine. 

Unsafe Foods

Cats are usually pretty good about avoiding things that are bad for them, but they sometimes will eat things if coaxed to. This is one thing to be vigilant of if you have young children. Little kids may try to ‘share’ snacks with kitties, not realizing that our feline pals can’t eat the same things we do. Never give Fluffy anything that contains garlic, onions, scallions, or chives; chocolate; caffeine; avocado; or xylitol. Dairy products are also unsafe, though you can give your feline friend cat milk if you want. You’ll also want to avoid meat on the bone, raw meat, dough, or yeast, and anything with a lot of fat, salt, or sugar.

Store-Bought Treats

You can also indulge your furry buddy in store-bought treats. Get into the habit of reading labels. You’ll want to choose ones that list mostly whole ingredients. Things like meat, fish, and poultry should be listed first and most frequently on the label. Stick with products made in North America. Not all countries have—or follow—strict guidelines for pet products. That said, you may want to try a few different things, and see what your furball likes best.

Things Cats Shouldn’t Like But Do

Our feline friends can’t taste sweets, at least not the way we can. However, apparently no one has told them that. There are definitely some furballs out there who enjoy cake, donuts, and other baked goods! (Fluffy may enjoy the fat content, or she may just have missed that memo.) Hopefully, this goes without saying, but don’t give your furry pal these sugary snacks. If your cute pet has a ‘sweet tooth,’ offer her some blueberries.

Please reach out to us, your local San Antonio, TX vet clinic, anytime. We are here to help!