How do you choose the best cat treats for your cat?

What nutrition does your cat need?

First, we should understand the natural nutritional needs of cats. Cats are obligate carnivores. That is, they need to meet their body needs through a large amount of high-quality animal protein. The ideal diet of cats should match their natural diet . Taking the nutritional content of mice, which is the natural food of cats, as an example, it can be seen that cats need a high meat content, a moderate fat content, a low carbohydrate content and plenty of water.

• High protein content : The main ingredient in cat food should be high-quality animal protein, such as chicken, duck, fish or beef. These ingredients provide cats with essential amino acids , support their metabolism and maintain muscle health.

• Moderate fat content : Fat plays an important role in cats' taste. A moderate amount of animal fat provides cats with energy and aids digestion. It is an important source of nutrition for cats. However, a high fat content can also be a risk to the cat's health.

• Low carbohydrate content : The natural diet of wild cats contains almost no carbohydrates. Because the cat's physiology cannot efficiently break down too much sugar , you should choose a cat food that contains as few carbohydrates as possible.

The right amount of fiber helps cats get rid of fat in the blood vessels . A deficiency can lead to problems such as constipation. Water is very important for cats. Make sure there is always plenty of clean water available.

What cat treats are there?

Below we describe some of the most popular cat treats on the market and explain the characteristics of the different treats:

Dried cat treats

Dried cat treats are made by hot air drying , a technique widely used in cat food production. The principle is simple: you raise the temperature and use hot air to evaporate the water in the food. This extends the shelf life and makes storage easier . Compared to other drying methods such as freeze-drying, this method is more cost-effective . These snacks are usually high in protein and made from animal ingredients such as chicken and fish, which meets the nutritional needs of cats as carnivores. Most high-quality dried snacks do not contain artificial additives. Their hard texture helps clean teeth and strengthen chewing muscles.

Tips:

1. Some products contain a large number of artificial additives, and excessive consumption can harm the health of cats.

2. Some low-quality products may be mixed with a lot of vegetable protein that does not meet the nutritional needs of cats.

3. Studies have shown that traditional methods such as air drying at high temperatures can lead to the loss of certain nutrients (e.g. vitamins and unsaturated fatty acids), whereas freeze-drying technology can better preserve the nutrients in foods.

Freeze-dried cat treats

Freeze-dried snacks are made using freeze-drying technology , which involves vacuum-drying fresh food at extremely low temperatures, preserving more nutrients and the original flavor, better than traditional processing methods. Freeze-dried foods have a similar nutritional value to the original ingredients, while reducing the risk of pathogens associated with raw meat. Freeze-dried treats have a high protein content , typically between 30% and 90%, which helps meet cats' high protein needs. High-quality freeze-dried products have a low carbohydrate content, some almost zero, which meets cats' natural needs as carnivores.

Freeze-dried products generally do not contain artificial additives such as colorings, preservatives or flavor enhancers that can be harmful to cats. In addition, large pieces of freeze-dried cat treats can also help cats strengthen their chewing muscles.

Tips:

1. Some brands of freeze-dried food are not made from fresh ingredients or waste and have relatively low nutritional value. Pay attention to the meat content in the ingredients list.

2. Freeze-drying is a relatively expensive production process, which leads to a relatively high market price.

3. Freeze-dried cat treats can be consumed directly by cats and can also provide additional moisture through rehydration.

Creamy Snacks

Creamy Snacks is easy for cats to lick and digest, has a high water content and a soft texture. The high moisture content helps cats drink enough water and is suitable as training rewards or cat treats during daily feeding. The soft texture is easy to swallow and is especially suitable for cats of all ages. The fat in Creamy Snacks usually comes from meat and oils such as chicken or fish oil, which provides the necessary energy and improves the taste of the snack. Various nutrients such as taurine , lysine and arginine are often added during the production of Creamy Snacks. These amino acids are essential for the health of cats, and taurine in particular is important for their vision and heart function.

Tips:

Some creamy snacks are low in protein and have added sugar to increase palatability. Check the ingredients list when purchasing.

1. Some Creamy Snacks contain additives such as flavor enhancers and humectants. However, too many chemical additives can be harmful to cats' health.

2. Creamy snacks with a high fat content can lead to obesity.

dairy treats

Dairy cat treats have the lactose removed because most adult cats cannot digest the lactose they contain. This can lead to digestive problems. Studies show that cats prefer foods with high fat content and intense flavors . Fats enhance the taste of dairy products and make them particularly attractive to cats.

Tips:

1. If your cat likes dairy products, it is best to choose low-lactose or lactose-free products that are specifically designed for cats.

2. Goat milk has a lower lactose content and the fat particles are smaller, making it easier for cats to absorb

3. Fermented milk products such as yogurt can improve digestion in cats. This is due to the probiotics they contain.

How do you choose cat treats?

Good cat treats should meet two conditions: it should be healthy and it should taste good to your cat. When you look at the ingredients list, the most important criteria are clear: it must have a high meat content and be free of additives . When it comes to the palatability of the treat, there is room for trial and error. You can start with your cat's eating habits and find out their favorite taste.

🐾 Understand the types of cat treats

There are two main types of cat treats:

• Complementary feed : suitable as a reward or for use in combination with the main feed.

• Single feed : These products contain only one ingredient, such as pure chicken, beef or fish. They are usually natural ingredients without additives or preservatives

🐾 Meat! Meat! Meat!

Cats need a lot of meat to maintain their energy because they cannot produce amino acids themselves and a deficiency of these amino acids is fatal for cats. It can lead to heart, vision and poisoning problems in cats.

Make sure that meat such as chicken, beef or fish is at the top of the ingredient list . Don't be fooled by grains in cat treats - cats' bodies need high-quality animal protein !

🐾 Transparent ingredients

Cat treats with artificial preservatives or too many additives can irritate your cat's digestive system . Try to choose cat treats that are free of sugar , grains, glues, dyes, gluten, attractants or preservatives.

Personal recommendations and tips

Due to the nutritional needs and palatability for cats, we recommend the following two healthy cat snacks:

BITES No.1 - Freeze-dried chicken pieces :

• Without additives and with a high meat content , ideal for almost all cats, especially those with food allergies .

• Freeze-dried snacks made from whole pieces of meat .

• When rehydrated, they taste similar to fresh meat.

• When not rehydrated , they offer a crunchy texture that makes eating enjoyable.

• Supports dental care through chewing.

FEAST - Creamy snack with salmon : 

• 70% salmon content in the Creamy Snacks covers your cat's daily nutritional needs .

• Fish oil and eggs promote a healthier, shinier coat .

• Pay attention to your cat's age, weight and health when choosing snacks.

• Recommended for cats from six months for better digestion.

• Snacks should make up less than 10-15% of daily calorie intake to avoid obesity .

What cat snacks do you usually choose? Do you have any recommendations or experiences you would like to share? Feel free to share your thoughts or ask questions if you want to know something! If you like this article, remember to share it with other cat lovers!