Pet obesity is a growing problem, with over 50% of cats classified as overweight or obese in the United States alone. This can lead to many health problems like diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, and cancer. As furry loving cat owners, we want to provide treats and snacks for our feline friends, but we also need to be mindful of their caloric intake. In this article, we will compare the nutritional value and effectiveness of low-calorie homemade cat treats versus regular commercial treats.
The Hidden Dangers of Commercial Cat Treats
As cat owners, we enjoy spoiling our feline friends with snacks and treats. Unfortunately, many commercial cat treats available today are packed with unhealthy ingredients and additives. While they may be conveniently tasty, regular use of these low-quality treats can negatively impact your cat's health in several ways.
Empty Calories and Obesity
A major concern with many popular commercial cat treats is that they provide empty calories with little nutritional value. Treats like Temptations, Whiskas Temptations, and Friskies Party Mix contain refined carbohydrates like corn, wheat, and soy as main ingredients. Some also have added sugars.
These empty calories quickly add up when treated frequently throughout the day, putting cats at risk of obesity. The calories from treats contribute to overall daily caloric intake and weight gain over time. Obesity is linked to diabetes, arthritis, cancer, and urinary tract disease in cats. By understanding the calorie counts in treats, cat owners can make better decisions for our furry little loved ones.
Digestive Upset
The carbohydrate fillers and artificial flavors in many treats can also cause digestive upset in some cats. Since cats are obligate carnivores and have a shorter digestive tract, they lack the enzymes needed to properly digest plant products like corn, wheat, and soy.
This can lead to inflammation of the gut lining, diarrhea, vomiting, and excessive gas. Digestive issues may develop immediately or over time. The additives and flavorings also contain irritants that can trigger food intolerance in cats.
Diabetes and Pancreatitis
The high carb content of commercial treats raises the blood sugar quickly. In cats already prone to diabetes, this can exacerbate the problem and require higher insulin dosages. The sugar and fat content also puts extra strain on the pancreas. With regular treats, pancreatitis can develop, which is inflammation of the pancreas. This causes severe abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite in cats.
Allergies
Many mass-produced cat treats contain multiple protein sources like chicken, salmon, tuna, and egg ingredients. For cats with food allergies, this variety of proteins increases chances of an allergic reaction. Symptoms like itchy skin, ear infections, and wheezing can result from continued exposure to allergen triggers in treats.
Nutritional Imbalances
Since commercial soft treats are highly processed, the natural nutritional balance is altered. Important fatty acids, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals are lost through manufacturing. This can lead to skin irritation, dull coats, and nutritional deficiencies over time. The additives may also block nutrient absorption.
Obsessive Behavior
The artificial flavors added to many treats are designed to make them ultra-palatable. This can cause cats to become obsessed with the treats and refuse regular food meant to provide balanced nutrition. Obsessive treat-seeking behaviors develop, disrupting normal feeding routines.
Tooth Decay
Some soft, chewy treats stick to teeth, which allows sugars and carbohydrates to sit on the tooth surface feeding bacteria in the mouth. This increases plaque buildup and can lead to gingivitis, inflamed gums, and dental decay. Dental disease is painful and makes eating difficult for cats which can cause long term damage to your furry family member.
Increased Caloric Needs
The pattern of frequent snacking on treats can actually increase caloric requirements. The spikes in blood sugar and stimulation of appetite from tastants prompt cats to eat more. Owners then need to feed larger meal portions to prevent hunger. This starts a cycle of overfeeding.
Behavioral Problems
The liberal use of treats for bribery and training can reinforce negative behaviors in cats. They learn to expect a treat for acting out or misbehaving. Things like scratching furniture, begging, and vocalizing for food are reinforced with treats. This leads to stress and conflict which is not only unhealthy for your pet for you and your other family members as well.
Loss of Appetite for Nutritious Foods
Since treats are designed to be as tasty as possible, cats find their regular, balanced diet unappealing by comparison. The more treats they receive, the less interest they have in nutritious cat foods. Health suffers when cats refuse meals in favor of empty-calorie treats.
As you can see, regular commercial cat treats carry significant health risks spanning from obesity and dental disease to allergies, pancreatitis, and nutritional imbalances. By understanding what is in popular treats, cat owners can make better selections with whole food ingredients and portion control. Homemade treats also allow full control over nutrition. Your cat's long-term health is worth the effort to find treats that nourish both body and mind. Limiting low-quality commercial treats will help your cat avoid preventable health problems.
Benefits of Low-Calorie Homemade Cat Treats
Pet owners have the opportunity to make healthy homemade treats for their little felines.
Some benefits of low-calorie homemade treats include the following:
- Total control over ingredients. You can avoid unhealthy fillers and use all natural whole foods.
- Adjustable calorie counts. Make treats as low as 1/2 calorie each.
- Cat-approved flavors. Cats love foods like tuna, salmon, chicken, and turkey.
- Cheaper than commercial treats. Baking homemade treats costs just pennies per treat.
- Bonding activity. Cats enjoy the extra attention when owners make special treats just for them.
Here are some simple low-calorie homemade cat treat recipes:
Baked Salmon Treats
Ingredients:
- 1 (5oz) can salmon, drained
- 1 egg
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 2 tbsp salmon oil
Calories per treat: 1
Instructions: Mix ingredients, roll into balls, bake at 350F for 10-15 minutes.
Frozen Tuna Treats
Ingredients:
- 1 (5oz) can tuna in water, drained
- 1 tsp catnip (optional)
Calories per treat: 1/2
Instructions: Mix ingredients, spoon into ice cube tray, freeze 2-3 hours.
Chicken & Cheese Snacks
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup cooked chicken, shredded
- 1/4 cup shredded low-fat cheese
- 1 egg
Calories per treat: 1
Instructions: Mix ingredients, drop spoonfuls onto baking sheet, bake at 350F 15-20 minutes until firm.
As you can see, homemade treats are simple to make and customize to your cat's tastes and caloric needs. You can receive more of our healthy homemade cat recipes here.
Effectiveness for Weight Loss/Maintenance
To compare the effectiveness of low-calorie vs regular commercial cat treats for weight loss or maintenance, we need to look at two key factors:
- Calorie control
- Satiety - State of fullness
Low-calorie treats support weight loss through calorie control. With treats under 1 calorie each, you can provide 10-15 treats daily and stay within your cat's caloric needs. This allows cats to still enjoy frequent treats without overeating.
Low-calorie treats also promote satiety. The high protein content provides essential nutrition to keep cats feeling full. For some low-calorie treats add in some fiber to your homemade treats, which takes longer to digest, leading to prolonged satiety.
Commercial treats often have more fat and carbs, which are not as satiating. A study by UC Davis found that high protein, low carb diets reduced food intake in cats by 20%. Therefore, low-calorie high protein homemade treats help curb appetites.
Additionally, homemade treats allow customization of ingredients to your cat's needs. Adding fiber sources like pumpkin or low-sodium vegetables can further increase satiety. Homemade treats also provide mental stimulation, which can prevent boredom eating behaviors.
Low-calorie cat treats support healthy weight management through calorie control, high protein content, and customizable fibers that provide lasting satiety. Just be sure to follow proper portion guidelines based on your cat's needs.
Feeding Recommendations
When introducing low-calorie treats to your cat's diet, here are some feeding recommendations:
- Consult your vet on your cat's ideal calorie counts and weight loss goals
- Stick to treat portions - typically 10-15 treats daily for weight loss
- Use treats for training, enrichment, and bonding - not free feeding
- Exercise portion control with homemade treats
- Weigh treats on a food scale for accuracy
- Avoid giving table scraps or people food, which is much higher in calories
- Track calorie intake from treats as part of your cat's full daily food diary
With the right portion control and calorie monitoring, low-calorie homemade cat treats can be an important tool in your feline friend's weight loss or maintenance plan. The key is balancing nutritional value with calorie counts to support your cat's unique needs.
Conclusion
Regular commercial cat treats are certainly convenient, but they are also packed with calories and harmful ingredients. Low-calorie homemade cat treats provide a healthier alternative, containing higher protein and fewer carbs and just 0.5 calories per treat. Homemade treats are also easy to make with low-calorie, high-protein ingredients.
When fed properly, low-calorie treats promote satiety through protein and fiber content. This allows cats to feel full while sticking to their caloric needs for weight control. With mindful portion tracking and calorie monitoring, low-calorie cat treats can be an important part of a healthy diet and active lifestyle for your feline companion. Moderation and proper nutrition are key when integrating treats into their daily routine.
