7 Nutritious Ingredients to Look for in Cat Treats
If you’re a concerned cat parent, you should monitor what you feed your kitty. This should reflect even while choosing treats for your feline. Some things should not be part of healthy cat foods and treats, while there are some healthy ingredients to look for in cat treats. When choosing healthy treats, you can be sure that these have the perfect blend of vitamins and nutrients to maintain your cat’s health.
Ensure that you look beyond the brand names or the packaging and read the label for the following things:
- Freeze-dried meat
Cat treats prepared with freeze-dried and dehydrated venison liver, turkey liver, and wild-caught salmon are excellent for your kitty. Since cats enjoy the taste or flavor of raw fish and meat, these foods are the top choice for cat treats as they have all the essential vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. - Raw meat
Raw meat contains EFA or arachidonic acid, which is required for energy production and fat mobilization. Cats are “true carnivores” because they rely on nutrients offered by fats and proteins. This EFA is available in raw meat, so you can buy raw, dehydrated, and freeze-dried liver treats in chicken, beef, and lamb flavors. - Natural ingredients
Domestically-sourced and natural meats like free-range, beef, venison, and lamb are healthy ingredients to look for in jerky cat treats. Your kitty doesn’t need artificial flavors and colors to enjoy their treats, so the less the number of ingredients, the better it is for them. If you find a label listing too many ingredients, many of which you do not know about or can’t pronounce, it’s best to avoid it. - Natural preservatives
Treats should contain natural preservatives so that they stay fresh. If you are conscious about your kitty’s dental health, go for raw, meaty bones, like chicken wings and bones. You can also consider treats containing bacteria-consuming enzymatic cleaners. - Bonito flakes
These are dehydrated fish flesh and are both appetizing and nutritious for cats. They work as an appetite stimulant for picky felines and are rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids and proteins. - Single-ingredient minnow treats
These make for excellent cat treats as they are rich in proteins and free from the standard unhealthy ingredients present in commercial crunchy treats. One of the ingredients to look for in healthy cat treats is minnows, as every part of the fish stays intact. - Locally-sourced products
It is always better to opt for domestic sources of cat treats. So, choose brands that source meat or other ingredients from local sources, as you can ensure that you get fresh food for your pet.
Apart from knowing what ingredients to look for in healthy cat treats, ensure that you do not give your cat high-calorie foods. Always check the serving size on the bags and ensure that it complements your cat’s diet plan.