Why Do Cats Like Treats So Much? Vet-Reviewed Reasons
Copyright Source：
Yueke
Wed, May 15, 2024
PHOTO: Yueke
It’s no secret that cats love treats, although the preference for taste and texture varies between individual cats. Is there a reason that cats love treats so much, though? Why do they love treats more than their food? In the US alone, cat parents spend around $3 million per year on treats, so clearly there’s something to it!
We all know that “treats” often taste much better than the foods we eat all the time, and it’s fair to assume that it’s the same for cat treats. However, it isn’t just the flavors in the treats that make them more appealing to your cat than their regular food.
Commercial cat treats are often packed with flavor enhancers. They also often have a strong smell, which increases their appeal to many cats.
Treats are also nutritionally different from cat food. They’re often made with more fat and calories than cat food, making them extra tasty and appealing to your cat’s instinctual desire to consume nutrient-dense foods. Much like cookies, cakes, chips, and sodas for people, cat treats are formulated specifically to appeal to your cat’s palate.
Some cats may be picky about food textures, which is why some cats will only eat kibble or wet food while others will eat just about anything you give to them. The texture of treats can vary from liquids and mousses to crunchy or chewy. There’s definitely a treat texture to appeal to every cat! It may take a few tries to find the treats that your cat prefers, especially if they’re a picky eater, but once you find the right treat, your cat will be begging for more.
Many cats love to bring dead animals or toys they’ve “hunted” to their owners. One reason they do this may be to replicate mother-kitten instincts, as a mother cat would teach their young how to hunt and eat food by bringing prey for them. Cats also bring home what they have hunted to an area they feel safe and comfortable in.
Whatever the reasons for the ‘gifts’ your cat brings you, the ritual of giving food to others is important for cats and people. When you give treats to your cat, you’re strengthening the bond between the two of you by not just giving your cat food but giving them food that is designed to appeal to their senses.
How “good” a treat is for your cat can vary significantly between treats. Nutrient profiles and flavor profiles differ, making it difficult to overtly say that all treats are “good” or “bad.” What can be said, though, is that treats are exactly that—treats. They are not intended to be a major part of your cat’s diet. In fact, treats should not make up more than 10% of your cat’s daily calorie intake, and keeping that level closer to 5% is ideal.
Although highly appealing to cats, treats are not formulated to meet the nutritional needs of any cat. They simply do not contain the correct levels of vital nutrients to keep a cat healthy on their own. When fed in moderation, most treats can be considered safe for your cat.
Cats with special food needs may need special treats, so make sure to talk to your vet about treats before offering any to your cat if they’re on a special diet or have any medical conditions. Any treat can be bad for any cat if not fed to them properly. Overfeeding treats, even to healthy cats, can lead to serious medical problems, especially in the long run. Obesity can be detrimental to the health of your cat, and it often goes hand in hand with other conditions, like arthritis, heart disease, and diabetes.
Most cat treats can significantly impact the progress of your cat’s weight loss if they’re on a diet. If your cat is under veterinary care to lose weight, then you should talk to your vet about appropriate treats for them. Some vegetables that are high in fiber and low in calories, like green beans and broccoli, can be good treats for cats, and some cats will eat these foods.
The best approach for feeding treats to a cat that needs to be losing weight is to have your vet help you calculate the appropriate calorie intake for your cat every day. This will allow you to know how many treats your cat can have per day. Just make sure to count the calories your cat consumes in treats as part of their daily intake.
Check out the package of treats you get for your cat and determine how many calories are in every treat. A 3-calorie treat has the opportunity to be offered very differently from how you’d have to offer a treat that has 45 calories. Cats have a very low-calorie need per day compared to people, so it’s extremely important to lean on your veterinarian for guidance on feeding and treating your cat appropriately. Avoid table scraps and “people foods” that have not been approved by your veterinarian, as these foods may be dangerous for your cat.
We all know that “treats” often taste much better than the foods we eat all the time, and it’s fair to assume that it’s the same for cat treats. However, it isn’t just the flavors in the treats that make them more appealing to your cat than their regular food.
Commercial cat treats are often packed with flavor enhancers. They also often have a strong smell, which increases their appeal to many cats.
Treats are also nutritionally different from cat food. They’re often made with more fat and calories than cat food, making them extra tasty and appealing to your cat’s instinctual desire to consume nutrient-dense foods. Much like cookies, cakes, chips, and sodas for people, cat treats are formulated specifically to appeal to your cat’s palate.
Some cats may be picky about food textures, which is why some cats will only eat kibble or wet food while others will eat just about anything you give to them. The texture of treats can vary from liquids and mousses to crunchy or chewy. There’s definitely a treat texture to appeal to every cat! It may take a few tries to find the treats that your cat prefers, especially if they’re a picky eater, but once you find the right treat, your cat will be begging for more.
Many cats love to bring dead animals or toys they’ve “hunted” to their owners. One reason they do this may be to replicate mother-kitten instincts, as a mother cat would teach their young how to hunt and eat food by bringing prey for them. Cats also bring home what they have hunted to an area they feel safe and comfortable in.
Whatever the reasons for the ‘gifts’ your cat brings you, the ritual of giving food to others is important for cats and people. When you give treats to your cat, you’re strengthening the bond between the two of you by not just giving your cat food but giving them food that is designed to appeal to their senses.
How “good” a treat is for your cat can vary significantly between treats. Nutrient profiles and flavor profiles differ, making it difficult to overtly say that all treats are “good” or “bad.” What can be said, though, is that treats are exactly that—treats. They are not intended to be a major part of your cat’s diet. In fact, treats should not make up more than 10% of your cat’s daily calorie intake, and keeping that level closer to 5% is ideal.
Although highly appealing to cats, treats are not formulated to meet the nutritional needs of any cat. They simply do not contain the correct levels of vital nutrients to keep a cat healthy on their own. When fed in moderation, most treats can be considered safe for your cat.
Cats with special food needs may need special treats, so make sure to talk to your vet about treats before offering any to your cat if they’re on a special diet or have any medical conditions. Any treat can be bad for any cat if not fed to them properly. Overfeeding treats, even to healthy cats, can lead to serious medical problems, especially in the long run. Obesity can be detrimental to the health of your cat, and it often goes hand in hand with other conditions, like arthritis, heart disease, and diabetes.
Most cat treats can significantly impact the progress of your cat’s weight loss if they’re on a diet. If your cat is under veterinary care to lose weight, then you should talk to your vet about appropriate treats for them. Some vegetables that are high in fiber and low in calories, like green beans and broccoli, can be good treats for cats, and some cats will eat these foods.
The best approach for feeding treats to a cat that needs to be losing weight is to have your vet help you calculate the appropriate calorie intake for your cat every day. This will allow you to know how many treats your cat can have per day. Just make sure to count the calories your cat consumes in treats as part of their daily intake.
Check out the package of treats you get for your cat and determine how many calories are in every treat. A 3-calorie treat has the opportunity to be offered very differently from how you’d have to offer a treat that has 45 calories. Cats have a very low-calorie need per day compared to people, so it’s extremely important to lean on your veterinarian for guidance on feeding and treating your cat appropriately. Avoid table scraps and “people foods” that have not been approved by your veterinarian, as these foods may be dangerous for your cat.
Cats are carnivores by nature, and they’ll chase after and hunt any animal they can when they’re outside. This includes even the smallest, most unlikely of prey, such as earthworms! Cats are opportunistic hunters who’ll eat any small creature if it’s a viable source of nutrition, and if your cat comes across an earthworm, they may eat it.
Although cats can eat earthworms, it’s wise to stop them from doing it as much as you can. Earthworms can carry parasites that cause disease in cats, so preventing them from ingesting earthworms is the best course of action.
Earthworms aren’t toxic to cats, but they’re not the best things for them to eat, either. Earthworms only provide your cat with a little protein, and there are nasty parasites that can be transferred from the worm to your cat. Capillaria is a parasite your cat can pick up from earthworms, and they can cause problems in many organs of the body.
Infections of Capillaria worms, often Capillaria plica, in cats cause Capillariasis. This species of parasitic worm has a complex life cycle that begins with eggs being deposited into the soil via the urine of infected cats. These then hatch into larvae that are ingested by earthworms. Once ingested, the larvae will mature in the earthworm until they’re able to infect a new host.
Once a cat eats an earthworm infected with a Capillaria worm, the worms will mature and move to the bladder. Eggs are shed into the urine, which then starts the life cycle again. There are several signs Capillaria worms can cause, but many cats don’t show any visible signs at all.
Cats can have similar signs for different urinary problems, like bladder stones or crystals. It’s crucial to take your cat to the vet if they seem unwell.
If your cat eats an earthworm, the likelihood is that they’ll be fine! Because earthworms aren’t toxic, they’ll likely not cause a problem. However, there’s a chance that any earthworms they eat could carry Capillaria or other infectious parasites, such as roundworm eggs.
Earthworms move through soil where roundworm eggs can be found, but they don’t spread them directly. If you notice your cat eating an earthworm or notice any signs of ill health, you should seek the advice of your vet. Your vet can tell you whether your cat needs to see them and can advise you of any signs to look out for.
Cats are hunters that chase and consume prey. Outdoor cats may be on the prowl and consider an earthworm a quick and juicy snack, but they don’t provide much in the way of nutrients. In most cases, domestic cats will eat earthworms simply because they’re playing with them, rather because they’re hungry. Although pet cats don’t generally need to hunt for food, the hunting instinct is still there.
The only reliable way to prevent your cat from eating earthworms is to stop them from going outside. Earthworms only usually come up from underground after it rains, as the topsoil is easier to move through when wet. However, you cannot guarantee there won’t be any on dry ground, so there’s always the chance your clever cat could find one! But really, there’s no real need to stop them. In most cases, your cat will have no ill effects of eating earthworms, and most routine worming treatments will eradicate any parasites.
A catio can help keep your cat safe from eating earthworms, getting sick or attacked by predators, and hunting other animals. Catios can give your cat the freedom to enjoy the fresh air while keeping them enclosed and protected.
Cats are natural hunters that play with and eat many creatures. Earthworms are a relatively novel experience for many cats, particularly if they don’t get outside much! They’re wriggly and easy to catch, so your cat might decide to sample one to see what it’s like.
Earthworms aren’t toxic to cats and will most likely cause them no harm. However, they can carry Capillaria worms and other parasite eggs due to their movement through the soil. Provided that your cat is up to date with their preventative health treatments, there is likely no cause for alarm, but if in doubt, always speak to your vet.