Snacks for cats: how to choose and dose the gifts for our cats

Cats are curious creatures, but sometimes they can be a bit exploitative, especially when you’re eating something that can give them great pleasure. For example, when making a roast. Dogs and cats go crazy for the smell. While dogs do their best to get a piece of anything, cats aren’t far behind. Some “mark” humans, let a period of time pass, then ask with their paws – or with a warning – for a piece of the much-desired protein.

Unlike dogs, which tend to gulp down their food all at once, cats are good at “pecking” their food. In fact, they do it between 15 and 20 times a day. “It’s like that because they have continuous and obligatory losses of amino acids, so from time to time they have to replenish themselves,” David Rodríguez Gaete, veterinary nutritionist and gastroenterologist, explained to us in an article on cat food.

“Cats are strictly carnivorous and also have certain digestive particularities and textures”, specifies the specialist. He specifies that “in general, they prefer moist food”.

“Cats have very marked growth attitudes,” explains Rodríguez, who in turn is the founder of NutriVet Chile , a space in which he provides specialized advice. “It is vital to offer and have different protein sources from an early age, so that they know or understand that this new source of protein or fat – other than breast milk – is something friendly” , he explains.

It is important to do this as soon as possible, because “cats are hyper selective, they tend to reject novelties”. It is therefore ideal from the first two months to start offering new nutritional components, especially if they are still in contact with the mother, but also to generate the human-animal bond as soon as possible.” These new options can go from canned fish to special cat food, popular prizes or snacks, which are becoming more and more popular.

“The prizes can be offered twice a day without any problem,” explains Karen Valenzuela, coordinator of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of the Americas. “This can be determined during the medical consultation, either because the cat has had a recent moment of stress, or simply when it is given,” he adds.

Of course, he warns, the consumption of snacks “should not exceed 5% or 10% of the cat’s total daily kilocalories”, details Rodríguez. For the same reason, he calls cans of kibble for cats “eyes”, because being more “complete and balanced” they would fall into the category of 90% of total kilocalories —just like pellets—, while sachets, envelopes or other products are considered in 5 or 10% of snacks.

“Hopefully these aren’t very high carb snacks,” the vet gastroenterologist advises, as the idea is for cats to eat very low amounts. “Hopefully about 20% of their total daily kilocalories,” he adds, because being strict carnivores “they are not optimally prepared to digest large amounts of carbohydrates.”

Another important fact is that the food given to cats does not contain fructose or certain types of sugar, because cats “lack the enzymatic and biochemical mechanisms to be able to synthesize it”. This could cause them serious problems.

Knowing all this, take advantage of the fact that cats “love the mix of wet and dry food very much”. If a feline is having trouble eating, this is a good way to encourage consumption.

“There’s a very well-known brand that cats love,” says Valenzuela. “It’s like a treat for them, although full of animal protein.” These are the famous Churu, a kind of very soft and creamy pâté, which cats love. There are many flavors and formats. You have to handle them wisely because it really drives them crazy.

As consumers, we must always look at the label of the foods we buy. “There is the information that is legal and that guarantees what the components of the product are”, explains Rodríguez. In this way “we know that it is a product that is under certain standards, that it has certain nutritional values ​​or if it is at the right date of consumption”.

In the case of cats, the veterinarian nutritionist points out that you have to look for foods low in carbohydrates, “ideally less than 20%”. “It has been proven and proven that foods between 30% and 35% carbohydrates should not cause metabolic problems in cats. However, it is not the most recommended for your health”, he specifies.

“With this type of canned food, certain considerations must be made, especially in patients with hypothyroidism or kidney disease, for whom it can be harmful”, Rodríguez delves. Minerals you should also be careful with are magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, iodine and sodium. In case of excess of these components, they can cause hepatic or renal complications in cats.

In addition to the prizes that are bought, the University of the Americas academic says that various prizes can be offered to cats. It can be turkey ham, canned tuna (without salt), cream and all kinds of cooked or roasted meats. The detail is that it is in small quantities.

“For example, a teaspoon of heavy cream, a quarter slice of ham or small pieces of meat. This as long as the cat is used to this type of price,” he comments.

*Prices for products in this item are current as of April 29, 2022. Values ​​and availability may change.