[Veterinarian supervision] Is it OK to give a snack to a kitten? Explain the type and how to give

Do kittens really need a treat? Basically, from a nutritional point of view, kittens don't need treats. This is because if the food you normally give is a comprehensive nutritional diet that contains the necessary nutrients in a well-balanced manner, you do not have to give anything more.
Still, like humans, it's nice for cats to be given a treat. Snacks have roles and benefits that are different from nutrition and hunger.

Normally, cat foods such as general nutritional foods given to cats are thoroughly considered for nutritional balance. Snacks, on the other hand, are tailored to the tastes and tastes of cats so that they are happy to eat.
If you're eating cat food well in your daily diet, you don't have to give it a snack. However, just as humans are happy with snacks, cats are also looking forward to having them.
Snacks fill the cat's mind and relieve stress, rather than simply aiming to provide nutrition and fill the stomach, as in a regular diet. It can also be used as a means of communicating with the owner. It can also play a role in supplementing nutrients and increasing appetite when you lose your appetite.

What are the benefits of giving a treat to a cat? Here, we will explain in detail the four benefits.

What do you dislike about cats? In addition to nail clippers and shampoo, there are some things that cats don't like, such as answering machines and hospitals, but they must be done. In such a case, it is a good idea to use a snack to distract the cat's feelings.
If you have time to spare from something you don't like, you won't know why you got the snack, so the trick is to give it during or right after you're done with something you don't like. The joy of receiving a snack may reduce your dislikes and reduce your weaknesses.

Snacks can also be a useful tool for communicating with cats. If you remember that you can get a snack, it will be easier for you to communicate with cats that you don't usually approach, such as by approaching you and spoiling them or begging while crying. When a visitor arrives, it is possible to have the customer give him a snack and train him to get used to strangers.

Also, even cats that tend to keep a distance from people will come close to you when you give them a snack, so this is your chance to check your health. While you are in a good mood with a snack, touch the cat's body to see if there are any abnormalities on the coat or skin, or if there is a lump on the body. Being able to take treats on a daily basis will also help keep your cat healthy.

Cats have a hunting instinct, but it is quite difficult to satisfy the "want to hunt" instinct of cats kept in the house. It is said that not being able to satisfy your instincts can be stressful for cats.
Although it is not like hunting in the wild, the series of movements of "playing and eating rice" leads to a pseudo-hunting experience. Therefore, let's play every day and give a snack after that to satisfy the cat's instinctive desire and try not to accumulate stress as much as possible.

Cats often prefer and leave food in their mood, rather than always eating properly. However, there may be times when you are worried that your appetite is really low or you don't drink water. Snacks can also play a role as nutritional support in such cases.
It is recommended to change the snacks to be given according to the situation, such as giving nutritious snacks for nutritional support and appetite promotion, and giving wet type snacks with high water content for hydration.

ごはんの代わりにもオススメ！
総合栄養食おやつ『またたびプラス またたびinクランチ 総合栄養食 まぐろ味』はこちら

What exactly are cat treats? Here, we will explain about 6 types of typical cat treats.

The crispy dry type, which is often found in cat food, is often in small packs that can be opened and eaten in one go, making it convenient to carry when going out. In addition, it is easy to keep for a long time and has high storage stability, so if you can not eat it at one time, it is easy to adjust the amount.
Even if it spills, it is easy to clean.

5gずつの小分けタイプだから持ち運びにも便利！
『またたびプラス またたびinクランチ 総合栄養食 まぐろ味』はこちら

Wet type snacks are divided into "paste type", "soft pouch type" and "soup type". Because it contains a lot of water, it is also ideal for hydrating cats that do not drink much water.

・ Paste type
The paste type, which is made by packing the ingredients into a paste, is very popular with cats because of its high palatability and ease of eating. There are various flavors, so it seems that your favorite is clearly divided by cat. Due to the high water content, it is also useful for hydration when the cat does not drink much water.

水分補給にもオススメ！
『ニューグリーン なめらかチキンペースト まぐろ味』はこちら

・ Soft pouch type
The soft pouch type can be processed in various ways, such as scissors, bonito, and other raw materials, and kamaboko-shaped ones. It contains a moderate amount of water and has a hardness between that of the paste type and the dry type, so it is chewy. Some of the ingredients are large, so if you are feeding them for the first time, you should loosen them and give them little by little. Also, when you don't have an appetite, you can use it to stimulate your appetite, such as by putting the loosened food on the hood.

良質なかつおをそのまま柔らかく蒸した
『できたて厨房 蒸しかつお』はこちら

・ Soup type
Many of the soup types with plenty of water are relatively low in calories and healthy, and because they have a good scent and a good bite, they are perfect for cats with no appetite or water shortages. It is also characterized by the fact that many of them are thickened so that they are palatable.

Gum-type snacks can be used for oral care, such as preventing tartar from adhering by chewing and strengthening the gums. There are various hardness and shapes, and you can choose according to the size and biting power of the cat. Since tartar easily sticks to the back teeth, we recommend the type that can be firmly chewed to the back of the mouth.

プラズマ乳酸菌配合のデンタルガム
『プラクト 3ヶ月からの歯みがきデンタルガム まぐろ味』はこちら

猫用のジャーキーは、肉や魚をカラカラに干した保存食タイプのおやつです。基本的には人間用の物と一緒ですが、塩や香辛料などの味つけはしていません。中には、マタタビが入っている物もあります。ガムタイプと同様に、オーラルケアに効果のあるタイプもあります。

Freeze-dried snacks are freeze-dried fish and scissors. It can be stored for a long time at room temperature without damaging the nutritional value of the material itself. It is also safe to say that it is additive-free. It's easy to topping with everyday food, so it's also ideal for increasing the appetite of cats with a low appetite.

おやつとしてだけでなく、ふやかしたり砕いてトッピングなど与え方イロイロ！
『素材そのまま フリーズドライ マグロ』はこちら

Niboshi and dried bonito flakes are also popular as snacks for cats. Niboshi is chewy, so the effect of oral care is sufficient. However, many of the dried sardines and dried bonito for humans are high in salt, so be sure to choose the ones that are sold for cats.

ネコちゃん大好き！
『プラクト 健康ケア 減塩にぼし』はこちら

Dried kama-type snacks are fish paste sliced into thin slices. It is one of the popular snacks for cats because it is packed with the flavor of seafood. It's soft, so it's easy to tear it off by hand, and it's easy to give it, so it's the perfect snack for communicating with cats.

魚介の旨味たっぷり！
「乾しカマ かに味」

Here are some points to keep in mind when giving snacks to cats by age group. Give it in a way that suits your age.

The taste of cats tends to be determined by what they eat during the kitten period until they are one year old. After reaching a certain age, they may be wary of not eating anything other than what they have eaten before.
Therefore, it is a good idea to expand the range of edible foods by giving various kinds of tastes and textures even little by little from an early age. Dietary nutrition is a major premise, but if you have nutrition that is difficult to provide with your diet, try various types of snacks at this time to supplement it.

＼ネコちゃんのためのおやつシリーズ／

 

Since the amount of exercise of cats kept indoors does not increase easily, the number of children who are worried about obesity is increasing. Be careful not to give too much snacks and be careful not to neglect your weight management.
Rather than "what to give", it is necessary to devise something such as giving it as a set with exercise.

Seniors who tend to lose weight due to changes in metabolism as they get older. The snacks at this time are given as a way to increase appetite. You can choose something that your cat likes and eats well, or you can choose it to supplement the nutrition and water that you lack. Paste-type and soup-type snacks are recommended for older cats with weak teeth.

What should I be aware of when giving a treat to a kitten? Here are four points to note.

Kittens have many underdeveloped parts, and it is the time when they are building their bodies. Nutritional management up to 3-4 months after birth is very important. Kittens should not be given a treat until the first three months of life, which is the most important time to build a body, as it is essential to be well nourished with a diet during this time. I'd like to see a cute figure that makes me happy with a snack, but let's put up with it so that we can grow up a kitten that we will spend many years with.
If you really want to give something other than when you eat, give a small amount of the food you normally eat.

Regardless of whether you give a snack or when it's OK, it's NG to give it many times each time you get angry. Give snacks at most three times a day.
If you get snacks all the time, you may be hungry and stop eating. The body of a kitten is made up of regular food that contains well-balanced nutrition. Giving a treat that makes it impossible to eat is not good for the kitten's body. Eating too much snacks can also lead to obesity. Be aware that obesity also increases the risk of developing illness.

Avoid giving snacks just before meals, and after or between meals. If you eat a snack before rice, it will cause leftover food. It's important to remember that rice is the number one priority, and snacks are fun enough not to get in the way of the rice.

No matter how much you enjoy a snack, don't give it too much. Basically, the amount of snacks should be within 20% of the amount of energy a cat needs per day. Be careful not to give more than that, as it will cause obesity.
For example, for an adult cat weighing 4 kg, the average daily calorie intake is 160 kcal. Since this is about 20%, the proper calorie for a snack is 32 kcal. Also, be sure to get instructions from your veterinarian if you have dietary restrictions or if you are undergoing medical treatment.

Try not to give human food as much as possible. The salt and sugar contained in human food is excessively ingested by the cat's body. In addition, leeks and spices contain many poisonous ingredients in cats.
Dairy products such as cheese and ice cream may be especially preferred by cats, but they are wise to avoid as they contain significant amounts of salt and sugar.
Also, please note that dog food for dogs may not be suitable for cats.

Kitten treats aren't always required, but they're important for communicating with their owners. If you keep the amount and timing you give, you can maintain your health and your kitten will be very happy. On the other hand, if the amount and content of the snacks you give are not appropriate, it may affect your health condition, so if you are worried, consult an expert.

In order to live happily with a cat for a long time, it is important to keep in mind that you can give a good snack.