To Treat or not to Treat
Leila: Tell her Ozzie.
Ozzie: Mom, the treat jar is empty.
I read that for playtime it was important to let kitties ‘catch’ their prey,
then at the end of playtime,
give them some treats so they can ‘eat’ their prey.
That gives a cat the most satisfying type of play.
But I find myself giving in when I get the Emmitt stare,
or the Ozzie lovey look.
I find ways to justify giving them treats more often.
One justification is so that they can ‘brush’ their teeth after meals.
Essentially, they are training me
rather than me giving them what they need,
what is healthy for them.
I am a big ole softy when it comes to cats.
I ask myself, do I stop treats altogether?
Do I grow a backbone and just treat them after playtime?
Sigh … advice would be wonderful and I would be forever thankful.
18 Comments
Eastside Cats Blog
You know your cats better than anyone, so follow your heart.
We do not use treats; Da Boyz beg enough as it is.
We have kibble in the house, because Sweetie has always had some while as an outside cat, and we’ve continued to give her a small serving to snack on; takes her 2-3 days to eat that small portion.
Once in a great while, I’ll give Da Boyz a small kibble portion (when The Hubby isn’t around to witness), so they don’t expect it.
I see that lots of folks use those squeeze treats, but I cannot imagine that they have anything wholesome in them at all, plus the waste of the packaging, but that’s just me.
And lastly, I am a softy too; cat dinner is around 5 pm, but I’ve been purrsuaded to serve it up earlier, by those big round eyes.
Eugenia
That’s a great idea giving them a treat at the end of their play. I am to try that with Callie and put a treat at the end of her red light pounce.
Leah
Interesting idea to give treats at the end of play … sounds good, but I doubt we could stick to a routine though …
Ellen J Pilch
I never deny myself a treat so I don’t deny my kitties either. 🙂
Cat and DOG Chat With Caren
I used to give my Angels Bobo and Cody treats ALL of the time! Do you know I hardly ever give Roary treats? When he joined our family I decided to cut back on the treats, he’s still fat even without treats!
messymimi's meanderings
If you don’t “free feed”, meaning keep the food bowls full at all times, you can use part of their kibble as treats at other times.
If you do, maybe get a different flavor of actual food kibbles to use as treats when they are begging, and keep the actual treats for after playtime.
If you give canned food at mealtime, any quality kibble can be used judiciously as treats, one or two kibbles at a time.
A ShutterBug Explores
Aww ~ I love all your sweet fur babies and Wow! photos of them ~ Xo
Seeing the good in each moment, or trying anyway
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Melissa & Mudpie
Mudpie gets a treat whenever she wants one too…
The Island Cats
I say treat them…but of course, I would say that. ~Ernie
Brian Frum
It’s difficult if not impossible to ignore the treat face appeal. We do give a different treat after playtime to keep it special and we have a routine treat for those weak moments we all have when we give in. Thanks for joining our Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!
Marjorie at Dash Kitten
I always give too many treats!
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Lone Star Cats
I say MORE treats. Always MORE.
Loulou
Here’s our take on treats. If I have done something very good and responded to whatever it is, I might get one or two Dentabites or freez-dried, but not now because I’m diabetic and can’t really have treats.
However, mama and papa have never “snacked” because they LOVE having their appetites for lunch and dinner so they are not big on snacks for kitties, but certainly if you get one of those “looks”….oh, boy. What does one do?
It’s just that too many snacks can add to the possibility of diabetes in a kitty’s life.
Zoolatry
June is too young to have a weight issue, yet I fear she is headed that way, so treats are now at a very minimum. When I’m going out for any length of time, she receives 2-3 with my bye bye and love you and another 2-3 with the hi honey I’m home love you! And that’s all, ever! At first the begging and
(lying eyes, I’m soooooooo hungry) would get too me, but in time that passed. Or when it returns, I force myself to look away!
meowmeowmans
We do try to give treats after play, and after things like nail trimming. But we do give treats at other times, too. Heck, we are of no help, are we? MOL
BellaDharma an BellaSita Mum
Mee-yow Cat Mom you sure ARE inn a pickell aren’t you?
BellaSita meowed to me to meow to you that iss best to keep treetss on a schedule.
So mee has 2-3 Greeniess Dental treetss an hour beefore suppurr.
Then aftur playtime beefore bedtiem BellaSita putss 2 or 3 Dental Treetss on mee blankit on our bed.
That way mee not stuffin mee face all day……
Mind you mee not abell to do THE EMMIT look or even
the Ozzie an Leila lookss…..mew mew mew…..
Hope wee helped!
***purrss*** BellaDharma an ((hugss)) BellaSita Sister
Three Chatty Cats
We give Harley treats during his CKD fluids. We’ve never thought to give treats after play – interesting idea!