Your cat means the world to you and you keep looking for tasty treats to reward your pet. While this may seem fun at first, unhealthy treats can result in obesity and lifestyle diseases such as diabetes for your beloved pet. As a pet owner, it is your responsibility to choose healthy treats that keep your cat’s body nourished and make them happy. Here are some smart tips for buying healthy cat treats. Make use of these points to choose treats that do not fill up your cat with empty calories.

• Stay away from treats that are full of artificial flavors and colors
  This is a common mistake pet owners make when they give their cats occasional treats. Treats that look colorful and smell appetizing may not be very healthy. In fact, the artificial colors and flavors added may be dangerous. It is very important to look for natural additives in treats even if they do not look as good as the unhealthy options. This is one of the most important tips for buying healthy cat treats.
• Choose low carbohydrate treats
  To make the treats filling and tasty, pet food brands add considerable amounts of carbohydrates to these treats. Cats’ digestive systems are not designed to handle carbohydrates. Excess carbohydrates can also cause obesity and diabetes in your cats. Hence, the tip for buying healthy cat treats, which pet owners should keep in mind, is to choose protein-rich treats that have little or no carbohydrates.
• Occasionally use human food as treats
  Many pet owners wonder if they should treat their cats by giving them the foods that we humans consume. While this should not be made a habit, occasional treating with food items such as cooked chicken, lamb, beef, fish, and animal milk is absolutely okay.
• Avoid raw meat treats
  Cats are carnivorous animals and enjoy raw meat. If you make this a practice, there is a chance of your cat being infected with food-borne pathogens. The tip for buying healthy cat treats is to choose pre-cooked meat or buy raw meat and cook it before offering it to your pets. You should also remember that your family can easily get infected if your cat gets infected with these pathogens.
• Moderation is the key
  You do not have to worry too much about the nutritional value of treats if they are offered in addition to regular nutritious food. You definitely have to check the calorie content though. Treats that are calorie-dense and offered more than once a day can accelerate weight gain in your cats. You can cut a treat into half to reduce its calorie count or opt for praises, toys, and fun activities as treats instead of food all the time.

These tips for buying healthy cat treats will ensure you make healthy treat choices for your cats. Check the ingredients used and the calorie information on the treat packs before you add them to your shopping cart.