Cat treats? Too may, too much?

Question

We have two cats. We buy about 10 different kinds of cat treats from the store. Soft and hard. We store them over the kitchen counter and the cats jump up when they want treats. Problem is, we give them each probably 35-40 treats each a day. Yes, it's wrong, but three little pieces is such a tease, they stare up at us like "that's it? cheapo" so we give them more about 3x's a day. We finally cut back on the amount. We give them a few of one kind, a few of the other and that's it. However, one of my cats, cannot get enough and jumps on the counter all day and waits for us to give him them. He will just sit and sit, until he gives up and will lay down and fall asleep under the treat cabinet just waiting. I want to control the amount, but it's so hard when they look at you waiting. How can we control this without feeling guilty and walking away with only giving them each about 12 pieces each (WHICH WOULD BE A GOOD THING, CUTTING BACK LOL)

Thanks

Answer 1

wow yeah i would cut that back before you get fat cats. think of it this way by not giving this cat these treats you are saving him from health problems down the line. lol my cat is luck if she gets them once a week. even then she might get two or three. that's it then the bag goes away. try changing treat cabinet. make it a drawer in the living room. fool him make him work for his treats start hiding them around the house and make him look for them. (hid them when hes not looking). do you use catnip or play toys it might make him want to leave the cabinet! and of course a couple cats and catnip the tails will really start to fly and get off some of those treat pounds.

Answer 2

Cats are pigs for food.  I speak from experience.  My cat, Scattabatta, eats her food so fast, then promptly vomits it straight back up!  Now we feed her outside!

Too many treats isn't a good thing.  Treats are just that, "treats".

Also, they contain catnip, which is like chocolate to women! and a lot of sugar and this isn't good for your cats to imbibe.

Too much love can hurt an animal (& your hip pocket!)

Answer 3

He'll eventually get the message, cats are just really stubborn and persistent when they want to be! You'll just have to ignore him - he will learn. You won't do him any harm by ignoring him there.  

Answer 4

We have the same problem it must be some addictive additive they put in them LOL My cats are on the tubby side!! and we need some guilt trip help to  LOL. I try to pick the ones they aren't crazy for as much they eat less if they know I have the good stuff they LOVE they are relentless all day.

Answer 5

yes, i would say cut back on the amount you give them. if you give them too much, they will stop eating regular cat food and only want the treats which will later on cause weight gaining and that alone can cause some problems. i would suggest only giving them a few total doesn't matter which kind the hard or soft, you just want to make sure you don't give them TOO much. you can try to just give them 3 or 4 and spread it out throughout the day. hope this helps! good luck!

Answer 6

you can't control cats, if you have treats, they want them, NOW !! and 5 mins from now, and everytime you turn around.

You have to stop, I didn't, My cat weighs 34 lbs...But he still wants treats....God he is fat.

Answer 7

Most likely all of these treats are garbage treats so the right answer is you shouldn't be giving these to your cat - PERIOD.  If you feed your cats a healthy, meat-based diet treats aren't needed.  Your cats are probably only begging for these treats because you give them is very poor nutritionally.  Switch your cat to healthier food with MEAT as the main ingredient - not corn or chicken meal - and with little to no grain. Also include canned food in your cat's diet as well as a dry food only diet is very bad for cats.

After that if you still feel the need to give your cats treat buy simple chicken baby food and give them a few licks of your finger.  Or buy healthy dried bonito (tuna) flakes or free-dried salmon treats.