Thankful Thursday

To Treat or not to Treat

Leila

Leila: Tell her Ozzie.

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.

Emmitt

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.

  • 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.

  • 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!

  • 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!

  • 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

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