If you want to please your cat, it is possible to give him a small treat, in addition to his favorite kibble and pâtés. But in limited quantities however so as not to unbalance his daily ration. Here are 5 healthy treats to offer to your beloved cat.
Healthy treats for my cat
Just like us, our cats are very greedy beings. And in front of their little furry heads, it is often difficult not to resist the temptation to give them a treat, a little extra in addition to their Ziggy kibble and/or pâtés. As full members of our family, our cats also have the right to little pleasures.
But be careful, some treats are not good for them . Although delicious, they can be too sweet, too salty or too fatty.
These sweet treats include, for example, certain soft cheeses, ham fat, and all cakes containing a lot of butter and sugar, such as madeleines, pound cakes, brioches, etc. All these little treats can also unbalance their daily ration, because they provide additional calories and nutrients, and often unnecessary ones, resulting in weight gain.
Other foods, however, are strictly prohibited because they are toxic to our cats.
This is particularly the case for avocados, which contain persin, a fungicidal toxin that is harmless to humans but dangerous and sometimes even fatal for our cats. There are also grapes, sauces made with garlic and onion, and raw potatoes , which can contain solanine, a toxic alkaloid. And of course, chocolate should also be kept away from their whiskers. Chocolate contains theobromine, a stimulant alkaloid that is not detoxified by the cat's liver. So we hide our bars, Kinder, and any other chocolatey food (that makes us more, hehe 😺).
Find on our blog the list of 30 foods toxic to your cat.
But then, what can you give your cat as a treat? In addition to its kibble and pâtés?
If you want to please your mustachioed one, here are 5 healthy treats. However, give them in limited quantities so as not to unbalance their daily ration.
1/ Zucchini, a filling and hydrating treat for your cat
Zucchini is a vegetable that is particularly appreciated by our cats. And as part of a quality, healthy and protein-rich diet (like Ziggy 😺) it is even a health ally for your beloved cat.
Very rich in water, zucchini is filling; it adds volume to the stomach, without the calories that go with it. If your little cat can't regulate itself, is overweight or obese, and you want to offer it a little treat, bet on zucchini. A delicious and healthy break!
Zucchini is also hydrating. Thanks to its high water content, it provides good hydration to your cat.
Zucchini has the advantage of being rich in fiber. It contributes to the good intestinal transit of your kitty.
And finally, zucchini is ideal for older or senior cats who may have minor chewing problems. When boiled, it is easily assimilated. Kitty does not need to crunch or overwork his weakened jaw. It can also be offered to a cat suffering from diabetes if he likes it, even between meals.
How to give zucchini to your cat? And in what form? We explain everything in our article on the benefits of zucchini for your cat.
Psst: if your cat isn't a fan of zucchini, you can give him other vegetables like green beans or broccoli.
2/ A green olive (without pit!)
Have you ever opened a jar of olives in front of your cat? No? Try it, he will definitely come and purr between your legs. 😻
Our cats are indeed very fond of olives, and their consumption - as long as they are pitted - does not present any risk to their health.
However, we advise you to only give one olive , or even half an olive, to your cat, because these small fruits provide additional calories: between 5 and 12 calories. You don't want your kitty to consume more than its energy needs!
Please note that olives are part of the large fruit family and that other fruits can also be given to your cat, such as pears, blueberries, strawberries, watermelons or even melons.
But they still have to like them; few mustachioed men purr with pleasure when they see a fruit salad.
If your cat seems to like it, you can offer him a few cubes (no more than 5 grams), washed, peeled and seedless. The quantity should be limited, because fruits contain sugar (even watermelon).
Some fruits are, on the contrary, toxic : grapes, citrus fruits (orange, mandarin, clementine, grapefruit, lemon, etc.) and all dried fruits (nuts, almonds).
Caution: If your cat is diabetic, avoid giving him fruit. Olives, on the other hand, are safe, as indicated in our article on feeding diabetic cats .
3/ A peeled pink shrimp tail
Shrimp is an excellent source of quality, digestible protein with an amino acid profile adapted to the needs of cats. It is very popular with our fine gourmets.
To please your beloved cat, you can give him a cooked peeled shrimp tail (10 grams) , in addition to his delicious Ziggy pâtés and kibbles. But be careful, no more than one shrimp per day. And this should only be his only little treat of the day!
4/ White fish (less than 20 grams)
If your cat loves fish, you can spoil him by giving him a few slightly cooked pieces, less than 20 grams to avoid unbalancing his overall protein intake.
However, fish should not be too fatty if your cat is sterilized; avoid salmon, for example, and opt for lean white fish, such as hake, cod and pollock. The kitten (not sterilized), who is still growing, has a slightly higher caloric requirement than the adult cat, and can eat oily fish.
Note that you can give your cat canned tuna , but not more than once a week and in small quantities. Canned tuna is very, if not too salty for our cats and contains mercury. Daily consumption can pose a risk to their health.
5/ A little plain yogurt
You can give your cat plain yogurt from time to time (not every day), unless he is allergic to milk proteins. But be careful, we are talking about the bottom of the pot (a few licks) and not a whole pot!
Many cats are lactose intolerant, but yogurt contains little or no lactose. In the manufacturing process, lactose is fermented.
However, do not give cottage cheese, because unlike yogurt, it is rich in lactose! It is not well tolerated by cats.
And of course, avoid giving him yogurt flavored with strawberry, apricot or vanilla. Plain yogurt without sugar!
Bonus : les friandises pour chats Ziggy
Si vous voulez faire plaisir à votre chat, vous pouvez aussi parier sur nos délicieuses friandises pour chat : la recette Relax au saumon et à la valériane et la recette Happy au saumon et à la noix de coco.
Fruits de plusieurs mois de recherche et développement avec notre vétérinaire nutritionniste, le Dr Géraldine Blanchard, et notre usine partenaire, nos friandises sont aussi saines que gourmande : sans amidon/féculent, seulement 6 ingrédients et moins d'1 calorie par bouchée !
Pate is not a treat!
Pate is still wrongly considered a treat today. However, it is a food in its own right that can be given several times a day to your little cat. It is also the food that comes closest to the cat's natural needs. It is rich in water and low in calories.
However, it must be healthy, namely rich in quality animal proteins, balanced in essential nutrients (essential fatty acids, minerals, vitamins) and low in carbohydrates. It must also be COMPLETE and not complementary.
What is the difference between a complete cat food and a complementary cat food ?
A complete pâté contains all the nutrients your cat needs to be healthy: proteins, lipids, fibers, but also vitamins and minerals. It can be given as a sole or main food. This means that you do not need to supplement its ration with other foods.
Conversely, complementary food does not cover all of your cat's nutritional needs. It may contain high levels of certain substances or be devoid of certain nutrients. A complementary food must be combined with other foods to form a complete ration and thus avoid nutritional deficiencies.
At Ziggy, all our pâtés are complete pâtés, rich in quality animal proteins and low in carbohydrates for a healthy belly, beautiful fur and Olympic shape. 💛
Mon chaton est difficile quant à la pâtée. Je viens tout juste d´essayer votre pâtée chaton sans céréales à la truite , il mange pour l´instant et j´espère qu´il continuera car je suis convaincu de la qualité de vos produits.
J´ai beaucoup apprécié votre approche à la fois transparente et pédagogique, vos différents dossiers sur l´alimentation du chat sont hyper intéressants et vos réponses à nos questions à la fois précises et très rapides.
Merci mille fois, en espérant que mon moutachu Whisper voudra bien continuer l´aventure avec vous.
Mon chaton est difficile quant à la pâtée. Je viens tout juste d´essayer votre pâtée chaton sans céréales à la truite , il mange pour l´instant et j´espère qu´il continuera car je suis convaincu de la qualité de vos produits.
J´ai beaucoup apprécié votre approche à la fois transparente et pédagogique, vos différents dossiers sur l´alimentation du chat sont hyper intéressants et vos réponses à nos questions à la fois précises et très rapides.
Merci mille fois, en espérant que mon moutachu Whisper voudra bien continuer l´aventure avec vous.
J’ai bien ri en parcourant votre article sur les comportements de nos chats quand on a des invités ! Merci pour ces bons moments que vous nous offrez ! Mes deux chats adorent bien sûr les crevettes et quand il y a des sardines à MON menu il y en a forcément un qui part avec une sardine dans la gueule…
Bonjour à tous et toutes,
J’aurais beaucoup aimée que mes quatre chats se régalent avec vos pâtées, je les ai toutes essayées mais sans succès… Snif, ils ne jurent que par les croquettes. C’est bien dommage car je suis convaincue que la pâtée Ziggy serait bien meilleure pour leur santé étant complète.
Sinon, vos articles sont toujours intéressants et les photos qui les agrémentent, donnent envie de les lire. “L’humour Ziggy” est votre premier succès, c’est indéniable ! A bientôt, Laure.
Bonjour Christina,
Merci beaucoup pour votre commentaire qui nous touche beaucoup 💛
Plein de caresses à vos petits chats 😻
L’équipe Ziggy
Vos pâtés sont excellents et les minous raffolent .
Merci aussi pour les infos! Toujours très utiles et à point. Continuez comme ça mes chers Ziggy!❤️
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