Just like humans, pets too require that extra love and care and a little bit of pampering. In addition to cuddling, attention, and being taken for regular grooming sessions, cats need treats every now and then. Cat treats are a way of pampering your feline friend, but one has to set a limit and be very careful with these as going overboard can lead to health and behavior issues.

Here are a few tips for buying healthy cat treats that will help you choose the right ones to keep your cat safe and in good health.

• Consult a vet
  This is one of the most important tips for buying healthy cat treats. When it comes to cat food and treats, vets are the best resources to guide you in dietary requirements, nutritional values, and allergens.
• Avoid corn, soy, and wheat
  Cats and carbs don’t mix well as felines have no dietary need for carbohydrates. Due to the lack of specific enzymatic pathways that are present in other mammals, cats are not able to digest and utilize the nutrient. Hence, carbohydrates can be harmful for them.
• Avoid extra sugar
  There are plenty of cat treats available in the market. These contain sugar, corn sugar, or other added sweeteners to enhance the taste. But, they are not good for your cat as they can cause diabetes. Moreover, the taste buds of cats are not designed to taste sweeteners. So, next time you go shopping for cat treats, keep this in mind.
• No artificial flavors, preservatives, and dyes
  Artificial preservatives are used to increase the shelf life of the treats, but these chemicals can wreak havoc on the cat’s system. Artificial preservatives such as BHT and BHA, glycerine, and artificial dyes are suspected to be carcinogens. It is not a good idea to treat your furry friend with harmful food. You can opt for organic treats instead.
• Avoid treats with high sodium
  Cats are prone to dehydration and therefore, anything with high sodium isn’t suitable for them. They can get dehydrated even without salt in their diet and sometimes develop kidney stones. So to keep your kitty away from any such health problem, avoid salt.
• Don’t offer human food
  Treats that you love are not necessarily good for cats. You may love to snack on raisins, have caffeinated drinks, grapes and chocolates, but they can be toxic for your cats. Simply refrain from offering human food to cats as the nutrient content in them isn’t good for pets.
• Go green
  It’s always good to switch to green once in a while. Catnip makes a good treat for cats and it’s also low in calories. You can even offer cat grass, which is available in dried forms too. Catnip and cat grass should be given in limited quantities.
• Water-rich diet
  As cats are prone to dehydration, opt for canned foods over dry foods, since they contain approximately 78% water and are better suited to meet the water requirement of cats. If the cat is consuming dry food, take care of their liquid consumption.

So next time you go shopping, check these tips for buying healthy cat treats to make it easier for you.