Obesity in cats is a major health concern. Just as with people, obesity can lead to very serious health problems. Diabetes, pancreatitis, arthritis and heart disease are just a few of the problems that can be caused by or worsened if your pet is overweight. While many pets are fortunate to stay naturally slim, there are those who seem to get fat with little effort.
And then there are those accomplished actors who have refined the business of asking for a morsel to an art form. Here are a few suggestions for offering your pet some healthy alternatives when you want to give them a treat.
If your pet has any type of weight problem (underweight as well as overweight) please check with your veterinarian to rule out possible causes. If your pet has dietary restrictions, discuss giving any new food with your vet.
Vegetables
Anyone who's ever seen a cat eat grass or greens knows there's a vegetarian side to your pet. Before domestication, when cats hunted for their living, they ate the entrails of their prey, which contained a considerable amount of digested vegetable matter. Most animals still want some of this vegetation, but can't digest the tough fibrous components on their own. Try offering your cat some cooked green beans, carrots or peas. Many pets love them, and you can even mix them into their regular diet. Cats love kitty greens, little pots of soft grasses that they can consume straight from the container.
Another favorite for many pets are rice, popcorn and pasta. A bit of a rice cake or some air popped popcorn is a great substitute for a high fat treat. Cooked rice can be added for bulk to a weight control diet. It's a way of giving you pet more food without adding a lot of fat calories. Cooked pasta is also great. Many pets love a few elbow macaroni or other plain pasta.
A cooked egg white is a great protein treat, hard boil a few and keep them on hand. (The yolk has all the fat!) A little dab of cottage cheese or plain yogurt substitutes for licking that ice cream bowl!
Sometimes treats have to be eliminated if your pet has a health problem that is being controlled by a prescription diet. Ask your veterinarian if a canned formulation of the diet is available. Most companies do make both canned and dried versions. Remove the food from the can in one large piece. Use a cheese slicer or knife to cut 1/4-inch slices and put them on a cookie sheet. Bake them at 300 degrees until they are crispy, like a cracker. This gives kitty a crunchy treat that stays within the diet plan.
Many pets have allergies or food sensitivities. Common culprits are dyes, flavorings, preservatives, carbohydrates and protein sources. If your pet is sensitive to any of these components, look for treats that are hypoallergenic, and have minimal or no dyes or preservatives. There are a number available in your local pet store.
If you can't resist feeding your pet little extras from the table or sharing every meal you have with him, consider carefully what you may be doing. A cat that would normally weigh 10 to 12 pounds can gain a lot weight if given too many treats. A weight gain of 1 pound may not seem like much, but to a small pet that pound can be 10 percent of his body weight. That's like 15 pounds for a person! Use some healthy alternatives to help keep your pet in his best shape.
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