I am looking for recommendations for treats that are low in carbohydrates and high in protein. I have a mix of healthy and senior cats, and I want to ensure I am not feeding them too many carbs, which I know is not ideal for feline health.
Does anyone have a list of brands or types that are just meat? I prefer to avoid anything with grains or fillers.
Hi Pam. For high-protein and low-carb, you really just want to look at freeze-dried raw meat cubes. They are essentially just the muscle meat with no additives.
I use these for Milo when he is having trouble with his blood sugar. You can find them in the raw section of most pet stores. Just check the label to make sure it is 100% meat. I have a thread about Milo's diabetes and food choices if you want to see what I have been feeding him.
Freeze-dried is definitely the way to go. I give Sandy a piece of freeze-dried chicken heart sometimes. She is very shy, so I have to be careful about when I give it to her so she doesn't get stressed out.
If you have a shy cat, you might find my notes on Help with my shy girl Sandy useful for how to offer treats without causing anxiety.
I completely agree with the freeze-dried option. Sophie is quite anxious and she gets really hyper when she eats kibble treats. The raw meat seems to calm her down more.
I keep a strict routine with her meals to help with the stress. You can read about it in my thread Sophie's anxiety and household noise. It might help you figure out how to introduce the new treats gently.
Oh my goodness, I am so glad I found this thread. I have been struggling with what to give Chloe. She is a bit shy and I am worried about giving her too many calories since she is not very active.
Does the raw diet matter here? I know Lisa Garcia posts a lot about raw feeding. I saw her thread Raw diet caloric math and it was very helpful for calculating portions, but I am still confused about treats specifically.
Thank you all. The freeze-dried meat cubes sound like the best option.
I was wondering if there are any specific concerns with giving raw treats to cats that have a history of flea issues? I know it is not a direct link, but I want to be careful.
Also, for those of you who feed raw, do you find that the treats affect the overall diet balance? I am trying to keep things very orderly.
To answer Pam's question about fleas and raw: I don't think the treats themselves are an issue, but you do need to make sure the raw meat is safe and properly handled.
Lisa has a great thread on Fleas on raw diet cats that goes into the hygiene aspects. It might be worth a read to ensure you are not introducing any risks with the raw treats.
As for the balance, I just count the treats as part of the daily calories. If you are keeping a log, it should be manageable.
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