What sets the treats here apart
The treats in this collection are built around meat and fish rather than fillers, and that is the most important difference when you're looking for something your cat both enjoys eating and benefits from. Among them you'll find THE LYNX, dry pieces you can use for everyday pampering and training, and TINY FISH DELIGHTS, small fish snacks in a size that suits a cat's mouth.
In addition there are soft varieties such as DUCK MINI DELIGHTS with duck and SALMON MINI DELIGHTS with salmon, as well as FINEST SALMON & PARSLEY SMALL SAUSAGES, small sausages with salmon and parsley. What they all have in common is that the protein comes from a named animal source, not from an anonymous collective term, and that no sugar or artificial colourings have been added that a cat has no need for.
How many treats can a cat have per day
A rule of thumb used by vets and animal nutrition organisations is that treats should make up at most around 10 percent of a cat's total daily energy intake. The rest should come from a complete food that covers all of the cat's nutritional needs. The reason is simple: treats are rarely nutritionally complete, and a cat is small, so even a few extra calories quickly add up and can lead to overweight.
In practice this means that on days when your cat has had treats, it can be a good idea to reduce the daily amount of food a little rather than adding the treats on top. If you want to calculate it more precisely, we've put it all together in a walkthrough of how many treats a cat can have. The small pieces in this collection make it easier to hold back, because you can give one at a time rather than a large mouthful.
Soft or dry treats for your cat
The choice between soft and dry is about both your cat's preferences and what you're going to use the treat for. The soft mini varieties with duck and salmon are easy to divide and break into smaller pieces, which makes them ideal for rewarding in many small portions, and they are at the same time well suited to older cats or cats with sensitive teeth that may find it hard to chew hard food.
The dry pieces hold their shape and crumble less, so they are easy to keep in your pocket or store in a bag for training without getting sticky. If your cat tends to be fussy, it can be an advantage to have both a dry and a soft type at home, so you can switch if interest wanes.
Treats as a reward in training
Cats learn through reward, and a treat is one of the most direct tools you have when you want to shape a behaviour. This applies to everything from getting your cat to enter the carrier voluntarily to teaching it to come when you call. Here timing is crucial: the reward must come immediately after the desired action, otherwise the cat won't link the treat to what it just did.
The small sausages and mini pieces work well because they can be given quickly and in many repetitions without filling the cat up. A cat needs to repeat an exercise many times, so the smaller each individual reward is, the longer you can train before you reach the day's 10 percent ceiling.
Fish, duck and salmon as protein sources
The cat is an obligate carnivore, which means it is physiologically designed to get its nutrition from animal protein and cannot survive on plant food alone. That's why it makes sense to choose treats where the main ingredient is named meat or fish. In this collection salmon is a recurring theme, for example in FINEST SALMON & PARSLEY SMALL SAUSAGES and SALMON MINI DELIGHTS, while duck forms the base of DUCK MINI DELIGHTS.
Several different protein sources are an advantage if your cat is fussy, or if you want to vary the flavour from day to day. If you'd like to read more about what the cat as a species needs, we've written about what a cat eats.
Treats for kittens and older cats
A kitten can have treats, but size and consistency matter especially much while teeth and digestion are still developing. The small, soft pieces are easiest for a small mouth to handle, and you should keep the amount even more in check than with an adult cat, precisely because the kitten is so small. If the kitten first and foremost needs the right complete food, you'll find it in meals for kittens.
Older cats can benefit from the soft varieties if their teeth aren't what they used to be. If you're feeding a senior, you can combine the treats with meals for senior cats, so that both everyday food and pampering suit the stage of life.
How treats fit into your cat's overall diet
Treats are a supplement, not a meal, and they work best when the rest of the diet is already in place. If you have an adult cat, you'll find the staple food in meals for adult cats, and if the cat is neutered and therefore more prone to weight gain, meals for neutered cats is a place to start.
The key is balance: a complete food that covers the need for protein, fat, vitamins and minerals, plus a modest amount of treats for pampering, training and those moments when you want to strengthen the bond with your cat. Then the treats become what they should be, namely extra, without getting in the way of your cat's health and weight.
