High quality cat treats made from natural, domestically-sourced ingredients are nutritious as well as delicious.

As a cat parent, you lavish your kitty with love, attention…and treats. Love and attention are calorie-free — treats not so much. This means cats can easily become overweight. So when reaching for the cat treats, be sure to reach for healthy options.

A growing number of cat parents are choosing natural, healthy diets for their cats, and this extends to treats as well. Unlike dogs, many cats don’t like snacking on raw fruits and vegetables, but that doesn’t mean you can’t treat your cat with foods from your fridge or cupboard. Small tidbits of cheese, cooked fish, chicken or turkey all make good treat options. And if you’re buying treats, you have access to a good variety of quality products nowadays. You just need to know what to look for, and what to avoid.

What to steer clear of

When shopping for cat treats, ignore the cheap commercial products full of artificial colorings, flavors, fillers and preservatives.

“Always avoid treats containing by-product meals, grains, artificial ingredients, sugars or that are high in carbohydrates,” says Patti Salladay, head of sales and marketing for Northwest Naturals. “Food too high in carbohydrates can alter the blood sugar balance in many cats and contribute to obesity. In addition, treats derived from plant protein, not animal protein, work against the metabolic design of the strictly carnivorous feline.”

Take a careful look at the ingredients on treat packages before making a purchase – if it’s a long list filled with chemical names you can’t identify, put the product back on the shelf.