How Many Treats per Day for a Cat? Cat Treat Calculator

Introduction

‍

Welcome to the cat treat calculator to help you estimate how many treats to give your cat each day. You have two options to calculate the number of treats you can give, either based on the amount of food your cat is fed or based on your cat's body weight.

‍

When feeding treats to your cat, it's important to remember two key points.

‍

‍

For example, if you opt for 10% of your cat's daily required calories to come from treats, the other 90% of their calories will come from their main food, and you will have to feed 10% less of their main diet.

‍

If you opt for 5% of your cat's daily required calories to come from treats, the other 95% of their calories will come from their main food, and you will have to feed 5% less of their main diet.

‍

The number of cat treats per day you can give typically varies between 5-20 depending on the size of your cat, how active they are, the percentage of daily calories allocated to treats, and the number of calories per treat.

‍

‍

Cat Treat Calculator: Based on Amount of Food Fed

‍

Based on how much you typically feed your cat, the calculator will estimate how many treats you can give your cat and the reduced amount of main diet to feed per day once the calories from the treats have been taken into consideration.

‍

‍

‍

‍

Cat Treat Calculator: Based on Body Weight

‍

Based on the calories required for your cat's body weight, the calculator will estimate how many treats your cat is allowed and the reduced amount of their main diet to feed per day once the calories from the treats have been taken into consideration.

‍

‍

‍

‍

FAQs: How to Use the Cat Treat Calculators

‍

How Do I Know How Much to Feed My Cat?

Follow the feeding guidelines found on the food package, ask your vet, or use our Wet and/or Dry Cat Food Calculator.

It's important to note that feeding guidelines and calculators provide estimates, and the amount you feed may need to be adjusted based on regular body weight and body condition score checks. If you do not know how to body condition score your cat, read our Step-by-Step Guide to learn the technique.

How Do I Know the Calorie Content of My Cat's Food?

The kcal/kg or kcal/100g of cat food can usually be located on the label packaging or online under the nutritional or feeding information. Dry cat food typically has around 3,500 to 4,500 kcal/kg, while wet cat food can range from 750 to 1,200 kcal/kg. If you cannot find the calorie content, contact the company that produces the food.

How Do I Know My Cat's Weight?

We recommend investing in some pet scales to use at home. Not only will you be able to calculate how much food and how many treats to provide, but monitoring your cat's weight every 2-4 weeks can provide valuable insight into their overall health.

If your adult cat's weight is trending upward, you may need to provide fewer calories. If their weight is unintentionally trending downward, it could indicate an underlying health condition that requires veterinary attention.

Our favorite scales are the Beurer Digital Pet Scales, which are affordable, accurate, reliable, and comfortable for your cat.

How Do I Know My Cat's Activity Level?

Inactive: a cat that spends most of their time sleeping or resting, has minimal physical activity, and is prone to becoming overweight (resting energy requirements x 1).

Average: a cat that naturally spends a lot of time sleeping and resting but also has daily playtime and exercise, and plenty of environmental enrichment is provided. They may also have access to the garden or an outdoor enclosure (resting energy requirements x 1.2).

High: a cat that explores a large outdoor territory or goes on walks regularly with a leash and harness. Intact (unneutered) cats typically also require more energy (resting energy requirements x 1.4).

‍

‍

FAQs: Cat Treats

‍

Can You Feed a Cat Too Many Treats?

‍

We love giving our cats treats but feeding a cat too many can lead to various health issues, such as obesity, digestive problems, and nutritional imbalances.

‍

It's important to give treats in moderation and adjust the amount of your cat's main food accordingly. When you give your cat treats, you must feed less of their main diet so they don't receive too many calories. However, treats shouldn't' comprise more than 10% of your cat's daily calorie intake, as unlike commercial cat foods, treats do not contain all the nutrients your cat needs. Too many treats can cause their diet to become unbalanced and lead to nutritional deficiencies.

‍

Use one of our treat calculators above to help estimate how many treats your cat can have per day and how much to reduce their main diet, or check with your vet.

‍

‍

Can I Give My Cat Treats Every Day?

‍

It's generally fine to give your cat treats every day, as long as you do so in moderation to avoid weight gain and nutritional imbalances.

‍

However, rather than simply giving your cat treats, there are several ways to make treat time more engaging and to use treats to provide enrichment for your cat. For example, treats can be placed into puzzle feeders, hidden around a room, used to encourage and reward desirable behaviors, or you can teach your cat tricks using clicker training.

‍

Product	Product	Features	Price
	Trixie Activity Fun Board	Trixie Activity Fun Board A puzzle feeder that's perfect for using with treats Five fun and challenging games in one Provides mental stimulation and hours of entertainment Dishwasher-safe	View on AmazonView on Chewy
	PetSafe SlimCat	PetSafe SlimCat Place your cat's daily treat allowance inside the ball, and they will learn to push it around to dispense their treats The holes are adjustable to vary the difficulty Provides enrichment and exercise Dishwasher safe	View on AmazonView on Chewy
	Indoor Hunting Cat Feeder	Indoor Hunting Cat Feeder Place your cat's treats inside the mice and hide them throughout the house Encourages natural hunting behaviors as your cat seeks them out Covered in 'skins' to simulate the tactile feel of prey so your cat can grab, claw and use their teeth Increases exercise and prevents boredom	View on AmazonView on Chewy
	Cat School Clicker Training Kit	Cat School Clicker Training Kit Contains all the tools you need to start clicker training your cat The perfect way to provide enrichment if your cat is treat motivated Teach them to high-five, jump over obstacles, weave between your legs, jump to the top of their cat tree, circle around an object, and much more! Provides mental stimulation and strengthens your bond	View on Amazon

‍

‍

Can Too Many Treats Cause Diarrhea and Vomiting?

‍

Treats can cause mild vomiting and/or diarrhea, especially if your cat was given too many at once, they weren't introduced to their diet gradually, or they contain an ingredient that your cat is sensitive to and aggravates their digestive system. If you suspect some new treats have caused your cat digestive issues, it's best to discontinue them.

‍

However, there are many causes of vomiting and diarrhea in cats, so always consult your vet for advice, especially if they vomit more than once, the diarrhea is profuse or lasts more than 24 hours, there is blood in the vomit or stools, they are lethargic, or not eating.

‍

‍

Which Treats Are the Healthiest and Best Choice for Cats?

‍

Our favorite healthy and tasty cat treats include: 

‍

• Dental treats, which tend to be low in calories and can help reduce gingivitis.
• Freeze-dried snacks, which contain a single, clean ingredient.
• Churu Lickable Treats for Skin and Coat, which are high in moisture and contain omega oils, taurine, and vitamin E. 
• Some cats also enjoy pieces of carrot and courgette.

‍

Product	Empty	Features	Price
	Greenies	Greenies Tempting Tuna Dental Treats The crunchy texture and unique shape helps clean teeth and reduce tartar Formulated with added vitamins, minerals, and taurine and made in the USA Contains 1.4 kcal per treat	View on AmazonView on Chewy
	DentaLife	Purina DentaLife Dental Treats A crunchy texture that's scientifically designed to effectively clean cats' teeth Formulated with additional probiotics, vitamins, minerals, calcium, and taurine in the USA Contains 1.4 kcal per treat	View on AmazonView on Chewy
	chicken	Life Essentials Freeze Dried Chicken Made from a single clean ingredient - white breast chicken meat Low in calories and high in protein Approximately 3-4 calories per chicken piece	View on AmazonView on Chewy
	churu	Churu Lickable Treats for Skin and Coat Made with real chicken and tuna, packed with omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil to help maintain healthy skin and a shiny coat, and additional taurine and vitamin E 88% moisture to help maintain hydration 9 calories per 0.5-ounce tube	View on AmazonView on Chewy

‍

‍

What Can I Give My Cat Instead of Treats to Avoid Excess Calories?

‍

Instead of giving your cat treats, you can save 5g of their daily food allowance to use as treats in between meals. 

‍

However, food isn't the only way to reward your cat. Alternative ways to reduce their treat intake while still bonding and creating a positive experience for your cat include:

‍

• Playtime, especially with fishing rod or wand toys that bring out their inner hunter.
• Affection and cuddles, such as chin, cheek, neck, and back, strokes and scratches.
• Grooming sessions, especially with our favorite Zoom Groom that provides a gentle massage while removing loose hair.
• Catnip, which can induce a temporary state of euphoria or excitement, however, some cats may become aggressive, and others will have no reaction. 
• Taking them on a walk with a leash and harness.

‍

Product	Product	Features	Price
	Da Bird Handmade Feather Toy	Da Bird Handmade Feather Toy Most cats will happily play with this fishing rod-style toy instead of receiving a treat Made with expert craftsmanship and of very high quality and durability Sounds and moves like a real bird, making playtime sessions extremely exciting Swish it along the floor and through the air	View on AmazonView on Walmart
	Zoom Groom	Zoom Groom Brush Rather than giving your cat treats, opt for a pampering session The rubber bristles are soft and gentle on your cat's skin and coat Provides a soothing massage that cats love Removes loose fur, keeping their skin and coat healthy	View on AmazonView on Chewy
	Yeowww Catnip	Yeowww Catnip High-quality organic catnip made in the USA Offer it to your cat instead of treats Many cats love to sniff and eat catnip, inducing a temporary state of euphoria Not all cats are affected by catnip, so it may not work for every cat	View on AmazonView on Chewy
	Kitty Holster Harness	Kitty Holster Harness Rather than reaching for the treats, reach for your cat's Kitty Holster Leash and Harness Easy to put on but difficult for your cat to get out of Made from soft cotton and comfortable to wear Let your cat acclimate to the harness in the house, then gradually progress to the garden, the park, and even hikes!	View on AmazonView on Chewy

‍

‍