Chews & Snacks

CHEWS & TREATS FOR CATS FROM VET-CONCEPT

In addition to the meat content, attention should also be paid to other ingredients of animal and plant origin. Valuable ingredients or natural additives can support for joints, ligaments, tendons or various organic processes in addition to the caring abrasion on the tooth when chewing the treats.

Modern cats and tomcats are not infrequently encouraged and trained at home, much like dogs. Small meaty treats can be used here as a reward for a successfully completed training.

In particular, cats that are mainly fed a wet diet are given the opportunity to care for their teeth and chewing muscles by regularly feeding them solid chews or dried fish.

In nutritional counselling, we always recommend subtracting the amount of treats fed from the main meal (Vet-Concept dry or wet cat food). It should be noted that no more than one third of the main meal should be replaced by other food to ensure that all the necessary nutrients are absorbed by your pet.

The variety of snacks for cats at Vet-Concept offers pet owners - but also the velvet paws with certain preferences, allergies, diseases or overweight - a large selection. From soft to crunchy, small or larger and low-protein or low-fat morsels, slices, sticks and chunks in different compositions to whole dried fish - every cat will find its favourite here.

HOW OFTEN CAN YOU GIVE CHEWS IN ADDITION TO FOOD?

Cats and male cats are all very different, so there is no definite recommendation on the ideal frequency and amount of treats.

For example, if a neutered male cat tends to gain weight quickly or if the cat is sensitive to gastrointestinal problems, you should keep the amount of treats to a minimum, choose a low-fat variety and avoid hard-to-digest chews.

The need for nutrients should also be met mainly through a complete feed, such as Vet-Concept Premium wet food. One third of the recommended daily amount of the main food can theoretically be deducted if other snacks are fed instead.

If you do not want to exceed a certain daily ration of snacks, it is advisable to prepare the desired amount an evening before or in the morning, e.g. in a resealable tin, and feed it throughout the day. In this way, you can avoid rewarding your pet too much and keep track of the amount fed, even in hectic everyday life.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO STORE CHEWS?

To maintain the longest possible shelf life, even after opening the treats and chews, the packs should be stored in a cool and dry place.

Vet-Concept packaging is therefore resealable and can be stored, provided it is always resealed after use and kept in a cool place.

Alternatively, we recommend repackaging in resealable glass or plastic containers suitable for food storage.

After opening the package, treats and chews should be consumed within 4-6 weeks.

WHICH SNACKS ARE SUITABLE FOR KITTENS?

As soon as kittens reliably cover their daily requirements with dry or wet food, they can also be fed small treats or soft chew sticks.

To get them used to hand-feeding, a portion of the daily dry food can be used in the beginning. Experience has shown that young cats respond well to easily digestible protein sources such as lamb or poultry.

In order not to challenge the young gastrointestinal system too much and to test the tolerance, only one sort of treat should be re-fed at a time within approx. 4 weeks. If there are no symptoms of intolerance within this period, it can be assumed that the new snack is tolerated by the kitten.

Nevertheless, cats and tomcats should be continuously monitored to see if they are doing well, as intolerances can also occur quite suddenly or after a longer period of time. In addition, you should not leave your pet unattended with treats and chews to avoid swallowing of large pieces or to recognise emergencies in time.

HOW CAN YOU TELL IF A CAT IS NOT TOLERATING A TREAT?

It is generally advisable to add only one new food to the diet and then observe it for 4-8 weeks to see if there are any signs of intolerance.

Such signs can be diarrhoea, flatulence, vomiting or itching. But even more inconspicuous symptoms, such as fatigue, abdominal pain or acid regurgitation, can indicate an intolerance.

Cats and tomcats in particular are very tenacious contemporaries and do not always show abnormalities immediately. Therefore, keep a close eye on your four-legged friend to identify and rule out triggers of intolerances.

WHEN SHOULD YOU NOT FEED CHEWS?

As nice as rewarding is for all involved individuals, there are also situations in which Vet-Concept advises against such feeding.

In acute situations, such as a severe infection, after surgery or poisoning, the gastrointestinal tract should be spared and therefore treats should be avoided. After the general condition has improved, the diet can be gradually supplemented with snacks.

In the case of chronic intestinal diseases, snacks should not be fed in the long term in order to support a good general condition - despite the disease.

In such cases, the decision as to whether treats can be fed should always be discussed with the vet.