Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cats

Is your cat addicted to treats? This is how to kick the habit

Paige Cerulli
By

It’s no secret that cats love treats, and you might have even stumbled onto that brand or flavor that makes your kitty absolutely wild. Your cat might even be starting to beg for treats or anticipating the time of day when you give him those extra-special snacks. While many cats will go crazy for their treats, some cats take this to the extreme and can actually start to display addictive tendencies. So, is your cat addicted to treats? It’s important to recognize this problem early on and take steps to correct it if it occurs — your cat’s health and well-being could depend on it.

A cat eating out of a food dish
sweetlouise / Pixabay

Signs your cat is addicted to treats

If your cat is addicted to treats, you may notice certain new behaviors:

  • Meowing and demanding those treats more often
  • Your cat may get increasingly upset if you don’t give him the treats he’s asking for
  • Jumping onto the couch or counters to get your attention
Recommended Videos

The problem with too many treats

Your first instinct to stop your cat’s behavior might be to give him what he wants — treats! — but that will only reinforce the lesson that if he begs you, he’ll get treats. If your cat is eating too many treats, his behavior might be just one of the problems that you’ll be dealing with.

Treats tend to be high in calories, and adding more and more of them to your cat’s diet can cause weight gain. In some cases, cats may fill up on treats and won’t eat their food. This can negatively affect their nutrition, since cat food is designed to be a balanced diet, while treats lack the comprehensive nutrition your cat needs.

If your cat does gain weight because he’s eating too many treats, he could be at increased risk for health issues like arthritis, high blood pressure, respiratory problems, diabetes, and more. Being obsessed with treats isn’t just inconvenient, but also can threaten your cat’s health. For your cat’s sake, it’s important to take steps to break this addiction.

Cat sitting and eating a treat
Image used with permission by copyright holder

How to put an end to your cat’s addiction to treats

Breaking your cat’s addiction to treats is a gradual process, and you may need to try several approaches before you find the solution that works.

  • To start, try changing your cat’s treats. If possible, find a lower-calorie treat in a new flavor that your cat may be less enthusiastic about. You also might want to switch to a more natural treat, like pieces of cooked chicken or salmon. These treats are healthy and deliver nutrients that your cat needs, but given in small portions, reward your cat without all the extra calories.
  • You’ll need to adjust how you feed treats, too. If you’re feeding them multiple times a day, give them fewer treats. Try to start gradually reducing how often you’re feeding treats, too. Treats are ideal for rewarding a special behavior, like taking medicine, or as a once-a-day routine, but avoid giving them repeatedly each day, which can encourage your cat’s begging habit.
  • It’s also important to take steps to encourage your cat to eat his regular food rather than relying on treats. Consider putting your cat’s dry food into a treat ball or toy in place of actual treats. Your cat will get the experience of playing with his treat toy, but he’ll be getting nutritious food in return. As an added benefit, playing with a treat toy can keep your cat active, so he burns extra calories at the same time.
  • You might also try using an automatic food dispenser to give your cat small meals throughout the day. If your cat cleans up all his food and then goes hours until his next meal, he might have come to rely on treats to satisfy his hunger. Feeding smaller, more frequent meals helps keep food in his stomach, quieting that hunger.

Treats are designed to be super tasty, so it’s only natural that your cat will be excited about eating them. When that enthusiasm turns into a bad habit, though, you’ll need to take some steps to keep your cat healthy and to break that habit. If your cat has been addicted to treats for a while, changing his habit can take some time. Remember to stay firm as you make these changes and set new boundaries. Your cat may be upset at first, but remind yourself that you’re making these changes for his health, and because you love him. With some time, he’ll adjust to your new treat habits and will be better off for it.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Paige Cerulli
Paige Cerulli
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Paige's work has appeared in American Veterinarian, Business Insider, Healthline, and more. When she's not writing, Paige…
Is your cat obese? 5 ways to help them slim down
Obesity left unchecked can lead to health problems
An obese tabby cat perched on a red wooden table

World Pet Obesity Week is in the fall, so it's the purrfect chance to get your kitty on a diet to slim down in time. According to a survey conducted by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP), roughly 61% of cats and 59% of dogs in the U.S. alone are overweight or obese. While few things are more adorable than a chunky cat, obesity in cats comes with a multitude of health risks.

Have you been wondering if your cat needs to lose a few pounds? We're here to share how you can tell if your cat is obese, the potential health problems caused by cat obesity, and five helpful things you can do to help them lose weight. 
What causes obesity in cats?

Read more
Why do cats eat plastic (and when you should be concerned)?
The reasons for this behavior might be surprising
Cat in a basket with plastic bag

Cats are quirky — sometimes puzzling — creatures. Part of the fun of kitty parenthood is laughing off these funny, curious traits and perhaps looking into what each might mean. Is your cat staring at you because they're plotting against you? Why does your cat want to sleep on your chest? Does your kitty wish you would get back to the office already after several years of this work-from-home thing?

Often, these questions — and our search for answers — are all in good fun. Cats are cats, and that's why we love them. Yet, if your cat eats plastic, you might wonder, "Why does my cat eat plastic?" You'll want to get a formal answer to this question from a vet.

Read more
When can kittens eat dry food? The lowdown on what you should feed them
Tips on feeding your new kitten
A tabby kitten standing in a bowl of kibble

Caring for kittens is hard work, but it's one of the most rewarding experiences of a lifetime. Not only are you responsible for the most adorable little lives, but you get to watch them grow and thrive! Preparing to keep them fed and happy, however, is a lot more work. 

Just like human babies have different nutritional needs than adults, kittens have different dietary requirements than adult cats. With few exceptions, your new feline fur baby is considered a kitten for the first year of life. (Large cat breeds like Norwegian forest cats and Maine Coon cats mature more slowly and don't reach adulthood until they're two years old.) Have you ever asked yourself, "When can kittens eat dry food?" We'll give you the full scoop on what you should feed your kittens — and when to change their diet.
Do kittens need wet and dry food? 

Read more