Reconsider Your Treats
We’ve all done it — looked at our lovely cat and thought, “oo, you’re getting a little chubby there, friend”. And we know it’s our responsibility, as we’re the ones supplying the food, playtime, and treats.
You tell your cat, “we’re cutting back on treats from now on”, but then they give you those big, round, pleading eyes… maybe they delicately reach out a paw in yearning… aaaand you’re suckered into passing them a few more Greenies or Temptations.
The secret is, unless you’re really going overboard with treats or your cat has a particular diet recommended by your vet, you often don’t need to cut back that much on treat time. Simply swapping out your current treats for lower-calorie, lower-carb, and high-protein alternatives can help keep kitty satisfied, and kitty guardian guilt-free.
One of my favorite options for low-guilt snacking is, in my opinion, not known enough in the cat world: Bonito flakes!
What are bonito flakes? Well, bonito is a type of tuna fish, and bonito flakes (or katsuobushi in Japanese) are dried, smoked thin pieces of bonito.
They’re a common ingredient in Japanese cuisines, as they have a deep, rich flavor that is often used to make fish stock. Ever had miso soup at a restaurant? You’ve tasted some of the savory umami flavor of bonito used in the broth.
Bonito flakes have an association with cats in Japanese culture and cuisine. One common comfort food is nekomanma, or “cat rice”, a simple dish of hot fresh rice topped with bonito flakes and soy sauce. Because it’s a cheap and easy dish for “commoners”, it was reminiscent of a dish of leftovers you might serve to a cat.
Bins of bonito flakes at a Japanese market.
Why are bonito flakes a good cat treat? The nutritional value is way beyond many other conventional cat treats on the market. Bonito flakes are low in calories, clocking in at around 5 calories for a 1.5 gram serving. They’re mainly protein, and have no fat or carbs (cats need high protein, mid fat, and low carb diets, as a rule of thumb). As an added bonus, they’re high in taurine, an amino acid that is essential for cats’ health and that they must get from their diet. The amino acids and oils in fish in general are really beneficial for skin and fur health, so flaky kitties take note. They’re also thin, and won’t fill up your cat and spoil their dinner.
Another high-protein and low filler cat treat that’s becoming more popular is freeze-dried chicken; this option has its merits, but bonito edges it out for me in terms of being less filling (won’t spoil a cat’s next meal) and its versatility. Because the taste and smell of bonito flakes is very strong, they work for many cat owners when disguising medications in food, enticing a sick or old cat to eat, or introducing a new food to a picky cat. Yay for multifunctional tools!
When choosing bonito flakes to purchase, you will find products marketed for cat consumption, and products marketed for human consumption. Many times these are interchangeable. If they’re available to you and perhaps more affordable than the cat-specific flakes, just be sure they are free of any additives. You want them to be plain flakes of tuna, such as this bag from Eden brand foods, as otherwise you cannot guarantee that any additives are safe for your cats. Salt is particularly an ingredient to watch out for, as too much added salt is dangerous for cats’ kidneys.
If you want a safer bet, cat-marketed bonito flakes give you more peace of mind that there are no dangerous additives. Presidio’s Cat Sushi is a common brand, as is Cat-Man-Doo. There are many other smaller brands catching on to the appeal of bonito, so check what’s available in your local pet supply store.
As always, you want to check in with your vet about introducing new foods into your cat’s diet, especially if they have any new or ongoing health concerns or special diets. If you are looking for a quick healthy swap to improve your cat’s life, bonito flakes can easily give your old carb and calorie heavy treats the boot! Happy snacking.
Other Great Treat Swaps:
Freeze-dried salmon
Freeze-dried chicken
Cucumber (hydrating!)
Peas (fun to roll around!)
