How Many Treats Can You Safely Give Your Cat Each Day?

The general rule is that 90% of your cat's daily calorie intake should come from complete and balanced food, and the remaining 10% of calories can come from treats and snacks.^[1] This guideline helps prevent nutritional imbalance and weight gain while still allowing you to reward and bond with your cat. The 10% limit is a ceiling, not a target.^[1]

Why the 10% Rule Matters

Unlike commercially prepared cat foods, many cat treats are not complete and balanced, meaning they do not contain all essential nutrients that your cat needs.^[1] While it is acceptable for a treat to be incomplete, the proportion of these unbalanced items should be kept low.^[1]

Treats add calories to your cat's total daily intake, not extra calories on top of it. Too many treats can interfere with your cat's appetite for regular food and contribute to cats becoming overweight and obese.^[1] When it comes to maintaining a healthy body weight, nutritional science tells us that "calories in" is by far the most important part of the equation, with exercise playing a smaller role in maintaining optimal body condition.^[1]

Calculating Your Cat's Treat Allowance

To determine how many treats your cat can safely receive, you first need to establish your cat's appropriate total daily calorie allowance.^[2] An experienced veterinarian can help you calculate how many calories your cat should be eating daily.^[2]

Once you know your cat's total daily calorie allowance, reserve up to 10% of that total for treats. For example, if your veterinary care team determines your cat should consume 200 calories per day (this is a hypothetical example, not a recommendation), you would allocate up to 20 calories for treats and at least 180 calories from complete and balanced food.

Next, check the calorie content per treat on your treat package. Divide your treat-calorie budget by the calories per treat, and round down to get the number of treats you can safely give. Continuing the hypothetical example: if each treat contains 4 calories, you could give up to 5 treats per day (20 ÷ 4 = 5). Some treats have very high caloric values, so you might only be able to give one treat per day, while other treats have very low calories, allowing you to give five to ten.^[2]

Choosing Lower-Calorie Treats

If your cat demands frequent treats, choosing low-calorie options can help you increase the number of treats you can safely give.^[1] For commercial treats, check the package label for calorie information.^[1] If you are using human foods as treats, you can check the USDA Food Database website for calorie content and nutrient profiles.^[1]

Do not be fooled by treats labeled "light" or "lower calorie." These treats are not significantly lower in calories than other treats, and they still add extra calories to a cat's daily intake.^[1]

Additional Treat Guidelines

Consider giving high-value or high-calorie treats less frequently, saving treats your cat really likes or that serve a specific purpose for particular circumstances.^[1] You can also try using a portion of your cat's regular food as treats, since some food-motivated cats will not know the difference between a treat and their regular food.^[1]

Introduce new treats slowly and one at a time, especially if your cat is prone to stomach upset.^[1] If you are testing out a new treat, only give a small piece at first.^[1] Be wary of freeze-dried or dehydrated raw treats, which pose a risk for bacterial contamination that can be harmful to the cat eating the treat and to other pets and humans in the environment.^[1]

Special Considerations for Cats With Medical Conditions

If your cat has a medical condition or is on a special food, check with your veterinary care team before feeding treats.^[1] Certain treats may be unsafe based on your cat's medical condition. For example, if your cat has food allergies, it is critical to select treats that do not contain the suspected allergen.^[1] Additionally, some veterinary diets may not work properly if additional food items and treats are fed, such as veterinary prescription urinary foods.^[1] In these cases, your veterinarian may recommend a prescription treat designed to pair with the prescription food.^[1]

If your cat's weight or appetite changes, consider monitoring for subtle signs your cat may not feel well and discuss any concerns with your veterinarian.