Cat Food Experts? Cat treats vs. dry cat food...

[Anonymous]

So, my cat is sick and lost a lot of weight. Doc prescribed some med and said he (my cat) needs to gain wt. The only thing he is eating at the moment is cat treats of various kinds. I understand (from the back label) that it should not replace regular food but based on quick internet search, I think it's because it has higher fat content and cats may gain too much weight (which is exactly what I am trying to do). For those of you who are cat experts, do you see any downsides with supplementing cat treats for dry food? At least until he gains his wt back?? TIA.

[Anonymous]

Since they are not sold as a complete diet, the cat treats are not required to meet the same nutritional guidelines as a complete food. You may have some success if you mix the treats in with the regular cat food, although, if your cat is seriously underweight, anything that he eats is better than nothing.

[Anonymous]

Not an expert. Have you tried kitten food? I think it has quite a bit more calories.

[Anonymous]

Call your vet back.

If cat food is like dog food, then the reason treats are not a long-term substitute is that they lack the necessary balance of vitamins and minerals.