Treats for Cleo and Puss often meant things like Pounce treats, or Purina right bites. For Cleo, it also often meant bad-for-cats-people food. She was such a little beggar, and we never thought people food could make her sick. We'll never know, but I now suspect that all that salami, chips, twinkies, popcorn, etc. contributed to the illnesses she suffered in her last two years.

Simba and Gizmo are an opportunity to start out right: they're at the stage where they'll eat almost anything we give them, so we can feed them "right". Some people feel that with a balanced diet, there's no need for treats. But what's life without something special? You can give your cats treats that are good for them — and they'll enjoy them!

Nupro Health Nuggets

Simba & Gizmo can't get enough of these. They're filled with good stuff like kelp, flaxseed, acidophilus.

I bought mine at HealthyPooch.com.

Treatamins

From Dr. Goodpet, these are vitamins masquerading as treats.

The first time I gave these to Simba and Gizmo, my husband thought I must have dropped them in between the couch pillows, because they couldn't possibly have eaten them so fast.

A duplication of the experiment gave the same results.

Brewer's Yeast with Garlic

Simba thinks these are great — Gizmo usually isn't fast enough.

I bought these at American Pet Supplies, but you can find them at several pet food sites.

Cantaloupe

Some cats have a sweet tooth, and cantaloupe seems to fit the bill for Gizmo and Simba. They weren't too crazy for strawberries.

Deli Turkey

It's gotten so bad that I have a hard time eating a turkey sandwich — Simba thinks it should just naturally be his. Try chicken, also.

Give baby food turkey a try too; the results may surprise you! Just make sure that there's no onion in the baby food.

Cheese

Gizmo seems to like cheese more than Simba, but they both eat it. Both sliced cheese and string cheese are hits.

Yogurt

I've only given them yogurt once, but they seemed to enjoy it. Just be careful with dairy products: like humans, some cats are lactose intolerant, and can develope diarrhea. Start out small.

Yogurt has acidophilus cultures, which is especially good for a cat that's been on antibiotics.

Keep in mind that treats are just that: something special. If you give them every day, they won't be treats any more. They should only make up a small part of your pet's diet.