ARE TEMPTATIONS TREATS BAD FOR CATS? THE REAL TRUTH

Are Temptations treats bad for cats, or are they actually safe? It is a genuine concern because cat owners, including myself, report their little babies sick after eating Temptations. Also, they say cats are getting addicted to them. So what is going on with Temptations treats?

Temptations treats are bad for cats because they are made with components like flavoring ingredients, corn, potassium chloride, zinc sulfate, even petroleum derivates, and other ingredients that make these treats tasty, addictive, and unhealthy.

Let’s see in detail what is inside Temptations and what can be done to help a cat that is addicted to it.

WHAT ARE THE TEMPTATIONS CAT TREATS?

Temptations is a very famous brand that sells cat treats in several flavors. The treats are crunchy outside and soft inside. Typically, cats like them very much, and once they have tried them, they want more and become addicted.

Based on the Temptations website, each treat is under two calories and is nutritionally complete and balanced for an adult cat.

Since the product is labeled as a treat, it is not meant to be used as food. Unfortunately, most cats want to have more once they get a few, which can be dangerous for their health.

Many articles and stories about Temptations and the adverse effects on cats’ health have recently appeared on the internet.

Several cat owners have reported their cats being sick after eating them; some needed urgent care or even died from it. In comparison, other cat owners have reported having no problem whatsoever with Temptations.

So what is the truth about it? Is Temptation that bad? Are cat owners who are feeding too many treats to cats causing them to be sick?

WHAT ARE TEMPTATIONS TREATS MADE OF?

To make an informed decision, a cat owner should know what is inside those treats and decide if they want to give it to their cat every day, if they want to give it once in a while, or do not want to feed Temptations at all.

Here is an example of ingredients you can find in one of the Temptations treats bags, the MixUps BACKYARD COOKOUT™:

• Chicken By-Product Meal
• Ground Corn
• Animal Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols)
• Brewers’ Rice
• Wheat Flour
• Dried Meat By-Products
• Natural Flavors (source of Liver Flavor)
• Brewers’ Dried Yeast
• Potassium Chloride
• Choline Chloride
• Caramel Color
• Salt
• Taurine
• DL-Methionine
• Calcium Carbonate
• DL-Alpha Tocopherol Acetate (source of Vitamin E)
• Zinc Sulfate
• Mixed Tocopherols (preservative)
• Natural Beef Flavor
• Red #40
• Dried Cheese
• Copper Sulfate
• Vitamin A Acetate
• Niacin Supplement
• Vitamin B12 Supplement
• Riboflavin Supplement
• Manganese Sulfate
• Thiamine Mononitrate
• D-Calcium Pantothenate
• Biotin
• Vitamin D3 Supplement
• Potassium Iodide
• Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6)
• Folic Acid

The first thing that jumps straight off the list is corn (known as GMO), wheat flour which generally contains gluten, and meat and chicken by-products.

Do you know what meat by-products are? Meat by-products are not edible or cannot be legally used for humans, but pet food industries use them to create pet food, which is legal.

Wait a second.

Is it logical to feed cats food that humans should not eat? Are we actually poisoning our pets?

TEMPTATION TREATS INGREDIENTS DESCRIPTION

Let’s go over some of the ingredients in Temptations. In this way, one can decide whether Temptations treats are good or bad for their cats.

MEAT BY-PRODUCTS

Well, meat by-products include the following and are often thought to be waste materials:

• Feet
• Backs
• Livers
• Lungs
• Heads
• Brains
• Spleen
• Frames
• Kidneys
• Stomachs
• Intestines
• Undeveloped eggs

(Source: dogadvisor.com)

The worse part is that some of these by-products are left outside non-refrigerated (which is why humans can’t eat them, amongst other things), but they are still used to create pet food.

Pet food brands that use meat by-products use ingredients not considered edible for people and make millions of dollars on this waste.

When you see on the label the sentence generic by-product meat, it means that the source of the product can be derived from the following source:

• Roadkill
• Dead animals from a zoo
• Dead on arrival
• Diseased and dying animals
• Euthanized pets from shelters

(Source: dogadvisor.com)

There is a lot to debate and discuss. But, for simplicity, we can say that it is best to avoid meat by-products from food and treats given to cats. It is hard to know what it is, where it comes from, and how it was handled.

GROUND CORN

Corn in the U.S. is genetically modified, even though the FDA says it is Ok, and GMOs have no side effects. Many independent studies show otherwise.

The worst thing is that animals are fed GMO products, and when we or our pets eat meat or even cat food with corn or soy, they are exposed to eventual side effects.

Most genetically modified foods are:

• Soy 
• Corn 
• Canola 
• Cottonseed
• Salmon (unless it’s organic)

What are the side effects of GMO food? Cancer to start, liver problems, and a series of other conditions.

Corn and soy are a no-no.

ANIMAL FAT

What does that mean? What animal fat? And why aren’t they clear about it? Animal fat is low-quality meat from dead, diseased, dying, or disabled animals. It is rancid most of the time, and they need to add flavors to make it taste better.

It is unbelievable. But it is not only Temptation to use it. It is vital to start reading the labels on each type of cat food, and only those with the least ingredients are as natural as possible.

(Source: blog.homesalive.ca)

RED#40

A study from the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) raised concern about many currently used dyes. One of these is Red#40.

Red 40 is one of the most widely used dyes. The report states the following:

“Red 40, the most widely used dye, may accelerate the appearance of immune-system tumors in mice.  The dye causes hypersensitivity (allergy-like) reactions in a small number of consumers and might trigger hyperactivity in children.  Considering the safety questions and its non-essentiality, Red 40 should be excluded from foods unless and until new tests clearly demonstrate its safety.”

https://truthaboutpetfood.com

Many pet food contains Red 40 or other dyes to make the product look better in the eyes of the consumer since cats do not care about the color. Cats are at risk when they consume dyes in food and treats. Cats owners should not buy food containing them.

SYNTHETIC VITAMINS SUPPLEMENTS

Synthetic vitamin supplements in cat treats and food are dangerous for your cat. Vitamins need to come from whole food and actual plants or food. If they are synthetically made like the following ingredients, in the long run, the presence of these will create vitamin deficiency in your cat:

• Vitamin B6 Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
• Vitamin B1 Thiamine Hydrochloride
• Vitamin B3 Niacin or niacinamide
• Vitamin A (Palmitate)
• Ascorbic acid: learn how the average Vitamin C supplement is made
• Riboflavin
• Vitamin E Mixed tocopherols( the white bread of Vit E  ) fractionated vitamin.
• Vitamin E acetate also ( the white bread of Vit E  ) is a fractionated vitamin.
• Vitamin C (Sodium Ascorbate) (Ascorbyl Palmitate)

(Source: nwcnaturals.com)

The fact that the label says natural means nothing; they have to state the name of the plant it comes from, like brewer’s yeast, green pepper, orange peel, rose hips, safflower oil, acerola cherry, shiitake mushroom, alfalfa, blackstrap molasses Dunaliella salina, wild yam, carrot, rice bran, chickweed, wheatgrass, amla, barley grass, nettles, algae, kelp, pine park, grape seed extract, turmeric, etc.

(Source: nwcnaturals.com)

In other words, pet owners need to read through the labels and understand what they mean. In the case of Temptations treats, the vitamin content is actually junk. Therefore, it is betTherefore, itr to find food without synthetic supplements but with real high-quality meat, fish, etc.

Read more on Temptation ingredients here: WHY DO CATS LIKE TEMPTATIONS SO MUCH?

ARE TEMPTATIONS TREATS BAD FOR CATS?

Based on the above points, Temptation is not a good choice for a cat, even as a treat. Of course, one can argue that giving it to a cat from time to time will not have harmful effects. But it is the same if saying that if you eat poison from time to time is not that bad.

It may not be that bad, and the body can eventually deal with it, but in the long run, it may create adverse effects. Unfortunately, it is not only Temptations, but most cats’ food and treats use meat by-products; we may be feeding our cats dead cats or dogs. We will never know.

The answer is to buy real meat and real natural food for cats. Cats are carnivores, so food that goes near their natural eating habits is perfect. Here is an example of a cat treat that has very few ingredients and contains a lot of proteins:

The only ingredients are Ground duck with bone, duck liver, duck gizzard, duck skin, herring oil, mixed tocopherols, and d-alpha-tocopherol. And they are Free-Run, Grain-Free, with No Hormones, Antibiotics Free, or Gluten Free, and Made in the USA.

CHECK RAW CAT TREATS OUT

HOW TO WEAN CATS OFF TEMPTATION TREATS?

Here’s how you can wean your cat off Temptations treats:

1. First, gradually decrease the amount of treats given: Start by reducing the amount of treats given to your cat each day until you are no longer giving them any.
2. Offer alternative treats: Try giving your cat a different type of treat that is healthier and lower in calories.
3. Provide plenty of stimulation: Keep your cat active and engaged with interactive toys, scratching posts, and plenty of playtimes.
4. Increase mealtimes: If your cat is used to receiving treats throughout the day, try increasing the frequency of mealtimes to reduce their reliance on treats.
5. Consult with a veterinarian: If your cat is overweight or has health issues, it’s best to consult with a veterinarian to develop a personalized plan for reducing treats and promoting healthy weight loss.

Remember, the key is to make the transition gradual and to provide plenty of positive reinforcement to help your cat adjust to the change.

5 NATURAL TREATS BRANDS FOR YOUR CAT

You can do research on the nearest pet shop, reading the labels of the products they sell. Here are some brands we could find that has one ingredient, as and are as natural as possible:

1. Purina Fancy Feast Natural Cat Treats

About this product:

• Just One Ingredient: Tuna
• Crafted From Select Cuts Of Real, Whole Fish
• Never Any By-Products Or Fillers
• Lightly cooked for a perfectly tender texture, then flaked into flavorful little bites

SEE MORE

2. ORIJEN Freeze Dried Cat Treats

About this product:

• ORIJEN Original Freeze-Dried Cat Treats are nutrient-dense and high in protein, and whole free-run poultry and wild-caught fish
• It uses raw animal ingredients, including meat, organs, cartilage, and bone.

SEE MORE

3. Fruitables Wildly Natural Cat Treat Variety

About this product:

• Cranberries Support Healthy Urinary Tract
• Grain-Free, Natural With Added Taurine
• Under 2 Calories Per Treat
• Wheat, Corn, And Soy Free. Made With Real Chicken

SEE MORE

4. Icelandic+| All-Natural Cat Treats| Whole Fish

About this product:

• 100% edible and digestible pure whole fish treats for cats containing herring -3 fatty acids
• These fish treats are air-dried within USDA, E.U., and mast standards and regulations
• 100% natural—no additives, no preservatives, and no supplements. There is only a single ingredient which is just fish, nothing else!
• It contains taurine, which is vital to keeping your cat’s heart-healthy
• For freshness and convenience, our fish are packaged in a stand-up, resealable bag

SEE MORE

5. Instinct Raw Boost Mixers Grain Free Freeze Dried Raw Cat Food Toppers

About this product:

• REAL, NATURAL INGREDIENTS: Raw is made with raw meat, fruits, vegetables & other wholesome ingredients
• MINIMALLY PROCESSED, NEVER COOKED: Raw is never cooked and less processed than other pet food—keeping valuable nutrients intact
• NUTRIENT DENSE: Raw, uncooked foods retain natural flavors, antioxidants, amino acids & vitamins, and minerals
• FROZEN OR FREEZE-DRIED: We take our raw frozen product and freeze-dry it (removing the moisture), which makes it shelf-stable

SEE MORE

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

CONCLUSION

It is imperative to read labels and understand how pet food industries produce the food we give to our cats. If many people start buying healthier brands and stop buying lousy cat food, eventually, those multi-billion companies would be forced to improve their products to stay in business.

But not many cat owners read the ingredients on the labels and know what inside wet or dry food is. Most people may just read the front cover, where words like “natural” and “healthy” are used too quickly.

Let’s spread good education and correct information to improve the quality of life of our cats and change the current system.