Smart reward for your cat: How to diversify your feline's diet for the benefit of their health and well-being?

Giving treats is one of the most important and rewarding rituals in your daily relationship with your cat. It helps build a positive bond, supports the learning of desirable behaviors, and enriches your cat's home environment. However, for rewarding to provide real health benefits, the snack should be adapted to the cat's specific anatomical and emotional needs.

In this article, we present the scientific and behavioral foundations of smart rewarding and explain how the ingredients in Mersjo Crunch & Purr biscuits support a cat's body and well-being on a daily basis.

1. What is hidden in a valuable snack? The physiology of an obligate carnivore

The domestic cat is physiologically an obligate carnivore. It has evolved to obtain essential nutrients – including amino acids and fatty acids – primarily from animal tissues. Its digestive tract is short, and its metabolism is physiologically adapted to utilize protein and fats as its main source of energy.

In a cat treat, the quality and digestive efficiency of the raw materials used are key:

• Lean chicken meat (Soft Chicken Biscuits): Provides highly digestible protein of high biological value. It contains essential amino acids (including lysine and methionine), which are necessary for tissue building, proper regeneration, and maintaining muscle mass.

• Shrimp and poultry (Chicken & Shrimp Biscuits): The addition of shrimp diversifies the amino acid profile and provides valuable microelements such as zinc, selenium, and iodine. Shrimp are also a source of unsaturated fatty acids that support the skin's natural protective barrier.

• Crunchy texture and oral hygiene: The baked, crunchy structure of the biscuits encourages the cat to chew. According to studies in the field of veterinary dentistry, the appropriate hardness of a dry snack promotes the mechanical abrasion of soft plaque before it can mineralize into tartar.

2. The behavioral function of catnip: Stimulation and natural relaxation

An important element of the Crunch & Purr series is the 5% addition of catnip (Nepeta cataria). The effect of this plant on cats is thoroughly researched and documented in scientific literature.

The body's reaction is caused by nepetalactone – an organic compound from the iridoid group present in the leaves and stems of catnip. This compound binds to receptors in the cat's olfactory epithelium, activating the opiate reward system in the brain.

The reaction to catnip usually occurs in two phases:

1. Stimulation phase (encouraging activity): For the first few minutes after contact, the cat shows increased activity – it vocalizes, rubs against objects, hunts, or runs. This is an excellent stimulus to make the environment more attractive for indoor cats.

2. Calming phase (stress reduction): After the period of excitement, a phase of natural relaxation follows. According to behavioral studies (e.g., Bol et al., 2017), catnip serves as an effective environmental enrichment stimulant that helps reduce emotional tension.

3. Using treats in the hunting sequence

Animal behaviorists emphasize that a cat's mental well-being depends on the ability to carry out natural behavioral patterns. The primary one is the so-called hunting sequence (predatory chain):

During play with their owner (e.g., chasing a wand toy), the cat completes the chasing and catching stages. If play ends without a meal phase, the animal may experience frustration. Giving a few crunchy Mersjo Crunch & Purr biscuits immediately after play perfectly completes the hunting sequence. This gives the cat a physiological signal of success and allows them to smoothly transition to the grooming and resting phase.

4. The 10% rule – FEDIAF nutritional recommendations

According to the European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF), treats are classified as complementary pet food. This means that due to their nutritional profile, they cannot constitute the cat's sole source of food.

To avoid obesity and not disrupt the balance of nutrients, it is worth following these nutritional guidelines:

• 10% energy rule: The total calorie intake from treats should not exceed 10% of the cat's daily metabolic energy requirement.

• Main meal adjustment: When giving treats throughout the day, the daily portion of complete food should be reduced accordingly.

• Access to water: Providing constant access to fresh, clean water is essential when feeding dry-structured snacks.

Summary

Mindful treat-giving combines care for physical health with a cat's emotional needs. Mersjo Crunch & Purr snacks (Soft Chicken Biscuits and Chicken & Shrimp Biscuits) provide a valuable protein source, help maintain oral health, and, thanks to the catnip, support the proper completion of the hunting sequence while helping with natural stress reduction.

Bibliography and scientific literature:

1. FEDIAF (European Pet Food Industry Federation) – Nutritional Guidelines for Complete and Complementary Pet Food for Cats and Dogs, 2023. (Guidelines on the definition and balancing of complementary pet food).

2. Bol, S., Caspers, J., Buckingham, J. et al. (2017) – Responsiveness of cats (Felidae) to silver vine, catnip, Tatarian honeysuckle and valerian. BMC Veterinary Research, 13, 70. (Study on the effect of nepetalactone on behavior and tension reduction in cats).

3. Uenoyama, R. et al. (2021) – The iridoid nepetalactol mediates goldened/feline reaction to catnip and silver vine. Science Advances, 7(4). (Analysis of the neurobiological mechanisms of the reaction to catnip).

4. WSAVA (World Small Animal Veterinary Association) – Global Nutrition Guidelines & Global Dental Guidelines. (Recommendations regarding metabolic energy and tartar prevention).

5. Overall, K. L. (2013) – Manual of Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Dogs and Cats. Elsevier Health Sciences. (Analysis of the hunting sequence and the importance of completing the behavioral chain).