An occasional healthy treat in addition to regular meals won't cause any harm and can, in fact, be a useful training tool. But the key words here are “occasional” and “healthy.” Limit between-meal extras or you'll eventually have an overweight cat on your hands. Avoid foods intended for humans; they don't contribute to a complete and balanced cat diet. Fish, for example, is not only high in unsaturated fat (which cats have trouble metabolizing), but in sufficient quantities will sap the body of vitamin E and lead to steatitis (a painful skin condition). Pet-supply stores offer a variety of healthful treats; ask your vet which ones would be good for your cat.

Be careful about milk. Many adult cats are lactose-intolerant, so diarrhea may result. If you really want to give liquid treats, you can try milk in very small amounts, but stop the practice if it causes an intestinal upset.

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