In recent years, pets have benefited from the holiday season as more and more owners are spoiling them with presents. Some are even extending the celebration by getting dog- and cat-friendly Advent calendars filled with treats and toys.
The only problem with these pet Advent calendars is that some fur babies start getting used to special daily surprises. Attempting to tell them that it ended will not end well either.
In Wednesday’s TikTok video, which was posted to the account @qster14, a cat named Harold was fuming. How dare the Advent calendar end? He was under the impression that it was “treats for life,” as the owner said in the video.
The cat owner, Quinn Valentine, needed to make a PSA to warn other pet parents that their fur babies might be at risk of grumpiness, post-Advent calendar.
Harold was very upset. His head hung down in utter disappointment. You could practically see the angry fumes coming off his head. If only he could speak his mind, then the owner would get a whole lot of cuss words thrown her way.
Wednesday’s video quickly went viral, reaching over 2.5 million views and 456,200 likes. Viewers were torn about the Advent calendar, as some saw it as a positive and others realized the negative outcomes.
“I never thought of this! It’s literally training them to want treats every day! So glad I resisted!” commented one viewer.
Another added: “He needs a treat. He’s been a good boy.”
Who says daily treats have to end? Vets, vets say this. Well, they recommend keeping the treats to a limit.
Newsweek reached out via TikTok for additional information.
Everson Bueno/Getty Images
Too Many Treats?
It’s nearly impossible to say no to your fur babies as they so sweetly ask with their begging eyes for a treat. But pet owners need to stay strong, because, well, there is such a thing as having too many treats.
Giving treats to pets is linked to one of the reasons why more than half of the pets in the United States weigh too much. The American Kennel Club reported that 56 percent of dogs in the U.S. were overweight or obese.
WebMD recommends that cats and dogs should not get more than 10 percent of daily calories from treats, as there are typically not enough nutrients in their tasty snacks. The daily caloric intake depends on the pet and the specific breed. A vet can point owners in the right direction for what their pet’s calorie count should be.
There is no rule of thumb when it comes to how often you can give treats. You could do one a day or smaller ones throughout the day, as long as it does not exceed 10 percent of their calorie limit.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.