Although they may disagree, cats don’t
need
treats — as long as they eat a complete and balanced
cat food
every day, they get all their essential nutrients. However, cat treats come in handy during a variety of situations. “Giving your cat treats helps strengthen the bond between you and your pet,” says Dr.
Nicole Savageau
, a veterinarian at
Highland’s Pet Medical Clinic
in Austin, Texas. “Treats can also distract them during stressful events like car rides or vet visits, providing a positive association with the experience.” The benefits don’t end there — cat treats are ideal for training your pet and rewarding good behavior, too.
Below, I spoke to veterinarians about the most important factors to consider while shopping for cat treats. They also answered FAQs, like how to incorporate treats into your pet’s diet. Using vets’ guidance, I rounded up the best cat treats to shop, including those recommended by experts and NBC Select pet parents.
SKIP AHEAD
The best cat treats to shop
|
How to incorporate treats into your cats’ diet
|
Why trust NBC Select?
Selected.
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Best overallTemptations Classic Crunchy and Soft Cat Treats
$undefined$8.48Amazon
Learn more
-
Best freeze-dried cat treatsVital Essentials Freeze Dried Raw Minnows
$undefined$7.99Amazon
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Best catnipShameless Pets Crunchy Cat Treats
$undefined$12.99Amazon
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Related
You need to play with your cat at least twice a day — and no, a cat didn’t write this
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How I picked the best cat treats
While shopping for cat treats, the goal is to find something that’s tasty and healthy, experts say. They recommend keeping the following factors in mind, and checking with your veterinarian before adding anything new to your cat’s diet.
-
Calories
: Treats shouldn’t make up more than 10% of cats’ daily calorie intake, says Dr.Whitney Miller
, the chief veterinarian at
Petco
. The number of calories per treat determines how many you can give your cat, but in general, it’s best to buy low calorie options that are about 1 or 2 calories per piece. Every treat has different feeding guidelines, so read its nutrition label, which specifies portion size and frequency, says Miller.
-
Ingredients
: Unlike cat food, treats aren’t required to have the Association of Feed Control Officials’ (AAFCO) nutritional adequacy label on their packaging — the organizationrecognizes
that treats don’t meet the requirements for a complete and balanced meal, which is why they must clearly display the terms “snack” or “treat” on the front label. That said, it’s important to read treats’ ingredient labels to make sure they’re made with nutritious, high-quality ingredients and don’t contain something your pet is sensitive to. Prioritize buying treats made with protein like chicken, turkey, beef or fish since cats are carnivores, says Dr.
Kim DiMaio
, a veterinarian at and the owner of
MainStreetVet.net
. She recommends avoiding treats with high amounts of sugar, fat and carbohydrates, as well as those made with artificial flavors, colors or preservatives.
-
Texture and flavor:
Cat treats come in a variety of textures, like crunchy, soft and lickable, and different flavors, like beef, chicken, salmon and tuna. You’ll likely need to try a handful of options to figure out your cat’s preferences. Miller suggests trying to feed your cat treats made from ingredients that aren’t in their regular food — doing so introduces them to new ingredients and makes the treats more rewarding since it’s not something they get every day. -
Additional health benefits
: Certain treats are formulated to target specific health concerns, like joint, skin, coat, digestive and dental health, says Savageau. If your pet struggles in any of those areas, talk to your vet about what type of treats may be right for them.
The best cat treats
All the cat treats I recommend below align with vets’ guidance and either come recommended by experts or NBC Select staffers. I included how many calories are in each treat, as well as their texture and flavor options. Some treats come in variety packs.
Best overall cat treats:
Temptations Classic Crunchy and Soft Cat Treats
Temptations Classic Crunchy and Soft Cat Treats
- Easy-to-bite size
- Great for picky eaters
- Various flavors available
- Nothing to note at this time
Savageau gives Temptations treats to her own cats and says many of her feline patients enjoy snacking on them, even if they’re picky eaters. The pellet-shaped treats, which won a
NBC Select Pet Award
, have a crunchy outer shell with a creamy center.
Their small size makes them easy for my cats to bite, and they fit inside enrichment toys like puzzles. I also appreciate that I can buy Temptations treats in resealable containers of various sizes — I usually keep a larger container at home and a smaller container in my cats’
travel carriers
to calm them down at the vet.
Calories
: <2 cals. per treat
|
Texture
: crunchy
|
Flavors
:
tuna
,
chicken
,
salmon
,
dairy
,
catnip
and more
Best lickable cat treats:
Inaba Churu Cat Treats
Inaba Churu Cat Treats
- Hydrating
- Can use as food topper
- Various flavors available
- Can be messy
- Tubes not resealable
- Higher calorie option
Lickable treats typically come in small tubes, and because they have a high moisture content, they’re hydrating, says Savageau. You can cut the tube open, squeeze out a little purée and hold it while your cat licks — feeding them by hand facilitates trust, helping you bond with your pet. If your cat is a picky eater, experts recommend squeezing some lickable treat onto their wet or dry food to make it more appetizing.
Savageau uses Churu’s lickable treats to distract patients during
nail trims
or while getting a vaccine. They have a thick, creamy texture and are made with 91% water. The formula is free from grains, preservatives and artificial colors.
Calories
: 6 cals. per tube
|
Texture
: lickable
|
Flavors
:
seafood
,
tuna
,
chicken
and more
Best soft cat treats:
Meow Mix Irresistibles Soft Cat Treats
Meow Mix Irresistibles Soft Cat Treats
Some cats — especially
kittens
and seniors — prefer soft treats like these because they’re easier to chew, says DiMaio. Meow Mix’s Irresistibles are an irregular oval shape, and you can break them into smaller pieces if needed. The treats are free from artificial flavors.
Calories
: 2 cals. per treat
|
Texture
: soft
|
Flavors
:
salmon
,
white meat chicken
Best dental cat treats:
Feline Greenies Adult Dental Cat Treats
Greenies Feline Dental Treats
Dental treats can help support your cat’s oral health in combination with regular teeth brushing, says Miller.
DiMaio recommends buying those approved by the
Veterinary Oral Health Council
, which sets standards for efficacy when it comes to plaque and tartar control. Greenies’ dental treats are approved, and when your cat chews them, they clean teeth and freshen breath, according to the band. The treats are free from artificial flavors, preservatives and fillers.
Calories
: 1.4 cals. per treat
|
Texture
: crunchy
|
Flavors
:
chicken
,
catnip
,
tuna
,
salmon
Best crunchy treats:
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Crunchy Bites Cat Treats
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Crunchy Bites Cat Treats
My cats love munching on these treats, which are approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council — they help clean teeth, control tartar and freshen breath, according to the brand.
The treats are shaped like little balls, so they roll around when I toss them or when my cats whack at them. This adds an element of play to treat time, and makes my cats work for their food. Because of their round shape, Purina’s treats are on the larger side — they’d likely be too big for young kittens to bite. They’re also quite crunchy, which might make them too hard for baby teeth or senior cats’ weaker teeth.
Calories
: 1.5 cals. per treat
|
Texture
: crunchy
|
Flavors
: meat and fish blend
Best for sensitive stomachs:
Fancy Feast Natural Cat Treats
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Crunchy Bites Cat Treats
- One ingredient
- Tender texture
- Higher calorie option
- Grain-free
If your cat has a sensitive stomach or allergies, treats made with one ingredient are usually the safest option, experts say. These Fancy Feast treats are 100% meat-based. The brand cooks and flakes chicken, tuna or salmon, and then packages it in pouches to keep it fresh. The treats are free from byproducts and fillers, which also minimizes the risk that they’ll upset your cat’s digestive system, according to Fancy Feast.
Calories
: 3.3 cals. per pack
|
Texture
: soft
|
Flavors
:
salmon
,
tuna
,
chicken
Best freeze dried cat treats:
Vital Essentials Freeze Dried Raw Minnows
Vital Essentials Freeze Dried Raw Minnows
- One ingredient
- Great for picky eaters
- Various flavors available
- Grain-free
- Strong scent
“My cats are obsessed with these adorable and tasty fishes,” says
Nikki Brown
, NBC Select SEO editor. “And since they’re made from just one ingredient that’s packed with lots of nutrients, I understand everything on the label.”
Vital Essentials freezes fish when it’s at peak freshness, making the treats extra flavorful and more enticing to picky eaters. The minnows are free from additives, fillers and byproducts, as well as artificial preservatives, flavorings and dyes.
Calories
: 2 cals. per treat
|
Texture
: soft and crunchy
|
Flavors
:
minnows
,
tuna
,
chicken
,
duck
and more
Best bite-sized:
Rachael Ray Nutrish Wheelies Cat Treats
Rachael Ray Nutrish Wheelies Cat Treats
- Easy-to-bite size
- Easy to break apart
- Lower calorie option
- One flavor option
When I need to distract my cats, I tend to give them more treats than usual, so I opt for a smaller, lower calorie option like these.
My cats gobble them up because they’re so flavorful, which helps them focus on their snack rather than being in the car or at the vet’s office. I also appreciate that these treats are crunchy — my cats’ preferred texture — yet still easy for me to break apart if I want to really extend snack time. The treats are free from artificial flavors and poultry byproduct meal.
Calories
: 1.5 cals. per treat
|
Texture
: crunchy
|
Flavors
: chicken
Best catnip:
Shameless Pets Crunchy Cat Treats
Shameless Pets Crunchy Cat Treats
- Supports digestive health
- Fun bite-sized shape
- Lower calorie option
- Nothing to note at this time
These star-shaped treats fit well inside puzzle toys and snuffle mats, and because they’re made with catnip, my cats are extra motivated to dig them out. The treats have pre- and probiotics in their formula to support digestive health. They’re also made with sweet potatoes instead of corn and soy, ingredients that some pets have sensitivities to.
Calories
: 1.5 cals. per treat
|
Texture
: crunchy
|
Flavors
:
catnip
,
chicken
,
lobster and cheese
,
salmon
and more
Related
How to find the right cat brush based on your pet’s hair type
How to incorporate treats into your cats diet
Cats’ main source of nutrition should always be their regular cat food, meaning kibble,
wet food
or both, says Miller. Treats fall outside their main diet and are enrichment snacks, so you should be purposeful about offering them to your pet. “When feeding your cat treats, consider your goals,” she says. If you’re trying to bond with your cat, train them, engage in play, reward good behavior or discourage bad habits, treats can be highly effective when used appropriately.
Determining your goals directly impacts how you give cats treats. “Treats hidden in a puzzle toy, for example, can be great for mental stimulation and enrichment, while choosing a squeezable treat and feeding your cat by hand can increase bonding,” says Miller. “Using smaller treats as a reward can be a great way to train your cat to prioritize preferred behaviors through positive reinforcement.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can give your cat treats every day so long as you’re following a brand’s feeding guidelines, says Savageau. “Treats should be given in moderation and as part of a balanced diet,” she says. “Overfeeding treats can lead to weight gain and other health problems.” For example, if you give cats too many treats, they may start to reject their regular meals, says Miller.
Kittens can usually start having treats when they’re old enough to exclusively eat solid food, which is typically around eight to 10 weeks old, says Miller. But be sure to consult your veterinarian before adding treats to their diet, and be extra careful about overfeeding them, which can spoil their appetite.
Dental treats are specifically designed to clean your pet’s teeth. They typically have ridges around them to help remove plaque and tartar as cats chew, and some are made with additional ingredients to freshen breath, says Miller. If you’re interested in feeding your cat dental treats, experts recommend buying those with the Veterinary Oral Health Council’s seal of approval. Keep in mind that dental treats are not a replacement for teeth brushing or other oral health care, including yearly professional cleanings at the vet, says Miller.
Grain-free cat treats are made without ingredients like wheat, barely, rye and corn. While they’re safe for cats to eat, it’s important that your pet gets all the essential nutrients they need to support their heath — grains offer some of those essential nutrients, like iron, calcium and B vitamins, says Miller. That said, talk to your vet about whether your pet actually needs to be on a grain-free diet, which may be the case if they have allergies or are sensitive to certain ingredients. If they don’t, there’s no reason to buy grain-free treats. But if they do, there are plenty of options on the market.
Many human foods are toxic to cats, like onions, garlic and salt, or can upset their stomachs, like certain fruits, vegetables and dairy products, says Miller. Because of this, it’s best to feed them cat treats as a snack. However, you can give cats small amounts of fully cooked meat like beef, chicken, turkey and fish, so long as it’s deboned and free from fat, skin, oil and seasonings. But be mindful about serving size — these foods can be high in calories, and like any treats, they shouldn’t exceed 10% of your cat’s daily calorie intake, says Miller.
If you give your cat human food as a snack, be careful where you’re feeding it to them. “Cats have a unique ability to get up on countertops and access food in the kitchen, so if you start giving them human food, I recommend not doing so directly from the table,” says Miller. “This can reinforce their desire to eat table scraps that may not be suitable for them, or to get on and eat directly from the table.”
Meet our experts
-
Dr.
Whitney Miller
is the chief veterinarian at
Petco
.
-
Dr.
Nicole Savageau
is a veterinarian at
Highland’s Pet Medical Clinic
in Austin, Texas.
-
Dr.
Kim DiMaio
is a veterinarian at and the owner of
MainStreetVet.net
.
Why trust NBC Select?
I’m a
reporter
at NBC Select (and a cat owner) who writes about pets, including
how to get rid of fleas
,
how to keep dogs cool
,
kitten food
and
outdoor dog beds
. For this article, I interviewed three veterinarians about how to shop for cat treats. I also rounded up experts’ favorite cat treats, as well as those NBC Select pet parents recommend.
Catch up on NBC Select’s in-depth coverage of
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