The Best Cat Treats Reviewed: Pros, Cons, and Ingredient Analysis

Yes, cat treats have nutritional value.

However, they do not provide complete nutrition. You can make homemade cat treats that offer more nutrients, but generally, cat treats are not exceptionally nutrient-dense.

Feeding cats treats can enhance their quality of life and be rewarding for good behavior.

Things like moist cat treats and catnip can be useful in keeping cats entertained, but it is important to remember treats do not provide all of the nutrients a cat needs to be as healthy as it can be.

Many pet food brands offer delicious and nutritious cat and dog treats. Some prefer dried cat treats with texture, and others soft and lickable treats. To help pet owners find the right treat options, we reviewed several cat treat products you can find on Amazon and Chewy.

Get it on Amazon       Get it on The Honest Kitchen

Summary: These treats by The Honest Kitchen are made with two simple ingredients – wild-caught white fish and sea salt. They are packed with protein, omega fatty acids, and flavor. They are also high in moisture and perfect even for picky-eating cats. The two ingredients are of human-grade quality and perfectly safe for cats of all ages. The formula is free from feed-grade by-products, fillers, GMO ingredients, and artificial preservatives. 

Type: Dehydrated cat treats 

Best for: Cats of all life stages 

Flavor Options: White Fish; Herring; Herring & Cranberry 

Price: $7.99/pack (1.5 oz)

Ingredient Analysis: These treats feature a limited ingredient recipe. Namely, the only two ingredients are dehydrated wild-caught white fish and sea salt. 

Review: Pet owners love these treats and say they are the best treats for their cats. Customers are pleased with the high-quality ingredients used in the formula and the fact their cats love the taste. The overall Amazon rating for these human-grade bites is 4 out of 5 stars. 

Get it on Amazon        Get it on Chewy

Summary: These cat treats are crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside to offer a varied texture to keep cats entertained. They contain less than 2 calories per treat. These treats are a source of 100% nutrition for cat maintenance. It is sold in an airtight tub for long-term freshness.

Type: Dry treats

Best for: Cats of all life stages

Flavor Options: Catnip Flavor; Chicken Flavor; Salmon Flavor; Seafood Flavor; Tuna Flavor

Price: $7.00/lb

Ingredient Analysis: Chicken by-product meal is the first ingredient, followed by ground corn. Neither of these is great at delivering the proper nutrition and is used generally as cheap fillers in budget pet food. Unnamed animal fat is used as a flavor, but it does not specify what type of animal the fat is from.

Review: These cat treats are overwhelmingly highly rated, with only 1% of ratings being less than 3 stars. Almost every customer has a cat who loves these treats, and some people actually use them for regular cat food. Many negative reviews say this treat causes addiction in cats and causes renal failure, while one reviewer simply wanted the old container back. Pet owners give these treats 4.9 out of 5 stars.

Get it on Amazon        Get it on Chewy

Summary: This easy squeeze cat treat variety pack of 1/2 ounce pouches provides a playful treat experience. Your cat will eat as you squeeze the treat out of the pouch. This unique puree treat creates a lickable opportunity to squeeze this on your hand and bond with your cat while you feed them treats. It is available in 6 textures and a wide variety of flavors.

Type: Puree

Best for: Adult cats and senior cats

Flavor Options: Tuna Flavor; Chicken Flavor; Tuna & Shrimp Flavor; Chicken & Veggies Flavor

Price: $0.64/pouch

Ingredient Analysis: Each flavor has the same ingredients aside from the meat that gives these treats their flavor. Things like tuna, shrimp, and chicken are used to provide meaty flavor and protein content. Tapioca starch is included for texture, while the rest of the ingredients are included for consistency.

Review: This product averages a 4.8 out of 5 stars rating on Amazon with over 20,000 reviews. Pet owners are thrilled their cats enjoy the food, and they like how versatile it is. Some people say it works to entice picky eaters to eat and others say it works great as just a treat. Other customers were concerned about potential allergens in the food and were disappointed by the price.

Get it on Amazon        Get it on Chewy

Summary: Coming in a 30-ounce tub, this cat treat is crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. It is available in three flavors. It is formulated to provide complete nutrition for cat maintenance and can double as cat food. These treats only contain two calories per treat so it will be challenging to overfeed using these as a treat. The oversize resealable tub makes sure you can feed your cat treat for a long time to come.

Type: Dry treats

Best for: Cats of all life stages

Flavor Options: Surfer’s Delight (Tuna, Shrimp & Salmon); Backyard Cookout (Chicken, Liver & Beef)

Price: $0.47/lb

Ingredient Analysis: Chicken by-product meal is the first ingredient, and this is generally not something you would see in high-quality cat food. Unspecified animal fat and dried meat by-products are included as well, and it is difficult to know where these ingredients are sourced. Vitamins and minerals are supplemented, but they make this food a good product.

Review: Only 1% of reviews were critical of this treat. The vast majority of reviewers were satisfied with this product, and so were their cats. The 1%, however, only complained about the packaging. In general, pet owners give these treats 4.8 out of 5 stars.

Get it on Amazon        Get it on Chewy

Summary: These tuna flavor cat treats are crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. They are about 2 calories per treat and provide all of the nutrition a cat needs. The resealable tub ensures freshness over time and keeps cats from getting into treats when they aren’t supposed to. They are multi-purpose with the ability to be used as a treat, topper, or whole meal.

Type: Dry treats

Best for: Cats of all life stages

Flavor Options: Tempting Tuna Flavor; Savory Salmon Flavor; Tasty Chicken Flavor

Price: $0.50/oz

Ingredient Analysis: Chicken by-product meal and ground corn are the first two ingredients, and while they are palatable, they are not the most nutritious choices. Caramel color is added, which is generally seen as a bad thing, and dried meat by-products are added, but there is no explanation as to where the meat came from. Vitamins and minerals are heavily supplemented, but they provide these treats with enough nutrition to be considered complete.

Review: Most consumers liked these treats and gave them 4.8 out of 5 stars. Their cats liked them too, even the picky eaters who would normally turn down other pet products. Critical reviewers were less than impressed but only made up 2% of total reviews. Their biggest complaint was an apparent change that encouraged their cats to stop eating the food.

Get it on Amazon        Get it on Chewy

Summary: Made in the USA, these crunchy treats are a great addition to wet cat food. They are available in a wide variety of flavors so that they can add texture and flavor to any meal. Made with real chicken as the first ingredient, these were made to be healthy cat treats. As a bonus, the crunchy kibble helps to clean cats’ teeth while they eat.

Type: Crunchy kibble

Best for: Adult cats

Flavor Options: Original Crunch; Beachside Crunch; Cheezy Craze Crunch; Chicken Lovers Crunch; Gravylicious; Original Holiday; Pumpkin

Price: $0.46/oz

Ingredient Analysis: There are a lot of cheap filler ingredients in these treats. Chicken by-product meal, corn gluten meal, unnamed animal liver, and artificial flavors are all included in this formula. Real chicken is the first ingredient, however, and this is a great source of high-quality protein.

Review: Most consumers are happy with this product and rate it 4.8 out of 5 stars. Cat owners say their felines are thrilled when the tub comes out for snack time, and the treats are gentle enough for cats with sensitive stomachs. Critical reviewers were upset this food had apparently made their cats sick, and they could not return it.

Get it on Amazon        Get it on Chewy

Summary: These feline Greenies treats are designed to clean a cat’s teeth. They are crunchy enough to clean tartar and plaque from cats’ teeth and are made with natural ingredients. The added vitamins and minerals help to make these treats a source of complete nutrition. It contains no artificial preservatives or flavors and is only two calories per treat.

Type: Dry treats

Best for: Cats of all life stages

Flavor Options: Oven-Roasted Chicken Flavor

Price: $0.87/oz

Ingredient Analysis: Chicken meal is the first ingredient, and this offers high-quality protein and glucosamine, which is great for joint health. Wheat and brewer rice are included, and these might not be the best option for cats, who are obligate carnivores. Unspecified poultry fat is included, and this may concern some cat owners as it is not known where this poultry fat came from.

Review: The majority of cat owners were satisfied with this product. Their cats loved the flavor, ad their owners were happy it helped to clean their teeth in the meantime. They would highly recommend it. However, critical reviews expressed concerns about the danger this threat may pose to cats. Overall, pet owners give these treats 4.8 out of 5 stars.

Get it on Amazon        Get it on Chewy

Summary: This cat treats variety pack comes in an array of flavors. The limited ingredient formula of each flavor is easy to digest and tasty for cats. Coming in at 6 calories per treat, it contains 91% moisture to hydrate during snack time. It is made with no artificial colors or preservatives and is grain-free.

Type: Puree

Best for: Cats of all life stages

Flavor Options: Tuna; Tuna & Chicken, Tuna & Seafood; Chicken; Chicken & Seafood; Beef & Cheese

Price: $0.66/tube

Ingredient Analysis: Each flavor has the same ingredients aside from the meat that gives them their flavor. Real meat is used for each flavor, and tapioca is used for texture. The only thing we don’t like is the use of unnamed natural flavors.

Review: Consumers were largely happy with this product. They were happy to see their cats get so excited about a treat, and one went as far as to call it “extremely addictive.” Dissatisfied buyers were wary of hidden ingredients and also said they were very addictive but did not see it as a perk. Cat owners rate these treats 4.9 out of 5 stars.

Get it on Amazon        Get it on Chewy

Summary: Coming in at 2 calories per treat, this is made with real superfoods for real nutrition. They are made with real meat and include no artificial colors or flavors. It is free of animal by-products, wheat, and soy, so it is easy to digest. The limited ingredient formula is made so you can feel confident in what your cat is eating. It has a captivating crunch you can hear when you shake the bag.

Type: Freeze-dried

Best for: Cats of all life stages

Flavor Options: Chicken & Blueberry; Salmon & Cranberry; Tuna & Pumpkin

Price: $1.52/oz

Ingredient Analysis: Chicken meal is the first ingredient and gives this food a great source of protein as a foundation. Rice flour, barley, and pea fiber add healthy carbohydrates and dietary fiber, while tuna meal offers more high-quality protein. Overall, this is a great ingredients list for a cat treat.

Review: Most cat owners who bought these treats were happy their feline friends enjoyed them. Their old cats with digestive diseases could digest these easily, and they liked the taste. Negative reviews did not like the use of peas and barley, and others said the treats were uninteresting to their cats. All in all, owners give these treats 4.6 out of 5 stars.

When shopping for the best cat treats, there are several factors to consider:

Avoid ingredients like corn and wheat gluten, meat and grain meals, by-products, food dyes, and rendered fat.

Treats are supposed to be simple and tasty and not filled with cheap fillers. Preservatives are also something to look out for.

Cat treats should contain wholesome ingredients and must be free from synthetic preservatives and additives.

To prepare homemade cat treats, you will need some household ingredients like bananas, sweet potatoes, carrots, and pumpkin. All of these are safe for cats to eat.

You can also dehydrate meats to make a jerky treat for your cat they will enjoy and will provide them with high-quality protein.

Below we provide a more extensive list of household items that are safe for cats and can be used to make treats:

Yes, but a cat’s treat intake should not exceed 5-10% of their total daily caloric intake.

Too many treats may cause digestive problems and obesity in felines, so it is important to keep the treat intake low to maintain a healthy weight and digestive system.

Dental treats are often recommended for cats.

Cats have similar teeth as wild cats who eat almost exclusively meat, meaning wild cats’ teeth last longer as they are not chewing as often.

House cats often eat kibble, which requires more chewing and is harder than meat in the wild, so dental treats are recommended to care for the teeth of housecats.