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
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
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
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
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
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
“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
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
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.”
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.”
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 tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.
