Best For:

• Picky eaters and senior cats
• Cats with dental issues
• High-value rewards and bonding

Freeze-Dried Treats

Characteristics:

• Usually single-ingredient
• Minimal processing preserves nutrients
• High palatability and protein content
• Lightweight and often rehydratable

Best For:

• Health-conscious owners
• Cats on limited-ingredient diets
• High-value training rewards

Dental Treats

Characteristics:

• Specifically designed to reduce tartar and plaque
• Unique shapes for abrasive cleaning action
• Often carry the VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council) seal
• Require chewing to be effective

Best For:

• Maintaining oral health between brushings
• Cats prone to tartar buildup
• Combining reward with dental care

Top Treat Reviews

Best Overall: Greenies Feline Dental Treats

Product: Greenies Feline Overn Roasted Chicken Flavor

Key Features:

• VOHC-accepted for tartar control
• Only 1.25 calories per treat
• Made with natural ingredients plus vitamins
• Unique texture cleans down to the gumline
• Multiple flavors available
• Made in the USA

Performance:

Price: $3–5 for a 2.1 oz bag Best For: Daily dental care, rewarding most cats, and overall value.

Best Premium: PureBites Freeze-Dried Treats

Product: PureBites Freeze-Dried Chicken Breast

Key Features:

• Single ingredient: 100% chicken breast
• Freeze-dried to lock in nutrients
• High in protein, no preservatives
• Only 2 calories per piece
• Made with human-grade ingredients

Performance:

Price: $8–12 for a 1.09 oz bag Best For: Health-focused owners, cats with sensitivities, and high-value rewards.

Best Budget: Temptations Classic Cat Treats

Product: Temptations Classic Crunchy & Soft Cat Treats

Key Features:

• Unique crunchy outside, soft inside texture
• Only 2 calories per treat
• Wide variety of flavors
• Extremely affordable and accessible
• Convenient resealable pouch

Performance:

Price: $2–4 for a 3 oz pouch Best For: Budget-friendly daily treating, multi-cat households.

Best for Training: Blue Buffalo Wilderness Wild Treats

Product: Blue Buffalo Wilderness Wild Treats Soft-Moist Salmon

Key Features:

• Soft texture for quick consumption during training
• Grain-free recipe
• Real salmon is the first ingredient
• Only 3 calories per treat
• No chicken by-product meals
• Small, perfect size for repetitive rewarding

Performance:

Price: $4–6 for a 2 oz bag Best For: Clicker training, behavior modification, and frequent rewards.

Best for Seniors: Hartz Delectables Stew Lickable Treats

Product: Hartz Delectables Stew Lickable Treat

Key Features:

• Wet, lickable, pâté-like texture
• Extremely easy for seniors to consume
• Can be served alone or poured over food
• Helps increase hydration
• Available in multiple textures and flavors

Performance:

Price: $1–2 per 1.4 oz pouch Best For: Senior cats, cats with dental problems, and appetite stimulation.

Best Limited Ingredient: Instinct Freeze-Dried Raw Boost Mixers

Product: Instinct Freeze-Dried Raw Boost Mixers

Key Features:

• Minimally processed, raw nutrition
• Made with cage-free chicken or other single proteins
• Free from grain, potato, corn, and wheat
• Includes probiotics for digestive health
• Can be used as a treat or a meal topper

Performance:

Price: $10–15 for a 6 oz bag Best For: Limited-ingredient diets, raw feeders, and cats with sensitive stomachs.

Nutritional Considerations

Calorie Content Comparison

*Adjust based on your cat's actual weight and activity level.

The 10% Rule

Calorie Guideline:

• Treats should not exceed 10% of your cat's total daily caloric intake.
• An average 10 lb cat needs roughly 200–250 calories per day.
• Therefore, treat calories should be limited to 20–25 per day.
• Remember to adjust main meal portions if you give many treats.

Ingredient Quality

What to Look For:

• A named meat source as the first ingredient (e.g., "chicken," "salmon")
• No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives (avoid BHA, BHT)
• Minimal fillers like corn, wheat, and soy
• Low carbohydrate content

What to Avoid:

• Vague terms like "meat by-products" or "animal digest"
• Excessive grains and carbohydrates
• Artificial dyes (Red 40, Yellow 5, etc.)
• Propylene glycol and excessive salt

Special Purpose Treats

Pill Pockets

Purpose: Conceal oral medications.

Top Product: Greenies Pill Pockets

• Malleable texture molds easily around pills.
• Effectively masks medication taste.
• Available in flavors like salmon and chicken.

Calming Treats

Purpose: Help reduce anxiety during stressful events (travel, vet visits, thunderstorms).

Key Ingredients:

• L-theanine
• Colostrum calming complex
• Tryptophan
• Chamomile

Note: Effectiveness varies by individual cat; these are supplements, not sedatives.

Hairball Treats

Purpose: Aid in the passage and prevention of hairballs.

Active Ingredients:

• Natural fibers (cellulose, psyllium)
• Petroleum-based lubricants (in some formulas)
• Digestive oils

Use: Best for occasional, not daily, use.

Cost Analysis

Price Per Treat Comparison

Monthly Cost Estimates

Making Your Own Treats

Simple DIY Options

Baked Chicken Bites:

1. Mix ground chicken, one egg, and a tablespoon of flour.
2. Roll out and cut into tiny pieces.
3. Bake at 350°F for 15–20 minutes until cooked through.
4. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Tuna Crunchies:

1. Combine a can of tuna (in water, drained), an egg, and enough flour to form a dough.
2. Roll thin, cut into small bits, and bake at 350°F until crisp.
3. Cool completely and store in an airtight container.

Safety is Paramount:

• Never use ingredients toxic to cats: onions, garlic, chives, chocolate, xylitol.
• Cook all meats thoroughly to kill pathogens.
• Introduce homemade treats gradually to avoid digestive upset.
• Store properly and discard if there are any signs of spoilage.

Storage and Safety

Proper Storage

Best Practices:

• Always reseal bags tightly or transfer to an airtight container.
• Store in a cool, dry place away from sunlight.
• Refrigerate opened pouches of soft or lickable treats.
• Check expiration dates and discard any treats that smell rancid or off.

Safety Concerns

Choking & Overfeeding:

• Supervise your cat when giving treats, especially larger or harder ones.
• Break treats into appropriate sizes for smaller cats.
• Always provide fresh water.
• Strictly adhere to the 10% calorie rule to prevent obesity.

Final Recommendations

• Best Overall: Greenies – Excellent balance of dental benefits, palatability, and value.
• Best Premium: PureBites – Unmatched ingredient purity for the health-conscious owner.
• Best Budget: Temptations – The most affordable and widely loved daily treat.
• Best for Training: Blue Buffalo Wilderness – Perfect soft texture for rapid-fire rewards.
• Best for Seniors: Hartz Delectables Stew – Easy-to-consume texture that boosts hydration.

Conclusion

Treats, when chosen wisely and given in moderation, are a wonderful way to enrich your cat's life and strengthen your bond. Prioritize treats with quality ingredients, be mindful of calorie intake, and select types that align with your goals—be it dental care, training, or simply showing affection.

For most households, maintaining a small variety is ideal: dental treats for daily care, high-value freeze-dried treats for training breakthroughs, and soft treats for seniors or medication. Remember, treats are a supplement to—not a replacement for—a complete and balanced diet.

Guide last updated: February 2026. Treats are a token of love—choose them with care for a happy, healthy cat.