Best Cat Treats

The best cat treats by ingredient quality — protein source, named-meat first, and minimal artificial additives.

Cat treats are a smaller market than dog treats but the quality principles are stricter, not looser, because cats are obligate carnivores with narrower nutritional tolerance. The ideal cat treat is single-ingredient freeze-dried animal protein — that's the format that actually fits cat metabolism. Most commercial cat treats fall into one of two patterns: soft chewy treats heavy on grain fillers and animal digest, or premium freeze-dried single-protein treats from a small set of brands. We rank both fairly but the freeze-dried single-ingredient ones consistently dominate the top of rankings. The freeze-dried named-protein-only options take the top slots. Cap at 10% of daily calories.

Top picks

  1. Meowfulls Freeze-Dried Cat Treats: Turkey & Duck Recipe by Stella & Chewy's — Score: 100
  2. Sheba® Meaty Tender Sticks Adult Cat Treats - Soft & Savory, Chicken by Sheba — Score: 100
  3. Tiki Cat Adult Lickable Cat Treats - Stix Wet Treats, Variety Pack, 20 CT, 10 OZ by Tiki Cat — Score: 100
  4. Tiki Cat Soft & Chewy Tuna Cat Treats by Tiki Cat — Score: 100
  5. Viva La Kitty® Freeze Dried Tuna Nibs 1 OZ by Viva La Kitty — Score: 100
  6. Sheba® Meaty Tender Sticks Adult Cat Treats - Salmon, 3.5 Oz by Sheba — Score: 99
  7. Sheba® Meaty Tender Sticks Adult Cat Treats - Soft & Savory, Tuna by Sheba — Score: 99
  8. Temptations™ Meaty Bites Soft & Savory Adult Cat Treat - 1.5 oz by Temptations — Score: 99
  9. Fancy Feast® Appetizers Adult Cat Wet Treats 1.1 oz., Grain Free, No Animal By-Products by Fancy Feast — Score: 99
  10. Fancy Feast® Appetizers Wet Cat Treat - Grain Free, No By-Products, 1.1 oz by Fancy Feast — Score: 99
  11. Inaba Churu Senior Creamy Puree Lickable Cat Treat - Variety Pack, 10 Oz by Churu — Score: 99
  12. Stella & Chewy's Carnivore Cravings All Life Stages Wet Cat Food - Grain Free, Savory Shreds, 2.8 Oz by Stella & Chewy's — Score: 98
  13. Stix™ Wet Treats With Chicken In Creamy Gravy by Tiki Cat — Score: 97
  14. Blue Buffalo Wilderness All Life Stages Treat Cat Treats - Grain Free, Chicken Salmon by Blue Buffalo — Score: 96
  15. Stella & Chewy's Carnivore Cravings Adult Cat Wet Food - Grain Free, Purrfect Pate, 2.8 Oz by Stella & Chewy's — Score: 96
  16. Meowfulls Freeze-Dried Cat Treats: Chicken & Chicken Liver Recipe by Stella & Chewy's — Score: 95
  17. Weruva Wx Phos Focused Chicken & Tilapia Lickable Cat Treats by Weruva — Score: 95
  18. Inaba Ciao Grain-Free Grilled Tuna Fillet in Tuna Flavored Broth Cat Treat by Inaba — Score: 94
  19. Temptations™ Creamy Purée Lickable Adult Cat Treats - Salmon by Temptations — Score: 94
  20. Weruva Wx Phos Focused Chicken Lickable Cat Treats by Weruva — Score: 93
  21. Nulo Perfect Purees Creamy Cat Treats - Grain Free, 10 Ct by Nulo — Score: 93
  22. Fancy Feast® Appetizers Adult Cat Wet Food - 1.42 oz., Grain Free, No Animal By-Products by Fancy Feast — Score: 92
  23. Hartz Delectables Bisque Senior Variety Pack Cat Treats - 12 Pack by Hartz Delectables — Score: 92
  24. Tiki Cat Duets Adult Cat Treat - Chicken, 2 OZ by Tiki Cat — Score: 92
  25. Cat Person Chicken & Duck Mousse Wet Cat Treat & Topper by Cat Person — Score: 91

Animal protein first, ideally only

The ideal cat treat is a single-ingredient freeze-dried animal protein — chicken, salmon, tuna, beef heart, rabbit. These match what cats evolved to eat. Treats with cereal or starch as the first ingredient are miscategorized; cats don't need carbs.

Crunchy treats vs. soft treats

Crunchy treats provide a marginal dental benefit. Soft treats are easier for older cats with dental issues. Neither is healthier per se — pick what your cat will eat and that fits the use case.

Avoid grain-heavy and fish-only diets

Most low-cost cat treats use wheat or corn as the first ingredient. Skip them. Also avoid relying exclusively on fish-flavored treats — long-term fish dominance can cause thiamine and vitamin E issues.

Frequently asked questions

How many treats per day for a cat?

Same 10% rule as dogs — treats shouldn't exceed 10% of daily calories. For an average 10-lb adult cat eating ~250 kcal/day, that's 25 kcal of treats. Single freeze-dried treats are typically 1–3 kcal so you have plenty of room for training rewards.

Is catnip in treats safe?

Yes. Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is non-toxic and non-addictive. Roughly two-thirds of cats respond to it; the rest are genetically non-responsive. The reaction lasts 5–15 minutes and there's no "too much."

Are temptations / cat treats with that crunchy outer shell healthy?

They're convenient and most cats love them, but they're ingredient-list-heavy with artificial colors, plant proteins, and added flavors. Fine as occasional treats, not as a primary protein source. The shell texture has no functional dental benefit beyond what regular kibble provides.

Can I give my cat tuna from a can?

Occasionally, yes — pure water-packed tuna with no added salt is fine as a treat. Don't make it a regular diet: human-grade tuna is high in mercury and lacks supplemented taurine. "Cat-grade" tuna treats are formulated differently.

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