The Best Cat Treats for Your Feline and Why

Cats are notorious for their picky taste, which makes it tricky to find the best cat treats for your feline friend. Whether you're trick training or treating your cat for fun, it's important to know what to look for in cat treats.

In this article, we'll cover what to look for in cat treats and the best treats by category, including:

• Natural cat treats
• Lickable treats
• Crunchy treats
• Dental treats

What to look for in cat treats

Cats love treats for different reasons. Certain treats may be a good fit for your cat's health and palette, while others may not.

No matter your cat's health needs and taste preferences, the best cat treats should :

• Be made with high-quality ingredients
• Be highly palatable
• Contain natural flavor

Overall, pet parents should consider the nutritional value, size, texture, and taste of cat treats before choosing the best option for their cat.

Nutritional value

When it comes to cat treats, it can be tricky to find treats with strong nutritional value. Most treats are made with these common ingredients:

• Chicken meal or chicken recipe
• Corn gluten meal
• Animal fat
• Pork fat
• Vegetable oil
• Artificial flavors
• Artificial colors

While these ingredients are not dangerous to your cat's health, it's best to opt for clean, high-quality ingredients. When choosing cat treats, try to stay away from ones that have a lot of sugar, fat, preservatives, and carbs.

Some healthy ingredients to look for in cat treats include:

• Protein
• Added nutrients
• Vitamins, minerals, probiotics, and amino acids

Size

While perusing pet stores, it can be easy to overlook the size of each cat treat. While most cats can digest dry food and treats easily, a cat with a sensitive stomach may need special treats. Cat treats should be small enough for your cat to eat without having to take multiple bites.

Texture

From crunchy, freeze dried cat treats to liquid treats, there are plenty of texture options to keep your cat motivated during trick training or calm during vet visits.

Cat treats come in a variety of textures to cater to different preferences and health needs:

• Crunchy: Hard, biscuit-like treats can help clean your cat's teeth by reducing plaque as they chew.
• Soft/Chewy: Tender treats are easier to chew — making them great for kittens, older cats, or cats with dental issues.
• Lickable: Liquid treats have a smooth, creamy texture and are usually served in pouches or tubes. Cats lick them up, which is great for hydration and bonding.
• Freeze-Dried: Freeze-dried treats are light and crunchy, often made from single ingredients like chicken or fish. They retain the natural flavors of the meat.
• Jerky: Chewy strips of dried meat — similar to jerky for humans but made for cats — offer a chewy, savory snack.

Treats with a soft, chewy texture can be broken into small pieces for kittens and senior cats to eat easily. Avoid giving kittens and senior cats hard treats, as they are more difficult to eat.

Taste

Taste is important when picking cat treats because it ensures your cat will actually like them. It's no secret that cats can be picky eaters — so giving them treats with flavors they enjoy makes treat time more fun.

When cat treats taste good, it can also be used as a reward for good behavior during training. Plus, tasty cat treats help you bond with your cat and make it easier to give them new foods or medicine.

The best treats by category

Whether you have one cat or many cats, there are lots of options for tasty cat treats. Here are the best treats for cats by category.

Best natural cat treats

Natural cat treats are made with whole ingredients versus artificial flavors or fillers.

Our pick: PetFriendly Bug Bites™

Bug Bites™ are all-natural, tasty cat treats made with renewable ingredients. They are artisanally baked to a crunchy texture and are naturally preserved.

Natural cat treats like Bug Bites™ are great for trick training and applying monthly flea and tick treatments.

Organic cat treats

Organic cat treats are free of antibiotics, synthetic hormones, toxic pesticides, and preservatives. Treats like freeze dried fish are typically organic, low-calorie treats.

Freeze dried fish treats are made with just one ingredient — natural fish. These treats are a good option for picky cats. And, they may help support skin and coat health.

Best lickable cat treats

Lickable cat treats are a great option for pet parents. Plus, lickable treats come with some health benefits:

• Hydration: With a high moisture content, lickable treats can help keep your cat hydrated.
• Easy to eat: Lickable treats are soft and easy for cats to lick up, making them great for older cats with dental issues who might struggle with crunchy treats.
• Bonding time: Offering lickable treats can be a fun way to bond with your cat.
• Tasty: Most cats love the taste and texture of lickable treats, making them useful for picky eaters.

Our pick: PetFriendly Savor Lickable Cat Treat

Savor tubes are savory, squeezable cat treats for healthy cats. These cat treats are a source of protein and moisture for your cat. Savor contains cellulose and oil to support healthy digestion and control hairballs.

Savor does not have artificial flavor. Instead, these lickable cat treats contain real meat in both the chicken and salmon flavor tubes, making them a healthier option for many cats.

Best crunchy cat treats

Crunchy, delectable treats are commonly found at pet stores and are a cost effective option if you have two cats or more. Treats with a crunchy texture can be tricky for senior cats or cats with dental issues to enjoy.

Best dental treats for cats

Cat treats with a crunchy texture may also have dental care benefits like fighting plaque and preventing tartar buildup. The Veterinary Oral Health Council recommends Feline Greenies® Feline Dental Treat.

Dental treats like Feline Greenies® help keep your cat's teeth healthy. Dental health is often overlooked when covering pet products — but it's important to keep it in mind when choosing cat treats.

No matter the reason for treating your cat, consider opting for natural cat treats that have built-in health benefits. Talk to your vet at your next cat check-up about which treats are best for your feline friend.

Frequently asked questions about PetFriendly cat treats

Have more questions about PetFriendly cat treats? Check out these frequently asked questions from pet parents.

What is in your Savor Lickable Cat Treat?

The salmon flavor contains the following ingredients:

Salmon Meat, Hydrolyzed Salmon Protein, Modified Tapioca Starch, Guar Gum, Natural Flavor, Salmon Oil, Taurine, Powdered Cellulose, Chitosan.

The chicken flavor contains the following ingredients:

Chicken Meat, Modified Tapioca Starch, Natural Flavor, Guar Gum, Chicken Liver, Chicken Oil, Taurine, Powdered Cellulose, Chitosan.

Can I use Savor as a cat food topper?

Yes! Pet parents can use Savor as a cat food topper to entice finicky eaters. Squeeze a little bit of the tube on top of your cat's dinner each day.

Puree treats like Savor have a high moisture content to help keep cats hydrated. If your cats are picky eaters and eat dry kibble, the creamy puree texture of Savor may entice your furry friend to eat.

If your cat already eats wet cat food, using squeezable cat treats as a cat food topper may not be necessary for daily feeding.

Will Savor help me feed my kitty a balanced cat food diet?

Savor is intended for intermittent and supplemental feeding only. Do not replace your cat's breakfast or dinner meals with Savor tubes.

Pet parents can also consider adding savory broths like chicken broth, a Vitamin E supplement, or real poultry to their cat's diet. Talk to your veterinarian before adding this unique lickable cat treat to your cat's diet.

What's in Bug Bites™?

Bug Bites™ natural cat treats contain the following ingredients:

• Corn
• Wheat flour
• Soybean meal
• Cane molasses
• Black soldier fly larvae
• Hydrolyzed yeast protein
• Canola oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols)
• Sodium bicarbonate
• Rosemary extract

Are Bug Bites™ healthy cat treats?

Bug Bites™ natural cat treats are made with healthy, simple ingredients and are safe for cats and kittens. To limit the possibility of gastric upset, keep your cat’s consumption of Bug Bites™ to just a few pieces per day.

Can these be used as a training treat?

Yes! Bug Bites™ natural cat treats are a great option for a high-reward training treat for cats. For younger kitties, break up the cat treats into smaller pieces to use as a training treat.

What treats can I give my lactose intolerant cat?

If your kitty has an allergy to lactose and dairy, find food and treats that do not contain milk. Bug Bites™ and Savor are lactose-free treats for cats.

We always recommend following up with your vet to find the best food and treat options for your feline friend.

What about cats with sensitive stomachs?

Bug Bites™ are all-natural treats for cats. However, excessive use of this product can cause gastric upset. If your cat has a sensitive stomach, schedule acheck-up before adding Bug Bites™ to their diet.