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Your kitty is begging for treats, but you’re worried about encouraging a junk-food addiction. So we cruised the cat food snack aisles and came up with a trove of treat-style items that won’t wreck their diets. Healthy cat treats are high in protein, low in additives, and irresistible in terms of flavor. Most come in small packages, but our list includes one regular dry cat food that is so delish you can dole it out as if it were treats and your cat won’t know the difference.
Why Give Your Cat Treats?
For cats who are motivated by food, treats can be a key part of training. With rewards, you can encourage your cat to do things like use a crate, wear a harness or work out on a running wheel. (This article from the Humane Society of Huron Valley has some tips on how to use treats in a training program.)
Veterinary experts recommend, however, that treats make up no more than 10 percent of the calories in a cat’s daily diet. However, some healthy treats—such as one-ingredient, high-protein treats—can be given more generously. Read the nutritional information and feeding recommendations on any treats that you purchase.
Healthy Cat Treats for Every Cat
Whatever your cat’s dietary needs, you’ll be able to find a healthy treat to give for special rewards and comfort. If your cat has food allergies, the single-ingredient treats will allow you to pick the protein your kitty can safely eat. If your cat has tartar issues, look for crunchy dental treats that do a bit of cleaning. Here are some of our cats’ faves:
Vital Essentials Minnows Freeze-Dried Treats
These little fishies are freeze-dried to create savory single-ingredient treats. The half-ounce packs keep treats fresh for 30 days after opening. But your cat will have gobbled them up by then!
Blue Wilderness Chicken & Turkey Soft Moist Treats
These treats lead with nutritious poultry, followed by potatoes. What a great recipe for a cat who enjoys a soft, moist texture to their special snacks! Two-ounce packs keep these goodies fresh.
Shop on ChewyGreenies Tuna Feline Dental Treats
These crunchy treats help clean your cat’s teeth and freshen their breath. Try them out with a 2.1-ounce bag or stock up with larger sizes, all the way up to a 21-ounce tub. They contain no artificial flavors or preservatives and have fewer than 2 calories per treat. Recommended daily amount for a 10-pound cat is 16 treats per day.
Shop on ChewyCat Person Dry Food
Here’s a surprise treat: A high-quality dry cat food that is so delicious our cats think of it as treats! These tiny nuggets with larger “bites” mixed in are high protein, low carb, and they have all the vitamins and protein a cat needs—plus taurine. Because this is a regular cat kibble, you don’t have to worry about over-indulging your cat. Flavors include: duck & turkey, salmon & tuna, and chicken & turkey. Available in 2-pound bags through Cat Person’s mail-order system.
Shop on Cat PersonWellness Kittles Salmon & Cranberries Crunchy Treats
There’s something fishy about these treats: they lead with real salmon as the first ingredient. When you reward your cat with these, they’ll be enjoying lots of protein and healthy vegetables. Available in 2-ounce or 6-ounce bags.
Shop on ChewyWholeHearted Savory & Tasty Soft Cat Treats, Chicken
These tender treats, a Petco in-house brand, contain chicken, vitamins, and minerals. This is a healthy way to reward your cat or just give them a little snack.
Shop at PetcoPurina Fancy Feast Purely Natural Tuna Treats
Delicious hand-flaked tuna is the sole ingredient in these pure-protein cat treats. Your cat can enjoy as much of this as they like—as a meal or a treat—up to four packs a day.
Shop on Chewy Shop on AmazonPureBites Duck Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Treats
Would your kitty appreciate something a little different in the way of a snack? Raw human-grade duck meat is freeze-dried to make these tasty, chewy treats. Check them out in a tiny .56-ounce bag or splurge on a 1.05-ounce bag. Each single-ingredient treat is less than 2 calories.
Shop on ChewyWhole Life Just One Ingredient Pure Salmon Fillet Freeze-Dried Treats
These yummy treats are pure human-grade salmon, freeze-dried to preserve flavor and nutrition. One or two of these rich treats per day is the recommended amount for most cats.
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