If you want to brighten up your fur friend's day, feeding them the best cat treats is a great way about it. They come in a variety of forms, from crunchy biscuits to lickable stews, and some of them even have health benefits, like cleaning tartar off your cat's teeth.
For those wondering, 'Can you train a cat?' the answer is yes, and having some tasty treats will go a long way in the process. Cats don't respond to punishment; instead, they're motivated by the best cat toys, grooming, praise, catnip or food. While treats are fine in moderation, you might want to opt for a low calorie option to ensure they don't exceed their daily allowance.
My cats Chilli and Nala are certainly food-motivated, so I've tested my fair share of treats over the years. To help you find the best ones, we've tested a wide range and rounded up our favorites below:
The best cat treats 2024
The best crunchy cat treats
These crunchy treats are high in protein, containing 15% chicken liver and 10% salmon. Your fur friend will love the soft center filling and rich meaty flavor; it’s the perfect combination for a delicious snack. They also contain salmon oil to support vision, skin, heart, and immune health.
These are a hit with Chilli and Nala; they're obsessed with the taste and gobble them up in a flash. Lily’s Kitchen is a brand I love and trust, and the ingredients in these treats are excellent.
Reasons to buy: High in protein, quality ingredients, suitable size for training, resealable bag,
Reasons to avoid: Has a slight smell.
The best squeezable cat treats
These creamy treats are packed with essential vitamins to support your cat's health. There are seven different sticks in the pack that help a different part of their body, including joints, eyes, brain, liver, kidney, skin/coat, and heart.
The recipe is vet-formulated and made using farm-fresh ingredients - there are no additives, preservatives, flavors, or artificial sweeteners inside. Our tester Amanda will add her review soon.
Our tester Amanda says: "My cat Hampton really enjoys these treats; he immediately tried it, finished it, and then started looking for more. It can be easily fed from the tube or placed on a plate. The treats are a good size for training; I was able to refrigerate any unused portions for the next day."
Reasons to buy: High in protein and vitamins, quality ingredients, no smell, easy to store.
Reasons to avoid: Single-use plastic.
The best chewy cat treats
These bite-sized treats are low in calories, high in protein, and have a delicious chewy texture. Since they only have two calories per piece, they're a brilliant choice for training. With chicken as the first ingredient and no nasty fillers, you can feel good about feeding them to your furry friend.
Our tester Rashmi says: " Max loves the treats! He wants more and more, but it’s very easy to control the portion size. Despite being a senior cat and having a sensitive stomach, he seems very excited about these treats and tolerates them well."
Reasons to buy: High in protein, good ingredients, low in calories, resealable packaging.
Reasons to avoid: Small bag.
The best lickable cat treats
These lickable cat treats are packed with flavor and protein, containing tasty shreds of real chicken. Due to the high water content, these are a great option if your cat is dehydrated and needs a little encouragement.
The recipe doesn't have any meat by-products, artificial colors, or preservatives, which is always nice to see. What is does contain is pumpkin and carrots, which are great sources of vitamin C.
Our tester Rashmi says: "Max seems to enjoy the taste and consistency of the treats. He can usually finish them in one sitting, but they are quite a large portion. He eats several small meals a day, so we had to replace one of his meals with a treat packet. We don’t mind though, it’s a nice way to introduce some variety in his diet and expose him to wet food."
Reasons to buy: Hydrating, high in protein, source of vitamin C, shelf stable.
Reasons to avoid: Unpleasant smell.
The best calming cat treats
If you've got an anxious cat, you might want to try a calming cat treat, like these goat milk toppers. They contain ashwagandha, L-theanine, and passion flowers that could support sleep and relaxation.
These treats are also made from goat's milk, making them easy to digest and provides a rich source of nutrients, like calcium and vitamin A. Our tester Julie says: "My cats seemed to like the taste quite a bit, and they ate all of it right away. I had hoped the powder might help them feel a little calmer, but I didn’t really notice a difference in their activity after eating it, other than the usual napping after a meal. Still, they seemed to like it. Both licked the bowl clean after eating it. "
Reasons to buy: Recyclable packaging, promotes relaxation, easy to store.
Reasons to avoid: A little expensive, not for training, not the best smell.
The best freeze-dried cat treats
These freeze-dried treats are made with only two ingredients: whole animal raw protein and a natural preservative - you won't find any nasty additives inside.
They're high in protein with a range of flavors to suit even the fussiest of cats - from tuna and chicken to salmon and minnows. Since the treats have a single protein source, they might be a good choice for kitties with allergies.
Our tester Alisa says: "My cat seemed to enjoy the chicken heart flavor, but they were so big she had trouble eating them. The second day I broke one into smaller pieces and that seemed a bit easier for her."
Reasons to buy: Freeze-dried, single protein, resealable bag, two ingredients, easy to store.
Reasons to avoid: Has a slight smell, need to be broken in half, a bit expensive.
The best dental cat treats
These treats have great ingredients for dental health, like Sodium Hexametaphosphate which helps to prevent the build-up of tartar. They contain slippery elm for digestive health and have a protein source as the first ingredient.
The crunchy texture will rub plaque off your cat's teeth and the pumpkin seeds and coconut oil will help to battle bad breath.
Reasons to buy: Supports dental health, good ingredients, resealable packaging.
Reasons to avoid: Has a slight smell, small bag.
Photos from testing
How we tested the best cat treats
To find you the very best cat treats, I spent hours researching the top brands and products on the market. I scanned every single ingredient to ensure they didn't contain any unhealthy fillers or nasty additives to give you peace of mind.
Once I'd selected the best options, the PetsRadar testing team gave them to their cats to try out and judged them on the following factors:
Taste
Cat treats are designed to be tasty, so of course, this was a very important consideration. We assessed this based on whether they finished the treats and how keen they were to have more.
Value for money
No one wants to waste money on a bad product - especially with the current cost of living crisis. We included a range of price points and decided if they were good value for money based on the quality and quantity.
Storage and smell
We also included whether they're easy to store with resealable packaging, and if they have a strong smell you might want to know about.
Here's more information on how we test.
How to choose the best cat treats
Cats love a treat and your feline friend would eat a lot more of them if you let them. But too many won’t be good for your cat so you really need to consider how many calories a treat may contain. If they are high in calories, you only want to give them one or two a day. However, if you want to give them more, you could feed them less of their main diet to balance the calories.
Definitely pay attention to the ingredients. Natural ingredients that contain real meat or fish are the best choice; they provide plenty of protein
and nutrients, and boost your kitty’s health. Your cat might also prefer a particular flavor.
Should you try wet or dry? Wet is typically a tastier, more natural treat, but again, this depends on the ingredients. Dry treats – especially freeze-dried treats – have the benefit of not only being tasty, but also of being good for cat's dental hygiene, and helping to reduce the build-up of plaque and tartar.
What are the healthiest treats for cats?
“To find a healthy cat treat, look for something low in calories and high in protein (unless your cat has kidney disease),” Woodnutt advises. “This often means cubes of dried or freeze-dried meats are a good option. However, all treats can be unhealthy in excess.
"It’s essential to remember that more than 50% of cats in the US and UK are obese, and eating too many calories from treats plays a large part in that. You should ensure that no more than 10% of your cat’s daily calorie intake comes from treats, and their dinner is reduced accordingly.”
If your feline is overweight, our feature on healthy weight loss for cats might be useful.
Is it okay to give cats treats every day?
“While it’s OK to give cats treats every day, it’s essential they aren’t eating too many calories overall,” explains Woodnutt. “An average 4kg cat can have only about 19 calories of treats a day. If you struggle to keep below this because your cat’s favorite treat is calorific, you may have to feed treats only every few days to ensure they aren’t getting too many calories and gaining weight.”
Are cat treats addictive?
A lot of cat owners have noticed the love that their pets have for treats, leading them to wonder if they're addictive. We asked vet Dr Rebecca MacMillan if this is something you need to be concerned about.
“Cats are no different to us when it comes to tasty snacks! While there is no specific ingredient in treats that makes them addictive, the right combination of protein and fat can be very moreish,” explains MacMillan. “When a cat eats a treat it causes dopamine to be released in their body, a ‘pleasure’ hormone. This feel-good hit is what drives your cat to seek out more treats again in the future, making them seem like they are addicted.”
So, you can breathe a sigh of relief because there isn’t any secret cat version of Nicotine hiding in your pet’s snacks – they’re just delicious! You do need to be careful though, and regulate how many treats you’re giving your cat because whether you walk on four legs or two, the consequences of overindulging in snacks are the same.
“The cat treats that tend to be the tastiest and most appealing can be quite calorific. Too many treats like this can lead to weight gain and an unbalanced diet, so they need to be given occasionally,” explains MacMillan.
As we mentioned above when talking about if it’s okay to give cats treats every day, you should be aiming for around 19 calories worth of snacks per day as a rough guideline.
You might also want to learn how to make cat treats at home.
Megan joined the PetsRadar family in 2023 and has grown up with cats all of her life. She's passionate about pet wellness and with two felines herself, she knows exactly what you're looking for in a cat treat. In 2022, graduated from the University of Westminster with a BA in Journalism.
Dr. Joanna Woodnutt qualified as a vet from the University of Nottingham where she then went on to practice companion animal medicine in the Midlands. She really took to the consulting side of things and helping clients with medical problems such as dermatology, behavior and nutrition - anything that involved helping clients understand their pets better.
Rebecca is a vet surgeon who graduated in 2009 from the Royal Veterinary College in London. She has a wealth of experience in first opinion small animal practice, having done a mixture of day-to-day routine work, on-call emergency duties and managerial roles over the years. She enjoys medicine in particular and she is proud to have recently achieved a BSAVA postgraduate certificate in small animal medicine (with commendation). She writes on various feline and canine topics, including behavior, nutrition, and health. Outside of work and writing she enjoys walking her own dog, spending time with her young family and baking!
