Rating review of healthy and tasty treats for cats

We all love to treat ourselves to tasty treats. Some people buy themselves a cappuccino, others prefer a slice of pizza, and it’s hard to count how many people with a sweet tooth can’t deny themselves a piece of candy for their tea. So I want to pamper my pets. We feed from the table, pour milk, increase the portion of dry food or mix with spiders. These are not the healthiest snacks for cats.

If you do not want to prepare balanced treats and do not adhere to natural feeding, then the best solution would be to buy a ready-made product. In this article, we have compiled a rating of cat treats of different classes and price categories.

Types of treats for cats

It is better to pamper healthy pets with food additives; goodies are not recommended for kittens and pregnant animals. The attractive components of tasty food are, first of all, pieces of fresh meat. The increased caloric content means that the treat should be a small part of the daily diet.

Pet stores sell food in the form of:

• granules;
• dried slices;
• straws;
• pads;
• snacks;
• cream jelly.

All treats can be divided into three main groups:

• wet - jelly, puree, cream soup;
• hard – pieces, sausages;
• liquid – puddings, drinks.

Treats are also distinguished by their purpose, the purpose of the treat. Owners typically want:

• just pamper your furry pet from the bottom of your heart;
• make the little predator hunt for tasty prey;
• reward with a tasty treat for patient behavior during the hygienic procedures of bathing, trimming nails, and combing;
• distract your pet from the dreary anticipation if he has to be left alone for a while.

Various goodies are used to reward animals during training in order to achieve commands.

Rating of the best treats for cats

The modern market offers delicacies for every taste. We invite you to take a look at the review of the best treats, compiled taking into account their composition, price and customer reviews.

First place: Orijen

The leader of the review is the Orijen delicacy from, which produces food with a high meat content. The ingredients are delivered fresh to Canadian factories, where they are freeze-dried without being subjected to high-temperature processing. This technology allows the product to retain as many nutritional properties as possible.

Orijen brand products consistently occupy the top positions in cat food ratings. For example, first place in our rating of dry food for neutered cats.

Origin super premium treats are available in several flavors:

• Original – with the addition of chicken liver and Cobb chicken meat, flounder fillet, liver and turkey meat;
• Wild Boar – using wild boar meat and liver;
• Six Fish – with the addition of six types of fish;
• Tundra - assorted venison, salmon meat and liver, quail meat with the addition of fresh rainbow trout;
• Ranch Raised Lamb - using lamb meat, liver and tripe.

Buyers leave many positive reviews for the product. Among the disadvantages, netizens highlight the high price due to the quality of the delicacy, and the fact that Orijen brand delicacies are difficult to find in many stores.

Second place: Applaws

All of the company's products are manufactured in accordance with strict UK quality regulations - therefore, treats are thoroughly tested before sale. Easily digestible animal protein and low fat content will be an excellent addition to the main diet.

The delicacy is a whole fish fillet in vacuum packaging, enriched with omega acids. It is available in three flavors:

• with tuna;
• with tuna in fish sauce;
• with mackerel (mackerel).

The Applaws fish treat will please even the most picky pets, because these are natural pieces of sea fish fillet without additives.

Tuna Tuna with Atlantic mackerel sauce

Applaws also has canned supplemental diets featured in our 15 Best Wet Foods of 2020 rankings.

Third place: Country delicacies

The top 3 treats for cats are completed by the Russian line of delicacies “Village Delicacies”. They are made from selected meat without the use of dyes, preservatives or flavor enhancers.

Cats are delighted with the fragrant, tender pieces, but owners treat them with a grain of salt - some flavors contain corn starch. This ingredient is added as a thickener to help the treat retain its shape, but it can cause an allergic reaction.

The following remain completely safe for pets:

• beef slices;
• duck straw;
• chicken pieces;
• lamb slices.

You can safely treat your beloved pet with them. In addition, you can offer your pet meat sausages from the same manufacturer. The composition contains starch, which makes the stick soft, which is suitable for older pets without a corn allergy.

Buy “Country Delicacies” Lamb Slices

Fourth place: Gimcat Superfood DuoSticks

The premium treat from the German manufacturer Gimcat is available in packs of three sticks and is available in three flavors:

• salmon with mango;
• beef with apple;
• chicken with berries.

Gimkets are not just a pleasant addition to the main diet, they are also enriched with taurine and vitamins A, D and E. Salmon flavored sticks contain biotin, omega-3 and fatty acids, which have a beneficial effect on the condition of the pet’s skin and coat. The delicacy contains no sugar or grains.

The sticks themselves have a soft consistency, which allows the owner to easily break them and control the amount of treats eaten by the pet.

salmon and mango chicken with berries beef and apple

Fifth place: Titbit (line of dried offal)

The dried delicacy from domestic producers Titbit is made using a special drying technology, similar to natural drying in the sun, which allows you to preserve not only the rich taste, but also the beneficial properties of fresh meat. Manufacturer Titbit offers five flavors, each of which has one main ingredient of animal origin:

• chicken fillet;
• beef liver;
• beef intestines;
• beef lung;
• rabbit lung.

As a rule, additional ingredients include herbs and seasonings - thyme, lemon balm, nettle, motherwort and many others. The treats are also enriched with microelements and amino acids.

The composition does not contain preservatives, thickeners and sugar, which cannot but please attentive owners. Buyers also note the affordable price, considering this one of the main advantages.

Buy Titbit beef heart pieces

Sixth place: Hunting Delicacies

Dried by-products for cats are made from Russian raw materials without the use of dyes or preservatives.

A special production technology helps preserve the natural taste and aroma of fresh meat, which picky cats will love. This treat is perfect for rewarding and training adult cats.

“Hunting treats” are allowed for adult cats (from one year to 6 years). For a balanced dilution of the main diet, treats should be no more than 10% of the main diet.

Buy hunting delicacies beef udder

Seventh place: Almo Nature (Green Label Mini Food)

The line of Green Label Mini Food treats from the Italian company Almo Nature is made from Human Grade quality raw materials. To create treats, products are taken that are suitable for human consumption, which cannot but please attentive owners. Disadvantages: high price for small volume.

In addition to the main ingredients, the composition also contains sugar and salt, which causes mistrust among most buyers. Even though many exaggerate the harm of these components in the composition, you should be careful when purchasing. Especially if your cat has kidney problems and is overweight.

Chicken fillet Salmon fillet Tuna fillet

Eighth place: Brit Care Snack

Brit Care Snack non-complete food is developed taking into account the individual characteristics of pets. Brit treats are presented in several lines:

• “ Hairball ” is a semi-soft treat for preventing hairballs.
• “ Dental ” – to strengthen the condition of teeth and gums.
• “ Superfruits Salmon ” is a salmon-flavored treat for sterilized cats.
• Superfruits Kitten is a crunchy delicacy for kittens.
• “ Superfruits Chicken ” – heart-shaped chicken pads for adult cats.

Because Brit Care Snack pieces are smaller than other treats, they are easier to give to your pet as a training reward.

Ninth place: Beaphar Cat-A-Dent Bits

The Dutch company Beaphar specializes in the production of vitamins, medicines and shampoos for pets, so the appearance of treats from this company on store shelves was not long in coming.

Beafar “Cat-A-Dent Bits” pads are saturated with minerals and trace elements that have a beneficial effect not only on digestion, but also on your pet’s teeth. Solid green treats with a characteristic herbal smell perfectly kill bad breath and strengthen cats’ gums. For a balanced dilution of the diet, five to ten pieces per day will be enough for your pet.

Buy Beaphar Catnip Bits

Tenth place: Bosch Sanabelle

The German treat for cats Bosch Sanabelle is presented in two lines:

• Bosch Sanabelle “ Snack ” – treats in the form of pyramids with baked granules;
• Bosch Sanabelle “ Sticks ” is a series of semi-moist treats.

The lines differ not only in price (the Sticks series will be an order of magnitude more expensive), but also in quality. The Snack assortment offers treats to improve the condition of coat and teeth, with or without a vitamin complex, but the composition of the product leaves much to be desired: it contains low-quality animal fat.

for teeth

for removing hair

treat reward

vitamin treat

Sticks series enjoys great confidence . It contains meat, medicinal herbs, fruits and minerals, and even the most picky pets will like its delicate consistency.

Eleventh place: Happy Cat – catnip pads

The originality of Happy Cat pillows is already evident in the packaging - thanks to the zip-lock fastener, the treats dissipate more slowly and remain crispy until the end. In addition to meat and meat products, the composition contains many nutrients and vitamins, including catnip.

After purchase, the manufacturer recommends always leaving the bowl of water full. This is confirmed by customers who note increased thirst in their pets after feeding Happy Cat pads. This is how the body reacts to catnip in the treat, but this ingredient does not pose any danger to the pet’s health.

Buy Happy Cat catnip pads

Twelfth place: Dreamies pads

Dreamies cat treats are one of the most popular and advertised economy class treats on the Russian market.

In addition to the standard flavors (fish, chicken, beef and duck), the pads also come in catnip, cheese and rabbit flavors. One pad contains 2 kcal. Drimis pads contain a lot of herbal products and a small amount of vitamins.

You shouldn't expect any benefits from them for the body, but the pads are perfect for rewarding during training. They are soft and quick to chew, so they will not distract your pet from training for a long time.

The owners leave many positive reviews for this product. We advise you not to give in to the pitiful look of the cat from Shrek and strictly limit the daily amount of pads (up to 15 pieces according to the manufacturer’s instructions). It is better to limit their number to 5 pieces per day (this is 10 kcal).

Buy Dreamies rabbit pillows

Thirteenth place: Mnyams Tasty sticks

One package of Mnyams treats contains 3-4 sticks containing a range of nutritional elements, including vitamins A, D and E. The line comes in a variety of flavors, from standard beef to the rare flounder.

Sticks have a beneficial effect on the digestive tract and help replenish the lack of proteins and fats. This will be especially useful for kittens from 4 months, whose bodies require a lot of nutrients. Small pets will need half a stick per day, while adult cats can be fed 1-2 sticks.

Buy Mnyams Tasty sticks with chicken and duck

Healthy treats

Treats can not only bring joy to the animal, but also help. When purchasing, it is important to examine the components. Products enriched with vitamins are beneficial for cats with insufficient intake of nutrients and minerals. If the healthy balance of nutrition is disturbed, then exceeding the daily ration will lead to digestive disorders and gain extra pounds of weight.

Manufacturers of cat food have taken care of useful components to solve health problems in caring for pets. There are special groups of treats.

For teeth

Cleaning a cat's teeth is an impossible task for many owners. But it is possible to help prevent inflammatory processes with the help of nutrition.

Dry pads or solid granules containing plant fibers and antiseptics are designed to prevent the appearance of plaque, the formation of tartar, and strengthen the enamel. In addition to teeth cleaning and preventive use, food helps in treatment.

"Kisses" for teeth

It is recommended to give treats after feeding. You can purchase GimCat Denta-Kiss products.

For hairballs

Owners are familiar with the periodic regurgitation of pet fur accumulated in the stomach. Sometimes the animal naturally finds it difficult to get rid of the wool plug (trichobezoar). The problem is especially relevant for long-haired breeds, during periods of molting animals.

Treats made from grass, vegetables, and minerals help remove hairballs and improve digestion. Gimcat Malt-Soft Paste Extra pads are designed to help with regurgitation.

Cat grass helps remove hairballs

A green lawn with sprouted grains, which always attracts pets, helps achieve the same goal.

Combined

Basic delicacies made from ground meat and vegetables, enriched with calcium and vitamins, are aimed at regulating the digestive process. Combined ones are produced in the form of cream and pudding.

The selection of components is aimed at strengthening the cat’s immunity and normalizing intestinal function. Healthy treats, such as Edel Cat pate, will keep older animals healthy.

Types of treats for cats

By adding treats to the diet, the owner can pursue various goals, one of which is strengthening the body systems. Based on these characteristics, treats can be divided into four types:

• for teeth - due to their consistency, such treats are easier to lick off the teeth, which reduces the destructive effect on the gums and helps prevent tartar;
• for removing hair - such treats contain malt paste in the composition, which helps remove hairballs from the body: these treats are perfect for long-haired breeds and cats during shedding;
• vitamin supplements - no balanced diet will provide the pet’s body with everything it needs, so many owners prefer treats with vitamins (A, D, E), plant extracts, fatty acids, taurine, biotin and other beneficial substances;
• treats for reward – this group includes treats from the mass market containing, for example, catnip: they can be used during training and accustoming to a tray, scratching post, etc.

Composition and review of treats

Including a new product in the diet requires caution and a preliminary study of the composition of the feed. Certain ingredients (sucrose, beet pulp, corn flour, yeast) often cause food allergies and disrupt metabolism.

All competing brands have their positive and negative sides. The advantages include high quality meat, differentiation of feed by age, natural seasonings, balanced composition to improve health. The disadvantages are the basic use of by-products and questionable components.

Despite their attractive appearance, treats from many companies are unsafe due to the lack of detailed information about the percentage of components or due to the inclusion of impurities that cause an allergic reaction.

Which cats should not be spoiled?

As has already been mentioned several times, treats are just an addition to the main diet.

Consequently, there is a whole category of pets that have contraindications to adding treats to their diet:

• suffering from obesity or malnutrition - the diet of such cats should include only foods prescribed by the diet;
• those who have recently undergone an illness or surgery - pets with strict treatment recommendations should not be teased with treats;
• small kittens also do not need treats - most pads are too hard for a kitten to chew, and the puree contains starch and jelly-forming additives that are useless for the growing body;
• pets eating commercial food - some treats are incompatible with the composition of food from other manufacturers, so it is better to give preference to treats of the same brand.
• cats on a therapeutic diet should not include mass market treats in their diet. They usually add salt, sugar and preservatives that are contraindicated by the diet. During the recovery diet, veterinarians exclude feeding with natural food.
• cats with allergies - some cats may have a negative reaction to a certain type of animal protein (usually chicken) and corn.

Important! Many treats are formulated specifically for a pet's age group, but in general, hard treats are best avoided for kittens and older cats.

DIY cat treats

Many cat owners prefer to prepare treats for their beloved pets in their kitchen. You can pamper cats using natural feeding mode. Sometimes it is not forbidden to give a tasty treat to those pets who receive a ready-made diet.

Cooking options:

1. Fish delicacies. Mix 130 g of small oatmeal, pieces of canned tuna, add vegetable oil (1 tablespoon), one egg. Beat the mixture in a blender with the addition of catnip. Make small balls and bake in the oven for 10 minutes.
2. Appetizing slices. Mix 300 g of liver, 1 egg, 200 g of oatmeal in a blender. Spread the mixture in a thin layer on a baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes. Break the pieces.

Pro Cat

Pro Cat's production facilities are located in Thailand, although the company positions itself as a European manufacturer. Pro Cat specializes in making cat food, cat treats, and cat litter.

There is a wide range of delicacies from this brand on the market. The most popular among them are crispy pillows with filling. The healthy treat includes wheat sprouts, flax, vitamins A and E, which give the coat a shine and a well-groomed appearance and have a beneficial effect on the skin.

Is it possible to give treats to kittens?

You often want to feed your fluffy baby something appetizing. But veterinarians recommend not initially mixing natural and ready-made ones from the store. You should choose among specialized products, treats made for kittens.

Homemade goodies

High-quality baby food does not contain GMOs and contains up to 93% meat. On the packaging it is important to find information about the composition, quantity, and compliance with international quality requirements. Owners who know the calorie content of the basic diet are advised to calculate how much can be added without the threat of digestive upset.

Owner reviews

Sofia Zavgorodnyaya, owner of the Persian:

“My cat has thick, long hair, which, even despite regular brushing, ends up in his intestines. I have been using the Pro Cat hair removal supplement for several weeks now and am pleased with the results. He likes the taste and smell of the pads and eats them with pleasure. The bowel movements have become regular and of normal consistency.”

Elena Bereza:

“I recently bought delicious Triol chicken sticks. I liked their composition - 25% proteins, fats, vitamins A, E, and D3, ash and fiber. The sticks are moderately soft and break easily, so you can dose the treat. The cat likes them: you can play with them and then eat them.”

Reviews from veterinarians about treats

The treats contain ingredients that are attractive to cats, so they never turn them down even if they are full. Veterinarians do not encourage frequent feeding; they recommend paying attention to a number of important factors when choosing food:

• an overweight cat – high-calorie treats will only harm the animal’s health;
• feeding with ready-made food - it is better to choose treats from a series of one manufacturer for better compatibility of products;
• pet illnesses - treats must be approved by a veterinarian.

An individual consultation on cat nutrition will help you choose the right healthy treat.

When and how to treat your cat with “goodies”

The main condition when treating a pet is moderation. The treat should not become a habit, otherwise it will turn into regular food. This should not be allowed, because one of its purposes is to encourage correct behavior.

The choice of treats is determined by the pet’s health status and preferably on the recommendation of a veterinarian. It is necessary to take into account the features of different types of this product:

1. Neutral treats do not have much of an impact on your cat's diet. They can be used at any time to relieve stress (travelling, visiting a veterinary clinic, participating in exhibitions) or as a reward. But such treats may contain sugar and should be given to overweight animals with caution.
2. Cats with a diet low in protein need high-nutrient treats (pieces of fish or meat). This treat can be given once or twice a day as a supplement to food. The nutritious product has a calming effect on animals, and pieces of meat are often used as a training stimulus.
3. Fortified treats are given when there is an insufficient amount of vitamins in the daily diet (with natural feeding), as well as to support the body during the rehabilitation period after illness or surgery. But vitamins cannot be taken constantly, this can lead to hypervitaminosis.
4. Preventative treats with a therapeutic effect can be taken constantly, but taking into account the characteristics of the pet’s health condition.

Place No. 8: Bosch Sanabelle treats

Treats from Germany Bosch Sanabelle have two lines:

• Snack series – “pyramids” with baked croquette granules;
• Sticks line is a collection of semi-moist treats.

Snack's assortment includes treats for removing fur, for cleaning teeth, a fortified version and a regular one called Thanks. In general, the composition of these “pyramids” is not exactly flawless: in the first place is flour from fresh poultry meat. There is also low-quality animal fat and an abundance of grains. The percentage of ingredients is not indicated.

The Sticks line is much better in quality, but also twice as expensive. In the first place are meat and meat products (more than 90%), of which 20% are fresh chicken, certain minerals, fruits - pomegranate, lingonberries or elderberry with figs and medicinal herbs like yucca. The humidity of this product is about 30%, and its consistency is described by the manufacturer as delicate - intrigued!

In general, it’s better, of course, to pay attention to the Sticks line, but even a couple of Snack things won’t do any harm. Still, there is a problem of translation, and also the German rules on the design of feed compositions differ from the Russian ones - by chicken or duck in Germany they mostly mean muscle tissue, and not beaks and trachea.

Place #1: Orijen

So, the diamond among cat treats and the undisputed leader in our rating is Orijen products from the Canadian company Champion PetFood. These delicacies consist only of fresh boneless meat and offal of the first category, without any additives:

• Wild Boar – 50% fresh wild boar meat and liver.
• Tundra – fresh deer meat (40%), fresh elk meat (15%) and liver (30%), fresh quail meat (10%), fresh rainbow trout (5%).
• Ranch Raised Lamb – fresh meat (45%), liver (45%) and tripe (10%).
• Original – fresh chicken liver (24%), fresh turkey liver and meat (24% each), fresh Cobb chicken meat (24%), fresh flounder fillet (4%).

Stunning, comprehensive composition that does not cause mistrust. The only pity is that Orijen products are not yet available in all stores. Do you agree with our rating?

What is this product and why is it needed?

Treats for cats, like those for dogs, are food enriched with vitamins and protein, prepared using a special method.

These are a kind of cat desserts, when eating which the animal experiences pleasure and pleasure. The most favorite treat should be given to the animal in order to motivate it and praise it for its patience. In addition, food can be given periodically so that the cat does not miss the owner during his long absence. You can simply pamper your four-legged friend with a treat for no reason. The cat will definitely not refuse the deliciousness, and will love its owner even more.

When to give?

Treats serve the functions of encouragement and calming. Goodies can be given in the following cases: - after stressful situations (visiting the veterinarian, trimming nails, flea treatment, moving, overexposure); — for good behavior (going to the toilet correctly, being patient during procedures, using a scratching post); — for motivation (luring out of hiding, playing); - to distract from the host’s food on the table.

The owner can give tasty pieces just like that - as a sign of love. But don't overdo it. Otherwise, the cunning pet will understand that the owner always has plenty of goodies, and will refuse his usual food. Why eat buckwheat porridge if the refrigerator is full of lobsters?

No matter how cute pets are, don't forget that they quickly understand how to take advantage of any suitable situation. A treat for a cat should be a dessert, a “celebratory” treat, and not a constant food.

Place #6: Almo Nature treats

These Italian delicacies have a separate line - Azul label. The manufacturer guarantees that they are made from Human Grade quality products - which means not from production waste, but from products that are suitable for human consumption.

So, Almo Nature offers us two options for delicacies in the form of sausage snacks:

1. The first version of Azul Label Snack Cat Tuna contains tuna fillet in the first place. This is already encouraging, although the percentage is not indicated. Tuna is a valuable and healthy fish, rich in protein and healthy fatty acids. In second place is chicken fillet - wonderful! Next comes a more extensive “beef”, without clarification. Then rice, apparently as a binder. Next, chicken liver, egg, gluten of unknown origin, yeast extract (what kind of yeast is not clear, most likely added to increase mass), fish extract, sugar, chicken fat and... salt. In general, the harm of salt in animal food, in my opinion, is exaggerated, and potassium chloride is a necessary element, and will also force the cat to drink some water with its food. But why sugar?
2. The Azul Label Snack Cat Chicken option differs only in the absence of tuna.

The conclusion is this: there is a lot of meat, but there are questionable ingredients, buy with caution.