Although they may disagree, cats don’t need treats — as long as they eat a complete and balanced cat food every day, they get all their essential nutrients. However, cat treats come in handy during a variety of situations. “Giving your cat treats helps strengthen the bond between you and your pet,” says Dr. Nicole Savageau, a veterinarian at Highland’s Pet Medical Clinic in Austin, Texas. “Treats can also distract them during stressful events like car rides or vet visits, providing a positive association with the experience.” The benefits don’t end there — cat treats are ideal for training your pet and rewarding good behavior, too.
Below, I spoke to veterinarians about the most important factors to consider while shopping for cat treats. They also answered FAQs, like how to incorporate treats into your pet’s diet. Using vets’ guidance, I rounded up the best cat treats to shop, including those recommended by experts and NBC Select pet parents.
SKIP AHEAD The best cat treats to shop | How to incorporate treats into your cats’ diet | Why trust NBC Select?
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How I picked the best cat treats
While shopping for cat treats, the goal is to find something that’s tasty and healthy, experts say. They recommend keeping the following factors in mind, and checking with your veterinarian before adding anything new to your cat’s diet.
- Calories: Treats shouldn’t make up more than 10% of cats’ daily calorie intake, says Dr. Whitney Miller, the chief veterinarian at Petco. The number of calories per treat determines how many you can give your cat, but in general, it’s best to buy low calorie options that are about 1 or 2 calories per piece. Every treat has different feeding guidelines, so read its nutrition label, which specifies portion size and frequency, says Miller.
- Ingredients: Unlike cat food, treats aren’t required to have the Association of Feed Control Officials’ (AAFCO) nutritional adequacy label on their packaging — the organization recognizes that treats don’t meet the requirements for a complete and balanced meal, which is why they must clearly display the terms “snack” or “treat” on the front label. That said, it’s important to read treats’ ingredient labels to make sure they’re made with nutritious, high-quality ingredients and don’t contain something your pet is sensitive to. Prioritize buying treats made with protein like chicken, turkey, beef or fish since cats are carnivores, says Dr. Kim DiMaio, a veterinarian at and the owner of MainStreetVet.net. She recommends avoiding treats with high amounts of sugar, fat and carbohydrates, as well as those made with artificial flavors, colors or preservatives.
- Texture and flavor: Cat treats come in a variety of textures, like crunchy, soft and lickable, and different flavors, like beef, chicken, salmon and tuna. You’ll likely need to try a handful of options to figure out your cat’s preferences. Miller suggests trying to feed your cat treats made from ingredients that aren’t in their regular food — doing so introduces them to new ingredients and makes the treats more rewarding since it’s not something they get every day.
- Additional health benefits: Certain treats are formulated to target specific health concerns, like joint, skin, coat, digestive and dental health, says Savageau. If your pet struggles in any of those areas, talk to your vet about what type of treats may be right for them.
The best cat treats
All the cat treats I recommend below align with vets’ guidance and either come recommended by experts or NBC Select staffers. I included how many calories are in each treat, as well as their texture and flavor options. Some treats come in variety packs.
Best overall cat treats: Temptations Classic Crunchy and Soft Cat Treats
- Easy-to-bite size
- Great for picky eaters
- Various flavors available
- Nothing to note at this time
Savageau gives Temptations treats to her own cats and says many of her feline patients enjoy snacking on them, even if they’re picky eaters. The pellet-shaped treats, which won a NBC Select Pet Award, have a crunchy outer shell with a creamy center.
Their small size makes them easy for my cats to bite, and they fit inside enrichment toys like puzzles. I also appreciate that I can buy Temptations treats in resealable containers of various sizes — I usually keep a larger container at home and a smaller container in my cats’ travel carriers to calm them down at the vet.
Calories: | Texture: crunchy | Flavors: tuna, chicken, salmon, dairy, catnip and more
Best lickable cat treats: Inaba Churu Cat Treats
- Hydrating
- Can use as food topper
- Various flavors available
- Can be messy
- Tubes not resealable
- Higher calorie option
Lickable treats typically come in small tubes, and because they have a high moisture content, they’re hydrating, says Savageau. You can cut the tube open, squeeze out a little purée and hold it while your cat licks — feeding them by hand facilitates trust, helping you bond with your pet. If your cat is a picky eater, experts recommend squeezing some lickable treat onto their wet or dry food to make it more appetizing.
Savageau uses Churu’s lickable treats to distract patients during nail trims or while getting a vaccine. They have a thick, creamy texture and are made with 91% water. The formula is free from grains, preservatives and artificial colors.
Calories: 6 cals. per tube | Texture: lickable | Flavors: seafood, tuna, chicken and more
Best soft cat treats: Meow Mix Irresistibles Soft Cat Treats
Some cats — especially kittens and seniors — prefer soft treats like these because they’re easier to chew, says DiMaio. Meow Mix’s Irresistibles are an irregular oval shape, and you can break them into smaller pieces if needed. The treats are free from artificial flavors.
Calories: 2 cals. per treat | Texture: soft | Flavors: salmon, white meat chicken
Best dental cat treats: Feline Greenies Adult Dental Cat Treats
Dental treats can help support your cat’s oral health in combination with regular teeth brushing, says Miller.
DiMaio recommends buying those approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council, which sets standards for efficacy when it comes to plaque and tartar control. Greenies’ dental treats are approved, and when your cat chews them, they clean teeth and freshen breath, according to the band. The treats are free from artificial flavors, preservatives and fillers.
Calories: 1.4 cals. per treat | Texture: crunchy | Flavors: chicken, catnip, tuna, salmon
Best crunchy treats: Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Crunchy Bites Cat Treats
My cats love munching on these treats, which are approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council — they help clean teeth, control tartar and freshen breath, according to the brand.
The treats are shaped like little balls, so they roll around when I toss them or when my cats whack at them. This adds an element of play to treat time, and makes my cats work for their food. Because of their round shape, Purina’s treats are on the larger side — they’d likely be too big for young kittens to bite. They’re also quite crunchy, which might make them too hard for baby teeth or senior cats’ weaker teeth.
Calories: 1.5 cals. per treat | Texture: crunchy | Flavors: meat and fish blend
Best for sensitive stomachs: Fancy Feast Natural Cat Treats
- One ingredient
- Tender texture
- Higher calorie option
- Grain-free
If your cat has a sensitive stomach or allergies, treats made with one ingredient are usually the safest option, experts say. These Fancy Feast treats are 100% meat-based. The brand cooks and flakes chicken, tuna or salmon, and then packages it in pouches to keep it fresh. The treats are free from byproducts and fillers, which also minimizes the risk that they’ll upset your cat’s digestive system, according to Fancy Feast.
Calories: 3.3 cals. per pack | Texture: soft | Flavors: salmon, tuna, chicken
Best freeze dried cat treats: Vital Essentials Freeze Dried Raw Minnows
- One ingredient
- Great for picky eaters
- Various flavors available
- Grain-free
- Strong scent
“My cats are obsessed with these adorable and tasty fishes,” says Nikki Brown, NBC Select SEO editor. “And since they’re made from just one ingredient that’s packed with lots of nutrients, I understand everything on the label.”
Vital Essentials freezes fish when it’s at peak freshness, making the treats extra flavorful and more enticing to picky eaters. The minnows are free from additives, fillers and byproducts, as well as artificial preservatives, flavorings and dyes.
Calories: 2 cals. per treat | Texture: soft and crunchy | Flavors: minnows, tuna, chicken, duck and more
Best bite-sized: Rachael Ray Nutrish Wheelies Cat Treats
- Easy-to-bite size
- Easy to break apart
- Lower calorie option
- One flavor option
When I need to distract my cats, I tend to give them more treats than usual, so I opt for a smaller, lower calorie option like these.
My cats gobble them up because they’re so flavorful, which helps them focus on their snack rather than being in the car or at the vet’s office. I also appreciate that these treats are crunchy — my cats’ preferred texture — yet still easy for me to break apart if I want to really extend snack time. The treats are free from artificial flavors and poultry byproduct meal.
Calories: 1.5 cals. per treat | Texture: crunchy | Flavors: chicken
Best catnip: Shameless Pets Crunchy Cat Treats
- Supports digestive health
- Fun bite-sized shape
- Lower calorie option
- Nothing to note at this time
These star-shaped treats fit well inside puzzle toys and snuffle mats, and because they’re made with catnip, my cats are extra motivated to dig them out. The treats have pre- and probiotics in their formula to support digestive health. They’re also made with sweet potatoes instead of corn and soy, ingredients that some pets have sensitivities to.
Calories: 1.5 cals. per treat | Texture: crunchy | Flavors: catnip, chicken, lobster and cheese, salmon and more
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How to incorporate treats into your cats diet
Cats’ main source of nutrition should always be their regular cat food, meaning kibble, wet food or both, says Miller. Treats fall outside their main diet and are enrichment snacks, so you should be purposeful about offering them to your pet. “When feeding your cat treats, consider your goals,” she says. If you’re trying to bond with your cat, train them, engage in play, reward good behavior or discourage bad habits, treats can be highly effective when used appropriately.
Determining your goals directly impacts how you give cats treats. “Treats hidden in a puzzle toy, for example, can be great for mental stimulation and enrichment, while choosing a squeezable treat and feeding your cat by hand can increase bonding,” says Miller. “Using smaller treats as a reward can be a great way to train your cat to prioritize preferred behaviors through positive reinforcement.”
Meet our experts
- Dr. Whitney Miller is the chief veterinarian at Petco.
- Dr. Nicole Savageau is a veterinarian at Highland’s Pet Medical Clinic in Austin, Texas.
- Dr. Kim DiMaio is a veterinarian at and the owner of MainStreetVet.net.
Why trust NBC Select?
I’m a reporter at NBC Select (and a cat owner) who writes about pets, including how to get rid of fleas, how to keep dogs cool, kitten food and outdoor dog beds. For this article, I interviewed three veterinarians about how to shop for cat treats. I also rounded up experts’ favorite cat treats, as well as those NBC Select pet parents recommend.
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