1. Home
  2. Cats

PawTracks may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

4 great treats to use when training your cat

By

Tasty cat treats can bring your kitty running, but treats can do more than just show your cat how much you love him. You can use treats to encourage your cat to perform certain behaviors, like standing up on his hind legs, jumping up into a cat bed, or even just holding still for a nail trim. When training a cat, you’ll need to feed him treats repeatedly to encourage that correct behavior, so it’s important to choose the best cat treats for training. Depending on how you’ll use the treats and your kitty’s health, you may want to pick treats that also benefit his well-being.

Best small treats

Small cat treats easily fit within your hand, and your cat can quickly eat them so you can get right back to training. Smaller treats also often contain fewer calories than larger treats do, an important factor when you might be feeding many treats in a shorter period. Smaller treats are often a better choice for kittens, too.

Recommended Videos

If you’re looking for quality small treats, Wellness Kittles are a great choice. These treats are available in six tasty flavors, including salmon and cranberries, duck and cranberries, and turkey and cranberries. Each treat delivers just two calories, and they’re made with real fruit, veggies, and meat. These grain-free crunchy treats are ideal for kittens and indoor cats.

Why we like it:

  • Comes in six flavors
  • Low-calorie
  • Grain-free

$0 from Amazon $2 from Chewy

Best healthy cat treats

You always want to be feeding your cat nutritious treats, but many formulas include fillers like corn and soy that really don’t give your kitty the nutrition he deserves. It’s particularly important to avoid these fillers when using treats as training aids, since your cat will probably eat lots of treats. Instead, consider a freeze-dried treat that’s made with only one ingredient, like chicken, fish, or turkey. With these types of treats, you’ll know just what you’re feeding your cat.

Life Essentials Freeze Dried Wild Alaskan Salmon Treats are a great option. Made solely of freeze-dried salmon, these treats have no fillers or preservatives. The cubes are crunchy and make an ideal daily snack or training treat. The salmon is low in fat, calories, and carbohydrates, so you can feed multiple treats without worrying about your cat gaining weight. Even better, the naturally occurring fish oils promote a shiny coat and have anti-inflammatory properties, too.

Why we like it:

  • No fillers or preservatives
  • Low in fat, calories, and carbs
  • Fish oils aid against inflammation and promote a shiny coat

$22 from Amazon $23 from Walmart

Best value

Cat treats can be expensive, especially if you’re stocking up for a multi-feline family. Looking for treats that balance value with quality is a savvy move, and many treat value packs offer excellent value. When buying treats in bulk, watch for options that offer multiple smaller packs of treats rather than one giant bag of treats. With multiple packs, you open them only when you’re ready to use one, keeping the treats fresh. A larger single pack of treats may go bad or stale before you use them all up.

The Temptations Classic Crunchy and Soft Treats Variety Pack is a winning choice because it includes four 3-ounce packs. Your cat will enjoy seafood medley, tasty chicken, creamy dairy, and tempting tuna flavors, so there’s plenty of variety to keep him intrigued. Each treat is just two calories, making them ideal for training.

Why we like it:

  • Low-calorie
  • Offers a variety of flavors
  • Budget-friendly

$10 from Amazon $6 from Chewy

Best for dental health

Training your cat can be good for his mental health, but the right treats can boost your cat’s dental health, too. Many treats are designed with crunchy exterior textures to help scrape food off your cat’s teeth. Feeding one of these treats offers multiple benefits while you train.

Feline Greenies Adult Dental Cat Treats are a fabulous example of this. These crunchy treats help clean teeth and reduce tartar buildup while also freshening your cat’s breath. They’re made with natural ingredients and are nutritionally balanced. These treats contain no artificial preservatives and contain less than two calories each.

Why we like it:

  • Help clean teeth and freshen breath
  • Made with natural ingredients
  • Low-calorie

$11 from Amazon $8 from Chewy

Choosing the best treats for training

Enticing treats that your cat truly loves can help make training easier. No matter which treats you choose, remember to follow the manufacturer’s feeding directions and don’t exceed the maximum recommended number of treats per day. It’s important to monitor your cat to make sure he’s still eating his regular food and isn’t just filling up on treats. His regular food gives him the nutrition he needs to stay healthy, so if his appetite seems to decline, reduce the number of treats you’re feeding him each day. Stay consistent and patient in your training, and you may be able to teach your cat a new trick or behavior.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Paige Cerulli
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Paige's work has appeared in American Veterinarian, Business Insider, Healthline, and more. When she's not writing, Paige…
Why do cats cover their face when they sleep? This adorable behavior, explained
Keep an eye out for these symptoms of feline sleepiness and discomfort

If you ever notice your cat sleeping in an especially cute or odd-looking position, you're not the only one. Most cats get comfy in unique ways -- whether curled up on top of a laptop or stretched out on their back like a dog -- but some feline sleeping positions are more difficult to understand than others.
For example, why do cats cover their face when they sleep? There are several noteworthy reasons, though it's up to you to decipher which reason applies to your kitty. The good news is that none of these reasons are cause for worry unless, of course, there are other unusual behaviors or symptoms present. If this is the case, please consult your cat's veterinarian instead!
If sleeping with their paws covering their face is all your feline friend is doing, all you need to do is keep an eye on them. If there is a minor problem going on, like seasonal allergies, you'll be able to notice and help your cat sooner rather than later.

Sense of security and comfort

Read more
Is your cat obese? 5 ways to help them slim down
Obesity left unchecked can lead to health problems

World Pet Obesity Week is in the fall, so it's the purrfect chance to get your kitty on a diet to slim down in time. According to a survey conducted by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP), roughly 61% of cats and 59% of dogs in the U.S. alone are overweight or obese. While few things are more adorable than a chunky cat, obesity in cats comes with a multitude of health risks.

Have you been wondering if your cat needs to lose a few pounds? We're here to share how you can tell if your cat is obese, the potential health problems caused by cat obesity, and five helpful things you can do to help them lose weight. 
What causes obesity in cats?

Read more
Why do cats eat plastic (and when you should be concerned)?
The reasons for this behavior might be surprising

Cats are quirky — sometimes puzzling — creatures. Part of the fun of kitty parenthood is laughing off these funny, curious traits and perhaps looking into what each might mean. Is your cat staring at you because they're plotting against you? Why does your cat want to sleep on your chest? Does your kitty wish you would get back to the office already after several years of this work-from-home thing?

Often, these questions — and our search for answers — are all in good fun. Cats are cats, and that's why we love them. Yet, if your cat eats plastic, you might wonder, "Why does my cat eat plastic?" You'll want to get a formal answer to this question from a vet.

Read more