Skip to main content

Healthy cat treats: What you should look for

You want to treat your cat for special occasions or just to show your love, but treats need the same consideration as cat food. Looking for certain ingredients and checking out labels will help you distinguish healthy cat treats from toxic ones. Nevertheless, too many treats can contribute to weight gain and potentially cause poor health. Treats may also interfere with your cat’s daily dietary habits.

That doesn’t mean you can’t show your cat a little love now and then! Let’s look at how to find a good quality treat that will benefit your cat’s health and well-being while also providing a fun moment here and there. Here’s what you should look for.

Related Videos
woman feeding a cat a treat outside
Freestocks/Unsplash

Check the ingredients list

First and foremost, you should always check the ingredients list before you purchase your cat’s treats. Look for similar types of things in treats that you would in your high-quality cat foods. 

  • Labeled meats as the primary (first) ingredient — Look for ingredients like “freeze-dried chicken” as the first ingredient listed and avoid treats that say things like “meat” or “meat meal.” It’s tough to tell the quality of a vague label.
  • Natural ingredients — Avoid treats with lots of artificial ingredients. Your cat doesn’t need artificial colors or flavors to enjoy the treats, and there are natural preservatives to keep treats fresh.
  • The fewer ingredients, the better — If there’s a whole paragraph of ingredients you don’t recognize, forgo those treats for ones with fewer ingredients. 
  • Look for domestic sources — Do your research to find companies that source meat and other ingredients locally or within the North American borders. They’ll be fresher.
  • Watch those calories — Look at the serving size on your treat bag and be sure it works well with your cat’s overall nutrition plan.
  • Check with your vet — If your cat has special dietary needs or you need specific recommendations, your veterinarian is a valuable resource for helping you decipher cat treat ingredients lists.

Consider alternatives

striped cat playing with several bright pink toys
Kim Davies/Unsplash

Treats aren’t the only way you can reward your cat. Instead of handing out a treat every time you want to love and appreciate your cat, use a variety of reward methods.

  • Use food — Take a little of your cat’s regular food and put it into a puzzle ball. You could also make the entire meal a puzzle. Reward good behavior with some wet food mixed into your cat’s kibble. Using food helps you account for the amount of calories and daily servings.
  • Use toys — Toys can help your cat alleviate excess energy and boredom and could turn plain old food into something extraordinary.
  • Make your own treats — Be sure to use high quality, cooked meats and whole ingredients. Don’t overfeed treats and consider the extra calorie counts in your daily food servings.

What to avoid in cat treats

The biggest thing to avoid when feeding your cat treats is overfeeding. Relying solely on treats to show love or get your cat to perform is an excellent way to end up with an obese cat. Treats are for special occasions, and you must consider the extra calories in your daily food servings.

Artificial ingredients often mask low quality and are a way to encourage overeating. Artificial colors are for your benefit, not your cat, and artificial flavors often have unidentified sources. The more ingredients on the list that you don’t recognize, the less you should choose that option.

Despite popular conception (and cartoons), cats should never get raw fish or other raw meats. Yes, cats eat raw meat in the wild, but house cats are not wild cats. Raw meats from grocery stores can have harmful bacteria that could cause infection. 

Avoid giving your cat scraps from the table or other people food. Your cat doesn’t need milk or cream to be healthy, and this could lead to undesirable behaviors like begging or jumping on the table. It’s best to stick to cat food and specific cat treats.

Never use cat treats as a substitute for true enrichment activities. Your cat begs for a variety of reasons, and one could be attention. Schedule in fun playtime activities to help reduce begging without offering too many calorie-rich treats.

Choosing and using healthy treats

Man feeding cat a treat
Elizabeth Livermore/Getty Images

Treats can be an excellent way to reward your cat or provide love, but consider them as part of an overall health strategy. Your cat needs physical and mental stimulation to thrive. Treats are part of that, but so is exercise, playtime, and a healthy diet.

You can give your cat treats with high-quality ingredients and help ensure your cat has the best foundation for health and well-being. With the right treats and the right plan, your indoor cat can thrive.

Editors' Recommendations

Do cats get separation anxiety just like dogs do?
Here's how to help your cat cope with separation anxiety
Anxious calico cat lying in the cat bed of a cat tree

As many of us begin to return to work and school after years of pandemic-related remote work or study, you may notice your fur babies are behaving strangely. Although it's a fairly well-known fact that dogs can suffer from separation anxiety when their human family members leave for work or leave the house at all, not everyone knows that our cats can suffer the same issue.

Cat separation anxiety occurs less frequently than it does in dogs, but that doesn't make it any less distressing to witness. Do you think your cat has separation anxiety? Then you've likely noticed unusual behavioral changes. But try not to worry -- there are many solutions that can help reduce your cat's anxiety.

Read more
What it means when your cat is constantly scratching and how to stop it
What to know about cat scratching and how to keep it under control
Gray and white cat scratching couch

Kitty parenthood can present some serious conundrums. On the one hand, you love your cat more than you love your desk chair. However, you’d prefer it if your cat would stop scratching your desk chair. Sound familiar? Those home office upgrades you made weren’t cheap, nor were the state-of-the-art scratching posts and cat trees you bought (or made) for your cat.
Though cat scratching is a common behavior, it’s probably not your favorite habit of your kitty’s if they’re doing it on furniture, cabinets, carpet, or walls. Like many less-than-desirable cat behaviors, there may be several reasons for incessant scratching. You’ll want to pinpoint the specific triggers for your cat so you can take steps to fix the issue. Allow us to play detective for you.

Why is my indoor cat scratching so much?
Outdoor cats scratch trees, posts, and fences to condition their claws and mark territory -- especially if they’re having issues with other neighborhood cats. It can serve as a form of protection and an outlet for emotions, primarily stress or excitement. Cats also like to scratch to give themselves a manicure, as the action removes the dead parts of their nails.
Even if your cat has their own private space for a litter box and doesn’t have to contend with predators, you might find yourselves having an issue with scratching. Regardless of where a feline lives, scratching is instinctual. Cats don’t always take the time to think, "Should I scratch here, or will it make my human upset?" Instead, they may default to, "I need to scratch. This spot looks good."

Read more
Does your cat sleep with you? You should be thrilled
Here's why your cat chooses your side as his favorite resting spot
Gray cat lying on a bed with a white comforter

There's something about getting into bed at night and having your pet join you that can't be matched. When your cat comes and curls up against you, it feels cozy and comforting. But why does your cat sleep with you, and is he doing it out of affection or just because it's comfortable?

The answer may be a mix. If your cat sleeps with you, chances are a few things prompt him to seek you out, but don't worry. Most of the reasons are pretty flattering. The more you know about your cat's sleep behavior, the better you'll be able to guess why he's chosen you to be his nap buddy.

Read more