Healthy cat treats that are actually appropriate for cats

Healthy cat treats are made with meat-only ingredients. Crunchy cat treats are full of carbs and fillers. Instead, try dehydrated or freeze-dried raw meat.

Jericho’s favorites are freeze-dried raw salmon, minnows, rabbit pieces, and pork liver.

You can use these as healthy food toppers to help your cat switch food too!

The best healthy cat treats include:

Note: Other sites will tell you that Greenies are great for dental health. And Temptations are healthy and nutritious.

Wrong!

Those cat treats are filled with low-quality ingredients that cats aren’t designed to eat.

mental stimulation make cat hunt for treats

Disclaimer: I earn a commission if you purchase through affiliate links below. No additional cost to you.

Get straight to my curated shopping lists for healthy cat treats:

Freeze-dried organ meats – Best human-grade quality treats

smallbatch freeze dried raw cat treats jess caticles

It’s rare to find human-grade quality pet foods.

But there are a few companies that have proved their ingredients are indeed of human-grade quality on Susan Thixton’s list.

SmallBatch is on her list, and they sell organ meat cat treats. Jericho loves their pork liver treats.

Organ meats are rich in vitamins and minerals. This is an excellent boost to your cat’s diet.

Buy SmallBatch organ meat treats on Amazon and Chewy.

Freeze-dried minnows – Best treats for picky cats

jericho grabbing and pulling minnow treat

Freeze-dried minnows are excellent for picky cats! They have a fishy smell that attracts most cats.

You can crush them up into dust and sprinkle them on new food as a smell attractant.

Or break them up and hide them around your apartment for fun hunting.

Buy Vital Esssentials minnows on Amazon and Chewy.

Green tripe – Best superfood cat treats

feline natural green tripe cat treats

Green tripe is a powerhouse of nutrients.

It can provide probiotics, enzymes, protein, fat, and trace minerals.

Tripe also has a pungent smell that can work well if your cat is picky about food.

Best green tripe cat treat brands include Feline Natural (Amazon and Chewy) and New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co (Amazon and Chewy).

Green-lipped mussels – Best cat treats for joint support

nz natural green lipped mussels cat treats

Green-lipped mussels are natural sources of fatty acids and chondroitin sulfate.

Both of these nutrients can help the joints.

These treats are the entire mussel. And they have a very powerful fishy smell. Another great choice if your cat needs some help accepting new food.

Buy New Zealand Natural green-lipped mussels cat treats on Amazon and Chewy.

Freeze-dried muscle meat – Best cat treats for training

caticles hare today cat treats

Muscle meats include thigh, breast, salmon, heart, etc..

These are great cat treats for training rewards. Since you can break them up into small pieces.

And muscle meats are high in taurine.

Best muscle meat cat treats brands are Hare Today, Whole Life (Amazon and Chewy), and Pure Bites (Amazon and Chewy).

Hare Today is a one-stop shop for homemade cat food. But they also sell healthy dehydrated raw muscle meats and organs.

Check out best brands at local pet stores if you want to buy locally instead.

FAQ

How do I choose cat treats?

Most cat treats have a long list of ingredients that are difficult to pronounce and dangerous to your cat’s health. Choose cat treats that are made with minimal ingredients. Meat and organ treats are the healthiest options for your cat. They are nutritious and won’t make your cat gain unnecessary weight like other treats.

Is it bad to give my cat treats every day?

It is bad to give your cat treats every day if you’re feeding unhealthy cat treats. Muscle meat and organs are the healthiest options and are safe to give to your cat every day. Include the calories from treats in your cat’s daily intake. Cat treats should not exceed 10% of your cat’s total daily intake. And you should remove equal parts of your cat’s current diet so that you do not overfeed your cat.

When should I give my cat a treat?

Give your cat a treat as a reward after training sessions, claw clipping, or when your cat is behaving well. A fun way to provide indoor enrichment is to make your cat hunt for treats around your home. I use glass jar lids to do this.

Use treat-release toys or food puzzle toys to make treats fun for your cat.

You can buy these toys online:

Are freeze-dried treats good for cats?

Freeze-dried treats are good for cats. These are typically much healthier options than crunchy dental cat treats. Buy freeze-dried muscle meat or organ treats made with one ingredient. Dehydrated meat and organ treats are good too. These are the best cat treat options.

Can I make my own cat treats?

Yes, you can! I have three very simple recipes that you can use. Try my healthy skin and coat topper recipe, homemade salmon cat treats, or homemade beef cat treats recipe for more variety.