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 beef 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

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.

The Simple Food Project and Raised Right are both on her list. And they sell organ meat cat treats.

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

Buy these organ meat treats:

Freeze-dried minnows – Best treats for picky cats

Freeze-dried minnows are excellent for picky cats!

They have a fishy smell which 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 Essentials minnows:

Green tripe – Best superfood 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 for picky eaters.

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

Buy Feline Natural green tripe:
Buy NZ Natural green tripe:

NZ Natural green tripe also includes green-lipped mussels.

Green-lipped mussels – Best cat treats for joint support

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

Both of these nutrients can help the joints.

Best green-lipped mussels cat treats are NZ Natural.

These treats are the entire mussel. And they have a very powerful fishy smell.

Buy NZ Natural green-lipped mussel treats:

A Better Treat – Best for adding variety

a better treat salmon

A Better Treat sells beef liver, chicken breast, and salmon chunk treats.

This is a very easy way to introduce variety to your cat’s diet.

Use salmon and beef liver as a topper if your cat is picky about food changes. Salmon is also a great source of vitamin D.

The chicken treats are perfect for training rewards or with food puzzle toys.

Buy A Better Treat variety pack on their website.

Freeze-dried muscle meat – Best cat treats for training

Muscle meats include thigh, breast, and heart.

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, and Pure Bites.

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

Buy Whole Life muscle meat treats:
Buy Pure Life muscle meat treats:

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 one ingredient. 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 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.

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.

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.

But my cat is too picky to eat healthy food

Sandra had two kibble-addicted cats. Dirk is older and started to gain weight. Avery was young and healthy, but she had very picky eating habits.

Dirk had trouble jumping to his favorite spots, and Sandra started to worry that he would develop diabetes. And she didn’t want Avery to be a picky cat her whole life!

So Sandra started researching about cat food.

sandra dirk avery kibble addicted cats switch to raw

Sandra thought wet food would help because it is healthier than dry food.

But then she discovered raw feeding, and “it all started to make sense! This is what they eat in the wild, and would make them feel their best!!!

She was excited to try raw, but she knew so little about how to transition them to this diet. And she didn’t know what to give them in the quantities they needed to be healthy.

Then Sandra found me and my course. She became a course member, and she followed my signature PURR blueprint.

My signature PURR blueprint works with your cat’s natural instincts. So you can focus on having fun with your cat instead of feeling stressed and overwhelmed dealing with a picky cat.

Sandra said, “This was such an indispensable tool. It eliminated any fears, or questions I had about the transition, making everything feasible, easy to understand and convenient.

And now Dirk and Avery (previously two kibble-addicted cats) enjoy a lightly cooked homemade diet! Sandra doesn’t worry about them not getting the nutrients they need. She’s confident that what she’s feeding is the best.

On top of that, Dirk lost weight naturally (no starving) and he’s more energetic and playful.

Sandra felt close to her cats before starting this journey. But her connection and bond with her cats is much stronger now than it was before.

switch cat to homemade raw diet recipes jess caticles

Sandra and her cats have shown us that our cats need more real, fresh food. Processed foods are inconsistent and cause more problems than it’s worth.

But healthy homemade cat food gives us complete control. We control the ingredients, the quality, and how it’s made.

And it’s amazing to see the results of a healthy homemade diet!

Sandra (and hundreds of other cat parents I’ve worked with) feel more empowered to know what’s good and what should be avoided for their cats.

And their cats are healthier because of it!

Ready to switch to healthy food for a happier cat?

Grab my Raw Feeding Cats Blueprint video course and get the same plan that Sandra and 337+ other cat parents used to switch their cats from processed food to a healthy homemade diet.