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.
The best healthy cat treats include:
- Freeze-dried organ meats – Best human-grade quality treats
- Freeze-dried minnows – Best treats for picky cats
- Green tripe – Best superfood cat treats
- Green-lipped mussels – Best cat treats for joint support
- A Better Treat – Best for adding variety
- Freeze-dried muscle meat – Best cat treats for training
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.
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 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.
Ready to switch your cat to a species-appropriate raw diet? Get my proven plan that has helped 200+ picky cats thrive on raw!
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:
- Food puzzle toys on Amazon and Chewy
- Feeder mice treat-release toys on Amazon and Chewy
- Food foraging mat on Amazon and Etsy
- Clicker training kit on Amazon
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.
Final thoughts on healthy cat treats
Temptations, Greenies, and other crunchy “dental” treats are not healthy for your cat.
These cat treats contain dangerous ingredients including carbohydrates. Carbohydrates promote hunger and weight gain.
Healthy cat treats are made with meat-only ingredients.
Buy freeze-dried or dehydrated muscle meat and organ treats.
These treats are much more nutritious and safe to feed to your cat daily.
Learn how to read labels properly so you can find cat food that works best for your cat’s individual needs.
Check out my complete cat food label guide to find better quality cat food.
