Cat Treats: Crunchy, Lickable, Freeze-Dried and Dental

Complete vs Complementary, on the Label

Cat food labels say whether a product is complete (it can be the whole diet) or complementary, also worded as "for intermittent or supplemental feeding". Almost every treat, lickable purées included, is complementary. That's fine, because treats aren't meant to replace food, but it means their calories belong in the day's total.

A common guideline keeps treats to about 10% of daily calories. The calorie count is on the pack; compare it with what your cat needs, and trim meals a little on generous treat days. Our feeding guide shows how to work out a starting portion.

The Main Treat Types

Crunchy treats are small, shelf-stable pieces in a pouch that rattles loudly enough to summon a cat from another room. They make good training rewards because you can break them smaller. They're calorie-dense for their size, so count them out instead of pouring a handful.

Lickable purée tubes, popularized by INABA's Churu, are a soft meat purée squeezed from a foil packet onto a plate or your fingers. Many owners love the hand-feeding moment. Calories vary between flavors and brands, so read the label, and if your cat is on a special diet for a health problem, ask your vet whether and how often.

Freeze-dried meat is often a single ingredient such as chicken or salmon, dried without heat. It's a high-value reward and crumbles easily for training. Keep an open bag sealed so it doesn't go chewy in humid weather. Dental treats have a textured shape that scrapes a little plaque as the cat chews; they help most as a reward after brushing.

Catnip and Silvervine

Catnip and silvervine are plants, not food. A sprinkle on a toy or scratcher sets off rolling, rubbing and bursts of play in many cats, but not all: the response is inherited, and researchers testing pet cats found about two in three responded to catnip and more responded to silvervine. If catnip leaves your cat cold, silvervine is worth a try.

Both come dried, as sprays or in toys. The scent fades, so refresh old toys or buy small amounts. Our cat toys guide covers kicker toys and refillable catnip toys.

Treats at Pill Time

Giving medicines: see your vet or a pet supply store with trained staff. Ask before you crush, split or hide any tablet in food, because some must be given whole or on an empty stomach.

If your vet says a tablet can be given with food, a soft treat or a dab of purée gives it somewhere to hide. Some cats lick around a hidden pill and leave it behind, so try a pill pocket treat or give the pill and follow it straight away with the purée as a reward.

It helps if your cat already loves the treat, so offer it as a plain treat for a while before you ever need it at pill time. If your cat still refuses, ask your vet about other ways to give the medicine instead of forcing it.

The Daily Treat Ritual

In many homes a lickable treat has become a daily ritual, and a predictable, happy moment with your cat has real value. The catch is that something repeated every day adds up. Treat the tube as one scheduled moment instead of an unlimited extra, and the habit stays affectionate without changing your cat's waistline over a season or two.