The 10 Best Healthy Cat Treats of 2024

Express your affection and improve your cat's overall wellness

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Assortment of the best healthy cat treats we recommend on a blue background

The Spruce Pets / Chloe Jeong

By choosing a treat that your cat not only enjoys eating but that also has healthy ingredients, you can avoid empty calories and even enhance their nutrition.

Giving your cat a treat is a fun way to express your love and affection. But cat treats, much like human treats, can be loaded with calories and sodium—especially dental treats. "This can be problematic when we are focused on weight loss or a cat has health concerns like renal or heart disease," Dr. Kerri Blackburn of River’s Edge Animal Hospital shared with The Spruce Pets.

Thankfully there are a number of healthy cat treat options so you can find the perfect one, even if your cat has allergies or dietary restrictions.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall

Wellness Kittles Crunchy Natural Grain Free Cat Treats

Wellness Kittles Crunchy Natural Grain Free Cat Treats

Amazon

What We Like
  • Natural ingredients

  • Low calories

  • High palatability

What We Don't Like
  • Chicken may need to be avoided by some cats

When looking for a healthy cat treat natural ingredients are key, and Wellness Kittles are filled with just that. Salmon is the main flavor and ingredient in these crunchy treats but peas, cranberries, blueberries, flaxseed, and other healthy items are also included.

Wellness Kittles is our top pick because these ingredients provide various vitamins, antioxidants, omega fatty acids, and other beneficial components to your cat’s diet. With each treat only containing 1.1 calories, they won’t contribute to unwanted weight gain. Additionally, cats that need to avoid grains don’t have to worry about Wellness Kittles since they are also grain-free.

Calories: 1.1 per treat | Key Ingredients: Salmon, peas, potatoes, chickpeas, chicken meal, herring meal, cranberries, blueberries, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), natural flavor, ground flaxseed, salmon oil, rosemary extract, green tea extract, spearmint extract

Best Budget

Blue Buffalo Bursts With Savory Seafood Cat Treats

Blue Buffalo Bursts With Savory Seafood Cat Treats

Amazon

What We Like
  • Meat is the first ingredient

  • Less than $1/oz.

  • No wheat

What We Don't Like
  • 12 ounces is the largest container available

  • Slightly higher calories per treat than other similar options

These cat treats come in 12-ounce containers which will put the price of spoiling your cat at less than a dollar an ounce. Other healthy treats are priced at over a dollar an ounce and don’t commonly come in more than a 2-ounce bag. Blue Buffalo Bursts have a crunchy outer shell and a creamy inside that most cats find irresistible and cat owners love that they contain no wheat, artificial flavors, or preservatives. Meat is the first ingredient in both flavors of these cost-conscious and healthy treats so you know you’re giving your little carnivore something nutritious.

Calories: 2.1 per treat | Key Ingredients: Deboned salmon, brown rice, tuna meal, barley, pork fat, tapioca starch, oatmeal, salmon meal, natural flavor, deboned cod, peas, shrimp, canola oil, brewers dried yeast, dried whey, taurine, oil of rosemary

Best Assorted

Blue Wilderness Soft-Moist Cat Treats Variety Pack

Blue Wilderness Soft-Moist Grain-Free Cat Treats Variety Pack

Amazon

What We Like
  • High protein

  • No artificial preservatives

  • Soft/moist texture

What We Don't Like
  • Treat shape may not appeal to some cats

  • Treats may crumble in the bottom of the bag

The Blue Buffalo Co. is known for its grain-free pet food options and the Blue Wilderness treats don't disappoint. These Natural High-Protein cat treats are soft and come in four different flavors—chicken and turkey, chicken and duck, chicken and trout, and chicken and salmon. Cats who are used to eating different flavors of canned cat food each day will especially appreciate this assortment. These small squares of meaty goodness contain only 1.5 calories per treat and since they are soft, they’re great options for kittens, adults, and even geriatric cats that may have difficulty eating crunchy treats.

Calories: 1.5 per treat | Key Ingredients: Chicken and salmon flavor: deboned chicken, salmon, potatoes, vegetable glycerin, gelatin, natural flavor

Best Wet/Lickable

INABA Churu Tuna with Salmon Puree Lickable Cat Treat

INABA Churu Grain-Free Tuna with Salmon Puree Lickable Cat Treat

Amazon

What We Like
  • Highly palatable

  • High moisture content

  • Contains responsibly-harvested seafood

What We Don't Like
  • Higher calories than other treats

  • Packets are not resealable

Many animal hospitals love using lickable cat treats to distract their patients during procedures or entice them to eat, and cat owners have discovered they can use it at home, too. INABA has been making pet products since 1958 but began selling seafood back in 1805, so the company has perfected this tasty treat with pureed seafood. Since these treats are high in moisture, Churu are great for cats that need to drink more water and can be easily spread on top of food to entice cats that might be refusing to eat. They also contain no grains.

Calories: 6 per treat | Key Ingredients: Water, tuna, salmon, tapioca, natural flavors, natural salmon flavor, guar gum, fructooligosaccharide, vitamin E supplement, green tea extract

What Editors Say

"Churu are particularly good for bonding with a new cat because you can hold these treats while your cat licks them. They're also popular within the cat rescue community for helping to socialize street cats."Margaret Badore, Senior Editor

Best Dental

Greenies Feline Dental Cat Treats

Greenies Feline Dental Cat Treats

Amazon

What We Like
  • VOHC approved

  • Natural ingredients

  • Low calories

What We Don't Like
  • Contains wheat

  • Has less meat than other treat options

While dry treats are overall healthier for your cat’s mouth than soft treats, some are specifically formulated to control tartar. Feline Greenies Dental Treats have approval from the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) to control tartar, plus they contain no artificial preservatives, flavors, or fillers. The ingredients are natural and the treats even contain vitamins and minerals to benefit your whole cat. Cat owners report these treats are well liked by their feline friends and the fact that they are healthy, low in calories, and benefit the teeth are added bonuses.

Calories: 1.4 per treat | Key Ingredients: Chicken meal, ground wheat, brewers rice, corn gluten meal, poultry fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), oat fiber, natural poultry flavor, ground flaxseed, brewers dried yeast, potassium chloride

Best Grain-Free

American Journey Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Soft & Chewy Cat Treats

American Journey Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Soft & Chewy Cat Treats

Chewy

What We Like
  • Soft texture

  • High palatability rate

  • No artificial colors or preservatives

What We Don't Like
  • Treat size may vary so some cats may be finicky

  • Won’t help with dental health

Cats can be picky about texture, flavor, and even the shape of their food and treats but this little cylinder is a hit with most cats. Many cat parents say their kitties go crazy for American Journey’s soft and chewy cat treats and you’ll feel good about giving a treat that has only two calories and meat as the main ingredient. This grain-free option is also good for cats that may not be able to tolerate wheat and corn, and has no artificial colors or preservatives. Additionally, these treats won’t break the bank while you attempt to provide a healthy option for your cat.

Calories: 2 per treat | Key Ingredients: Chicken, chickpeas, coconut glycerin, pork gelatin, natural flavor, dried citrus pulp, citric acid (preservative), salt, mixed tocopherols (preservative), rosemary extract

Best for Hairballs

Get Naked Digestive Health Soft Cat Treats

Get Naked Digestive Health Soft Cat Treats

Amazon

What We Like
  • Probiotics and prebiotics

  • Added fiber, flaxseed, and vegetable oil

  • Chicken-flavored

What We Don't Like
  • Higher calories than many other treats of similar size

  • Not as soft as some expect

Cats normally groom themselves, but if they swallow too much hair they can easily develop hairballs. Hairballs may not be a problem if they easily pass through your cat’s digestive tract but if they cause vomiting or get stuck, they are concerning. Get Naked Digestive Health treats contain vegetable oil, flaxseed, fiber, prebiotics, and probiotics that may help decrease hairball issues. The added beneficial ingredients may not be welcomed by some picky cats, but these are a great treat option if your hairball-prone cat is willing to try something new.

Calories: 2.6 per treat | Key Ingredients: Chicken, sweet potatoes, vegetable glycerin, water, flaxseed, sunflower oil (preserved with citric acid), natural chicken flavor, fructooligosaccharides (from chicory root), dried bacillus coagulans fermentation product, phosphoric acid (preservative)

Best Freeze-Dried

Orijen Freeze-Dried Cat Treats

Orijen Grain Free Freeze-Dried Cat Treats

Chewy

What We Like
  • Five flavors

  • Made in the United States

  • High in protein

What We Don't Like
  • Treat size varies so calories do too

The Orijen Grain Free Freeze-Dried cat treats are available in five flavors: Original, Lamb, Tundra, Regional Red, Six Fish, and Tundra. These treats are made with completely raw ingredients that are frozen to preserve flavor, nutrients, and animal protein. Each freeze-dried morsel is low in calories (typically under five), so you can give your kitty a little nibble without worrying that they'll gain weight.

Calories: 1-5 per treat | Key Ingredients: Chicken, turkey, turkey giblets (liver, heart, gizzard), chicken liver, flounder, chicken heart, mixed tocopherols, citric acid, rosemary extract

Best Single Ingredient

Vital Essentials Freeze Dried Raw Cat Treats

Vital Essentials Freeze Dried Raw Cat Treats

Amazon

What We Like
  • All natural ingredients

  • Multiple flavors

  • Grain- and gluten-free

What We Don't Like
  • Finicky cats might not touch them

Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Treats are made with whole animal protein and come in eight different flavors: salmon, ahi tuna, chicken, chicken giblets, chicken hearts, duck liver, minnows, and rabbit.

The treats are grain-free, gluten-free, and are made with raw ingredients that have been freeze-dried, which is a method of dehydration that uses low-temperatures to retain original qualities of the protein source.

These treats from Vital Essentials must be sealed tightly and stored in a cool, dry place to ensure quality and freshness. As with any treat, these should be fed in moderation as a supplement to your cat's food. While most cats seem to enjoy these, if your cat is a bit fussy about what they eat, the freeze-dried texture might not be to their liking.

Calories: 2 per treat | Key Ingredients: Salmon (preserved with mixed tocopherols); ahi tuna (preserved with mixed tocopherols); boneless skinless chicken breast; chicken liver, and chicken heart (chicken giblets flavor); chicken heart; duck liver; minnow; rabbit (preserved with mixed tocopherols)

Best for Urinary Health

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Urinary Health Crunchy Cat Treats

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Urinary Health Crunchy Cat Treats

Chewy

What We Like
  • Made from real chicken

  • Contains antioxidants

  • Pouch is resealable

  • Suitable for kitten to senior

What We Don't Like
  • Not gluten-free

  • Contains byproducts

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Urinary Health Crunchy Cat Treats are made with real chicken and fortified with antioxidants to support your cat's overall wellness. They are formulated to help reduce the risk of developing urinary tract stones, like struvite crystals, which can occur in both male and female cats.

These treats are suitable for cats of all ages, and come in a resealable pouch to ensure freshness. To prevent unintentional weight gain, the recommended serving is up to two treats per day per pound of body weight. But these treats are not gluten-free, a rare allergy for cats to have but does occur, and they are made with corn meal and poultry by-product meal as primary ingredients.

Calories: 1 per treat | Key Ingredients: Corn gluten meal, chicken, poultry by-product meal, rice, oat hulls, wheat gluten, whole grain corn, beef fat preserved with mixed tocopherols, salt, liver flavor

Final Verdict

The products that were selected for this list were chosen after research was performed on their ingredients, manufacturers, and more. Cats thrive on meat-based diets and do not need artificial ingredients in their treats. Wellness Kittles are affordable, meat-based treats that contain no artificial ingredients or wheat. They are palatable to cats, have just over one calorie per treat, and even have added beneficial ingredients.

What to Look for in Healthy Cat Treats 

Some cat treats do occasionally meet nutritional requirements recommended by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) for cat foods, but this is not something that is required of treat manufacturers.

“It's hard to say what makes cat treats healthy as they are not subject to the same standards as cat food. Cat foods are formulated to meet nutritional requirements,” says Dr. Kerri Blackburn of River’s Edge Animal Hospital. This means that most cat treats are not a substitute for a complete and balanced diet but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any healthy treat options.


Ingredients 

Wheat, artificial preservatives and colors, and high calorie counts should be avoided in cat treats. Cats are carnivores and do best on a meat-based diet so unless it is a lickable treat that requires more water content, meat should be the first ingredient in the ingredient list.

“Keeping as close to your cat's regular flavor profile as possible is ideal,” says Dr. Blackburn. Look for a treat that matches the ingredients you regularly feed your cat. This means that if you don’t feed grains or chicken, make sure your treats are also free of these specific items. If you feed a fish-based food, choose a fish-based treat. This will help ensure your cat will like the treats and decrease the likelihood of them causing an upset stomach. 


Calories 

Dr. Blackburn says, “the best course of action is to monitor the calorie content of a treat to ensure you are not overfeeding.” Many treat bags carry a recommendation to give your cat several treats a day but this can quickly cause the calories to add up and contribute to unwanted weight gain in your cat. Low calorie treats that have only one or two calories will decrease the likelihood of weight gain, but treats should still be kept to 10 percent or less of your cat’s diet.


Texture

Some cats prefer crunchy treats while others like soft or lickable cat treats. The shape of the treats can also play a big role in whether or not your cat will want to eat them. If your cat is very particular but eats its own food without an issue, consider using the regular food as treats. 

Treats with specific textures may also help to deter dental disease like gingivitis. “Treats that are made to control plaque and promote oral health are always good options as dental disease is common in cats over the age of one,” states Dr. Blackburn. Soft and lickable treats do not have these same benefits.

FAQ
  • Are freeze dried cat treats healthy?

    According to Dr. Blackburn, “Raw products, even when pressed or dried, have the possibility of having a heavy bacterial load that can result in intestinal infections. Cooked is best.” Bacterial contamination is a serious concern but freeze-dried treats are also free of additional ingredients. Because of this, some cat owners accept the bacterial risks if their cat has a limited amount of things it can eat.

  • Are lickable cat treats healthy?

    Some lickable cat treats have added artificial flavorings, colors, preservatives, and are high in calories. Look for natural ingredients, water or broth, and added vitamins or minerals instead of artificial ingredients. Limit the amount your cat gets on a daily basis. Lickable cat treats can be a great way to increase water consumption and entice an anorexic cat to eat, but for healthy cats, they can also add unwanted calories to the diet.

  • How many treats would be unhealthy for my cat?

    Dr. Blackburn suggests that “treats should comprise no more than 10 percent of a cat's total daily caloric requirements.” Talk to your veterinarian about how many calories your cat should consume every day to determine how many treats they can be allowed. The average 10-pound cat should consume about 200-220 calories a day so this would mean it can get up to 180-198 calories from its food and 20-22 calories from treats.

Why Trust the Spruce

Adrienne Kruzer is a Registered and Licensed Veterinary Technician in three states and has been writing on pet and vet topics for over a decade. She is also Fear Free Certified, has a special interest in pet nutrition, and loves researching, learning, and problem solving in order to better help pet owners. Her years of working in various animal hospitals, alongside her formal college education and elective continuing education classes, have provided her with a wealth of experience and knowledge to help cat owners choose a healthy treat. 

Dr. Kerri Blackburn has been a veterinarian since 2007 and her special interests include general wellness care, ultrasound, internal medicine, nutrition, surgery, and oncology. Dr. Blackburn currently serves as the Medical Director for Rivers Edge Animal Hospital in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Prior to this, she completed an internship with Affiliated Veterinary Specialists in Florida and has continued to pursue knowledge in ultrasound, endoscopy and advanced medicine through numerous continuing education opportunities through the years. She is also a member of the AVMA, NCVMA, SCVMA, World Vets and in a network of Emergency preparedness vets for disasters in South and North Carolina. Dr. Blackburn loves the challenges posed by veterinary medicine and truly enjoys working with families to diagnose and treat their beloved pet's illnesses and maintain optimum health in their furry family members.

The Spruce Pets uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Mata, Fernando. “The Choice of Diet Affects the Oral Health of the Domestic Cat.Animals, vol. 5, no. 1, 2015, pp. 101–109., doi:10.3390/ani5010101

  2. Verbrugghe, Adronie, and Myriam Hesta. “Cats and Carbohydrates: The Carnivore Fantasy?Veterinary Sciences, vol. 4, no. 4, 2017, p. 55., doi:10.3390/vetsci4040055

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