There’s no question that we adore our cats! There’s so much to love: They’re cute, and they can be cuddly (some of them, anyway). They’re also independent — and picky. But isn’t that part of their charm? But what if you want to give your cat delicious treats and they keep turning up their nose at your offerings?
This is where we come in. We created reviews of the 10 best cat treats for cats that tend to be on the picky side. Your cat might not love all of these, but we hope that through a little trial and error, you’ll find treats that will leave your cat begging for more!
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Feline Greenies Dental Cat Treats
Cleans the teeth, prevents tartar, and freshens breath
Available in multiple sizes
No artificial preservatives or flavors
Check Price
Best Value
Friskies Party Mix Cat Crunch
Good price
Ocean whitefish is the main ingredient
Comes in multiple sizes
Check Price
Premium Choice
Life Essentials Freeze-Dried Cat Treats
Made in the U.S.A.
USDA-approved chicken is the only ingredient
Used as treats or crumbled over food
Check Price
Inaba Churu Lickable Cat Treats
Lickable puree that most cats love
Comes in 20 tubes with five flavors
Added vitamin E
Check Price
Hartz Delectables Squeeze Up Cat Treat
Pureed chicken treat
Made with real meat
Affordable
Check Price
The 10 Best Cat Treats for Picky Cats
The best overall cat treats for picky cats are the Feline Greenies Dental Cat Treats. Not only do most cats love these, but they also help clean your cat’s teeth, prevent tartar, and even freshen their breath. They are available in many different sizes, everything from a 2.1-ounce bag to a 21-ounce tub. They are oven-roasted crunchy treats in chicken flavor and contain added vitamins and minerals, making for healthy snacks. Each treat is a little less than 2 calories, and they have no artificial flavors or preservatives.
Check Price on Chewy
The main disadvantage of these treats is in the packaging, as the containers often arrive broken. Plus, they are not grain-free.
Pros
Cleans the teeth, prevents tartar, and freshens breath
Available in multiple sizes
Oven-baked and with added vitamins and minerals
No artificial preservatives or flavors
Less than 2 calories per treat
Cons
Not grain-free
Containers often arrive broken
The best cat treats for picky cats for the money are the Friskies Party Mix Beachside Crunch Cat Treats. Besides being well-priced, they have ocean whitefish as the first ingredient. It is in a seafood flavor, including crab, shrimp, and tuna, all in a tasty, crunchy bite. It comes in multiple sizes, from 2 ounces up to a 30-ounce bag. Also, each treat is just under 2 calories, and picky cats just seem to love these.
Cleans the teeth, prevents tartar, and freshens breath
Available in multiple sizes
Oven-baked and with added vitamins and minerals
No artificial preservatives or flavors
Less than 2 calories per treat
- Cleans the teeth, prevents tartar, and freshens breath
- Available in multiple sizes
- Oven-baked and with added vitamins and minerals
- No artificial preservatives or flavors
- Less than 2 calories per treat
Not grain-free
Containers often arrive broken
- Not grain-free
- Containers often arrive broken
However, one of the problems with these treats is that they often seem to arrive crushed up. They also contain fillers (like wheat and by-products) and dyes.
Pros
Good price
Ocean whitefish is the main ingredient
Comes in multiple sizes
Under 2 calories for each treat
Cons
Sometimes arrives crushed
Contains fillers and dyes
Good price
Ocean whitefish is the main ingredient
Comes in multiple sizes
Under 2 calories for each treat
- Good price
- Ocean whitefish is the main ingredient
- Comes in multiple sizes
- Under 2 calories for each treat
Sometimes arrives crushed
Contains fillers and dyes
- Sometimes arrives crushed
- Contains fillers and dyes
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Life Essentials Freeze-Dried Cat Treats are made in the U.S.A. and with just one ingredient: chicken. The chicken is USDA-approved white breast meat that’s been cut into small chunks and freeze-dried. There are no added preservatives, chemicals, or additives. With chicken as the only ingredient, you don’t have to worry about any by-products or fillers. These can be used as treats or just crumbled over your cat’s food if they help your cat enjoy dinner more.
However, it is expensive, and since they are freeze-dried, they tend to crumble quite easily, and most of it will turn into powder.
Pros
Made in the U.S.A.
USDA-approved chicken is the only ingredient
Freeze-dried without any preservatives, additives, or chemicals
Used as treats or crumbled over food
Cons
Expensive
Crumbles easily and becomes powdery
- Inaba Churu Variety Pack Lickable Cat Treat Check Latest Price
Sizes .5-oz. tubes in pack of 20
Flavor Chicken, tuna, scallop
Form Puree
Inaba Churu Variety Pack Cat Treats will give your cat a delicious, lickable puree that most cats — even picky ones — will love. You get 20 tubes that are .5 ounces each, in five different flavors: chicken, tuna, tuna with chicken, tuna with scallop, and chicken with scallop. They are made with real meat and are grain-free with added vitamin E. Your cat can take it straight from the tube, or you can put it on their food.
Made in the U.S.A.
USDA-approved chicken is the only ingredient
Freeze-dried without any preservatives, additives, or chemicals
Used as treats or crumbled over food
- Made in the U.S.A.
- USDA-approved chicken is the only ingredient
- Freeze-dried without any preservatives, additives, or chemicals
- Used as treats or crumbled over food
Expensive
Crumbles easily and becomes powdery
- Expensive
- Crumbles easily and becomes powdery
Unfortunately, these are a little pricey, and while most cats do seem to love these, many do not.
Pros
Lickable puree that most cats love
Comes in 20 tubes with five flavors
Made with real meat and grain-free
Added vitamin E
Can be taken from the tube or added to food
Cons
Expensive
Picky cats can still be picky
- Hartz Delectables Squeeze Up Cat Treat Check Latest Price
Sizes 2-oz. pack of 4, or 2-oz. pack of 32
Flavor Chicken
Form Puree
Hartz Delectables Squeeze Up Cat Treat is a delicious (at least for your cat) pureed treat that comes in several flavors, but this review is for the chicken one. It’s made with real meat and can be squeezed directly into your cat’s mouth or on top of the food. It’s also a great way to give your cat medicine, and it’s decently priced.
Lickable puree that most cats love
Comes in 20 tubes with five flavors
Made with real meat and grain-free
Added vitamin E
Can be taken from the tube or added to food
- Lickable puree that most cats love
- Comes in 20 tubes with five flavors
- Made with real meat and grain-free
- Added vitamin E
- Can be taken from the tube or added to food
Expensive
Picky cats can still be picky
- Expensive
- Picky cats can still be picky
However, some cats won’t be too interested in this, and it can be a little messy.
Pros
Pureed chicken treat
Made with real meat
Can be taken straight from the tube or put on food
Affordable
Cons
Picky cats might not like it
Can be messy
Temptations Tasty Chicken Flavor Cat Treats are definitely tempting for most cats! They are priced quite well and come in sizes from 3 ounces up to 30 ounces. They are crunchy but contain a tasty soft center and are under 2 calories each. These treats also contain added vitamins and taurine, which is an important amino acid that supports a cat’s overall health. Temptations treats also come in quite a wide variety of flavors.
Pureed chicken treat
Made with real meat
Can be taken straight from the tube or put on food
Affordable
- Pureed chicken treat
- Made with real meat
- Can be taken straight from the tube or put on food
- Affordable
Picky cats might not like it
Can be messy
- Picky cats might not like it
- Can be messy
However, for some cat owners, these treats are almost too good. Some cats might actually turn up their noses at their regular food in favor of these treats. Also, the larger plastic tubs tend to arrive broken.
Pros
Affordable
Available in multiple sizes and flavors
Crunchy with a tasty soft center
Under 2 calories for one treat
Added vitamins and taurine
Cons
Some cats might prefer these over their regular food
Containers sometimes arrive broken
Blue Buffalo’s Bursts Savory Seafood Cat Treats has deboned salmon as the first ingredient and are crunchy on the outside and have a soft interior. These treats don’t contain artificial flavors or preservatives nor any wheat, corn, soy, or animal by-products. They also don’t include chicken, for cats that are sensitive to this ingredient.
Affordable
Available in multiple sizes and flavors
Crunchy with a tasty soft center
Under 2 calories for one treat
Added vitamins and taurine
- Affordable
- Available in multiple sizes and flavors
- Crunchy with a tasty soft center
- Under 2 calories for one treat
- Added vitamins and taurine
Some cats might prefer these over their regular food
Containers sometimes arrive broken
- Some cats might prefer these over their regular food
- Containers sometimes arrive broken
The main disadvantages of these treats are that they tend to be on the crumbly side, and many cats just aren’t that interested.
Pros
Deboned salmon is the first ingredient
Crunchy on the outside and soft inside
Doesn’t contain artificial flavors or preservatives
No corn, soy, wheat, chicken, or by-products
Cons
A little crumbly
Super picky cats won’t eat them
Temptations Mixups Chicken & Catnip Cat Treats have a crunchy outside and soft deliciousness inside and are 2 calories per treat. They contain extra vitamins and taurine and are a great price. The flavor of this particular treat is a combination of chicken, cheddar, and catnip — how can a cat resist this!
Deboned salmon is the first ingredient
Crunchy on the outside and soft inside
Doesn’t contain artificial flavors or preservatives
No corn, soy, wheat, chicken, or by-products
- Deboned salmon is the first ingredient
- Crunchy on the outside and soft inside
- Doesn’t contain artificial flavors or preservatives
- No corn, soy, wheat, chicken, or by-products
A little crumbly
Super picky cats won’t eat them
- A little crumbly
- Super picky cats won’t eat them
The negatives are that sometimes the container arrives crushed or broken, and treats are all over the place. Also, like most Temptations treats, some cats will stop eating their regular food in favor of these treats.
Pros
Crunchy outside and soft center
2 calories per treat
Added vitamins and taurine
Well priced
Flavor includes catnip
Cons
Container might arrive broken
Cats might reject their usual food for these treats
- Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Cat Treats Check Latest Price
Sizes 8 oz.
Flavor Chicken
Form Crunchy
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Cat Treats are the perfect treats for cats with urinary tract and bladder issues. These aren’t necessarily the best treats for just any picky cat, but if you have to limit your cat’s diet because of health issues, these treats might be what the vet ordered. They are formulated by vets, making them safe for your cat by helping to prevent crystal formation in the bladder.
Crunchy outside and soft center
2 calories per treat
Added vitamins and taurine
Well priced
Flavor includes catnip
- Crunchy outside and soft center
- 2 calories per treat
- Added vitamins and taurine
- Well priced
- Flavor includes catnip
Container might arrive broken
Cats might reject their usual food for these treats
- Container might arrive broken
- Cats might reject their usual food for these treats
However, you need vet authorization to purchase these treats, and the treats themselves tend to be large and hard. Some cats might have difficulty eating them.
Pros
Treats for cats with bladder or urinary tract issues
Safe treats formulated by vets
Helps prevent crystal formation in the bladder
Cons
Needs vet authorization
Treats are large and hard
Sheba Meaty Tender Sticks Cat Treats are basically sticks of meat in chicken flavor. They are soft and made with real meat. In fact, the first five ingredients are a combination of whole chicken and pork parts. You can get five, 10, 20, or 30 sticks, and they don’t contain corn, wheat, soy, or any artificial flavors.
Treats for cats with bladder or urinary tract issues
Safe treats formulated by vets
Helps prevent crystal formation in the bladder
- Treats for cats with bladder or urinary tract issues
- Safe treats formulated by vets
- Helps prevent crystal formation in the bladder
Needs vet authorization
Treats are large and hard
- Needs vet authorization
- Treats are large and hard
The problems with these treats are that some cats might find them difficult to eat, particularly if they have issues with their teeth. Additionally, if your cat has a sensitive stomach, these might cause stomach upset.
Pros
First five ingredients made with real meat
Soft sticks in chicken flavor
Available in four different sizes
No corn, soy, wheat, or artificial flavors
Cons
Some cats might have trouble eating these if they have issues with their teeth
Some cats might get stomach upset
First five ingredients made with real meat
Soft sticks in chicken flavor
Available in four different sizes
No corn, soy, wheat, or artificial flavors
- First five ingredients made with real meat
- Soft sticks in chicken flavor
- Available in four different sizes
- No corn, soy, wheat, or artificial flavors
Some cats might have trouble eating these if they have issues with their teeth
Some cats might get stomach upset
- Some cats might have trouble eating these if they have issues with their teeth
- Some cats might get stomach upset
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Treats for Picky Cats
Before making your final decision on which treats to give your cat, check out our buyer’s guide first. We go over a few points to consider before purchasing any treats, particularly if you have a picky cat!
Cat Size
If the treats that you want to try first are available in multiple sizes, start with the smallest size. Even if the larger sizes are more cost-effective, it would be a waste of money if your cat ends up rejecting them.
Cat Treat Flavor
This is an essential part of dealing with a picky cat. If your cat loves turkey, aim for treats that are made with turkey, or try seafood for your fish-loving cat. Some cats love treats regardless of the flavor, but start with what your cat seems to prefer. You can always experiment with different flavors until you find the one that makes your cat happy.
Cat Treat Texture
There are several different textures you can try. If your cat has missing teeth, try soft or pureed treats. If your cat needs help with a build-up of plaque, aim for crunchy ones. These are great because they can do double duty: They are delicious treats for your cat and contribute to good dental health. Of course, if your cat has no teeth or health issues, you can try just about any texture.
Conclusion
The Feline Greenies Dental Cat Treats are our overall favorites because cats love them, and they do a great job with your cat’s dental health. Hopefully, they can even lead to fresher breath! The Friskies Party Mix Beachside Crunch Cat Treats are well-priced, and their first and main ingredient is ocean whitefish. Finally, the Life Essentials Freeze-Dried Cat Treats are pricey, but they are made in the U.S.A. and only contain one ingredient: chicken.
We hope that our reviews will help you find cat treats that your cat will thank you for. No matter how picky your cat is, you’re bound to find something that will do the trick.
You may also want to read: 6 Best Dental Treats For Cats in 2022 – Reviews & Top Picks
Featured Image Credit: Svyatoslav Balan, Shutterstock
