If you have a cat, you’re likely well aware of how helpful a tasty treat can be. They’re useful in training your cat to do tricks, rewarding good behavior and obedience, as well as giving your cat something to enjoy that is different from their kibble or canned food. They can even be used to add extra nutrients to your cat’s diet that their food may be lacking.

Regardless, treats are made up of ingredients that go into your cat’s body and will have an effect on their health, so it’s essential that you get high-quality ones that are healthy and free of unnecessary ingredients. We’ve compiled the list of reviews below to help you discover the best cat treat options for your feline friend.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2023

Image Product Details

Best Overall

Dreamies Chicken Cat Treats

The large tub is great value for money

Dual texture

Only 2kcal per treat

Check Price

Best Value

Felix Goody Bag Picnic Mix

Well-known brand

Flavor variety in one packet

Low in calories

Check Price

Premium Choice

Thrive Cat Treats

Nutritious and flavorful

Free from fillers

Ingredients are responsibly sourced

Check Price

Best for Kittens

Whiskas Kitten Milky Treats

Small size suitable for a kitten’s small mouth

Dual texture

Can be used as a topper

Check Price

Arden Grange Tasty Liver Treat

Tasty

Naturally hypoallergenic

High in animal protein

Check Price

The 12 Best Cat Treats in UK

  1. Dreamies Chicken Cat Treats – Best Overall Check Latest Price

Flavor: Chicken

Treat form: Crunchy and soft

Special features: No

For a tasty and low-calorie cat treat, try out Dreamies Chicken Cat Treats. Each treat contains around 2kcal and is loaded with vitamins and minerals to keep your cat healthy. These treats come in a tub that can be shaken to grab your cat’s attention so they’ll know it’s treat time.

This large tub of treats is great value for money and has a secure lid that keeps everything inside fresh, one of the reasons why they are our choice for the best overall cat treat. What makes these treats so appealing is the dual texture. They have a crunchy exterior and a soft, creamy interior. Unfortunately, quite a few customers have reported receiving this product with an outdated expiry date.

The large tub is great value for money

Dual texture

Only 2kcal per treat

Tub lid is secure to lock in the freshness once opened

  • The large tub is great value for money
  • Dual texture
  • Only 2kcal per treat
  • Tub lid is secure to lock in the freshness once opened

Some tubs have been received with an outdated expiration date

  • Some tubs have been received with an outdated expiration date
  1. Felix Goody Bag Picnic Mix – Best Value Check Latest Price

Flavor: Cheese

Treat form: Crunchy

Special features: No

Felix is a well-known cat food brand that also makes cat treats, such as the Felix Goody Bag Picnic Mix. The treats are affordable and are our pick for the best cat treat for the money. If your cat is tired of common cat treat flavors, let them try this cheesy mix, which consists of flavors such as Cheddar, Gouda, and Edam.

Each treat contains around 2kcal, making it a low-calorie option to keep your cat at a healthy weight. They contain proteins that are loaded with amino acids, vitamins, and omega-6 fatty acids, which keep your cat’s skin hydrated and healthy. Due to the harder texture and bigger size of these treats, not all cats will be able to eat them easily.

Great alternative to standard flavors

Well-known brand

Flavor variety in one packet

Low in calories

  • Great alternative to standard flavors
  • Well-known brand
  • Flavor variety in one packet
  • Low in calories

Not suitable for kittens or cats with dental issues

  • Not suitable for kittens or cats with dental issues
  1. Thrive Cat Treats – Premium Choice Check Latest Price

Flavor: Chicken, white fish, tuna, and chicken liver

Treat form: Pate

Special features: Freeze-dried

For a range of excellent varieties, try out Thrive Cat Treats, which consist of 100% chicken, white fish, tuna, and chicken liver. The high-quality, natural ingredients used to make these treats have been freeze-dried to maintain their nutritional integrity and enhance their flavor and smell. They don’t have any added sugars and are free from fillers, preservatives, and colors.

They’re a healthy choice and are a great option for cats on a raw diet. All the animal proteins are responsibly sourced, and the packaging used is almost 100% recyclable. The only drawback to this super treat is that it’s pretty expensive.

Great variety

High-quality, 100% natural ingredients

Nutritious and flavorful

Free from fillers

Ingredients are responsibly sourced

  • Great variety
  • High-quality, 100% natural ingredients
  • Nutritious and flavorful
  • Free from fillers
  • Ingredients are responsibly sourced

Expensive

  • Expensive
  1. Whiskas Kitten Milky Treats – Best for Kittens Check Latest Price

Flavor: Milky

Treat form: Crunchy

Special features: Smaller-sized treats

Developing kittens require treats that are specially designed to support their growing bones, muscles, and needs. Whiskas Kitten Milky Treats is a great option that caters specifically to kittens and even has a smaller treat size to accommodate smaller mouths.

For their growing bones and teeth, this treat has plenty of calcium. It’s free from artificial flavors and is safe to enjoy. The treats are tasty and have an exciting dual texture, as they’re crunchy on the outer side but soft on the inside. They’re great value for money and can even be used as a topper on your kitten’s food. However, the lid can be tricky to pop on and off and doesn’t seem very airtight.

Designed for kittens

High in calcium for developing bones and teeth

Small size suitable for a kitten’s small mouth

Dual texture

Can be used as a topper

  • Designed for kittens
  • High in calcium for developing bones and teeth
  • Small size suitable for a kitten’s small mouth
  • Dual texture
  • Can be used as a topper

Tricky lid

  • Tricky lid
  1. Arden Grange Tasty Liver Treat Check Latest Price

Flavor: Pork liver

Treat form: Paste

Special features: Great to use when administering medication

Arden Grange Tasty Liver Treat is a paste that comes in a metal tube. It’s an excellent treat to crush tablets into or even smear over whole tablets when trying to get your cat to swallow their medication because it disguises the smell and taste. This tasty paste can change your cat from putting up a fight to willingly taking their tablets. Unfortunately, it is tough to squeeze out the paste from the metal tube, and you may need to cut the back open to make the process easier.

This treat is naturally hypoallergenic and doesn’t contain any artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. It contains high amounts of pork and pork liver as well as dried mixed vegetables.

A great treat to mix tablets into to disguise the smell and taste

Tasty

Naturally hypoallergenic

High in animal protein

  • A great treat to mix tablets into to disguise the smell and taste
  • Tasty
  • Naturally hypoallergenic
  • High in animal protein

Can be tough to squeeze the paste out

  • Can be tough to squeeze the paste out
  1. VetIQ Healthy Bites Hairball Remedy Cat Treats Check Latest Price

Flavor: Chicken

Treat form: Crunchy and soft

Special features: Hairball remedy

Hairballs occur in cats due to swallowing their hair when they groom themselves. It can be fairly common, but if your cat experiences hairballs frequently, you should do something about it. Brushing your cat often and giving them VetIQ Healthy Bites Hairball Remedy Cat Treats can help remedy the problem.

These treats have a dual texture with a crunchy shell and soft inside. They have been formulated by animal nutritionists and are approved by vets. They’re free from harmful ingredients and contain inulin, which helps improve digestive health. They also contain omega 3 and 6 fatty acids for coat health and skin hydration. If your cat has sensitivities, be sure to look through the ingredients carefully, as these treats can cause diarrhea in some cats.

Helps reduce hairballs

Dual texture

Formulated by animal nutritionists and approved by vets

Contains inulin for digestive health

  • Helps reduce hairballs
  • Dual texture
  • Formulated by animal nutritionists and approved by vets
  • Contains inulin for digestive health

May cause gastrointestinal issues for cats with sensitivities

  • May cause gastrointestinal issues for cats with sensitivities
  1. Lily’s Kitchen Salmon Pillow Treats Check Latest Price

Flavor: Salmon

Treat form: Crunchy and soft

Special features: No

Another cat treat with a crunchy shell and soft inside is Lily’s Kitchen Salmon Pillow Treats. They’re made up of 15% meat, 10% fish, and vegetables for a natural and nutritional diet. The ingredients are responsibly sourced, these treats are vet-approved, and the packaging is resealable. They’re free from meat meal, fillers, and added sugar.

These treats are a grain-free option for cats that suffer from sensitivities, but if your cat is healthy, a grain-free option isn’t necessary. However, there are a few downsides. These treats are expensive and tend to be too hard for some cats to chew.

Expensive

Too hard for some cats

  • Expensive
  • Too hard for some cats
  1. Webbox Cats Delight Tasty Sticks

Check Latest Price

Flavor: Turkey, salmon, chicken, and beef

Treat form: Stick

Special features: No

These Webbox Cats Delight Tasty Sticks are a slightly different type of treat that will get your cat purring with delight. They’re an excellent treat idea if you want to keep your cat busy, as they take a while to eat. These sticks come in a variety pack and include the flavors of turkey, salmon, chicken, and beef.

Check Latest Price

Flavor: Turkey, salmon, chicken, and beef

Treat form: Stick

Special features: No

Although they’re in stick form, these treats are moist because they’ve been gently cooked. There are many flavors to choose from in this pack, preventing your cat from getting tired of the same taste. They’re loaded with real meat and are a healthy option for your cat. However, a few customers have complained about the price, as they’re expensive considering what you receive.

Keep your cat occupied

Variety of flavors available

Moist and gently cooked

Healthy

  • Keep your cat occupied
  • Variety of flavors available
  • Moist and gently cooked
  • Healthy
  1. Pet Munchies Natural Freeze-Dried Cat Treats Check Latest Price

Flavor: Fish fillet

Treat form: Chunks

Special features: Freeze-dried

Pet Munchies Natural Freeze-Dried Cat Treats are made from high quality, natural ingredients with human-grade meat. These fishy treats are packed with good fats that improve your cat’s coat and skin, leaving it hydrated and shiny. They’re great for heart health and decrease inflammation in their joints, thanks to the fish oils.

These treats can be used to provide more nutrients to your cat’s diet, as they have many vitamins and minerals. Naturally, they have a strong fishy smell that attracts many eager eaters, but fussier cats may have a hard time with the strong odor. As with many freeze-dried treats, they can crumble when rubbed against each other in the bag, leaving you with a lot of “dust.”

High-quality, natural ingredients

Beneficial to your cat’s diet

Strong smell attracts most cats

  • High-quality, natural ingredients
  • Beneficial to your cat’s diet
  • Strong smell attracts most cats

Crumble easily

Strong smell can turn fussy eaters away

  • Crumble easily
  • Strong smell can turn fussy eaters away
  1. HILIFE Chicken Treats Check Latest Price

Flavor: Chicken

Treat form: Chunks

Special features: Freeze-dried

HILIFE Chicken Treats are a similar treat choice to our previous option, except that these chucks are made from 100% chicken. They’re completely natural, and no preservatives or dyes have been added. Because they’re freeze-dried, they haven’t lost any nutritional value and are tasty.

Chicken contains omega-6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coats. It’s a lean protein without much fat to help your cat maintain their healthy weight and build muscle. Chicken has vitamins and minerals in it that are beneficial to your cat’s health, as well as taurine. However, due to the high-quality chicken and freeze-drying process, these treats are expensive. They’re also quite hard and aren’t suitable for cats with dental problems.

Made from 100% chicken

Completely natural without anything added

Nutritious

High-quality chicken

  • Made from 100% chicken
  • Completely natural without anything added
  • Nutritious
  • High-quality chicken

Expensive

Hard

  • Expensive
  • Hard
  1. Vet’s Kitchen Cat Treats Check Latest Price

Flavor: Fish

Treat form: Pellet

Special features: Hypoallergenic

Vet’s Kitchen Cat Treats are available in a fresh fish flavor and contain 27% salmon and trout and 26% chicken. The fish protein contains omegas 3 and 6 fatty acids to support healthy skin, coats, eyes, and hearts. The chicken is lean and great for building muscles. Prebiotics are added to these treats to improve digestion and maintain good gut health.

These treats are hypoallergenic and don’t contain wheat, soya, dairy, or beef which some cats are allergic to. These treats are crunchy, in the shape of a heart, and have 1.5kcal per treat. Although they’re marketed for all life stages, these treats are too big for kittens.

Low in calories

Contains fish and chicken

Added prebiotics for a healthy gut

Hypoallergenic for sensitive cats

  • Low in calories
  • Contains fish and chicken
  • Added prebiotics for a healthy gut
  • Hypoallergenic for sensitive cats

Too big for kittens

  • Too big for kittens
  1. KatKin Chicken Nibbles Check Latest Price

Flavor: Chicken

Treat form: Chunks

Special features: Freeze-dried

KatKin Chicken Nibbles are another freeze-dried option that is made from 100% fresh chicken breasts, perfect for obligate carnivores. They’re free from unhealthy ingredients such as additives and artificial preservatives and are a great, nutritious addition to a cat’s diet.

These high-protein treats have a crude protein content of 88.1% and can be given as a reward, snack, or even added to your cat’s meal as a topper for added nutrition. They’re made in the UK and are suitable for all life stages. The packaging is recyclable, which isn’t too common in the cat treat market, and adds to the quality of this product. However, these treats are an expensive option.

  100% chicken breast

  Nutritional

  High in protein

  Recyclable packaging

  • 100% chicken breast
  • Nutritional
  • High in protein
  • Recyclable packaging

   Expensive

Buyer’s Guide: How to Pick the Best Cat Treats in the UK

With so many different cat treats available to buy, it’s hard to know which is the best for your cat. One of the most important things to consider is the impact they’ll have on your cat. Look for treats that are healthy and will supplement their diet instead of filling them with cheap ingredients and dyes.

How To Ensure Your Cat’s Treats Are Healthy

The ingredient list at the back of the packaging is the first place to look when considering a healthier treat option. There shouldn’t be ingredients that are unfamiliar to you. Look for natural ingredients and real meat sources. Because your cat is an obligate carnivore, a protein source should be listed first because it’s the most important ingredient for cats.

Look for treats that are low in calories, as this will prevent your cat from becoming overweight, like so many other cats around the world. Higher-quality treats will cost a little more than low-quality treats because they use real ingredients and tend to avoid fillers, dyes, and preservatives that don’t benefit your cat.

Common Types of Cat Treats

Treats come in many different forms, textures, and shapes. You may have to try a few on your cat before finding the type they love.

Freeze-dried: These are very nutritious treats that haven’t undergone high temperatures that break down the nutrients in the ingredients. The ingredients used are typical of high quality.

Kibble: If your cat doesn’t enjoy the texture of other treats, use their kibble. It’s dry, familiar, and can reduce plaque on their teeth.

Soft treats: These are easier to chew and work well for kittens and senior cats. They are one of the best options for cats with dental issues as they’re soft enough not to damage or cause pain to their teeth or gums.

Puree: This type of treat isn’t great to use for training, but they are tasty and enjoyed by most cats. Instead of being chewed up, they’re licked up because of their soft form. These are another great choice for kittens and senior cats to enjoy.

  • Freeze-dried: These are very nutritious treats that haven’t undergone high temperatures that break down the nutrients in the ingredients. The ingredients used are typical of high quality.
  • Kibble: If your cat doesn’t enjoy the texture of other treats, use their kibble. It’s dry, familiar, and can reduce plaque on their teeth.
  • Soft treats: These are easier to chew and work well for kittens and senior cats. They are one of the best options for cats with dental issues as they’re soft enough not to damage or cause pain to their teeth or gums.
  • Puree: This type of treat isn’t great to use for training, but they are tasty and enjoyed by most cats. Instead of being chewed up, they’re licked up because of their soft form. These are another great choice for kittens and senior cats to enjoy.

Is It Safe to Give Treats Every Day?

Moderation is important when giving your cats treats. There’s nothing wrong with giving your cat a few treats per day to reward them for good behavior or to make them happy. The concern is when too many treats are given because it can lead to your cat becoming overweight and unhealthy.

The rule is that treats can make up 10% of your cat’s daily caloric intake but never exceed that. If you wish to give your cat a few more treats per day, make sure they’re low in calories.

Conclusion

Cat treats can be used as a reward, a tasty snack, or as a supplement to your cat’s usual diet. We’ve reviewed several cat treats to help you with your search, and all of them are excellent options to consider. Our best overall pick is Dreamies Chicken Cat Treats for their good packaging and tasty treats. Our best value option is Felix Goody Bag Picnic Mix for its affordability and flavor variety. Lastly, we have chosen Thrive Cat Treats for their natural and high-quality ingredients.

Although our top three are great options, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by all the options on this list.

Sources

https://www.petmd.com/cat/centers/nutrition/evr_ct_healthy_cat_treats https://www.catster.com/cat-food/cat-treats https://www.thesprucepets.com/best-healthy-cat-treats-4169514 https://www.petsradar.com/buying-guides/best-cat-treats-spoil-your-kitty-with-a-healthy-snack https://www.petz.uk/best-cat-treats/

Featured Image Credit: DSchmidtArt, Shutterstock