Cat Treats: What To Indulge, What To Avoid

cat eating cake

Kitty treats are a great way to break up the monotony of a cat’s day. Napping, stretching out in the sun, and eating all day long can get a little blue (or so I hear).

 

They’re also awesome for keeping your cats entertained, in the form of puzzle feeders and house-wide scavenger hunts. Trying to encourage good behavior? Treats. Trying to train your cat to walk on a lead? Treaaats.

With all the fun applications of a tasty kibble drop, very few people stop to ponder their nutritional value. Of course, treats aren’t meant to be healthy, you say. But far from lacking nutrition, the ingredients in many popular treats are actually actively harming our cats. And that is super super uncool, cat treat manufacturers.

 

We’ve already tackled the world of cat food—so cat treats, you’re next!

 

 

cheese puffs cat

The Bad

 

No surprise here…Whiskas, Friskies, Greenies n’ all. C’mon, none of us thought that stuff was healthy. But our cats, they sure dig it!

 

For some background, here’s a list of the top 6 pet food ingredients to steer far clear of, from foodbabe.com:

 

 

  1. Food-Grade Carrageenan More than 70% of canned pet foods contain this additive. Although it’s linked to intestinal inflammation, it’s even found in prescription pet foods for pets with gastrointestinal problems! Here’s more on why I avoid this ingredient.
  2. Synthetic PreservativesThis is why some pet food has a shelf life of 25 years! BHA, BHT, propyl gallate, propylene glycol, or ethoxyquin are common preservatives in pet food linked to serious health issues – such as organ damage and cancer.
  3. BPAThe lining inside cans of pet food contain this endocrine disruptor that mimics hormones and can lead to cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.
  4. Artificial Food DyesDo you think your pet cares what color their food is? Colors like red 40, yellow 5, yellow 6, and blue 2 are common in dry pet food. According to CSPI, these dyes can cause allergic reactions, hyperactivity, organ damage and cancer.
  5. Grains Remember, cats and dogs are carnivores so their food should be primarily meat… Fillers like corn, wheat, corn gluten meal, soybean meal, and brewer’s rice should not be listed in the first few ingredients (if at all). Grains that aren’t fit for humans to eat, like moldy grains containing carcinogenic mycotoxins, are still allowed in pet food.
  6. Meat By Products – Pet food regulations allow the use of meat from animals that died “otherwise than by slaughter”. Although the pet industry denies it (of course) there is testimony that this allows for dead pets from shelters to be added to pet food, and that some companies actually engage in this practice. The FDA has also found residues from a drug that’s used to euthanize animals in 30 different samples of pet food, which is evidence that euthanized animals are ending up in cans…

 

Horrifying, no?

Now let’s take a look at a few popular pet treats and their ingredients…

cat treat chain copy

 


Whiskas Temptations (chicken flavor – one of many, all equally bad)

 

whiskas temptations chickenChicken By Product Meal, Ground Corn, Animal Fat (Preserved W/ Mixed Tocopherols), Rice, Dried Meat By Products, Wheat Flour, Natural Flavors**, Corn Gluten Meal, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Taurine, DL Methionine, Vitamins (DL Alpha Tocopherol Acetate) (Source Of Vitamin E), Vitamin A Acetate, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin B 12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, D Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Folic Acid Supplement), Trace Minerals (Zinc Sulphate, Copper Sulphate, Maliganese Sulphate, Potassium Iodide), Dried Cheese.

 

 

 


FYI – nearly all the “vitamins” and “supplements” in pet foods are synthetic vitamins, which they (and we) are unable to process. So basically, more chemical filler.

**Watch out for additives like “natural flavors.” These almost always contain MSG, or garlic/onion powders, which are POISONOUS TO CATS AND DOGS.

(You’d think these assholes would have a soul, right? …Wrong.)


 


Friskies Party Mix Original

 

friskies party mix originalChicken by-product meal, brewers rice, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols, corn gluten meal, animal liver flavor, fish, natural and artificial flavors, turkey by-product meal, phosphoric acid, calcium carbonate, brewers dried yeast, salt, choline chloride, added color, taurine, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, Yellow 5, Vitamin E supplement, niacin, manganese sulfate, citric acid, Yellow 6, Vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, copper sulfate, riboflavin supplement, Red 40, Vitamin B-12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, Blue 2, folic acid, Vitamin D-3 supplement, calcium iodate, BHA (a preservative), biotin, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), BHT (a preservative), sodium selenite.

 

 

…Onwards down the rabbit hole!!

 


Feline Greenies Dental Treats (Tempting Tuna)

 

feline greenies tuna flavorChicken meal (while not a by-product, meal is not ideal. Ha that rhymes), rice flour, wheat flour, corn gluten meal, oat fiber, poultry fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), natural poultry flavor, sodium gluconate, tuna flavor, ground flaxseed, brewers dried yeast, minerals (calcium carbonate, salt, potassium chloride, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, copper sulfate, manganous oxide, calcium iodate, sodium selenite, cobalt carbonate), vitamins (vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, niacin, d-calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement), preserved with citric acid, taurine, preserved with mixed tocopherols, chlorophyll (sodium copper chlorophyllin)

 

 

Purina Whisker Lickin’s Crunchy & Yummy

 

Purina whisker lickins crunchChicken by-product meal, brewers rice, corn gluten meal, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols, animal liver flavor, corn starch, powdered cellulose, fish, soybean hulls, natural and artificial flavors, phosphoric acid, calcium carbonate, brewers dried yeast, salt, crab meal, choline chloride, added color, taurine, Red 40, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, Yellow 5, Vitamin E supplement, Yellow 6, niacin, manganese sulfate, citric acid, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Blue 2, Vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, copper sulfate, riboflavin supplement, Vitamin B-12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, Vitamin D-3 supplement, calcium iodate, BHA (a preservative), biotin, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), BHT (a preservative), sodium selenite.

 

 

Depressed yet? Don’t be.

 

cat and homemade treats

 

 

The Good

Sigh… A breath of fresh air. And no more small type! Imagine that.

 

cat jerky treats

 

Purebites Freeze Dried Chicken and Lamb

Purebites cat treats

 

100% USA-sourced & made chicken breast, New-Zealand lamb liver.

 

…Is that it..?
Apparently, yes, it is!

 

 

 

 

 

Bonito Flakes

bonito flakes

 

100% dried shaved bonito (fish) flakes

 

(No need to get crap like “Kitty Caviar” or “Cat Man-Doo.” It’s the exact same thing as the bonito flakes packaged for human consumption, except more expensive…for some reason. Gotta love the pet food industry.)
I get mine on Amazon.

 

 

 

Honest Kitchen Wishes Grain-free Cat/Dog Treats

Honest kitchen wishes

 

100% human-grade, wild caught Icelandic Haddock

 

Human-grade, you say? Yum.

 

 

 

 

 

Raw Rewards Treats for Dogs & Cats

raw rewards treats

 

 

100% Freeze-dried chicken, beef or lamb liver

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Now that you know how to shop for pet yumsies, I’ll end this list here. You get the gist!

Remember, never, ever, rely on marketing-speak like “all natural” (it literally has no legal meaning), “nutritious,” or, god forbid, “healthy.”

Pet food manufacturers (and human food manufacturers…but that’s a whole ‘nother can of worms) are constantly spouting these empty buzzwords, and are in no way legally bound to prove or uphold any such statements.

 

Your only defense is knowledge. And reading tiny, tiny print.

 

cat reading a boook

 

Further your cat knowledge! Discover the best tricks for leaving your cats home alone without triggering armageddon.

Or find out once and for all why your cats are really following you into the bathroom.

 

Got any healthy pet treat brands to share? Or better yet, any recipes for making your own?

 

Pin it!

With all the fun applications of a tasty kibble drop, very few people stop to ponder their nutritional value. Of course, treats aren’t meant to be healthy, you say. But far from lacking nutrition, the ingredients in many popular treats are actually actively harming our cats. And that is super super uncool, cat treat manufacturers. We've already tackled cat food, so cat treats--you're up! #cats #whycatwhy

36 comments on “Cat Treats: What To Indulge, What To Avoid”

  1. Chris Wang says:

    Will you share the post about the cat food and cat food packaging?

    https://www.allpackchina.com/cat-food-packaging/

  2. Janet Boze says:

    It is Awesome to read on article that is Truthful about the Crap- literally, that is allowed in our pets food. I’m sick and tired of seeing “best” lists that have some of the worst offenders listed as top choices, because they belong Nowhere on these list! THANK YOU for your frank, accurate and informative article!
    Help for those wanting to educate themselves and learn the TRUTH of our pet food industry, check out these Independent pet food Consumer Advocates:

    Mollie Morrissette
    Pet Food Safety Consumer Advocate and Advisor to AAFCO
    Author of http://www.PoisonedPets.com

    Susan Thixton
    Pet Food Safety Advocate
    TruthaboutPetFood.com
    Association for Truth in Pet Food

    Dr. Jean Hofve
    Veterinary Advisor to AAFCO
    http://www.LittleBigCat.com

    *Also Veterinary Nutritionist Dr Lisa Pierson @ CatInfo.org
    Info and Recipes for Homemade Cat Food

    I Home Cook (different than raw) for my cat and it is less expensive and easy. Plus I have full control and knowledge of what he’s eating! It is CRITICAL though that you ONLY use recipes from the Professionals with backgrounds in nutrition! (See Dr Lisa Pierson- Cat Info.Org for Free recipes) Buying the needed supplements are expensive initially, but once you have them the cost per meal is cheaper than what you can buy High Quality brands at the store.
    Homemade food is a Realistic option for those who Want to feed the best, but the $2-$3+ per can is cost prohibitive.

  3. D. Cassell says:

    Are there any hairball treats that are safe for a cat? She won’t eat flax oil or pumpkin. Thank you for your help

  4. Cece Caietta says:

    Recently we’ve been feeding our kitty tons of temptations treats. He’s become very ill and will only get up for water at this point it’s been a few days without them will he recover 100%, we miss how energetic our kitty was. All he does now is lay around

    -very worried kitty moma

    1. Why Cat Why says:

      Oh no! I’m so sorry to hear that. If I were you, I’d swing him by the vet ASAP! Sudden changes in appetite are never normal, and may be caused by something more serious than a bad batch of treats. Best of luck and I really hope the vet can sort him out soon!

  5. Greenies made my cat scream with tummy agony! Both he and my bf’s pet retched from it. I complained to Amazon and got a full refund and they didn’t even want them back! They should be taken off the market…dangerous!

  6. Sam says:

    My cat has stage 4 cancer and she loves the treats. I mean she got really depressed and refused to eat when I could not find them. I tried so many other treats until one day she got sick. I fear from your article the treats may be the reason she is dying now.

  7. Anne Marie Hules says:

    Are worms a concern if the meat/fish is freeze dried raw?

  8. Sue Bigelow says:

    I am visiting my brother who has 2 cats,2 years old.They have bad hair ball troubles.What treats are safe for them,that will help with hair balls,and still be safe for them?

    1. Why Cat Why says:

      A teaspoon of flax oil sprinkled over the cats’ food once a day can help lube up their digestive tracts and allow the hairball to pass smoothly. Another trick is feeding them small amounts of pureed pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix) to add fiber to their diets and help move things along.

  9. E Norris says:

    Hi..read all the comments but wanted to ask..my 2year old male is very picky since I first got him..only eats the juice/gravy off wet food and rarely can get him to eat dry food other than treats…I know it’s bad on my part so what can I do to get him off treats?

    1. Why Cat Why says:

      Hi there! There’s a few steps you can take to “retrain” a picky eater, but it won’t be easy! It involves feeding your cat on a strict schedule and in 30 minute windows. When the window is over, remove the food. After a few days of this, your cat will have built up enough of a hunger drive that they’ll eat whatever you put down–and finish it! More details on the transition method here: https://www.foodfurlife.com/transition-to-timed-meals.html.

  10. Terry Wallerstedt says:

    Hello, I have 2 ragdoll cats going on 6 years old each and I feed them Royal Canin dry cat food “Ragdoll” and “Indoor Adult”. Can you tell me if this food is actually good for them? I leave both of these foods out all day for them to eat what they want but I don’t feel like they over-eat because I don’t refill it but once a week. After reading your articles, I am very confused and skeptical of all dry foods in regards to my cats health! Also, I feed them wet food one a day, Sheba Perfect Portions Pate and Cats “Savory Chicken Entrée” and “Roasted Turkey Entrée”. Is this wet food good for them in your estimation? For treats, I give them chicken flavored cat greenies and Friskies Party Mix (they like all flavors of this party mix.) These two treats seem to be on the no-no list and now I feel really bad for giving them these treats all these years. I guess I should stop these treats immediately? Please advise as soon as you can so I can start feeding the right things as soon as possible. Thank You!

    1. Why Cat Why says:

      Royal Canin is generally known to be a low-quality cat food. For my breakdown of the best cat food brands, check out my article on the topic here: http://www.whycatwhy.com/cat-food-breakdown-the-best-and-worst/. Let me know if you have any questions after reading through it!

  11. Alexis Tresemer says:

    I have two one year old brothers. One eats wet food but the other only eats dry. I’ve tried 10 different brands, including a freeze dried raw food that cost $64 per 12 OUNCE, not pound, bag! He won’t eat any wet food. What do you recommend?

    1. Why Cat Why says:

      Hi Alexis, I admire your persistence in finding a great food for both your cats. Freeze dried raw food is a wonderful option, though as you’ve found, definitely pricey. A nice alternative could be feeding them a very high-quality dry food. A personal favorite of mine is Petcurean Go! dry kibble. Make sure they’re drinking enough water if they’re exclusively eating dry food.
      If you’d prefer to stick with wet food, I would start with a high-quality dry kibble and SLOWLY transition to wet by mixing a small amount of wet food into their dry kibble each day, gradually increasing the ratio. Start with no more than a teaspoon–just enough to lightly coat the kibble. If the transition is slow enough, soon both your cats will be chowing on 100% wet and be none the wiser.

  12. Roxanne Hall says:

    I am looking for both wet and dry for my cats that will assist me in warding off urinary crystallization. Any treat and food advise will be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

    1. Why Cat Why says:

      Hi Roxanne! Check out my article on cat food, here.
      If your cat has special needs (ie, prone to urinary crystals), I’d err on the safe side and feed her either a prescription diet, or a high-quality wet food with no fish content. Most important of all, make sure she drinks plenty of water (getting a cat drinking fountain can entice her to up her water intake).

  13. Billy C. says:

    I have two 18 yo orange tabbies, Brother and Sister. A couple years ago my girl started doing a limpy leg thing and my vet ex-rayed to find arthritis in both forearms. I was so sad, thinking this was the beginning of her elderly stage. My vet gave me theses Fishcaps, to try and alleviate the pain and inflammation. They smelled so bad, even the cats hated them.
    Couple days later, I’m doing my post-shower coconut oil moisturizer routine, when I feel a scratching on my calf. My boy, Jazzy, is licking the coconut oil off my leg! Suddenly my mind does a Pinterest scroll and I recall it being an anti inflammatory. A quick google told me It’s ok for cats. Nope! It’s AMAZING for cats. Arthritis? Gone. Virgin coconut oil is like ice cream to them now, the hunt me down for it! Also, it’s antibacterial too so it also serves to help teeth and general wellness, allegedly. I see the proof and my vet was pretty excited about it.

    1. Why Cat Why says:

      Amazing! I love coconut oil myself and know how great it is for our kitties (and dogs). Glad you had good luck with it!

    2. PeachK says:

      It can, also, make your cat fat. 🙂 Everything in moderation.

  14. Any comment on Blue Healthy Gourmet Flaked Chicken? Also, Sheba Perfect Portions. All Purina cans removed from my Kroger shelves??

  15. Tala says:

    Is Whiskas bad for cats?

    1. Why Cat Why says:

      Generally, yes. In tiny doses for treats, not ideal, but not the end of the world. I’d certainly avoid feeding Whiskas food as their primary diet.

  16. Connie says:

    Are there any treats that are ok for a cat in kidney renal failure?? Needs to have low protein so where does that lead us? Have been searching & searching with no luck!

    1. Why Cat Why says:

      Hi Connie, I’m by no means a veterinarian, but a “low-protein” diet for our carnivorous cats doesn’t sound 100% right.
      Here’s a helpful article I found on the subject: https://consciouscat.net/2016/02/15/the-right-diet-for-cats-with-kidney-disease/

      It seems like high-quality protein is still very important, and ensuring high water intake perhaps the most important of all. I don’t know of any low-protein treats that I’d feel comfortable recommending (typically low protein = low quality) but I wish you luck!

      1. Airmid says:

        A low-protein diet is ABSOLUTELY correct! Protein is processed by the kidneys, so although the cat requires some protein, a high protein (aka normal) cat diet further damages the kidneys.

        Stop playing veterinarian. You’re not good at it.

        1. Duh says:

          It’s difficult to determine whether you’re paid off by the food manufacturing companies or just regurgitating bad knowledge.

          Either way, cats are obligate carnivores. Literally cannot process anything else except for animal protein. Why do you think that kidney disease is so prevalant when so many people feed their pets kibble? Do lions develop kidney disease and die in the wild from hunting animals all of the time? You’d think we’d see it happen naturally if it’s so common :eyeroll:

          Stop using the (also wrong) recommendations for humans as an analogue for cat health. You’re clearly misguided.

  17. Chasity says:

    Do you know of any cat treats that help with cleaning teeth? Once i read about the greenies i threw them away. This is mt first cat and ive always given her the best and she loves bonita flakes but her breath is kickin’ afterwards

    1. Why Cat Why says:

      Great question. I am told it’s imperative to brush your cat’s teeth, ideally every day, with special cat-formulated toothpaste. I’ve never done it, but I’m setting a bad example. If brushing sounds like something you’d be willing to tackle, here’s a great article: http://catobsessed.com/best-cat-toothbrush/. Other articles I’ve read recommend additives to your cat’s drinking water to help with bad breath, although I’d do some reading into ingredients before committing to that.

      Another (maybe scarier) alternate: Feed your cat a whole raw food, with bones/skin and all, ground up. The ground-up bones and fibers help to clean your cat’s teeth as they chew. You’ll have to do a bit of legwork sourcing human-grade whole ground prey, but there are also websites that will ship to you (for a pretty penny). This is a route I’m currently attempting, but it’s obviously not for everyone. Will report back if I make it out unscathed.

  18. Tina Trout says:

    What about Temptations Surfers Delight how safe are they? Need to know my cats love them. do I need to stop feeding them to them? Help please?

    1. Why Cat Why says:

      Commercial cat treats are generally riddled with corn, carbs, and other nasty by-products (Temptations is no exception). Try organic freeze-dried treats for a healthy alternative!

  19. Good post but dogs aren’t carnivores they’re omnivores, I’m not talking about wolves I’m talking about dogs. My dogs have ate bread for years and have lived to be 20 on average

    1. Why Cat Why says:

      Hi Joe! Thanks for your comment! I know that there’s a ton of controversy on the topic, and much we don’t know definitively.

      Most vets and biologists agree that dogs are “scavenging” carnivores, who over the years have evolved to be able to survive omnivorously thanks to living alongside humans. As long as a dog’s meals are balanced, high-quality and nutritionally dense, I think their taxonomic classification matters very little. (Although, side note: I have heard of vegans forcing vegan diets on their dogs, which makes me incredibly, irrationally angry…)

  20. Ellen Pilch says:

    Excellent post, my cats are going to be very upset though- they love party mix.

    1. Why Cat Why says:

      I know, my cats love Temptations! But they actually love bonito flakes more, if you can believe it.
      So win win :]

Leave a Reply to Tina Trout Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.