Best Kitten Treats

Best Kitten Treats: Choosing Healthy, Safe, and Effective Rewards for Your Growing Feline

Bringing a new kitten into your home is a joyful experience, full of playful moments and opportunities to bond. Offering treats is a popular way to spoil your new feline companion and strengthen your connection. However, it’s crucial to select treats that are not only enticing but also specifically suitable and healthy for growing kittens. Remember, treats should always supplement a balanced, high-quality kitten food diet, never replace it.

I understand that selecting the best treats for your kitten involves looking for species-appropriate options that are rich in animal protein and healthy fats, low in carbohydrates, and crucially, low in calories. Treats should ideally be free from artificial colours or flavours. Popular recommendations often include freeze-dried single-ingredient treats and lickable purees due to their simple ingredients and high moisture content respectively. To understand all the factors to consider, such as purpose, texture, and specific health benefits, and to find detailed recommendations, please continue reading to find out the best kitten treats.

Why Give Your Kitten Treats?

Treats serve several valuable purposes in a kitten’s life beyond just being a tasty snack:

Bonding and Playtime: Giving treats is a wonderful way to form a strong bond with your kitten from a young age and make playtime even more rewarding.
Training: Treats are an essential tool for positive reinforcement. They can help you teach your kitten commands and good behaviors. They are also key for desensitization training, such as getting your kitten used to having their claws clipped or teeth touched, which is important to start at a young age. For training treats, look for options that are small, enticing, low in calories, and easy for your kitten to eat quickly.
Providing Variety and Enrichment: Introducing different textures and flavors can add excitement to your kitten’s routine and help prevent pickiness later in life.

What to Consider When Choosing Kitten Treats

Selecting the right treat involves more than just picking the cutest packaging. Here are the key factors recommended by veterinary experts:

Age Appropriateness: Always check the packaging to ensure the treat is suitable for kittens. Some treats are only recommended for cats from 4 or 6 months onwards.
Calorie Content is Key: This is the number one criteria for many veterinary experts.
- Choose low-calorie treats.
- Treats should never make up more than 10% of your cat’s total daily calorie intake.
- Be sure to adjust your kitten’s meal portions to account for the calories from treats.
- Monitoring your cat’s weight is important, as a significant percentage of pet cats are overweight or obese.
Nutritional Considerations: While not a complete diet like kitten food, treats should still offer some nutritional value.
- Look for treats rich in species-appropriate animal protein. Cats are obligate carnivores and require meat. An animal protein source should ideally be listed as the first ingredient. Named sources, like chicken meal, are generally preferred over vague ones like “poultry meal”.
- Healthy animal-based fats are beneficial, providing a concentrated source of calories and essential fatty acids like Omega-3s and Omega-6s, which are important for development and skin and coat health.
- Limit carbohydrate content. Avoid corn, wheat, and soy, which offer little nutritional value. Starchy ingredients like potatoes and tapioca are less ideal. Fresh vegetables can provide nutrients but shouldn’t be the majority ingredient.
- Essential nutrients like taurine are important for cats’ vision, digestion, and cardiovascular function.
Ingredient Quality: Choose treats from a trusted or reputable brand. Some brands are backed by scientific research regarding effectiveness. Avoid potentially harmful ingredients like artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives (such as BHT and BHA). Consider single-ingredient treats, often freeze-dried, which are great for sensitive stomachs.
Texture and Flavor:
- Introduce kittens to a variety of textures and flavors early on to help prevent pickiness later.
- Match the treat texture to your cat’s preference, age, and health condition.
- Since cats are obligate carnivores, meat flavors like chicken, fish, turkey, and beef are typically favored. Cats generally love flavorful, aromatic (or “deliciously stinky”) treats.

Different Types of Kitten Treats

Treats come in various forms, each offering a different experience for your kitten:

Puree/Lickable Treats: These are high in moisture, which is good for hydration, and can also be used as food toppers. They can feel like a significant reward due to their consistency. Examples include Inaba Churu and Webbox Lick-e-Lix.
Soft/Chewy Treats: These are often good for training because they can be eaten quickly. They can be easier for very young kittens or those with dental issues. However, some soft chews can be a little hard. VetriScience Composure Soft Chews are an example.
Crunchy/Biscuit Treats: This is a common texture. Crunchy treats can potentially help scrape teeth clean. Examples include Wellness Kittles, Shameless Pets Crunchy Cat Treats, Dreamies Biscuits, Scrumbles Krunchies, and Pickle’s Crunchy Filled Treats.
Freeze-Dried Treats: These are often single-ingredient, very high in protein, and low in calories, making them great for sensitive stomachs and training. Examples include PureBites Freeze-Dried Chicken Breast, Cat-Man-Doo Dried Bonito Flakes, and Thrive Freeze Dried. One drawback is that they can sometimes crumble.
Other Types: Treats are also available in forms like cubes, sticks, or bones.

Kitten Treats for Specific Needs

Some treats are formulated with specific health benefits in mind:

Dental Health: While daily brushing is the best way to maintain dental health, dental treats can help control plaque and/or tartar. Look for treats with the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) seal, which certifies they’ve been scientifically proven for this purpose when used as directed. It’s important to start practicing oral desensitization with kittens early. Some cats, however, have experienced digestive issues with certain dental treats. DentaLife is a VOHC-approved example mentioned.
Calming/Anxiety: Treats containing specific active ingredients like C3 calming complex, L-Theanine, and Thiamine (B1) can help address occasional anxiety. If your kitten experiences chronic stress or anxiety, it’s essential to consult your veterinarian. Examples include VetriScience Composure, Feliway Happy Snack Calming Treats, and Scrumbles Krunchies Calming.
Sensitive Stomachs: Easily digestible treats, often those with a single ingredient or limited, high-quality ingredients, can be suitable. Consult your veterinarian if your kitten has a known sensitive stomach or food sensitivities. Introducing a variety of flavors and textures might help prevent fussiness or sensitivity later. PureBites Freeze-Dried Chicken is noted as a good option for sensitive stomachs.
Hairball Control: Some treats are specifically formulated with ingredients to help manage hairballs.
Other Health Treats: Veterinary diet treats may also be available and are designed to support specific health conditions.

How to Introduce and Use Treats Safely

Introducing and using treats properly ensures they are a positive addition to your kitten’s routine:

Introduce new flavors or textures slowly and carefully to avoid upsetting your kitten’s stomach.
You can give cats treats every day to support bonding and training, as long as they are low-calorie and the calories are factored into your kitten’s total daily intake, keeping treats to under 10% of daily calories.
Break larger treats into smaller pieces to control calorie intake and make them easier for a kitten to eat.
Always monitor your kitten when giving treats.
Consult your veterinarian if you have any doubts about which treats are right for your kitten, or if your kitten has underlying health conditions such as diabetes or food sensitivities.

Examples of Recommended Kitten Treats

here are some of the best kitten treats that are recommended, falling into different categories:

Overall/High Protein: Cat-Man-Doo Dried Bonito Flakes, PureBites Chicken Breast Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Treats.
Runner Up: Shameless Pets Catnip n Chill Crunchy Cat Treats.
Best Budget: Wellness Kittles Grain-Free Crunchy Cat Treats.
Best Soft/Lickable: Inaba Churu Puree Lickable Cat Treat, Webbox Lick-e-Lix, Dreamies Creamy Treats, Whiskas Milky Treats.
Best Calming: VetriScience Composure Soft Chews, Feliway Happy Snack Calming Treats, Scrumbles Krunchies Calming Cat Treats.
Best Dental: DentaLife Dental Cat Treats. Note: Some users have reported digestive upset with certain dental treats like Greenies, although another user liked freeze-dried meat treats and Churu-like treats over traditional dental treats. We recommend looking for the VOHC seal for dental effectiveness.
Best For Sensitive Stomachs: PureBites Chicken Breast Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Treats.
Other Mentioned Brands/Types: Thrive Freeze Dried Cat Treats, Specific Organic Treats and Healthy Treats, VetiQ Healthy Bites (Hairball, Urinary, Breath & Dental), Dreamies (various), Scrumbles Krunchies (various), Pickle’s (various), Seriously Good Freeze Dried (Chicken, Cod, Prawn), Felix (various), Lily’s Kitchen Treats (Chicken, Salmon), Pets at Home Cat Treat Sticks.
- Regarding human-grade cooked meat or fish, it’s important to be cautious. While a user suggested human-grade dried bonito flakes or unsalted dried anchovies might be alternatives, the veterinary sources emphasize choosing treats specifically formulated for cats and consulting with a vet, especially for kittens or cats with health issues. Always ensure human food is safe, cooked plain (no seasonings), and given only in very small amounts after veterinary approval.

Conclusion

Choosing the best kitten treats involves focusing on low-calorie, high-protein, age-appropriate options. Treats are a wonderful tool for positive reinforcement and strengthening your bond with your kitten, but they must be given in moderation and their calories factored into the total daily intake. When in doubt, especially if your kitten has health concerns, always consult your veterinarian for personalized advice.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What makes a treat “healthy” for a kitten?
- A: Healthy treats for a kitten are low in calories, suitable for their age, and free from artificial colors or flavors. They should ideally be rich in animal protein and align with your kitten’s individual needs.
Q: Can I give my kitten treats every day?
- A: Yes, you can give cats treats every day to support bonding and training. However, they must be low-calorie and account for no more than 10% of your kitten’s total daily caloric intake. You need to adjust their regular meal portions accordingly.
Q: What are the best kitten treats for training?
- A: The best training treats are high-value (meaning your kitten loves them) and low-calorie. They should be enticing, small, easy to eat quickly, and ideally bite-sized, soft, or chewy for convenience. Freeze-dried treats and Churu-like lickable treats are often mentioned as good training options.
Q: What different textures and flavors are good for kittens?
- A: Introducing a variety of textures (puree, soft, crunchy, freeze-dried) and meat-based flavors (chicken, fish, turkey) early can prevent pickiness. Choose textures appropriate for your kitten’s age and any dental needs. Cats often love flavorful, aromatic treats.
Q: When can kittens start eating treats?
- A: Always read the packaging for age recommendations. Some treats are safe for kittens from 4 or 6 months onwards.