The cat treat industry is huge in Canada. In 2020, sales of cat treats and mixers reached nearly $150 million.1 So, you can imagine that the treat selection in our country can be quite overwhelming.
If you want to offer your kitty the occasional treat for good behavior or wish to start training them using treats as a reward, you need to get the best ones possible to motivate them.
After hours of research, we’ve compiled a list of the best cat treats in Canada so you can spend your time with your cat instead of wasting time in the store mulling over the treat aisle.
Temptations Cat Treats come in several package sizes and in a wide variety of flavors that cats love. These treats have a unique texture with their crunchy outside layer and soft center, which is just part of why we believe they’re the best overall cat treat in Canada.
They are under two calories per treat and provide complete and balanced nutrition for adult cats. That said, you still need to provide your kitty with a well-balanced diet. There are no artificial flavors in these treats so there’s no need to feel guilty about feeding them to your pets.
The value-sized tub is great as it not only provides great bang for your buck, but the tub itself is cat-proof, so you don’t need to worry about your mischievous kitties tearing into the bag to help themselves when you’re not around.
Friskies Party Mix Turkey & Gravy is a popular cat treat option that we believe to be the best cat treat in Canada for the money. They are under 2 calories per treat and come in tasty cat-approved flavors like chicken or turkey. These treats are definitely harder than some of the other options we’re looking at today but do offer a satisfying crunch for your cat when they eat them. The hard nature can also help clean your cat’s teeth as they eat.
Like Temptations, Friskies’ Party Mix comes in a hard cat-proof container, so you never need to worry about your determined kitty helping itself to an overabundance of treats.
Pros
Low in calories
Many fun flavors
Cat-proof container
Great value
Cons
Treats may be too hard for some cats
3. Purebites Chicken Breast for Cats – Premium Choice
Purebites Chicken Breast for Cats freeze-dried cat treats are the only one-ingredient treat on our list. This premium option is made with only 100% pure and natural chicken breast, so you don’t need to worry about any potentially harmful fillers when offering them to your pet. Since these treats are made with just one ingredient, they do not contain any added preservatives and are easy for your cat to digest.
The chicken is sourced from the USA and manufactured there as well so you know that it has to meet stringent health guidelines before being available to the public. This might not always be the case with poorer-quality treats that source ingredients globally.
Pros
Only one ingredient
Freeze-dried to preserve the nutritional integrity
100% natural
USA-sourced ingredients
Cons
Pricey
4. N-Bone Get Naked Soft Treats – Best for Kittens
While they certainly can have adult treats, kitten-specific ones provide nutrients that kittens need for optimal health. N-Bone’s Get Naked Soft Treats are fortified with omega fatty acids and herring oil to support healthy brain development. They’re made with real chicken as the first ingredient and other healthy things such as sweet potatoes and flax seeds. The treats themselves are soft so they’re easy for kittens to chew and easier on their digestive system, too. They are grain-free and have added taurine, an amino acid that kittens need for digestive and eye health as well as to promote heart muscle function.
Greenies Dental Treats for Cats are our Vet’s Choice for the best cat treat available in Canada. Not only are they recommended by our veterinary advisors, but they’re also the number one vet-recommended feline dental treat overall. They work double duty to not only provide your kitty with a tasty treat but to help clean their teeth, too. The crunchy texture of these treats may reduce the buildup of tartar and even freshen your kitty’s stinky breath.
These treats are fortified with additional vitamins and minerals like taurine. The protein in the treats is derived from chicken and eggs to provide your kitty with strong and firm muscles. They are also nutritionally complete and balanced for adult kitties. There are no artificial flavoring, fillers, or preservatives in the recipe at all so these treats are a wholesome reward you can feel good about offering occasionally.
Catit Creamy Lickable Cat Treats are a great way to bond with your cats and kittens as you can feed your kitty a tube by hand. Catit’s Creamy treats come in a package of 12 in assorted flavors like salmon, tuna, and chicken and liver. The treats have a rich and creamy flavor and are made without any soy, corn, preservatives, or artificial flavorings. Each tube is fortified with taurine, an amino acid that’s essential to your cat’s diet. The treats are made with limited ingredients and are flexible in serving options. While you can certainly feed them by hand, you can also squeeze it into their dish, onto a feeding mat, use it as a kibble topper, or even freeze on a hot summer’s day to feed as a frozen snack.
Blue Buffalo’s Bursts Paw-Lickin’ Chicken Cat Treats are a healthy crunchy treat that looks a lot like the Temptations treats we reviewed above. The Bursts have a crunchy outer shell and a soft and creamy center. They’re made with healthy and wholesome ingredients and without the use of poultry by-product meals, artificial flavors, or preservatives. Real chicken is the first ingredient followed by chicken meal and chicken fat, both of which provide a great source of protein. These treats come in a 340-gram plastic container that your cats will not be able to tear into when you’re not looking.
Pros
Texture cats love
No artificial flavors
Real meat as the first ingredient
Sturdy plastic container
Wholesome ingredients
Cons
Contains peas which can be a controversial ingredient
If your cat doesn’t go for hard, soft, or freeze-dried treats, you might consider Catit Nibbly Jerky Chicken and Fish Recipe instead. This unique treat comes in thin strips with a natural and soft texture that cats love, making them very easy to chew, swallow, and digest. They’re very low in calories but high in protein (85% chicken in the Chicken Recipe flavor) and have a very short ingredient list so they’re a treat you can feel good about offering your pet. This jerky is made without artificial colors or flavoring and is considered non-GMO. They’re available at a very affordable price and should last longer than traditional treats as you can rip apart the strips to make the bag go further.
Vital Essentials’ Freeze-Dried Cat Treats are a single source of protein without the use of added hormones, fillers, or antibiotics. The treats are a great source of taurine and vitamin A. The manufacturer uses a slow flash freeze-drying process of raw meat which helps to maintain the integrity of the nutrients and enzymes of the treats. The raw nature of these treats makes them easy to absorb and great for cats with sensitive tummies.
This product is designed for cats of all ages and, with a very short ingredient list of just five ingredients, is something you can feel good about offering your pet now and then.
These treats are 100% USA-made with ingredients sourced from American suppliers.
Delectables Squeeze Up Wet Cat Treats are another great lickable treat option for pet parents who want a sweet bonding experience with their pets. These tasty treats have a thick puree texture and come in an easy-to-serve tube packet. As with other lickable treats, you can feed them by hand, add them as a kibble topper for finicky eaters, or squeeze them into a bowl.
This package contains 20 different packets in flavors like chicken, tuna, and tuna and shrimp. They are all made with real meat as the second ingredient, and at just over 7 calories per tube, are a healthy and satisfying treat that appeals to most cats.
Pros
Easy to feed
Silky and creamy texture
Adds moisture to cat’s diet
Cons
Chicken recipe lists tuna as the first protein
High price
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Cat Treats in Canada
The word treat doesn’t have to be synonymous with unhealthy. The best cat treats are not only tasty for your kitty but nutritious, too. Let’s take a closer look at some factors you should consider before buying treats for your cats.
Ingredients
The ingredient list should be one of the first things you look at when purchasing any type of cat food. The best treats are not only tasty but also provide some type of nutritional benefit to your cat.
Wheat, artificial colors, and preservatives are some of the main things you should be trying to avoid. Luckily, all the treats on our list are free from these types of ingredients.
Since cats are obligate carnivores, the best treats are ones that list real meat as the first ingredient. There is one exception to this rule, however. Lickable treats are designed to be creamy so manufacturers need to use more water to get the right texture, so you may see water listed as the first ingredient for the lickable treat options.
You should also consider the diet your cat is currently eating. If it has some type of grain allergy and is on a vet-recommended grain-free diet, you should opt for treats that are also grain-free to prevent any gastrointestinal upset from a sudden change in diet.
Nutritional Value
High-calorie treats are a big no-no. Not only are they more likely to be filled with unnecessary fillers and garbage ingredients that provide no benefits for your pet, but their high calorie count makes them more likely to cause obesity in your cat.
Most, if not all, of the treats on our list have been fortified with vitamins and minerals. They will then give your cat a tasty snack while also providing the probiotics, antioxidants, or fatty acids your cat needs to thrive.
Image Credit: DSchmidtArt, Shutterstock
Texture
The texture of the treats can make or break them. Some cats love crunchy treats, while others prefer something softer and easier to chew. Some will turn their nose up at a lickable treat but will eat all the freeze-dried treats in one big gulp.
The thing with pet food and texture is that you won’t know what your pet prefers unless you go through a trial-and-error process. Luckily, most of the treats on our list are very affordable, so trying out different styles shouldn’t drain your bank account.
How Often Should I Offer Treats?
There really is no hard and fast rule for how often you can offer your cat treats. Vets do recommend limiting treats to 10% or less of your cat’s daily calories. Chat with your vet to determine how many calories per day your cat should be eating and then limit treats to 10% of their daily caloric intake. Remember, treats are not a replacement for a well-balanced diet.
Most treat bag labels will provide a recommendation on how many you can feed your cat in a day. These are mere recommendations, however, and don’t need to be followed perfectly. Some of the lickable treats, for example, can be fed up to three times a day. But just because it can be fed that often doesn’t mean it should be. Remember, treats are just that and should be treated as an occasional thing, not something your cat should expect several times per day.
Can I Offer Table Scraps as a Treat?
We’ve all been there. You’re trying to enjoy your nice dinner when you feel a tugging at your pant leg. Your cat has attached himself to you to get your attention and, hopefully, a taste of your meal. But is it safe or recommended to offer table scraps to your pet?
You can offer table scraps now and then, but only occasionally. If you do decide to offer human food, you must account for it in your cat’s daily calorie intake. Too many calories, be it from table scraps, treats, or their regular food, will cause weight gain.
We recommend approaching offering table scraps with care. Your cat may learn that begging for food equals getting a reward, so they’ll continue this behavior until you train it out of them.
You also need to be sure you’re not offering foods that will be toxic for your pet.
Toxic table scraps to avoid giving to your cat include:
Chocolate
Raisins
Garlic
Onions
Grapes
Liver
Canned tuna
Uncooked potatoes
Conclusion
The best overall cat treat in Canada is Temptations for its satisfying texture and complete and balanced nutrition. The best value cat treat is Friskies Party Mix, thanks to its affordable price and low-calorie count. The best premium cat treat in Canada is from Purebites for its one ingredient and high protein formulation. The best treat for kittens is from N-Bone due to its unique kitten-specific formula. Finally, Feline Greenies won over our veterinary team and took the Vet’s Choice award because they’re great as a treat and as a tartar control measure.
Treats are a great occasional snack to offer your pet, but they should never take the place of a well-balanced diet. Use treats sparingly as a complement to your cat’s food and as a way of rewarding them for good behavior.
Nicole is the proud mom of 3 rescue fur babies, Baby, a Burmese cat; Rosa, a New Zealand Huntaway; and Mac, a Lab/Mastiff. A Canadian expat, Nicole now lives on a lush forest property with her Kiwi husband and new baby daughter in New Zealand. She has a strong love for all animals of all shapes and sizes (and particularly loves a good interspecies friendship) and wants to share her animal knowledge and other experts' knowledge with pet lovers across the globe....Read more
