12 Best Cat Treats in the UK in 2022 – Reviews & Top Picks
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 2022
The 12 Best Cat Treats in UK
1. Dreamies Chicken Cat Treats – Best Overall
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 Unfortunately, quite a few customers have reported receiving this product with an outdated expiry date.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
Some tubs have been received with an outdated expiration date
2. Felix Goody Bag Picnic Mix – Best Value
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
Not suitable for kittens or cats with dental issues
3. Thrive Cat Treats – Premium Choice
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
4. Whiskas Kitten Milky Treats – Best for Kittens
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
5. Arden Grange Tasty Liver Treat
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
Can be tough to squeeze the paste out
6. VetIQ Healthy Bites Hairball Remedy Cat Treats
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
May cause gastrointestinal issues for cats with sensitivities
7. Lily’s Kitchen Salmon Pillow Treats
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.
Dual texture
Vet approved
Resealable packaging
Free from bad ingredients
Expensive
Too hard for some cats
8. Webbox Cats Delight Tasty Sticks
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.
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
9. Pet Munchies Natural Freeze-Dried Cat Treats
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
Crumble easily
Strong smell can turn fussy eaters away
10. HILIFE Chicken Treats
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
11. Vet’s Kitchen Cat Treats
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
12. KatKin Chicken Nibbles
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
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.
Here are a few common types to consider:
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.