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15 Best Cat Treats For Picky Cats

You spend hours at the pet store selecting the greatest treats for your cat, only to have them rejected without even a taste!

Cats are notoriously finicky, but some are clearly more so than others. This pickiness is usually applied to both their normal meals and rewards.

Just because something is branded as a cat treat doesn't imply your cat will recognize it as such. It can be difficult to find treats for a fussy cat.

You probably don't want to buy a bunch of packages of treats only to have your cat refuse to eat them.

BestForPets (bestforpets.org) has listed the 10 best cat treats for picky cats below. These are created with taste in mind while remaining a healthy alternative.

Reviews

Best Overall: Friskies Lil’ Soups with Salmon Lickable Cat Treat
 

  • Sockeye salmon, chicken broth, and chicken
  • Protein: 9%
  • Fat: 05%

The Friskies Lil’ Soups with Sockeye Salmon Lickable Cat Treats are the best tasting treat on the market. Unlike other snacks, this one is essentially wet food – only better.

The first ingredient is chicken broth, with chunks of chicken and fish floating in the soup. Cats are frequently attracted to broths and wet foods.

They stink more, and a cat’s taste is heavily influenced by their odor. If your cat refuses to accept traditional hard treats, this could be a good alternative.

The ingredient list is also of high quality. It’s usually made up of animal items, such as chicken and salmon. These substances increase the protein level while decreasing the fat amount.

While this food is highly nutritious, you should not feed it as the primary source of nutrition for your pet. It just has 18 calories per cup, so each container shouldn’t be enough to fill your cat full, leaving plenty of room for their regular meal.

Furthermore, there are no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives in this product. It’s also free of all grains. In reality, it contains no fruits or vegetables at all, only meat.

Pros

  • Ingredients of superior quality
  • Broth-based
  • Created for finicky eaters
  • Nutritious

Cons

  • Feeding is a little challenging.

 

Fancy Feast Purely Natural Cat Treats Variety – Best Value
 

  • Chicken, tuna, or salmon as ingredients
  • 20% – 25% protein
  • Fat: 3% to 1%

If you want to save money, Fancy Feast Purely Natural Treats Variety Pack Cat Treats is an excellent choice. This variety pack contains only meat scraps. Genuine meat. There are no extra ingredients or anything like that.

This pack includes three flavors: chicken, tuna, and salmon. There are no fillers, only chicken, tuna, or salmon. They are also not freeze-dried. In reality, the moisture content is fairly significant.

Furthermore, unlike many other delectable goodies, these are simple to workout with. They’re essentially actual meat bits packaged in individual serving portions. As a result, they are high in protein while being low in fat.

The salmon treats have a larger fat content than the other selections, however that is due to the nature of salmon. These sweets include no byproducts or fillers. They’re entirely natural!

The only disadvantage of these goodies is that they can be a little messy. After all, you are feeding your kitty meat. They aren’t the ordinary hard, readily packaged snacks that saturate the market.

When you consider their cost, it’s clear that they are the best cat treats for fussy cats available.

Pros

  • Meat slivers
  • Pre-portioned in resealable pouches
  • Three distinct flavors
  • Moisture content is high.

Cons

  • It can be messy.

 

Premium Choice Tiki Cat Velvet Mousse Variety Pack
 

  • Tuna Broth, Tuna, Mackerel, Dried Egg, and Sunflower Oil
  • Protein: 14%
  • Fat: 2%

We highly recommend the Tiki Cat Velvet Mousse Variety Pack for those ready to spend a little extra money on their cat’s treats.

Tiki Cat’s pack contains a variety of flavors. Unlike other desserts, these are in the form of a mousse. Many cats prefer this to hard treats because it contains more moisture.

As you may expect, this gives it a considerably greater taste and fragrance than hard snacks. Each recipe contains high-quality protein.

For example, the tuna dish we examined featured tuna broth as the first component, followed by tuna and mackerel. These ingredients are high in protein and amino acids, making this a healthy and delightful snack.

These recipes include no grains and are naturally low in carbs. There are no potatoes, maize, wheat, or rice in this recipe. As a result, this recipe may be suitable for cats with sensitive stomachs.

They are meant to supplement your cat’s regular food rather than fully replace it. They do not constitute a complete meal.

Pros

  • Grain-free
  • Made primarily of meat items
  • Form of mousse
  • Carbohydrates are scarce.

Cons

  • Expensive

 

Cat Food Pouches Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Variety Pack
 

  • Chicken (boneless, skinless breast), chicken broth, pumpkin, tapioca starch, and sunflower seed oil are the ingredients.
  • Protein: 9%
  • Fat: 4%

Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Variety Pack Cat Food Pouches can be used as both a treat and a main meal for your cat. As a result, you won’t have to worry about changing your cat’s regular meal.

These can supplement your cat’s regular diet while still providing complete and balanced nourishment. This variety pack contains a selection of various cat chow pouches.

Each pouch has been intended to be simple to open and feed. Of course, this isn’t exactly a training goodie. That is made more challenging by the wet food design!

All of the vitamins and minerals your cat requires to flourish are included. Taurine is also included to help your cat’s heart health.

This dish contains no wheat, gluten, or GMO foods. It contains solely natural ingredients, giving it a higher quality option than the majority of other cat treats on the market.

With plenty of scrumptious gravy, most cats will certainly love this chow – even the pickiest ones. Because it contains a high moisture level, this recipe also helps your kitten stay hydrated.

Pros

  • Simple-to-use pouches
  • Grain, gluten, and GMO-free ingredients
  • For flavor, I added gravy.
  • Full and balanced

Cons

  • They cannot be used as training rewards.

 

Tuna Cat Treats from Tiki Cat Stix
 

  • Tuna Broth, Tuna, Dried Egg, Natural Tuna Flavor, Natural Chicken Flavor are the ingredients.
  • Protein: 9%
  • Fat: 2%

Tiki Cat offers excellent cat snacks, and their Tiki Cat Stix Tuna Cat Treats are no exception.

As the first ingredients, tuna broth and tuna are included. Other high-quality components, such as dried eggs, are also included. It contains no cereals, peas, maize, wheat, soy, or GMOs. All of the substances are entirely natural.

These sticks contain far more moisture than other treats. As a result, they stink more and are often more appealing to our felines. Your cat’s sense of smell and taste are inextricably linked. As a result, stinky objects tend to taste better, making them ideal for fussy cats.

Each pouch is pre-portioned for your convenience. They are easy to transport, however they are not suitable as training treats. They are also a little messier than other goodies available.

The increased moisture, like most items on this list, can help your feline stay hydrated. If your cat has urinary tract problems, the extra moisture may be just what they need.

Pros

  • Contains a lot of moisture
  • Only natural substances are used.
  • pouches pre-portioned

Cons

  • They cannot be used as training rewards.

 

Cat Food Topper Instinct Raw Boost Mixers Chicken Recipe
 

  • Chicken (with ground chicken bone), chicken liver, pumpkin seeds, chicken heart, and carrots are among the ingredients.
  • Protein: 36%
  • Fat: 26%

While officially a food topper, Instinct Raw Boost Mixers Chicken Recipe Cat Food Topper can also be used as treats. This food is produced from freeze-dried chicken bites, as the name implies.

However, there are other substances. Carrots and pumpkin seeds, for example, are both included. These provide nutrition and tastes to the snacks. The majority of the ingredients utilized are of high quality.

This formula is high in protein and low in fat. It has much more fat and protein than comparable treats on the market, but the moisture content is far lower. As you might expect, the lesser moisture level of these treats may turn off certain cats.

However, because they are freeze-dried, they can be used as training treats. They’re also more delicious than most hard snacks because they’re prepared with real chicken.

There is no grain, potato, corn, wheat, or soy in the recipe. The component list is also devoid of artificial colors and preservatives.

Pros

  • Protein and fat content is high.
  • Contains mainly chicken
  • Simple to use as training rewards

Cons

  • Not as flavorful as some other options
  • Moisture content is low.

 

Wet Cat Food Topper Tiki Cat Broths Variety Pack
 

  • Fish Broth, Tuna, and Fish Extract are among the ingredients.
  • Protein: 7%
  • Fat: 05%

Tiki Cat appears on our list once more. We’re looking at the Tiki Cat Broths Variety Pack Wet Cat Food Topper this time. This item is intended to be used as a food topping. However, it can also be used as a treat on occasion.

This assortment bundle has four distinct recipes. Each one begins with a broth, such as fish broth. This, of course, makes the treat incredibly soupy. Pour each pouch into a separate basin. You can’t exactly use these snacks to train your dog!

If you’re merely searching for a tasty snack for your cat, this cat topper is a good choice. You can add it to your cat’s regular diet or serve it separately.

These pouches are free of cereals, corn, wheat, and soy. They are also free of sugar, starch, and salt. Because each pouch mostly contains a meat broth of some kind, they may be good for felines with sensitive stomachs.

Pros

  • Moisture content is high.
  • Topper and dessert
  • Grain, corn, wheat, and soy free

Cons

  • Messy
  • It cannot be used as a training reward.

 

Cat Food Pouches Merrick Backcountry Real Rabbit Recipe
 

  • Deboned rabbit, lamb broth, beef broth, beef liver, and deboned lamb
  • Protein: 9%
  • Fat: 3%

High-quality ingredients are used in the Merrick Backcountry Real Rabbit Recipe Cat Food Pouches. The ingredient list contains a variety of meat items, including rabbit and bull liver.

A variety of broths are also provided, which significantly improves the moisture content. These cat treats include no chemicals, grains, glutens, wheat, maize, soy, or other low-quality ingredients. They are solely prepared with high-quality ingredients.

With the addition of gravy, these pouches could be just what your fussy feline is looking for! The extra wetness also provides a lot of flavor, which can be highly beneficial for picky felines.

This composition contains a lot of omega fatty acids, which help your cat’s skin and coat health. Having said that, these pouches aren’t all that different from the prior ones we’ve looked at.

They are, however, far more expensive. You’ll pay nearly twice as much for the same item you may buy elsewhere. This increased cost is primarily due to the distinct meat types, such as rabbit.

Most cats, however, will not benefit from eating rabbit meat. Of course, these treats cannot be used for training.

Pros

  • Gravy was added
  • There are no additives.
  • Meat of superior quality

Cons

  • Messy
  • They cannot be used as training rewards.
  • Expensive

 

Adult Dental Cat Treats Greenies Feline Tempting Tuna Flavor
 

  • Chicken Meal, Ground Wheat, Brewers Rice, Corn Gluten Meal, and Poultry Fat
  • Protein: 27%
  • Fat: 12%

The Greenies Feline Tempting Tuna Flavor Adult Dental Cat Treats are the only hard treats we’ve placed on our list – and they’re at the bottom.

Traditional hard treats aren’t appealing to most choosy cats. They’re not really appetizing and have little to no smell.

Furthermore, they frequently include low-quality components. These hard snacks may be better than others, but they still have many of the same issues.

The first ingredient, for example, is chicken meal, which is high-quality meat. The following ingredient, however, is wheat, followed by brewer’s rice, maize gluten meal, and poultry fat. As a result, we don’t suggest these treats for the majority of cats.

They are, however, a better option if you are seeking for training treats or if your cat prefers hard snacks. Otherwise, one of the high-moisture alternatives listed above may be more appropriate.

Pros

  • They can be used as training rewards.

Cons

  • Ingredients of lower quality
  • There isn’t much meat included.
  • Expensive

How to Choose the Best Cat Treat for Picky Cats

Choosing the best cat treats for your pet is never easy. You want to make sure that the goodies are both satisfying and healthful. While cat treats often have fewer ingredients than cat food, the list can still be daunting.

When your cat is choosy, it might be even more difficult to choose a suitable meal for your feline! You may locate food that checks all of your boxes, but your cat may reject it totally.

Each cat has different preferences. However, when it comes to food, most people appear to have the same general eating habits. In this section, we’ll go over several important aspects to remember when looking for treats for your fussy cat.

Taste and Cats

The sense of taste in cats is very similar to ours. Their senses of taste and smell are inextricably intertwined. As a result, how food smells has a significant impact on how it tastes.

Things taste different when you have a cold and can’t smell! This is because your sense of smell has a strong influence on your sense of taste. Our pets behave similarly.

The flavor of the meal is likely to play a far smaller effect in whether or not our cats like anything. They only have 500 taste buds, after all. We have 9,000 people. They simply do not have the same taste as we do.

Unfortunately, most cat treats are rigid and have a weak odor. The majority of them don’t even smell! As a result, when our cat eats them, they are unlikely to taste particularly good. Remember that cats have a considerably stronger sense of smell than humans, thus smell is likely to play a larger influence in their preferences.

As a result, wet treats are frequently a better alternative for fussy cats. Because you can’t hand each piece to their pet, these can be more challenging to feed. They are, however, frequently smellier and hence more appealing to our cats.

Aside from the smell, texture is also essential. Some cats are picky about the texture of their food. They may refuse to consume it if the texture is off in any way.

Hard snacks typically have a fairly consistent texture, while some are more rough than others. Some cats enjoy the crunch of hard meals. Others, on the other hand, dislike the crunch and prefer liquid foods.

This is entirely dependent on your particular cat.

Ingredients

A cat treat’s ingredients are critical. They will have an impact on the overall nutrition as well as the taste of the dish.

Fat is mostly responsible for the flavor of food. The lone exception is artificial tastes, which are not dependent on fat. Still, artificial flavors are not a healthy choice for most cats. If a food requires artificial tastes to enhance its flavor, it indicates that the fat content is quite low.

Cats are meant to subsist on a meat-based diet. After all, they are obligate carnivores. As a result, the majority of the fat they ingest should come from high-quality beef.

Whole animals are preferred. Meat dinners, on the other hand, are a good option if properly labeled. You want to know where the meat came from, not feed your cat mystery meat.

To boost the nutritional content of cat food, some fruits and vegetables are routinely added. However, because they are low in fat, they have little effect on the flavor of the food. You are not required to select treats that contain fruits.

After all, they’re treats, not a full meal for your cat.

Price

We’d all prefer it if money wasn’t an issue, but it typically is. There are numerous cat treats available at various rates.

Typically, the cheapest solutions are of the lowest quality. Typically, these items will contain low-cost, low-quality ingredients such as corn gluten meal. These are obviously not the ideal solutions for your cat.

However, this does not imply that all low-cost snacks are of poor quality. There are a few wet treat options that are mostly meat and are reasonably priced.

At the same time, there are some extremely pricey snacks available. These snacks typically contain a large amount of uncommon meat cuts, such as boar and rabbit. These meats will not necessarily benefit your cat. Finally, meat is meat.

As a result, you can save a lot of money by buying food that employs a cheaper protein source, such as chicken or beef.

Macronutrient Composition

Food’s protein and fat composition are important. Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they are built to eat protein and fat. Some carbs are fine, but they should not be consumed in large quantities. They just do not meet all of your cat’s requirements.

However, because carbs are cheap, many cat meals contain a lot of them. Wheat, for example, is less expensive in volume than meat.

Because they are treats, many businesses cut even more corners. After all, the treats don’t have to give all of your cat’s nourishment. They should also eat their regular diet.

As a result, it is critical to review the ingredient list and macronutrient composition.

Protein and fat should be in abundance. However, keep in mind that moisture content is also important. Foods having a higher moisture level will naturally have a lower protein content. However, this does not imply that they are lower in protein; the moisture content just gives the appearance of lower protein levels.

According to the label, wet foods should be higher in moisture and thus lower in protein and fat. Dry foods should be substantially higher, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they have more.

Dry vs. Wet Treats

Wet foods are frequently the most delectable selections available. However, this does not imply that all fussy cats will favor wet foods. Some people will enjoy the crunch of the dry treats, especially if they appreciate the texture.

If your cat is picky, we recommend trying wet treats. However, don’t be shocked if your cat prefers crunchy goodies instead!

Choosing the best cat treats for your pet is never easy. You want to make sure that the goodies are both satisfying and healthful. While cat treats often have fewer ingredients than cat food, the list can still be daunting.

When your cat is choosy, it might be even more difficult to choose a suitable meal for your feline! You may locate food that checks all of your boxes, but your cat may reject it totally.

Each cat has different preferences. However, when it comes to food, most people appear to have the same general eating habits. In this section, we’ll go over several important aspects to remember when looking for treats for your fussy cat.

If your cat is picky, we recommend trying wet treats. However, don’t be shocked if your cat prefers crunchy goodies instead!

Conclusion

There are numerous goodies available on the market. The majority of them are unsuitable for fussy cats. They’re lacking in fat and moisture, which makes them often tasteless.

However, there are other gravies and wet treat options that are frequently more delicious.

Friskies Lil’ Soups with Sockeye Salmon Lickable Cat Treats are highly recommended. These moist sweets are heavy in fat and high in moisture. As a result, they are frequently far more delicious.

We propose Fancy Feast Purely Natural Treats Variety Pack Cat Treats if you’re on a tight budget. Despite their increasing moisture content, these are still delightful treats.

They are, nevertheless, significantly less expensive than other possibilities.

BestForPets (bestforpets.org) hopes our in-depth reviews of the best cat treats for picky cats assisted you in selecting the best treats for your cat!

Author Image

Dr. Deborah Fletcher

Deborah R. Fletcher, DVM, is a skilled veterinarian with more than 15 years of experience dealing with companion and exotic animals. She has experience caring for a variety of animals, including household cats and dogs, reptiles, birds of prey, and even primates. Dr. Fletcher is a valuable part of the BestForPets team, where she contributes to their aim of providing pets and their owners with the finest possible treatment and services.

Veterinarian (DVM) Dr. Deborah Fletcher

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