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I went out and bought 10 Australian cat treats to see what my 4 kittens liked best and what was best for health.
Feline Natural comes out on top as the healthiest and overall best treat.
It’s packed with meat and organs, which cats love as carnivores. And there’s no fillers like rice, so you’re good there.
This treat is soft and crumbly, which is great for kittens and senior cats with poor dentition.
My 3 best cat treats in Australia overall:
Like human food, most snacks are addictive junk, cleverly disguised as healthful.
That’s no different with cats.
You’ll see many options on the market jam packed with grains and carbs. Stuff cats don’t need much of.
In this article I’ll go through a buying guide on what to look for to make sure you’re giving your kitty a healthy snack.
Then I’ll run the best picks on the market in Australia. Finally, I’ll go through frequently asked questions on cat treats.
As a dietitian, I have a background in researching nutrition for humans, but am also a cat nutrition enthusiast.
I’ve picked and hand-tested these treats to find what’s best. And I’ve analysed the nutrition.
Whilst I am not a veterinarian, I have taken every effort to ensure I’ve picked out the best cat treats.
Please note that this article is not intended as a replacement for medical advice.
3 Best Cat Treats in Australia
I’ve chosen these 3 cat treats based on an unbiased scoring system which grades cat food on five criteria:
- Value for Money:
- Ingredient Quality
- Nutrition
- Flavor
- Customer Rating
To learn more about how I calculate and grade food, check out our review guidelines.
Best Cat Treat in Australia
Feline Natural’s freeze-dried cat treats are the best option as a treat, paws-down.
It’s packed with premium grass-fed product. It’s like giving them a slice of the wild, right in the comfort of your home.
These treats are low in carbs and filler-free for easy digestion. Their soft and crumbly texture is perfect for kittens and seniors that struggle with hard treats.
The only problem is the price.
| Key Features | Information |
|---|---|
| Lifestage | Supplement |
| Texture | Soft and crumbly |
| Protein* | 43% |
| Carbs | 0% |
| Kcal/kg | 4,708 |
| Cost/100 grams (market ave) | $8.82 ($12.45) |
Soft and easy to chew
100% grass-fed meat
Fussy cat friendly
A little pricey
Only supplemental
Best Liquid Cat Treat in Australia
I found liquid treats worked really well to help socialize my 4 stray kittens I adopted.
These puree treats give you just enough separation for feeding without getting slobbery mouths chomping at your hand.
Aside from that, the nutrition is great in these packs. It’s got tuna which cats love and provides protein to fuel hungry bodies.
The price is reasonably well priced, but you can only get up to 10 in a pack (which doesn’t last too long if your cats love it).
| Key Features | Information |
|---|---|
| Lifestage | Supplement |
| Texture | Liquid puree |
| Protein* | 61% |
| Carbs | 7% |
| Kcal/kg | 550 |
| Cost/100 grams (market ave) | $8.82 ($12.45) |
Delicious liquid treat
No hand chomps and slobber
High protein for strength
Could have more in a pack
Only supplemental
Best Dental Cat Treat in Australia
Whilst Absolute Holistic won’t appear on many reviews, I think it’s a hidden gem that’s worth a look.
It’s got the harder texture that can help with dental care, but without the nasty fillers that so many other brands pump into their treats.
Absolute Holistic is meat-rich and also rich in omega 3 for healthy joints from green mussels.
It’s also suitable as a main meal offering complete and balanced nutrition.
The price soars high compared to other treats on the market though.
| Key Features | Information |
|---|---|
| Lifestage | All life stages |
| Texture | Air-dried |
| Protein* | 38% |
| Carbs | 13% |
| Kcal/kg | 4,400 |
| Cost/100 grams (market ave) | $19.50 ($12.45) |
Great for dental care
Omega 3 for joint health
Complete meal for all ages
Very expensive
What Is a Good Treat for Cats?
Anything animal-based is good for cats.
Why is that?
Cats are carnivores which means their natural diet is meat based. A cat prefers and thrives off meats, organs, and bones over carb rich foods.
Check the ingredients list. The ingredients list by weight, so the higher and ingredient – the more of it there is.
Since you want to give your cat meat, you’ll want to see that as the main ingredient and not something like grains.
This is a quick way to know you’re feeding your cat a quality treat that they’ll enjoy.
Quick notes:
- Cats are carnivores.
- A good treat is a meat based treat.
- Check the ingredients and look for meat high on the list (preferably first).
Do Cats Really Need Treats?
Cats do not need treats.
However, there might be benefits to giving cats treats.
Cat treats may help reinforce the use of a litter tray to help prevent inappropriate house soiling, although experts aren’t clear on the benefit.
Another benefit is using cat treats with a puzzle toy (e.g. ball), helping to encourage play.
Treats can also help the process of socializing kittens.
Finally, they can help with giving cats medication in a tasty and palatable way (e.g. with a liquid puree treat).
Quick notes:
- Cats do no need treats.
- However, treats can help reinforce positive behavior (e.g. using the litter tray).
- Treats could help with giving cats medication (check with a vet).
Things to Look For in Cat Treats
Here are some things to look for when choosing a treat for your cat.
Texture and Size
There’s many types of treats.
Some are crunchier and best suited to adult cats. Others are softer and crumbly – ideal for kittens or senior cats.
Some types to look for:
- Lickable cat treats: A squeezable tube that produces a meaty paste.
- Air-dried cat treats: Hard kibble like treats with dried meat. Usually great quality.
- Freeze-dried cat treats: Soft and crumbly. Packed with meats and organs. Great for kittens and seniors without teeth.
- Dental treats: Used to help clean cats teeth (although less effective than brushing).
There’s controversy with freeze-dried treats as they’re considered raw and may harbor bacteria.
I only saw one recall of a freeze-dried cat food (from Primal), due to bone fragment size ‘deviated from ideal’.
Taste and Flavors
Look at the ingredients.
Is your cat a fish lover, or a chicken enjoyer?
Kitten taste preferences are influenced by their mother. Check what the mother cat likes for clues.
Most cats enjoy variety, but they also get set in their ways.
Research finds cats enjoy salmon, a great option for picky cats.
Ingredients to Avoid
Check the ingredient list.
Many cat treats contain a wide variety of fillers, similar to human food ‘treats’.
Some cats are sensitive to grain ingredients (e.g. wheat), causing food intolerance.
Stick with meat rich treats for sensitive stomachs. Freeze-dried and air-dried treats are usually best.
Also avoid toxic foods.
A quick google search showed that many sites recommend fruit for cats. As carnivores, cats do not need (or want) to eat fruit.
Not only that, but a fruits may not contain enough arginine (an amino acid high in meat and dairy). Why does that matter?
One meal without arginine can have serious consequences for cats, leading to hyper-ammonia and potentially even death.
Lifestage Appropriate Cat Treats
Most treats are supplemental.
That means they don’t have the nutrition cats need. Limit most treats to 10% of the diet, to make sure they don’t displace main meals.
However, some treats are complete meals, meaning you can make them stand alone meals. Check the label.
Check for Samples
Try before you buy.
Sometimes you can get sample packs to try from cat food websites or retail stores.
It never hurts to ask if they’re offering anything to try a range of treats before committing to a purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
Customers report that Greenies is the cat treat that cats like most.
Online reviews show Greenies dental treats average around 4.8/5 (as of the writing of this article).
We tested 10 Australian cat treats side-by-side with 4 kittens to find out what they liked best.
They enjoyed Fancy Feast Puree Kiss and Tiki Cat Baby Thrive the most (two liquid treats).
Too many treats may lead to weight gain.
A sample of UK cat owners found more overweight cats with 3 treats a week (although less obesity seen with more than 4 treats a week). Treats increase calories.
Free-feeding, middle age (7-12 years) and neutering are more predictive towards weight gain. Some sources suggest 10% of the dietary intake as a limit.
Cats can have treats everyday.
However, aim to offer no more than 10% of your cats total calories from treats.
As an occasional treat, cats may have cheese.
Cheese doesn’t contain lactose (which can upset digestion in cats). However it’s high in calories and might lead to weight gain.
Learn more:
If you run out of cat food it’s best to get more as soon as possible.
Whilst cats are carnivores and can eat plain meat (e.g. tuna in springwater, poached plain chicken breast without seasoning) these foods aren’t complete sources of nutrition.
Over a long period, the lack of nutrient variety will lead to deficiency with nasty side-effects.
You cannot feed cats meat free meals as it can lead to death.
Related:
Foods to avoid include:
- Fruit
- Yeast
- Garlic
- Onions
- Avocado
- Chocolate
Conclusion
Treats are great for occasional feeding and positive reinforcement.
Limit treats to no more than 10% of the diet as too many treats can lead to weight gain.
We found the quality drops off quickly, with most options lackluster in nutrition quality despite being quite tasty.
>> Our top cat treat in Australia is Feline Natural. It’s the healthiest treat on the market and great for fussy eats. Comes in a soft and crumbly texture that’s easy to chew.
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