Choosing chicken cat treats: how to find the right treat for your cat

Chicken cat treats come in many forms: crunchy chicken treats, soft sticks, liquid cat treats and complementary wet food. That can make choosing the right one tricky. Eye-catching packaging tells you little about what’s inside, while the difference between a treat and a complete meal is important.

Look out for these three common pitfalls:

• “With chicken” doesn’t always mean it contains much chicken. Check the percentage of chicken in the ingredients list. Whiskas Temptations, for example, contains 4% chicken and 2% dried cheese powder, while Whiskas Cat Sticks lists 26% chicken within the meat and animal derivatives content.
• A low-calorie claim doesn’t tell the whole story. A snack may contain few calories per portion but still recommend several portions a day. Check the recommended amount and adjust your cat’s main meal accordingly.
• A treat isn’t a substitute for complete food. Many cat treats are complementary pet food. This includes liquid treats and INABA Churu. So, if a product is legally labelled “complementary pet food”, it should be given alongside your cat’s usual food.

What to look for in chicken cat treats

1. Check the type of food

First, check whether you’re buying a treat, complementary wet food or complete wet food.

• Complementary snacks: suitable as a reward, a topper or for interactive feeding.
• Liquid cat treats: handy for hand-feeding, as a topping or for hiding medication. Always follow the instructions on the packaging.
• Complete wet food: intended as a meal when the label clearly says so. According to the product information, Ziwi PEAK CAT CANS Chicken is complete wet food for cats from 6 weeks old.
• Crunchy treats: often keep for longer once opened, but usually contain more energy per 100 grams than snacks with a high moisture content.

The term healthy cat treats isn’t a defined quality category. It’s better to assess the ingredients, analytical constituents, portion size and suitability for your cat’s age.

2. Consider moisture, calories and portions

A high moisture content may appeal to cats that don’t drink much, but it’s no substitute for fresh drinking water. According to the product information, INABA Churu Cat Chicken contains 90.5% moisture and 6 calories per treat. The INABA Churu Multipack Tuna & Chicken contains 91% moisture and also has 6 calories per treat.

Dry treats have different values. Catisfactions Cat Snack Chicken contains less than 2 kcal per portion, while its analytical energy content is 416 kcal per 100 grams. This difference is due to the small portion size. So don’t assume that low-calorie cat treats can be given without limit.

3. Check the age guidance, ingredients and packaging

Not every treat is suitable for kittens. Catisfactions is suitable from 8 weeks old, Vitakraft Liquid Snack Chicken from 3 months old, while Whiskas Cat Sticks isn’t suitable for kittens according to the product information. There are more options for adult cats, including Felix Deli Moments Chicken and Whiskas Dental Treats Chicken Flavor.

Also check:

• the legal product name: complete or complementary pet food;
• the stated percentage of chicken and any other sources of protein;
• cereals, milk products or cheese if your cat has a sensitive stomach;
• how long the product keeps once opened;
• the quantity in each bag, box or multipack;
• the recommended daily amount.

A cat treat multipack can be good value if you use treats every day, but don’t buy a large pack if your cat hasn’t tried the flavour yet. An opened liquid treat often needs to be used quickly or kept in the fridge.

Our recommendations for different types of cat owner

Suitable for: Budget-conscious beginners

Catisfactions Cat snack chicken maxipack 180g

Why it suits this profile: The 180-gram pack is practical for households that regularly give crunchy treats to adult cats or kittens from 8 weeks old.

How this product avoids the pitfall

The product information gives the portion size and an energy content of 416 kcal per 100 grams, so you can adjust the amount to suit your cat’s main meal.

Key benefit & highlights

Crunchy on the outside, soft in the middle, and suitable for adult cats and kittens from 8 weeks old.

Suitable for: Shoppers looking for top quality

Ziwi PEAK CAT CANS Chicken 85 g

Why it suits this profile: A good choice if you’re looking for chicken as part of a complete wet food, rather than just a small treat.

How this product avoids the pitfall

The product information clearly states that this is complete wet food, with 55.3% chicken, and that it’s suitable for cats from 6 weeks old.

Key benefit & highlights

85-gram can, chicken as the sole animal protein source according to the product description, and a complete nutritional profile.

Suitable for: Specific needs & frequent users

INABA Churu Multipack Tuna & Chicken 50 pcs.

Why it suits this profile: A 50-tube multipack is ideal for everyday use as a hand-fed treat, a topping or a way to hide medication.

How this product avoids the pitfall

According to the product information, the number of tubes and the portion value of 6 calories per treat are clearly stated.

Key benefit & highlights

91% moisture, chicken and tuna as protein sources according to the label, and 50 individual portions.

Frequently asked questions about chicken cat treats

Are chicken cat treats suitable for kittens?

It depends on the product. Catisfactions is suitable from 8 weeks old, while Vitakraft Liquid Snack Chicken is suitable for cats from 3 months old. According to the product information, Whiskas Cat Sticks isn’t suitable for kittens. Always check the age guidance on the packaging.

What’s a good liquid cat treat for cats that don’t drink much?

A liquid treat with a high moisture content can be another way to offer your cat fluids, but fresh drinking water is still essential. INABA Churu Cat Chicken contains 90.5% moisture, while INABA Churu Multipack Tuna & Chicken contains 91%. These are complementary treats, not a substitute for complete food.

How many cat treats can you give a cat each day?

Follow the manufacturer’s portion guidance and take your cat’s weight, age, activity level and main food intake into account. INABA Churu Chicken recommends 1 to 2 sticks a day for adult cats. Whiskas Temptations recommends a maximum of 12 pieces a day. If needed, reduce the size of your cat’s main meal to avoid overfeeding.