Last updated Mar 24, 2023
Our Review Process
Our reviews are based on extensive research and, when possible, hands-on testing. Each time you make a purchase through one of our independently-chosen links, we’ll receive a percentage of the proceeds. Read more about how we’re supported here.Whether you’re training your cat through positive reinforcement or simply spoiling him with a little extra love, delicious and healthy cat treats are a must.
When shopping for cat treats in Canada, look for a meat-rich recipe packed with species-appropriate animal ingredients. And don’t forget about flavor!
If you’re looking for the tastiest cat treats in Canada, you’ve come to the right place. Below, you’ll find reviews of our favorite cat treats in Canada.
At a Glance: Best Cat Treats To Buy In Canada
Want a quick look at the best cat foods reviewed in this article? In the comparison table below, we’ve highlighted some of the most important features of each product. You’ll find more detailed information about each product later in the article.
Cat-Man-Doo Bonito Flakes
- Made with a single ingredient, dried bonito
- Rich in species-appropriate animal protein
- Low in calories, easy to break apart
Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Minnows Cat Treats
- Made with a single animal-based ingredient
- Very low in calories, great for training
- High in species-appropriate animal protein
Orijen Tundra Freeze-Dried Cat Treats
- Packed with species-appropriate animal ingredients
- Rich in flavor and low in calories
- No added carbohydrate ingredients
Feline Greenies SmartBites Healthy Skin & Fur Salmon Flavor Treats
- Approved by the VOHC to control tartar
- First ingredient is a concentrated source of animal protein
- Free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives
Shameless Pets Catnip N Chill Cat Treats
- Fresh chicken is the primary ingredient
- Only source of added fat is animal-based (chicken fat)
- Crunchy texture and catnip flavor cats seem to like
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Trout Formula Crunchy Grain-Free Cat Treats
- Two sources of animal-based protein top the list
- Fairly limited list of all-natural ingredients
- Cats seem to like the flavor and crunchy texture
Get Naked Furball Relief Soft Treats for Cats
- Fresh chicken as a protein-rich first ingredient
- Chewy texture may be good for cats with dental problems
- Free from corn, wheat, and soy as well as artificial additives
PureBites Chicken Breast Freeze-Dried Cat Treats
- Made with a single high-protein ingredient: chicken
- Absolutely no added carbohydrates
- Free from fillers, by-products, and artificial additives
Wellness Kittles Grain-Free Chicken & Cranberries Crunchy Cat Treats
- Crunchy texture and natural chicken flavor
- Three sources of species-appropriate animal protein
- Low in calories and highly affordable
Inaba Churu Lickable Cat Treats
- High protein content from primarily animal sources
- Creamy puree texture is ideal for older cats
- Low in calories, easy to feed in small portions
Now that you’ve seen a preview of our top picks, let’s dive into the details about how we decided to include them in this roundup of popular cat treats in Canada.
Why Should You Trust Us?
Over the last several years, we’ve spent countless hours testing the most popular pet products on the market, including cat food, cat treats, cat litter, and more. We’ve written in-depth reviews of our favorite brands as well as dozens of roundups to help you choose the right product for your cat.
Based on that research, we’re bringing you an updated list of the best cat treats in Canada. We’ve researched the brands themselves and evaluated individual recipes to bring you our top picks.
The cat treats on this list were chosen because they’re formulated with meat or poultry as the first ingredient. They’re packed with species-appropriate animal protein and natural flavor but low in calories. You’ll find an assortment of treats with different textures on this list so you can find the perfect product to appeal to your cat’s tastes and preferences.
What Should You Look For in Cat Treats?
The best cat treat is one your cat loves. It has an appealing scent and a meaty flavor that captures your cat’s attention and makes him beg for more.
But a good cat treat isn’t just delicious – it’s also healthy.
When you indulge yourself in a cheat day or a sweet treat after dinner, you’re probably not too concerned about how “healthy” it is. It’s a treat, after all, so all that really matters is that it’s delicious. As a cat owner, however, you’re the protector of your cat’s health and everything you feed him should support his overall health and nutrition.
Cats are obligate carnivores, so they naturally crave animal-based ingredients. These ingredients are the easiest for your feline friend to digest and they support optimal nutrient absorption.
When selecting cat treats, skip the high-carbohydrate ingredients and pass over the recipes loaded with by-products and artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives. This may mean saying no to popular (and cheap) brands like Temptations and Friskies but it’s worth spending a little more to get something that promotes cat health.
With these simple recommendations in mind, you can easily separate good cat treats from bad.
Some of the best treats for cats are made from 100% species-appropriate animal protein and complement your cat’s diet. You’ll find low-calorie treats and treats in different textures like lickable cat treats and soft cat treats. There are even dental treats that support your cat’s dental health.
Having learned the basics of shopping for cat treats, let’s move on to our top picks.
Top 10 Best Cat Treats in Canada
To help you pick the best treats for your cat, we tested dozens of different brands and recipes to bring you our top picks. Read on to see what we think are the best cat treats available in Canada.
#1 Overall Best: Cat-Man-Doo Bonito Flakes
If you’ve read our other cat treat reviews, you won’t be surprised to see Cat-Man-Doo’s bonito flakes at the top of this list. They’re one of our favorite cat treats of all time simply because they’re highly appealing, made with a single ingredient, and easy to feed.
Made with a single ingredient – 100% dried bonito – these treats are a hit with cats. They have a strong fish aroma that is sure to capture your cat’s attention and a flakey texture that makes them very low in calories. My cats went nuts for them, gathering around as soon as I opened the bag.
These treats are packed with animal protein and contain a decent amount of healthy fats, including skin and coat-supporting omega-3s. They’re a little pricey but they’re so thin that the bag can last for quite a while.
Ingredients
100% Dried Bonito.
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked
- Made with a single ingredient, dried bonito
- Rich in species-appropriate animal protein
- Low in calories, easy to break apart
- Strong aroma that is appealing to cats
What We Didn’t Like
- Fairly expensive
- Some found the texture too crumbly
#2 Runner Up: Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Minnows Cat Treats
If you’re looking for a cat treat that’s highly appealing to cats and very species-appropriate, you can’t go wrong with these freeze-dried minnows.
Made from a single ingredient – minnows – these treats contain just 2 calories a piece. They may be a bit larger in size than the average cat treat, but you may be able to break them up into smaller pieces for kittens or training purposes.
These single-ingredient treats are great for cats with food allergies or sensitivities as long as they can tolerate fish. They’re completely free from carbs and artificial additives. The downside is that they’re a little bit pricey given that they’re sold in half-ounce bags.
Ingredients
Minnows.
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked
- Made with a single animal-based ingredient
- Very low in calories, great for training
- High in species-appropriate animal protein
What We Didn’t Like
- Fairly pricey for a half-ounce bag
#3 Premium Pick: Orijen Regional Freeze-Dried Cat Treats
Orijen is a company well-known for high inclusions of animal ingredients in all of their cat foods and treats. Their dry foods contain up to 90% animal ingredients and their newly released wet foods up to 95%. These cat treats are packed with animal protein with no added carbohydrates.
With three sources of animal liver as the top three ingredients, these treats are rich in both protein and healthy fats. These and other organ meats also provide essential nutrients that support your cat’s optimal health and wellness.
Not only are these treats incredibly cat-friendly and species-appropriate, but they’re freeze-dried which makes them low in calories. The downsides are that they’re pretty expensive and not all cats like the freeze-dried texture.
Ingredients
Beef Liver, Lamb Liver, Wild Boar Liver, Goat, Wild Boar, Lamb, Goat Liver, Beef, Goat Kidney, Goat Tripe, Beef Kidney, Beef Tripe, Lamb Kidney, Lamb Tripe, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative).
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked
- Packed with species-appropriate animal ingredients
- Rich in flavor and low in calories
- Made with muscle meat and nutritious organ meats
- No added carbohydrate ingredients
What We Didn’t Like
- More expensive than the average treat
#4 Best For Dental Health: Feline Greenies SmartBites Healthy Skin & Fur Salmon Flavor Treats
Your cat’s oral health is important and dental cat treats can help you protect. Feline Greenies is one of the most popular brands of dental pet treats on the market and one of the only ones approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC).
Greenies offers a variety of treats to protect your cat’s teeth, including SmartBites formulas designed to support other aspects of your cat’s health. This formula is rich in omega-3 fatty acids to help improve the quality and health of your cat’s skin and coat.
Chicken meal provides a concentrated source of animal protein as the first ingredient. Unfortunately, three out of the next four are carbohydrates. Brewers rice provides very limited nutrition for cats and wheat ingredients aren’t any better. The carb content of this formula is much too high, but it may be worth the occasional offering for the dental benefits.
Ingredients
Chicken Meal, Animal Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Brewers Rice, Ground Whole Wheat, Wheat Flour, Animal Plasma, Fish Oil, Natural Flavor, Brewers Dried Yeast, Potassium Chloride, Ground Flaxseed, Dicalcium Phosphate, Fruit Juice Color, Choline Chloride, Salt, Taurine, Dl-Methionine, Calcium Carbonate, Mixed Tocopherols (A Preservative), Dl-Alpha Tocopherol Acetate [Source Of Vitamin E], Zinc Sulfate, Natural Salmon Flavor, Turmeric Color, Copper Sulfate, Vitamin A Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B2), Manganese Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), D-Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Potassium Iodide, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Folic Acid, Rosemary Extract.
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked
- Approved by the VOHC to control tartar
- First ingredient is a concentrated source of animal protein
- Free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives
What We Didn’t Like
- Contains a significant number of plant ingredients
- Made with vaguely named ingredients like animal fat and fish oil
#5 Best Catnip Treat: Shameless Pets Catnip N Chill Cat Treats
Though not all cats react to catnip, some go absolutely nuts for it. Catnip treats are a cleaner alternative to dried catnip because they’re easy to eat and won’t be scattered all over your floor (unless, of course, your cats find their way into the bag on their own).
These treats are made with chicken as the first ingredient and chicken fat as the only source of added fat. They’re free from artificial additives as well as low-value fillers like corn, wheat, and soy.
While Shameless Pets cat treats contain more carbohydrates than most of the picks above, they try to source as many of their plant ingredients sustainably. Shameless uses “upcycled” produce which is misfit or surplus produce that would otherwise go to waste.
Ingredients
Chicken, Sweet Potato*, Brown Rice, Tapioca, Brewers Dried Yeast, Miscanthus Grass, Chicken Fat, Natural Flavor, Inulin, Catnip, Phosphoric Acid, Mixed Tocopherols (A Preservative), Dried Bacillus Coagulans Fermentation Product.
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked
- Fresh chicken is the primary ingredient
- Only source of added fat is animal-based (chicken fat)
- Crunchy texture and catnip flavor cats seem to like
- Free from artificial color, flavor, and preservatives
What We Didn’t Like
- Contains a significant number of plant ingredients
- High overall carbohydrate content
#6 Best Crunchy Treat: Blue Buffalo Wilderness Trout Formula Crunchy Grain-Free Cat Treats
Blue Buffalo isn’t one of our highest-rated cat food brands, but many of their Wilderness cat treats are lower in carbohydrates than their dry foods. This particular recipe features trout as the main ingredient with chicken meal as a supplemental source of animal protein.
Potato starch helps give these crunchy cat treats their texture while chicken fat provides a nutritious source of animal-based fat. The overall carbohydrate content is much higher than we’d like to see but cats really seem to like these treats.
One thing to keep in mind with these treats is that they are not a single protein product. If your cat is allergic or sensitive to chicken, you may want to look elsewhere.
Ingredients
Trout, Chicken Meal, Potato Starch, Peas, Brewers Dried Yeast, Chicken Fat, Natural Flavor, Citric Acid, Potassium Chloride, Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols, Oil Of Rosemary.
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked
- Two sources of animal-based protein top the list
- Fairly limited list of all-natural ingredients
- Cats seem to like the flavor and crunchy texture
What We Didn’t Like
- High in carbohydrates
- Not a single protein recipe
#7 Best Chewy Cat Treat: Get Naked Furball Relief Soft Treats for Cats
Get Naked is a brand of functional pet treats. Their recipes are formulated to support specific health outcomes while satisfying your cat’s cravings for tasty snacks.
These treats are soft and chewy which makes them an excellent choice for older cats and cats with dental problems. With fresh chicken as the first ingredient, they are rich in protein and natural chicken flavor. That being said, there are a few plant-based ingredients which contribute to a high overall carbohydrate content.
What makes this recipe unique is that it’s formulated to support your cat’s digestive health and reduce furballs. Fiber-rich ingredients like flaxseed – which also provides omega-3 fatty acids – support this goal. As an added benefit, these treats are low-calorie with just three calories per treat.
Ingredients
Chicken, Sweet Potatoes, Vegetable Glycerin, Water, Flaxseed, Sunflower Oil (Preserved with Citric Acid), Natural Chicken Flavor, Chicory Root Extract, Dried Bacillus Coagulans Fermentation Product, Phosphoric Acid, Citric Acid, Brewers Dried Yeast, Zinc Proteinate, Mixed Tocopherols, Taurine.
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked
- Fresh chicken as a protein-rich first ingredient
- Chewy texture may be good for cats with dental problems
- Free from corn, wheat, and soy as well as artificial additives
What We Didn’t Like
- Contains several plant-derived ingredients
- High carbohydrate content
#8 Best High-Protein Treat: PureBites Chicken Breast Freeze-Dried Cat Treat
The best cat treats are packed with species-appropriate animal protein and these PureBites treats has it in abundance. If you’re looking for a high-protein treat loaded with chicken flavor and low in calories, consider these freeze-dried chicken treats.
PureBites treats are made with a single high-quality ingredient: chicken breast. Because they only have one ingredient, they’re very easy to digest and a great option for cats with food allergies (except for chicken allergies, of course).
Because these treats are so simple, they’re great for cats of all life stages. Some cats don’t enjoy the freeze-dried texture, but the treats have the benefit of being easy to break apart for older adult cats and kittens.
Ingredients
100% Pure USA Sourced & Made Human Grade Chicken Breast.
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked
- Made with a single high-protein ingredient: chicken
- Absolutely no added carbohydrates
- Free from fillers, by-products, and artificial additives
What We Didn’t Like
- Fairly pricey compared to average cat treat
- Some cats don’t like the freeze-dried texture
#9 Best For Kittens: Wellness Kittles Grain-Free Chicken & Cranberries Crunchy Cat Treats
When you first bring your kitten home, you’ll have to do a little training to teach him his name along with basic household manors. A small, low-calorie treat made with nutritious ingredients is a must.
These chicken and cranberries treats from Wellness are specifically formulated for kittens. They’re small in size and have a crunchy texture kittens love. They’re also full of natural chicken flavor.
With deboned chicken and chicken meal at the top of the list, these treats are rich in animal protein. You’ll also find supplemental protein in the form of whitefish meal and two animal-derived healthy fats – chicken fat and salmon oil.
Unfortunately, these treats contain a few starchy ingredients like potatoes, chickpeas, and peas which contribute to a high overall carb content. For a low-calorie, kitten-appropriate treat, however, they’re a highly affordable option.
Ingredients
Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Potatoes, Chickpeas, Peas, Whitefish Meal, Cranberries, Blueberries, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Natural Flavor, Ground Flaxseed, Salmon Oil, Rosemary Extract, Green Tea Extract, Spearmint Extract.
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked
- Crunchy texture and natural chicken flavor
- Three sources of species-appropriate animal protein
- Low in calories and highly affordable
- Free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives
What We Didn’t Like
- High in carbohydrates
- Contains several starchy plant ingredients
#10 Best For Seniors: Inaba Churu Lickable Cat Treats
Many cats develop dental problems as they get older which can make it difficult to chew hard dry food and treats. Senior cats often appreciate soft cat treats or even puree-style treats like these from Inaba Churu. Lickable cat treats are soft and tasty and easy to eat.
Another thing that makes these treats ideal is that they come on 0.5-ounce tubes. You can squeeze out a little at a time, a great option for low-calorie training, or you can even use it as a soft food topper.
Puree treats from Inaba Churu come in a wide variety of flavors and flavor combinations. The primary downside is that they’re pretty expensive – around $0.75 per tube.
Ingredients
Water, Tuna, Chicken, Tapioca, Natural Flavors, Guar Gum, Natural Tuna Flavor, Fructooligosaccharide, Vitamin E Supplement, Green Tea Extract.
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked
- High protein content from primarily animal sources
- Creamy puree texture is ideal for older cats
- Low in calories, easy to feed in small portions
What We Didn’t Like
- Contains some starchy tapioca
- Very expensive
Final Thoughts
Every cat is different in terms of preferences, so you may want to purchase a few different kinds to see what your cat likes. Fortunately, cat treats are fairly inexpensive.
Any of the treats from the list above would be a great choice for your cat. Simply think about what benefit is most important to you to make your choice.
Looking for more recommendations on great cat treats? Check out our other top picks here.
