Buyers Guide: Tasty Cat Treats
Tempting and tasty morsels for discerning felines
Owners around the world know the benefits of healthful treats for cats. Fortunately, there are a wealth of new (or new-ish) yummy products designed specifically for rewarding our feline friends.
Cats thrive on positive reinforcement and keeping treats on hand is the perfect way to train them. A cat has a hunter mindset that operates very well in a reward-based system. You can use treats to entice cats into a carrier, distract them during grooming sessions and even help to offset negative behavior (such as keeping your cat off the counter). Cat treats are perfect for any situation that requires a little feline finesse.
When selecting a treat, be sure you count the calories as part of their regular healthy diet. Feline obesity can result in many serious health and behavioral conditions. For that reason, I’m focusing on treats that taste great, but are naturally low in calories.
Pure Bites offers a selection of premium, freeze-dried treats for your obligate carnivore. I especially love the flavor varieties, such as chicken, salmon, beef liver, shrimp, ocean whitefish, duck, tuna and turkey. Made in the USA, they are also low-calorie (less than 3 calories a nibble) and very high in protein, which is what your cat needs.
A new type of treat that has the added benefit of helping to save the environment is the GoBare River Bites and Fillet Bits with Asian Carp from BareItAll Petfoods . As an invasive species, the Asian carp is 
wreaking havoc on local U.S. ecosystems. These treats not only help to remove it from our waterways, but provides a delicious and novel U.S.-based cat treats. The fish also has a high percentage of omega 3s. With the slogan, “Saving the environment – one pet at a time,” you know it’s a win-win situation.
The Honest Kitchen manufacturers one of my cat’s favorite treats: Wishes. Made from dehydrated Icelandic haddock, these compressed fish treats have only 1.1 calories each, making them perfect for enticing a cat to do your bidding.
Ciao Churus
from Inaba are the most unusual cat treats I’ve seen and my cats can’t get enough. The long, slim packages contain a paste made with real deep-sea—and dolphin-safe— tuna or farm-raised chicken. Grain-free, they can be used as a treat or food topper. You can choose from eight different varieties: Tuna, Tuna with Chicken, Tuna with Salmon, Chicken, Chicken with Scallop, Chicken with Cheese, Chicken with Crab, Chicken with Shrimp. Inaba also offers grilled fillets in tuna and chicken. These perfectly sized hand-cut treats come in a variety of flavored broths, including tuna, chicken, squid, scallop, crab and shrimp.
If your cat isn’t a fan of tuna, Orijen offers 100-percent meat-based treats that will have your cats clawing for more. These freeze-dried treats contain unique combinations of responsibly sourced novelty proteins, including: Regional with Angus beef, Romney lamb, wild boar and Yorkshire pork; Six Fish with wild caught fish (flounder, pacific pilchard, rock sole, rockfish, mackerel and pacific hake) from North Vancouver Island; Original with free-run chicken and turkey and wild-caught monkfish; Grass-Fed Lamb; Wild Boar; and Tundra with wild boar, goat, venison and arctic char.
The cat treat market is exploding with new flavors and healthy new alternatives for cats who love to snack. When selecting a treat, do your best to identify the source of the proteins and don’t be afraid to ask the manufacturer for documentation on how the proteins were sourced. Your cat relies on you to stay healthy.
About the Author: Stacy Mantle is a fulltime freelance writer, bestselling author and founder of PetsWeekly.com. She resides in the deserts of the Southwest with a few dogs, several cats and a very understanding husband.
Does your dog have a tough time choosing between a tennis ball or rubber toy? If yes, you could give him the best of both with JW Helmet Heads dog toys. Putting a fun spin on the classic Cuz dog toys, the Helmet Heads encase tennis balls in durable rubber to create a fun multi-use toy for your dog. Suitable for chewing and/or playing fetch, the toys’ characterized rubber exterior adds durability and creates erratic bounce during play. The toys are 3.25 x 2.75 x 2.75 in. size and come in various colors in three helmet shapes: Diver, Gladiator and Aviator. 
If your cats are like most, they spend a majority of their time sleeping with intermittent bursts of hyperactivity. Jackson Galaxy Ground Prey Toys make the most of that activity and help you keep your cats slim, healthy and happy. The all-new cat toys feature ball-and-socket joints that mimic ground prey movement when attached to the accompanying Ground Prey Wand. Available in four different animals—Snake, Iguana, Squirrel and Mouse—and various colors, the toys’ links can added or removed to create different sizes and movement. 
While feeding your dog greasy fast food is never a good idea, you can, however, indulge your pup with stuffed-toy versions thanks to P.L.A.Y.’s American Classic plush-toy collection. Featuring handmade craftsmanship, double-layer exterior and double-stitched edges for extra durability, the toys are stuffed with eco-friendly PlanetFill® filler, which is made from 100 percent post-consumer certified-safe recycled plastic bottles. Available as a five-piece set or individually, the toys include Barky Burger, Hot Diggy Dog, Frenchie Fries, Fluffy’s Fried Chicken and Mutt’s Milkshake, and feature detachable components, crinkle paper or squeakers. 
Turn your dog’s ordinary mealtime into a culinary one with Fruitables Broth Bowls. The all-natural, ultra-low sodium food toppers add flavor and hydration to any dish. Completely pet safe with no onions, garlics, leeks or MSG, the 2-calorie-per-ounce broths are formulated to be highly palatable, making them great appetite stimulants for picky canines. Made in the USA with USA-sourced ingredients, they come in 1-liter and ½-liter cartons in three tasty flavors: Chicken, Beef and Veggie. 
PawsIQ™ Dental Treats for Cats are formulated to help keep a cat’s breath fresh and maintain healthy teeth and gums by controlling tartar buildup. Made in the USA with natural ingredients, the treats are high in protein and have a crunchy texture that your cat will love. Free of wheat, soy, corn and artificial flavors, the dental treats come in five tasty varieties; Chicken, Catnip, Ocean, Tuna and Salmon. 
Solid Gold Pet Purrfect Pairings™ cat food is a light, airy and savory mousse that even selective eaters are sure to love. Formulated with real meat and goat milk—an easy-to-absorb and digestible source of essential nutrients—the grain- and gluten-free recipes provide a nutritionally complete and balanced meal that is perfect for cats and kittens of all lifestages. The delectable food may also be served as an accompaniment to kibble or as a tasty treat. Purrfect Pairings come in 2.75-oz. tubs and six feline-tempting varieties: Shrimp, Tuna, Chicken, Whitefish, Chicken Liver and Salmon. 
Every dog and cat, whether naughty or nice, deserves a fun and festive holiday toy and West Paw Design has new ones for dogs and one for cats. The white-and-white striped Holiday Bear comes in two sizes (9 in. and 6 in.), contains a squeaker for extra fun. The soft and cuddly Holiday Stocking and Holiday Mitten are ideal for play or nap time; both are 6 inches in size. The bright-red Holiday Star is a soft, plush squeaker toy, 4 inches in size. In addition to the three new toys, the holiday line for dogs includes reindeer, gingerbread men, candy canes, Christmas trees and merry bones. For cats, West Paw Design offers the new Catnip Star. Hand-filled with USDA-certified organic catnip, your cat will love batting around and snuggling with the soft, Christmas-green toy. If you really want to spoil your cat, consider getting her a Holiday Field Mouse and/or a Holiday Big Sky Mouse as well. 
Zuke’s PureNZ Jerky Dog Treats are handcrafted in small batches from New Zealand sourced ingredients. Every pouch contains 80 to 90 percent real meat protein, such as grass-feed beef, green-lipped mussels, salmon and whitefish, along with high-quality fruits and vegetables. The limited-ingredient dog treats are available in four forms: 4-calorie Bites in Beef with Rabbit, Beef with Lamb and Beef with Venison recipes; soft, Cords in Beef & Turkey, Beef & Chicken and Beef & Duck recipes; thin-sliced Cuts in Beef with Salmon, Beef with Whitefish and Beef with Green Lipped Mussel recipes; and Steaks in Beef with Carrot, Beef with Potato and Beef with Sweet Potato recipes. Each form and recipe comes in 5-oz. resealable bags. 
Pamper your finicky felines this holiday season with Soft ‘n Tasty Baked Bites cat treats from Caru Pet Food. The first ingredient in these small-sized baked bits is USDA-inspected meat—chicken, chicken liver, salmon. Other beneficial ingredients include chickpeas, chicken broth and fish oil. The grain- and soy-free tidbits are formulated without any artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Made in the USA by a family-owned company, the treats come in two recipes: Chicken and Salmon. 
Does your dog like to chew on toys? If yes, then KONG Dotz dog toys just might end up on your holiday shopping list. The interactive toys come in three shapes—circle, square and triangle—and feature layered textures (the dots) that will entice and delight the most eager of canine chewers. The toys’ playful, unpredictable bounce keeps dogs guessing as to where they’ll land next, while the nubby dots help keep dogs’ teeth and gums clean and healthy. To see the toys in action, click 
Keep your cats entertained—and away from the holiday decorations—with Coastal Pet Products’ Turbo Random Roller Cat Toy. Measuring 22-in. round, the interactive toy is designed to offer your cat (or cats) hours of mental stimulation and physical fun. The unpredictable movement of the battery-powered ball appeals to cats’ hunting instincts, while the dual-sided cover makes enticing crinkle noises during play—and keeps the ball from rolling away. Battery included. Click 
Petcurean Gather™ Organic pet food for dogs and cats is formulated using sustainably produced, certified organic ingredients that are caringly blended and balanced to provide your dog or cat with natural premium-quality nutrition. With nothing added that’s not needed, the pet foods feature single-source proteins, organic peas, lentils and other essential ingredients, such as omega 3 and 6 oils, to provide healthy, tasty meals for your dog or cat. There is one recipe for cats: Free Acres Organic Free-Run Chicken, which comes in 4- or8-lb bags. And three recipes for dogs, including Wild Ocean Line-Caught Cod and Free Acres Organic Free-Run Chicken, which are available in 6- or 16-lb. bags. 
Your feline companions deserve to look and feel their best while remaining safe indoors and out. Angel Pet Supplies’ Studded Cat Collars not only look great, their elastic breakaway and bell safety features ensure your cats stay safe wherever they are. The genuine leather cat collars are lightweight and comfortable, and come in two sizes—10 in. and 12 in.—and six stylish colors: black, white, pink, red, purple and turquoise blue. They are available from variety of independent pet retailers—brick-and-mortar and online. 
Could your dog do with a little extra protection from the weather this winter? Kruuse’s Buster brand offers a range of stylish jackets and coats for dogs that will help keep your best friend warm and dry in all types of weather. The Outdoor Winter Jacket provides warmth in extreme winter conditions; the Raincoat protects dogs in wet and windy weather; the Active Dog Jacket provides fashionable warmth; and the City Dog Jacket provides functional style on chilly days. All of the jackets and coats are easy to put on and take off; come in a range of colors; and are available in nine sizes, from XXS to XXL, for a comfortable and secure fit. 
OurPets® Pounce House™ is designed to stimulate cats’ hunter instinct and engage them in fun and healthful play. A motorized (and quiet) feather wand spins randomly to entice cats inside, while the large multiple openings provide them with easy access to bat at and pounce on their prey. After an exhausting workout, the ample-sized house (18x18x15 inches) is a great place for a catnap until it is time to spring back into action. The house is easy to set up and fold for storage; the wand’s motor is removable and powered by two AAA batteries (not included). 
Rosie’s™ Soft Dog Treats are made with thoughtfully sourced ingredients, including 100 percent vegetarian-fed chicken, sustainably sourced salmon, chia and flax seeds. The grain- and soy-free treats come in four dog-palate-tempting flavors in 6-oz. resealable bags: Peanut Butter with Banana, Salmon and Ginger, Pumpkin with Cinnamon, and Chicken and Rosemary. As an added bonus, when you buy a bag of Rosie’s treats, you will also be helping homeless dogs find their forever homes. Through its Rescue Ally Project, Rosie’s will donate 10 percent of its proceeds to four rescues twice a year and place their images and stories on the treats’ packaging. 
“The Dog Tales Collection” by Patricia A. Brill, PhD, is an award-winning set of illustrated books that help parents start a conversation with their children about caring for pets. Three of the books—“Do Bad Dogs Get Cancer?” “The Road to Recovery is Paved with Dog Treats!” and “Don’t Say Good Bye Just Say See You!”—help children understand what occurs when a pet or loved one has cancer, under goes surgery and/or stays overnight at a hospital or dies. The fourth book, “Porsche Bella’s Forever Home” shows children the benefits of rescuing, fostering and/or adopting animals. 
The next time you have a movie night at home, don’t forget to include popcorn for your pup. Doggiee Snack Bar Organic Doggiee Pupcorn dog treats combine the fun of popcorn with the goodness of tasty meat and the benefits of a low-calorie treat. Available in two flavors—Organic Beefy Pupcorn and Organic Chicken Pupcorn—the treats are made with just two ingredients: all-natural popcorn and organic beef or chicken flavoring. The popcorn comes in 19.5 oz. eco-friendly burlap bags. 
Squeak is the newest member of the Orbee-Tuff® family of dog toys from Planet Dog. Just as durable as the original but now with a fun sound your dog is sure to love, the bouncy, buoyant, minty and chewy ball features a unique, patent-pending squeaker that contains no adhesives or glues, making it 100-percent nontoxic. Three-inches round, the Squeak is available in two fun colors—bright orange and clear-sky blue—and has a 5/5 durability rating for the most aggressive chewers. Like all Orbee-Tuff toys, it is made in the USA and 100 percent guaranteed. 
PureBites® Mixers for cats are made with 100 percent pure meat. Formulated for use as a topper, mixer, appetizer or treat, their aroma, texture and freshness will help satisfy your cat’s carnivorous cravings. Naturally high in protein with only 30 calories per 1.76-oz. tray, PureBites Mixers come in five recipes, which contain only chicken and/or fish and water: chicken breast, wild skipjack tuna, chicken breast & wild ocean shrimp, wild skipjack tuna & Alaskan salmon, wild skipjack tuna & chicken breast. 
PawFlex Wickedly Potent! dog shampoos are formulated with pure essential oils, botanical butters and healthy plant oils, such as olive and coconut to help nourish and care for your dog’s skin and coat—and be kind to our planet at the same time. The shampoos are produced in small batches to ensure freshness, consistency and perfection. They come in clear 8.5-oz. bottles so you can see the ingredients’ natural colors—no dyes or coloring ingredients are use. The shampoos are available in eight formulas for a variety of benefits: Calming, Itchy Mutt, Puppy Love, Healing Skin, Achy Joints, Flea & Ticks, Smelly Dog and The Everything Shampoo! 
New Age Pet’s Habitat ‘n Home Jumbo Litter Loo for cats is designed to accommodate the largest sized litter boxes as well as smaller ones. Featuring a larger overall size to accommodate larger pans and self-cleaning litter boxes, the Loo’s pull down front panel makes installation and removal of the litter box a snap and the shelf provides storage space for litter box accessories and tools. Made of ecoFLEX™, a non-toxic composite material comprised of recyclable polymers and reclaimed poplar, the Jumbo Litter Loo is available three colors: Espresso, Russet and Antique White. 
If your cat loves fish, consider adding Cat Sushi cat treats from SF Pet Foods to your shopping list. Made from just one ingredient—100 percent skipjack tuna—the all-natural, flaked treats are high in protein and low in fat, making them deliciously healthful for discerning felines everywhere. Using an ancient process that slowly dries the fish and then slices it into extremely thin pieces, Cat Sushi features only the largest flakes. It is great as an appetizer or a standalone treat and can be mixed in with dry or wet food. 
Ever wondered what your dog does at home while you’re away? The Petzi Treat Cam™ lets you check in on your pets and share treats with them from anywhere at any time. The app-controlled, Wi-Fi-connected remote pet treat dispenser makes it easy to check-in and interact with your pet from any smartphone or tablet. The cam features a wide-angle camera with night vision, high-quality audio and a universal treat launcher that works with any dry, crunchy treat smaller than 1 inch. It comes with multiple mounting options so that you can place the treat cam wherever it best suits your needs. A dedicated iOS or Android app controls the device and makes it easy to share captured images. 
Nekochan’s handcrafted and extremely realistic Neko Flies cat toys are designed to provide hours of exercise and fun for your cat—and you. Made with only cat-safe materials, the dangling toys come in eight critter shapes that are sure to captivate your cat: a creepy, crawly spider with dangly legs; an iridescent-winged dragonfly; a furry and a fluffy long-tailed mouse; a dangly legged centipede; a long-tailed cicada; an iridescent winged butterfly; and a BirBug (part-bird, part-bug). The toys attach to either a basic, 22-in. clear acrylic rod or an adjustable (18, 25 and 32 in.), telescoping rod made of graphite material. 
P.L.A.Y.’s Pet Teepee provides a fun and safe snuggle space for your pet, and adds an architectural design element to your home. Constructed of 100 percent, cotton canvas and pinewood poles, the cozy hideout features a circular front opening and removable interior cushion, making it great spot for your dog or cat to play or nap. Designed for easy set-up and care (the canvas is machine washable and dryer friendly), the durable Pet Teepee comes in four styles—Moroccan pattern in navy blue or marsala, denim and classic—measuring 24.8 x 24.8 x 29.1 inches in size. 
Get your dog packed up and ready to go on a long or short hike with Kurgo’s lightweight, tough, adjustable-fit Baxter Pack dog backpack. Designed to withstand rugged outdoor conditions, it has eight different adjustment points to get the proper fit for any dog. The backpack includes a rear-mounted leash hook that works like a harness and the ergonomic padded spine support contours to a dog’s back for a comfortable fit and provides weight distribution for the two saddlebags. The pack has space to store all of your canine’s travel essentials (food, treats, toys, first-aid supplies and travel bowls) and includes a large handle to help dogs over rock scrambles or extract them from water. Available in two sizes, the pack comes in Barn Red, Coastal Blue, Sea Glass, Purple & Gray, Black & Orange and Ink Blue & Electric Green. 
Handcrafted from real wood and designed to complement any room, the Curio® reimagines the cat litter box as a piece of fine furniture. Inspired by classic mid-20th century design, it is made in the USA of furniture-quality, pre-finished europlywood. Inside is a custom-fitted Curio Litter Liner litter pan, which is constructed from durable, waterproof polymer and features 10-in. high walls for litter retention and side handles for easy lift out. (The Curio also accommodates many standard size litter pans.) It is available in three styles: maple, walnut and patterned walnut and comes with a 30-day money-back return policy and is covered by a limited one-year warranty. 
