There’s no question that we adore our cats! There’s so much to love: they’re cute, and they can be cuddly (some of them, anyway). They’re also independent—and picky. But isn’t that part of their charm? But what if you want to give your cat delicious treats, and they keep turning up their nose at your offerings?
This is where we come in. We created reviews of the best cat treats for cats that tend to be on the picky side. Your cat might not love all of these, but we hope that through a little trial and error, you’ll find treats that will leave your cat begging for more!
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A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2025
Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall
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Feline Greenies Dental Cat Treats |
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Best Value
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Friskies Party Mix Beachside Crunch Cat Treat |
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Premium Choice
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Life Essentials Freeze-Dried Cat Treats |
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Inaba Churu Variety Pack Lickable Cat Treat |
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Hartz Delectables Squeeze Up Cat Treat |
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The 10 Best Cat Treats for Picky Cats
1. Feline Greenies Dental Cat Treats — Best Overall
Sizes | 1, 4.6, 9.75, or 21 oz. |
Flavor | Chicken |
Form | Crunchy |
The best overall cat treats for picky cats are the Feline Greenies Dental Cat Treats. Not only do most cats love these, but they also help clean your cat’s teeth, prevent tartar, and even freshen their breath. They are available in many different sizes, everything from a 2.1-ounce bag to a 21-ounce tub. They are oven-roasted crunchy treats in chicken flavor and contain added vitamins and minerals, making for healthy snacks. Each treat is a little less than 2 calories, and they have no artificial flavors or preservatives.
The main disadvantage of these treats is in the packaging, as the containers often arrive broken. Plus, they are not grain-free.
- Cleans the teeth, prevents tartar, and freshens breath
- Available in multiple sizes
- Oven-baked and with added vitamins and minerals
- No artificial preservatives or flavors
- Less than 2 calories per treat
- Not grain-free
- Containers often arrive broken
2. Friskies Party Mix Beachside Crunch Cat Treat — Best Value
Sizes | 1, 6, 20, or 30 oz. |
Flavor | Seafood |
Form | Crunchy |
The best cat treats for picky cats for the money are the Friskies Party Mix Beachside Crunch Cat Treats. Besides being well-priced, they have ocean whitefish as the first ingredient. It is in a seafood flavor, including crab, shrimp, and tuna, all in a tasty, crunchy bite. It comes in multiple sizes, from 2 ounces up to a 30-ounce bag. Also, each treat is just under 2 calories, and picky cats just seem to love these.
However, one of the problems with these treats is that they often seem to arrive crushed up. They also contain fillers (like wheat and by-products) and dyes.
- Good price
- Ocean whitefish is the main ingredient
- Comes in multiple sizes
- Under 2 calories for each treat
- Sometimes arrives crushed
- Contains fillers and dyes
3. Life Essentials Freeze-Dried Cat Treats — Premium Choice
Sizes | 5 oz. |
Flavor | Chicken |
Form | Freeze-dried |
Life Essentials Freeze-Dried Cat Treats are made in the U.S.A. and with just one ingredient: chicken. The chicken is USDA-approved white breast meat that’s been cut into small chunks and freeze-dried. There are no added preservatives, chemicals, or additives. With chicken as the only ingredient, you don’t have to worry about any by-products or fillers. These can be used as treats or just crumbled over your cat’s food if they help your cat enjoy dinner more.
However, it is expensive, and since they are freeze-dried, they tend to crumble quite easily, and most of them will turn into powder.
- Made in the U.S.A.
- USDA-approved chicken is the only ingredient
- Freeze-dried without any preservatives, additives, or chemicals
- Used as treats or crumbled over food
- Expensive
- Crumbles easily and becomes powdery
4. Inaba Churu Variety Pack Lickable Cat Treat
Sizes | 0.5-oz. tubes in a pack of 20 |
Flavor | Chicken, tuna, scallop |
Form | Puree |
Inaba Churu Variety Pack Cat Treats will give your cat a delicious, lickable puree that most cats—even picky ones—will love. You get 20 tubes that are 0.5 ounces each, in five different flavors: chicken, tuna, tuna with chicken, tuna with scallop, and chicken with scallop. They are made with real meat and are grain-free with added vitamin E. Your cat can take it straight from the tube, or you can put it on their food.
Unfortunately, these are a little pricey, and while most cats do seem to love these, many do not.
- Lickable puree that most cats love
- Comes in 20 tubes with five flavors
- Made with real meat and grain-free
- Added vitamin E
- Can be taken from the tube or added to food
- Expensive
- Picky cats can still be picky
5. Hartz Delectables Squeeze Up Cat Treat
Sizes | 2-oz. pack of 4, or 2-oz. pack of 32 |
Flavor | Chicken |
Form | Puree |
Hartz Delectables Squeeze Up Cat Treat is a delicious (at least for your cat) pureed treat that comes in several flavors, but this review is for the chicken one. It is made with real meat and can be squeezed directly into your cat’s mouth or on top of the food. It is also a great way to give your cat medicine, and it’s decently priced.
However, some cats won’t be too interested in this, and it can be a little messy.
- Pureed chicken treat
- Made with real meat
- Can be taken straight from the tube or put on food
- Affordable
- Picky cats might not like it
- Can be messy
6. Temptations Tasty Chicken Flavor Cat Treats
Sizes | 3, 6.3, 16, or 30 oz. |
Flavor | Chicken |
Form | Crunchy |
Temptations Tasty Chicken Flavor Cat Treats are definitely tempting for most cats! They are priced quite well and come in sizes from 3 ounces up to 30 ounces. They’re crunchy but contain a tasty soft center and are under 2 calories each. These treats also contain added vitamins and taurine, which is an important amino acid that supports a cat’s overall health. Temptations treats also come in quite a wide variety of flavors.
However, for some cat owners, these treats are almost too good. Some cats might actually turn up their noses at their regular food in favor of these treats. Also, the larger plastic tubs tend to arrive broken.
- Affordable
- Available in multiple sizes and flavors
- Crunchy with a tasty soft center
- Under 2 calories for one treat
- Added vitamins and taurine
- Some cats might prefer these over their regular food
- Containers sometimes arrive broken
7. Blue Buffalo Bursts Savory Seafood Cat Treats
Sizes | 2, 5, or 12 oz. |
Flavor | Seafood |
Form | Crunchy |
Blue Buffalo’s Bursts Savory Seafood Cat Treats has deboned salmon as the first ingredient, making them crunchy on the outside with a soft interior. These treats don’t contain artificial flavors or preservatives or any wheat, corn, soy, or animal by-products. They also don’t include chicken for cats that are sensitive to this ingredient.
The main disadvantages of these treats are that they tend to be on the crumbly side, and many cats just aren’t that interested.
- Deboned salmon is the first ingredient
- Crunchy on the outside and soft inside
- Doesn’t contain artificial flavors or preservatives
- No corn, soy, wheat, chicken, or by-products
- A little crumbly
- Super picky cats won’t eat them
8. Temptations Mixups Chicken & Catnip Cat Treats
Sizes | 3, 6.3, or 16 oz. |
Flavor | Chicken, cheddar, and catnip |
Form | Crunchy |
Temptations Mixups Chicken & Catnip Cat Treats have a crunchy outside and soft deliciousness inside and are 2 calories per treat. They contain extra vitamins and taurine and are a great price. The flavor of this particular treat is a combination of chicken, cheddar, and catnip—how can a cat resist this?
The negatives are that sometimes the container arrives crushed or broken, and treats are all over the place. Also, like most Temptations treats, some cats will stop eating their regular food in favor of these treats.
- Crunchy outside and soft center
- 2 calories per treat
- Added vitamins and taurine
- Well priced
- Flavor includes catnip
- Cats might reject their usual food for these treats
9. Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Cat Treats
Sizes | 8 oz. |
Flavor | Chicken |
Form | Crunchy |
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Cat Treats are the perfect treats for cats with urinary tract and bladder issues. These aren’t necessarily the best treats for just any picky cat, but if you have to limit your cat’s diet because of health issues, these treats might be what the vet ordered. They are formulated by vets, making them safe for your cat by helping to prevent crystal formation in the bladder.
However, you need vet authorization to purchase these treats, and the treats themselves tend to be large and hard. Some cats might have difficulty eating them.
- Treats for cats with bladder or urinary tract issues
- Safe treats formulated by vets
- Helps prevent crystal formation in the bladder
- Needs vet authorization
- Treats are large and hard
10. Sheba Meaty Tender Sticks Cat Treats
Sizes | 5, 10, 20, or 30 sticks |
Flavor | Chicken |
Form | Meat sticks |
Sheba Meaty Tender Sticks Cat Treats are basically sticks of meat in chicken flavor. They are soft and made with real meat. In fact, the first five ingredients are a combination of whole chicken and pork parts. You can get five, 10, 20, or 30 sticks, and they don’t contain corn, wheat, soy, or any artificial flavors.
The problem with these treats is that some cats might find them difficult to eat, particularly if they have issues with their teeth. Additionally, if your cat has a sensitive stomach, it might cause stomach upset.
- The first five ingredients are made with real meat
- Soft sticks in chicken flavor
- Available in four different sizes
- No corn, soy, wheat, or artificial flavors
- Some cats might have trouble eating these if they have issues with their teeth
- Some cats might get stomach upset
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Treats for Picky Cats

Before making your final decision on which treats to give your cat, check out our buyer’s guide first. We go over a few points to consider before purchasing any treats, particularly if you have a picky cat!
Cat Size
If the treats that you want to try first are available in multiple sizes, start with the smallest size. Even if the larger sizes are more cost-effective, it would be a waste of money if your cat ends up rejecting them.
Cat Treat Flavor
This is an essential part of dealing with a picky cat. If your cat loves turkey, aim for treats that are made with turkey, or try seafood for your fish-loving cat. Some cats love treats regardless of the flavor, but start with what your cat seems to prefer. You can always experiment with different flavors until you find the one that makes your cat happy.
Cat Treat Texture
There are several different textures you can try. If your cat has missing teeth, try soft or pureed treats. If your cat needs help with a build-up of plaque, aim for crunchy ones. These are great because they can do double duty: They are delicious treats for your cat and contribute to good dental health. Of course, if your cat has no teeth or health issues, you can try just about any texture.
How We Determined This List of Cat Treats for Picky Cats
All the cat treats reviewed in this article were chosen by our writers, editors, and team of experienced veterinary professionals to ensure that they are safe and meet the care needs of your pet. When choosing which cat treats to feature, we took into account brand reputation, personal and hands-on experience, reviews from other customers, and of course, feedback from our beloved pets, to make sure to bring you only the best of the best. We at PangoVet want to give you only the best products to choose from in our reviews, to ensure that they meet your pets’ needs for optimal health and well-being.
Why Trust PangoVet?
We are a team of experienced veterinarians, writers, and editors who are pet owners ourselves, so we understand how important your pets and the products they use and consume are to you. Whether you are caring for a furry, scaly, or feathered friend, we make sure that you have honest and unbiased reviews of the top cat treats on the market, so you can make an informed decision.
Conclusion
The Feline Greenies Dental Cat Treats are our overall favorites because cats love them, and they do a great job with your cat’s dental health. Hopefully, they can even lead to fresher breath! The Friskies Party Mix Beachside Crunch Cat Treats are well-priced, and their first and main ingredient is ocean whitefish. Finally, the Life Essentials Freeze-Dried Cat Treats are pricey, but they are made in the U.S.A. and only contain one ingredient: chicken.
We hope that our reviews will help you find cat treats that your cat will thank you for. No matter how picky your cat is, you’re bound to find something that will do the trick.
- You may also want to read: Best Dental Treats For Cats – Reviews & Top Picks
Featured Image Credit: Svyatoslav Balan, Shutterstock