Best Cat Treats for Training: 6 Small Bites Cats Will Do Anything to Earn
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The best cat treats for training are tiny, smelly, soft enough to eat in one bite and exciting enough that a cat will stop what they are doing to earn one. For most cats, Inaba Churu puree squeezed from a tube or broken into small licks is the single best training reward because the smell is intense and every bite is a lick, not a crunch that takes time to chew.
Dog trainers have it easy because dogs will work for kibble. Cats are pickier: they want strong smell, soft texture and novelty. The right treat is the difference between a cat that stares at you during clicker training and a cat that learns to come, sit, high five and walk on a harness. We picked these from trainer recommendations, owner reviews and Amazon best seller data, then sorted them by how well cats actually work for them.
| Product Name | Best For | Key Feature | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inaba Churu Creamy Cat Treats | Best overall training | Lickable puree tubes, high value | Check Price |
| Temptations Classic Treats | Budget dry treats | Small crunchy bites, popular flavor | Check Price |
| Vital Essentials Freeze Dried Minnows | High value protein | Single ingredient freeze dried minnows | Check Price |
| Whole Life Pet Freeze Dried Chicken Breast | Pure protein | One ingredient freeze dried chicken | Check Price |
| Greenies Feline Dental Treats | Dental training treats | Small crunchy dental bites | Check Price |
| Pet Botanics Training Rewards Soft Cat Treats | Soft bite size | Small soft moist bites for quick rewards | Check Price |
📋 In This Guide
Best Cat Treats for Training: Our 6 Picks
Inaba Churu Creamy Cat Treats
Inaba Churu is the highest value training reward most cat owners can find. It is a creamy chicken or tuna puree in a squeeze tube. You tear the top, squeeze out a tiny lick onto your finger or a target stick, and the cat instantly works for more.
Because licking takes a second, it does not interrupt training flow the way crunchy treats do. It is also the treat that works on even very picky cats. It held a 4.7 star rating from hundreds of thousands of ratings when we checked. Cut tubes into mini portions if you train for more than a few minutes. There is also a dental version we compare in our guide to the best cat dental treats.
✅ Why we picked it
- Churu is the highest value, fastest reward for training. It works on picky cats, licks down in one second, and cats will repeat behaviors over and over to earn more.
👍 Pros
- Licks down instantly, no slow chewing
- Strong smell cats crave
- Works on picky eaters
- Tubes are easy to carry in a pocket
👎 Cons
- Can be messy on fingers
Temptations Classic Treats
Temptations are the classic crunchy outside soft inside cat treat. They are small, cheap, and almost every cat recognizes the sound of the tub. The classic chicken and seafood flavors make a good everyday training treat for cats that are not very food motivated but will work for Temptations.
They held a 4.8 star rating when we checked. They are less “high value” than Churu or freeze dried meat, but they are perfect for simple behaviors like recall and name response where you do not need the most exciting treat possible.
✅ Why we picked it
- Temptations are the everyday cheap treat almost every cat will work for without breaking the bank.
👍 Pros
- Very cheap
- Small bite size
- Widely loved flavor
- Resealable tub
👎 Cons
- Crunching takes longer than a lick, slightly slower for rapid reps
Vital Essentials Freeze Dried Minnows
Freeze dried minnows are the high value protein treat for serious training. They are single ingredient, one whole minnow per piece, no fillers, no grains, no additives. The fish smell is intense and cats go crazy for them. Break a minnow into two or three tiny pieces and you have multiple rewards per treat.
They held a 4.4 star rating when we checked. They are the treat to pull out for harder behaviors like harness training, nail trims, or recall around distractions.
✅ Why we picked it
- Freeze dried whole minnows are the highest value dry treat for cats. The fish smell is unbeatable.
👍 Pros
- Single ingredient, no additives
- Intense smell cats will work hard for
- Breaks into small pieces
- High protein
👎 Cons
- Strong fish smell on your fingers
Whole Life Pet Freeze Dried Chicken Breast
Whole Life freeze dried chicken is a single ingredient human grade chicken breast treat, freeze dried with nothing added. It breaks into tiny crumbles perfect for training. Chicken is a flavor almost every cat likes, and it is less fish smelly than minnows if you want less odor on your hands.
It held a 4.4 star rating when we checked. It is an excellent option for cats with food sensitivities because it is literally just chicken.
✅ Why we picked it
- One ingredient chicken is the cleanest, most allergy friendly high value treat you can use for training.
👍 Pros
- Single ingredient, no additives
- Breaks into tiny training crumbles
- Human grade chicken
- No grains, no fillers
👎 Cons
- Less intensely smelly than fish treats
Greenies Feline Dental Treats
Greenies dental treats are small crunchy treats with the added benefit of tartar control. They are accepted by the Veterinary Oral Health Council for reducing tartar buildup. They are a good maintenance treat for short daily training sessions like coming when called.
They held a 4.8 star rating when we checked. They are not as high value as wet or freeze dried treats, but they serve double duty as a dental treat during regular short sessions. For a full comparison see our best cat dental treats guide.
✅ Why we picked it
- Dental treats do double duty: reward behavior and clean teeth during daily short sessions.
👍 Pros
- VOHC accepted for tartar control
- Small crunchy bite size
- Cats like the flavor
- Resealable bag
👎 Cons
- Not high enough value for difficult behaviors like nail trims
Pet Botanics Training Rewards Soft Cat Treats
Pet Botanics Training Rewards are soft, moist, bite sized treats designed specifically for training. They come in small pieces you can dispense one at a time with a treat pouch, with a strong bacon or fish aroma cats respond to. Soft treats chew faster than crunchy ones, which keeps training sessions moving.
They held a 4.3 star rating when we checked. They are the closest cat equivalent to dog training treats in format.
✅ Why we picked it
- Soft bite sized moist treats are the fastest dry reward, designed specifically for training repetition rather than casual snacking.
👍 Pros
- Soft and quick to chew
- Bite sized, no breaking needed
- Designed for training
- Strong aroma
👎 Cons
- Check ingredients for any dietary sensitivities
What makes a good cat training treat?
Training treats need to be tiny, smelly, eaten fast, and special enough that the cat sees them as different from regular food. Treats that are too big, too crunchy or too boring stop working the second something more interesting happens.
| Feature | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Tiny bite size | One swallow, no crumbs, rapid repetition |
| Soft or lickable | Eats in one second so training continues |
| Strong smell | Cats hunt by smell; strong aroma = higher value |
| Novel, not everyday food | Reserve special treats for training only |
| High protein | Meat based treats outperform carb based treats |
| Low calorie per bite | You give many per session without overfeeding |
For more on cat enrichment and treat based play, see our guides to the best lick mat for cats and the best puzzle feeder for cats.
How many treats can I give during training?
A typical training session uses 10 to 20 very small treats per cat per day. Break larger treats into multiple small pieces so you get more rewards per treat without overfeeding. Aim for treats being less than 10 percent of the cat’s daily calories.
- Keep sessions short: 3 to 5 minutes is long enough for cats.
- Stop before the cat loses interest.
- End every session on a success.
- Give a meal or meal portion after training so total daily food stays balanced.
- Use the cat’s regular kibble for very simple behaviors if they are motivated enough.
Is there a treat that works for every cat?
There is no single treat every cat likes, but Inaba Churu comes closer than anything else. Even many cats who normally refuse treats will lick Churu. Freeze dried chicken is the second most universally accepted flavor.
- For picky cats: try Churu, freeze dried chicken, tuna flakes.
- For chonky food motivated cats: Temptations, Greenies, kibble works fine.
- For cats on limited diets: use small portions of their regular wet food on a spoon.
- For raw fed cats: freeze dried single ingredient treats match the diet.
For cats that need harness and leash work, see our guide to the best cat harness and leash for walking.
Quick Buying Guide: How to Choose Training Treats
- Texture: Lickable and soft beat crunchy for speed during repetition.
- Size: Small enough to eat in one second.
- Smell: Strong meat or fish smell. Cats work harder for stronger scent.
- Ingredients: Meat first, no by products or fillers when possible. Single ingredient is cleanest.
- Value level: Have two tiers: everyday treats for simple cues, high value treats for hard things.
- Calories: Subtract a little from meals on heavy training days.
- Storage: Resealable packaging keeps treats fresh and portable.
FAQ: Best Cat Treats for Training
What is the best treat for training a cat?
Inaba Churu creamy puree tubes are the best cat training treat overall because cats lick it instantly, even picky cats love it, and you can dispense a tiny lick per behavior without pausing training.
What treats do cats go crazy for?
Most cats go crazy for freeze dried minnows, Churu puree and Temptations. Creamy and freeze dried meat treats consistently rank highest in cat motivation tests.
Can I use kibble as training treats?
Yes, if your cat is motivated enough to work for kibble. Kibble works best for very food motivated cats or for simple cues at home before meals when the cat is hungry. For harder behaviors or new places, upgrade to higher value treats.
How long should a cat training session last?
Three to five minutes, multiple times a day. Cats have short attention spans for formal training and get frustrated with long sessions. Five minutes of focused work beats twenty minutes of diminishing attention.
Final Verdict: Which Training Treats Should You Buy?
- Best overall high value: Inaba Churu Creamy Tubes. Works on picky cats.
- Best budget everyday treat: Temptations Classic. Cheap, small, widely loved.
- Best high value dry protein: Vital Essentials Freeze Dried Minnows. Fishy and motivating.
- Best single ingredient clean: Whole Life Freeze Dried Chicken. Just chicken.
- Best for dental during sessions: Greenies Feline Dental Treats. Cleans teeth while training.
- Best soft bite treat: Pet Botanics Training Rewards. Designed for repetition.
The right treat turns training from a chore into something the cat looks forward to. Start with Churu and freeze dried chicken as your high value rewards, add Temptations as your everyday treat, and keep sessions short and fun. For more cat gear and gift ideas see our guide to the best Christmas gifts for cat lovers.
Product details are based on manufacturer information, Amazon listings and published reviews at the time of writing and may change. Always check the current product listing before buying. This article is not veterinary advice.
Written by Jason
IndoorCatGear helps cat owners choose products with confidence. We compare specifications, study independent testing and read through large numbers of verified owner reviews, so you don't have to. Brands can't pay for placement in our guides.
