Most cat owners spend a small fortune each year on store-bought treats, only to watch their cat sniff the bag and walk away. Sound familiar? Honestly, it might be time to rethink the whole approach. Cats are finely tuned carnivores with complex taste preferences, and what they actually crave is often sitting right in your kitchen.
According to the American Pet Products Association, roughly nine out of ten cat owners purchase treats for their pets – the highest figure ever recorded in APPA survey history. Yet many of those treats are packed with grains, fillers, and artificial additives that cats don’t need and, deep down, probably don’t even want. What if the best treat you could give your cat cost almost nothing and required zero packaging? Let’s find out what really makes a cat go wild.
1. Cooked Chicken
Let’s be real – if there is one thing that makes almost every cat lose its cool, it’s plain cooked chicken. Chicken is rich in vitamins, minerals like selenium, vitamin B6, phosphorus, fatty acids, and protein, which helps cats maintain their physical prowess, and it has low sodium and fat content. That lean nutritional profile is exactly why chicken appears as the top ingredient in so many commercial cat foods. So why not skip the middleman entirely?
Cooked, unseasoned chicken or turkey are excellent sources of protein for cats, and cats also derive vitamin B6, selenium, phosphorus, and omega-6 from these types of meat. The key word here is unseasoned. No garlic, no onion, no salt. Just plain cooked chicken, torn into small pieces, served at room temperature. Simple as that.
2. Plain Cooked Salmon
Here’s where science actually backs up what cat owners have known forever. In a study published in Chemical Senses, scientists found that cat taste buds contain the receptors needed to detect umami – the savory, deep flavor of various meats – and umami appears to be the primary flavor cats seek out. Salmon is loaded with exactly those umami compounds cats are hardwired to crave.
The felines in the study showed a particular preference for bowls containing histidine and inosine monophosphate – compounds found at particularly high levels in tuna and closely related fish like salmon. Cooked, unseasoned fish is a delicious treat for cats and provides protein and omega-3 fatty acids, which are great for a cat’s coat and skin. A small flake of cooked salmon once or twice a week is arguably the most natural reward you can offer.
3. Cooked Eggs
Eggs might sound like a weird cat treat, but your feline companion would strongly disagree. Whether hard boiled or scrambled, cooked eggs can be great for sharing with your cat, as eggs are a great source of protein, vitamin D, selenium, and riboflavin. Think of it like a tiny protein bomb delivered in one small bite.
Eggs are a super source of protein for cats, but make sure they are cooked – like raw meat and fish, raw eggs can harm your kitty. Serve them plain, without butter, oil, salt, or seasoning of any kind. A small scrambled egg or a piece of hard-boiled egg white makes an easy and genuinely nutritious occasional treat.
4. Sardines in Water
Sardines might not be the most glamorous item on this list, but cats absolutely adore them. Sardines are a natural source of omega-3 fatty acids and are also rich in proteins, calcium, and vitamins D and B12, which support bone, heart, joint, and brain health – and you should serve only sardines packed in water, not oil or brine, without any added salt. The aroma alone is enough to bring even the most indifferent cat sprinting into the kitchen.
Some types of sardines can be considered safe food for cats, as sardines provide omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and essential nutrients promoting skin and coat health, with canned sardines in water being the best option. Rich in omega-3s, sardines are a healthy, flavorful snack that can boost a cat’s coat condition and heart health, and offering sardines occasionally can be a delightful change from regular cat food. A few small pieces once or twice a week is plenty.
5. Plain Cooked Turkey
Turkey is one of those underrated treats that people overlook because it seems too ordinary. Cats are meat eaters, plain and simple – they have to have protein from meat for a strong heart, good vision, and a healthy reproductive system, and cooked beef, chicken, turkey, and small amounts of lean deli meats are a great way to give them that. Turkey in particular is lean, gentle on digestion, and deeply satisfying for most cats.
Chicken and turkey are beneficial because they are lean meats with a lower calorie content than beef, which is one reason chicken is one of the most popular ingredients in commercial cat food, while turkey is usually seen as a healthy alternative – even though the nutritional difference between the two is very minimal. Plain, boneless, unseasoned turkey makes a surprisingly premium homemade treat that costs you almost nothing.
6. Cooked Beef (Unseasoned)
I know it sounds almost too simple, but a small piece of plain cooked beef can genuinely delight a cat. Cooked, unseasoned beef is a rich source of protein for cats, and beef is also an excellent source of vitamin A, vitamin B, and vitamin C – which is why it is sometimes included as an ingredient in commercial cat food. The key is keeping it completely plain, no marinades, no sauces, no seasonings whatsoever.
Cooked beef provides a powerhouse of protein for cats, fueling their energetic lives, and is rich in essential amino acids and vitamins that support strong bones and muscles. Cut it into very small pieces to avoid any risk of choking, and always make sure it’s fully cooked through. Think of it as a tiny steak dinner that costs you pennies.
7. Plain Pumpkin Puree
This one surprises a lot of people. Cats and pumpkin? It actually works. Plain pumpkin – either cooked or canned puree, not canned pumpkin pie filling with sugar – is a great source of natural fiber and vitamins for cats, and if a cat is having any digestive issues like constipation or diarrhea, pumpkin is a natural digestive aid that can also help the cat feel full.
Cats can eat unseasoned, cooked, and pureed pumpkin in small amounts, and pumpkin can be beneficial for a cat’s digestive health due to its high fiber content. Up to roughly seven in ten parts of immune activity originates in the gut, and plain pumpkin purée offers soluble fiber that feeds beneficial microbes, helping normalize stool and reduce hairballs. A teaspoon mixed into wet food is genuinely one of the easiest health boosts you can offer your cat for almost no cost.
8. Blueberries
Blueberries as a cat treat? Honestly, yes – though with a caveat. Not all cats will go for it since cats can’t taste sugar because they lack a key protein for sensing it. They’re not drawn to fruit by sweetness the way we are. Some cats, however, seem fascinated by the texture and will happily bat a blueberry around before eating it.
Blueberries contain antioxidants, vitamins C and K, and support urinary tract health, boost immune system function, and improve cognitive function, particularly in older cats. Cats can safely eat blueberries in moderation – while they are not essential in a cat’s diet, blueberries provide antioxidants and vitamins, though due to their sugar content they should be given sparingly as an occasional treat. A couple of blueberries, cut in half to prevent choking, is the right amount.
9. Low-Sodium Chicken or Beef Broth
Here’s a treat that doubles as a hydration hack – and cats quietly love it. One of the greatest challenges cat owners face is getting their cats to consume adequate water, as cats tend to drink very little and can be fussy about how water is offered, but adding low-sodium beef or chicken broth to a cat’s food increases water consumption while providing a very low-calorie treat.
Feeding wet food or broth is also a great way to increase water intake – both are good tips to keep in mind if a cat has bladder crystals or stones, as increased water consumption is the main treatment for this condition. The trick is to make sure the broth contains absolutely no onion, garlic, or excess salt. Drizzle a tablespoon or two over dry kibble and watch your cat’s entire demeanor shift.
10. Catnip
Catnip isn’t just a toy filler – it’s actually something many cats want to eat, lick, or roll in. Catnip contains nepetalactone, a compound that triggers a euphoric response in many cats, promoting playfulness and helping to reduce stress, making catnip-infused treats a powerful tool for behavioral enrichment – and feline behaviorists often recommend catnip-infused treats to help anxious cats relax in new environments or during stressful events.
Cats go crazy for catnip – at least, most of them do – though dried catnip can make a mess and catnip-filled toys lose their appeal as the aroma of the catnip fades. A small pinch of fresh or dried catnip, perhaps sprinkled over wet food or baked into a simple treat, is one of the most natural enrichment tools available to any cat owner. It costs almost nothing and the entertainment value alone is worth it.
11. Plain Cooked Shrimp
Shrimp may feel like a luxury, but as a small occasional treat it’s actually a solid nutritional choice. In the absence of seafood allergies and given in moderation, shrimp is a tasty, beneficial, and safe food for cats, offering protein, iodine, and certain vitamins that contribute to overall health. Most cats react to the smell of shrimp the same way they react to tuna – with extreme and immediate interest.
Serve shrimp fully cooked, peeled, deveined, and completely plain. No garlic butter, no seasoning, no sauce. Just the shrimp itself, chopped into small pieces. Some protein-rich foods cats love to eat include a variety of fish, and in the wild, cats eat a variety of small prey, so mixing up the protein sources in a cat’s food can tap into their instincts. Rotating shrimp into the treat rotation every now and then keeps things exciting for a cat who might otherwise seem bored with the usual options.
12. Cooked Sweet Potato (Mashed, Plain)
Sweet potato might be the most unexpected entry on this list, but the evidence is real. Sweet potatoes are rich in dietary fiber, which helps regulate digestion, and in beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A to support healthy vision – they also contain vitamins and antioxidants that can help boost the immune system, and should be cooked thoroughly and mashed before serving.
High-fiber sweet potato soothes upset tummies and can be a tasty treat for cats, though cats don’t have much of a sweet tooth, so any sugary toppings should be avoided entirely. A tiny spoonful of plain mashed sweet potato, no butter, no salt, no spices, mixed into your cat’s regular food can add fiber and vitamins they simply won’t get from a standard store-bought treat bag. It’s cheap, wholesome, and genuinely useful.
