All-Natural Treats for Cats: Can They Snack on Dog Treats Safely?

The dog gets a treat and suddenly the cat is staring you down like you owe them money. Sound familiar? The good news: some all-natural dog treats can double as cat snacks, if you choose wisely and keep portions small.

Can cats eat dog treats? The short answer

Some can, in small amounts. The ones that work are single ingredient meat or fish with nothing added, because a plain freeze-dried sardine is the same thing whether the bag says dog or cat. The ones to skip are dog treats built for dogs: biscuits with grains and flavorings, oral chews and rawhide sized for a jaw the cat does not have, anything with garlic or onion powder, and anything sweetened, since xylitol is a hazard for both species.

Read the ingredient panel, not the front of the bag. If it lists one ingredient and that ingredient is an animal, a crumb is fine. If the list runs to a paragraph, give the cat its own treat.

Portion for a cat, not a dog. Break the piece to the size of a fingernail. Treats stay an extra on top of the cat's regular food, which supplies the taurine a cat needs and a dog treat does not.

Several of our fish treats are labeled for dogs and cats, and the cat specific line is at freeze-dried cat treatsmade in Malvern, Pennsylvania.

Cats and Dogs Have Different Needs

Cats are obligate carnivores with specific nutritional requirements (like taurine) that a dog's diet won't fully cover. So dog treats should never replace a cat's balanced food, they're an occasional extra, not a meal. The Cornell Feline Health Center is a great resource on feline nutrition basics.

Look for Single-Ingredient, No Seasoning

The best choice crossover treats are pure, single-ingredient proteins with nothing added, no salt, garlic, onion, or seasoning. That's why our freeze-dried fish is a natural fit: many cats go wild for whole sardineswild-caught minnowsand shrimpall of which are just the animal itself. In fact, several of our treats are labeled for dogs and cats.

Keep Portions Tiny

Cats are small, so a little goes a long way. Break treats into cat-sized crumbs and treat them as the exception, not the rule. When in doubt, especially for cats with wellbeing conditions, check with your vet, as the ASPCA advises.

The Takeaway

Some all-natural, single-ingredient dog treats can be cat-friendly if carefully chosen and portioned, just confirm with your vet to be okay. Our fish lineup, like the freeze-dried sardinesis a purr-fect place to start sharing.

For general information only; consult your veterinarian about your cat's specific needs.

Sources: Cornell Feline Health Center; ASPCA, Cat Nutrition Tips.

If you would rather give the cat its own, the eleven cat treats are at freeze-dried cat treats.