Help! I need your softest, most delicious cat treats.
September 3, 2021 10:20 AM Subscribe
My poor boy Jet lost most of his teeth recently; all he has left are the canines and incisors. The treats of choice in the house before this were Greenies, but he's not allowed crunchy food until he heals, and even after that, I think it might be hard for him to eat them. I've been experimenting with various softer treats, but if they're too chewy he struggles with them for a bit and then gives up, after which he seems unwilling even to try them again.
So far I've tried:
* Temptations Meaty Bites - too large and chewy (I've tried breaking them up, but he'd already identified them as problematic)
* Softspots (from Rachel Ray's Nutrish line) - promising at first, but he horked one up and now seems reluctant
* Blue's Wilderness Cat Treats (chicken and salmon flavor) - eaten on first attempt, but after that all the cats turned up their noses at them
* Fancy Feast's Savory Cravings break-apart tabs - not very soft, and small enough that I'm a bit worried he'll just swallow one whole and choke
Ideally the treats should be quickly and easily prepared to serve to three cats at once, so I'm a bit dubious about the squishy stuff in tubes, though I'm willing to give it a try.
Cat tax: Here's Jet post-op, still coming down from the anesthetic and high on painkillers.
So far I've tried:
* Temptations Meaty Bites - too large and chewy (I've tried breaking them up, but he'd already identified them as problematic)
* Softspots (from Rachel Ray's Nutrish line) - promising at first, but he horked one up and now seems reluctant
* Blue's Wilderness Cat Treats (chicken and salmon flavor) - eaten on first attempt, but after that all the cats turned up their noses at them
* Fancy Feast's Savory Cravings break-apart tabs - not very soft, and small enough that I'm a bit worried he'll just swallow one whole and choke
Ideally the treats should be quickly and easily prepared to serve to three cats at once, so I'm a bit dubious about the squishy stuff in tubes, though I'm willing to give it a try.
Cat tax: Here's Jet post-op, still coming down from the anesthetic and high on painkillers.
I think bonito flakes should be edible with no teeth, and YMMV but my cats lose their shit over them.
posted by aubilenon at 10:32 AM on September 3, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by aubilenon at 10:32 AM on September 3, 2021 [4 favorites]
Best answer: Jet is quite a handsome fellow!
My cat goes nuts for freeze-dried cat food as a treat. You can break it up into small pieces, and it sort of dissolves as he chews it. You could also add a tiny bit of water to make it easier for him to swallow. But the texture might work for Jet as it doesn't really require much chewing (to be honest, sometimes my cat swallows the dry pieces whole...).
Here's some examples: Stella & Chewy's and Primal. Fairly expensive for a treat, yes - but all kitties need treats! And the bag lasts a long time.
posted by lastofthelost at 10:40 AM on September 3, 2021 [3 favorites]
My cat goes nuts for freeze-dried cat food as a treat. You can break it up into small pieces, and it sort of dissolves as he chews it. You could also add a tiny bit of water to make it easier for him to swallow. But the texture might work for Jet as it doesn't really require much chewing (to be honest, sometimes my cat swallows the dry pieces whole...).
Here's some examples: Stella & Chewy's and Primal. Fairly expensive for a treat, yes - but all kitties need treats! And the bag lasts a long time.
posted by lastofthelost at 10:40 AM on September 3, 2021 [3 favorites]
Re: those squishy tubes, I had some friends who rigged up a clothes hanger with clothespins and would clip the tubes onto it so all four of their kitties could have them at once. It was messy but super adorable.
I suppose it wouldn't work if your three get competitive/territorial around food, though.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 10:43 AM on September 3, 2021
I suppose it wouldn't work if your three get competitive/territorial around food, though.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 10:43 AM on September 3, 2021
I also have an elderly cat who can't crunch so I'm a fan of the squishy tubes. Maybe you can set up a routine where you give the others their treats and then quickly hoist Jet up onto the counter and give him a squishy tube?
posted by BlahLaLa at 10:46 AM on September 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by BlahLaLa at 10:46 AM on September 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
Honestly my cat lost most of her teeth and eats any crunchy treat just fine, so once he's recovered you might find this is a moot point. But otherwise, honestly, I just let the cats battle it out for my squishy tubes full of food, which they all love, they're pretty good at sharing. (Though I have known cats who don't love it.) You can also just put the mousse stuff in little dishes for each cat instead of letting them lick it off the tube.
posted by jeather at 10:48 AM on September 3, 2021
posted by jeather at 10:48 AM on September 3, 2021
Came in to second Greenie's pill pockets. They are quite soft and malleable, so you can easily break them into smaller bits, or smush them together to make a mega-treat. Hope Jet is feeling better soon!
posted by prewar lemonade at 11:19 AM on September 3, 2021
posted by prewar lemonade at 11:19 AM on September 3, 2021
I find the squishy tubes easy to give them as you just put them on a saucer. I have not been in a situation where cats are competing for them though, and they would be difficult and messy to give by hand. In the UK, this sort of treat could be malt pastes, which my cats have never liked; or creamy treats with a yoghurt consistency, which both my cats have liked; and treat-sized flavoured milk, which one of my cats likes and the other one did not. If you think your cat might like these flavoured milks, I would be happy to post them to you, as I have some and my cat will not eat (drink) them.
And thank you for the cat tax, that is a handsome cat.
posted by paduasoy at 11:20 AM on September 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
And thank you for the cat tax, that is a handsome cat.
posted by paduasoy at 11:20 AM on September 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
Meat baby food, make sure you get ones with no ingredients other than meat or cornstarch. Basically the same thing as the stuff in the tubes.
There are also a bunch of broth treats that you pour on top of their regular food.
I don't know if it's considered good for cats, but one of the last treats my late cat could enjoy was Greek yogurt.
posted by phoenixy at 11:21 AM on September 3, 2021 [5 favorites]
There are also a bunch of broth treats that you pour on top of their regular food.
I don't know if it's considered good for cats, but one of the last treats my late cat could enjoy was Greek yogurt.
posted by phoenixy at 11:21 AM on September 3, 2021 [5 favorites]
Buddy Bites are pretty soft, and our cats are weirdly fond of the turkey & cheddar flavor. I just had to order a different flavor because of a supply issue, so I'll report back when the cats have tried it.
posted by fedward at 11:52 AM on September 3, 2021
posted by fedward at 11:52 AM on September 3, 2021
Our little beast goes crazy for Chicken Littles
They basically fall apart and dissolve.
posted by bowmaniac at 12:14 PM on September 3, 2021
They basically fall apart and dissolve.
posted by bowmaniac at 12:14 PM on September 3, 2021
I have given the tube squishy treats to three cats successfully by putting it on my fingers - each cat gets a finger to lick. Two of the cats in question were actually kittens so there was a period where they were having trouble sharing so I put the least assertive cat's treat in a little bowl for them and the other two were distracted enough by the treats on my fingers that they didn't try to steal from their more timid pal. Also it's very cute and a good bonding activity with the cats.
posted by urbanlenny at 12:29 PM on September 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by urbanlenny at 12:29 PM on September 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
My toothless cat absolutely adores the Churu squishy tube gel treats. My kid's cat, a terrified and clueless paranoid animal, came out of hiding to eat the Churu squishy tube gel treat when I was catsitting. The other cat in that household was eager to eat it too, but it's rich enough that you can give some to one and then some to the other while the first one is licking chops.
posted by Peach at 1:28 PM on September 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Peach at 1:28 PM on September 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
Nthing bonito flakes.
They tend to be cheaper at stores for humans rather than stores for cats, but then you need to watch out for added sodium/MSG/additives, etc.
posted by spinifex23 at 5:08 PM on September 3, 2021
They tend to be cheaper at stores for humans rather than stores for cats, but then you need to watch out for added sodium/MSG/additives, etc.
posted by spinifex23 at 5:08 PM on September 3, 2021
My cat has three canines and that’s it. She loves Greenies and swallows them whole.
For a soft, lickable treat, I give her an inch of Dechra Cat Lax with ground up bonito flakes sprinkled on top. Yum!
posted by bananana at 6:58 PM on September 3, 2021
For a soft, lickable treat, I give her an inch of Dechra Cat Lax with ground up bonito flakes sprinkled on top. Yum!
posted by bananana at 6:58 PM on September 3, 2021
The greenies my three-toothed cat eats are the hairball ones.
posted by bananana at 7:06 PM on September 3, 2021
posted by bananana at 7:06 PM on September 3, 2021
Here's some examples: Stella & Chewy's and Primal. Fairly expensive for a treat, yes - but all kitties need treats! And the bag lasts a long time.
Our cat Oliver recently had dental surgery and we are feeding him this, well soaked in water, after his main wet food meal instead of the crunchies he loves. They become very soft and spongey- not chewy at all. You can try the small S&T 3.5 ounce bag before splurging on a large one. If your kitty isn't into wet meat sponges they can also be ground into powder fairly easily and sprinkled on food or made into a slurry so you won't waste the bag. Our cats and dog love the Stella and Chewy freeze dried foods in all ways. Great for travel or for emergency wet food when you forget to go to the pet store before it closes.
Our cats get bonito flakes, but they only like them wet. They don't seem to enjoy them when their papery and will just leave them in their dish (!!!).
posted by oneirodynia at 11:40 PM on September 3, 2021
Our cat Oliver recently had dental surgery and we are feeding him this, well soaked in water, after his main wet food meal instead of the crunchies he loves. They become very soft and spongey- not chewy at all. You can try the small S&T 3.5 ounce bag before splurging on a large one. If your kitty isn't into wet meat sponges they can also be ground into powder fairly easily and sprinkled on food or made into a slurry so you won't waste the bag. Our cats and dog love the Stella and Chewy freeze dried foods in all ways. Great for travel or for emergency wet food when you forget to go to the pet store before it closes.
Our cats get bonito flakes, but they only like them wet. They don't seem to enjoy them when their papery and will just leave them in their dish (!!!).
posted by oneirodynia at 11:40 PM on September 3, 2021
This is something my old roommate did, and the cats LOVED it.
Take some wet cat food, and dilute it with a little warm water, to make a wet cat food soup. To me, it smelled absolutely horrid, but the cats couldn't get enough of it. The warm water made it extra stinky, and thus extra yummy.
posted by spinifex23 at 1:39 AM on September 4, 2021
Take some wet cat food, and dilute it with a little warm water, to make a wet cat food soup. To me, it smelled absolutely horrid, but the cats couldn't get enough of it. The warm water made it extra stinky, and thus extra yummy.
posted by spinifex23 at 1:39 AM on September 4, 2021
Hard boiled eggs, quarters or eighths. Your cats' mileage may vary, but our two cats are fiends for hard boiled eggs. It's a bit messy -- I give them placemats since they like to take the chunks out of the food bowls and shake them like they are live prey.
posted by spamandkimchi at 4:42 PM on September 4, 2021
posted by spamandkimchi at 4:42 PM on September 4, 2021
Response by poster: Thank you all! I wasn't able to find some of the brands, but the cats seem to be into Primal, and tiny freeze-dried shrimps have been a big hit. Hopefully Greenies will be an option again at some point in the future, but for now, these will work.
(urbanlenny, that picture is indeed very cute. :D )
posted by velvet_n_purrs at 5:55 PM on September 5, 2021 [1 favorite]
(urbanlenny, that picture is indeed very cute. :D )
posted by velvet_n_purrs at 5:55 PM on September 5, 2021 [1 favorite]
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Greenies has a pill pocket brand that is very soft (maybe too chewy?). They're a little more expensive. Make sure to keep the bag closed or they'll dry up.
posted by pumpkinlatte at 10:31 AM on September 3, 2021 [1 favorite]