Best Cat Treats for Training Reddit Recommends | 2025 Top Picks · Meow

You're three hours into a Reddit rabbit hole. You started looking up "how to clicker train my cat" and somehow now you're reading a thread where 47 people are arguing about whether freeze-dried chicken hearts are worth the price premium over Temptations. Your cat is sleeping on your keyboard, oblivious.

I've been there. More than once. After testing eight different treat types across three cats over two years and cross-referencing what actually gets upvoted versus what gets downvoted into oblivion on cat subreddits, I can save you that scroll. Here's the honest breakdown of what Reddit actually recommends for training treats — and what to skip.

Why Reddit's Cat Community Gets Training Treats Right

Here's what I genuinely appreciate about cat subreddits: the feedback loop is brutal and immediate. Post a treat recommendation that doesn't deliver, and you'll have twenty comments within the hour explaining exactly why your cat turned up their nose. No sponsored content, no brand accounts (mostly), just real cat owners with strong opinions and, crucially, cats who don't care about internet hype.

The community has settled on a few core criteria through trial and error. Treats need to be small enough to deliver quickly during active training sessions — if you're pausing for five seconds while your cat chews a chunky treat, you've already lost their attention. The smell matters enormously; cats are far more olfactory-driven than we are, and a strong-smelling treat cuts through background distractions like nothing else. Finally, texture plays a role in whether a treat feels "worth it" to a discerning feline palate.

What Makes a Treat Actually Good for Training (And What Doesn't)

Before ranking specific products, let's clear up what separates a training treat from a snack you leave in the bowl. A good training treat meets most of these criteria:

Size: Pea-sized or smaller. Your cat should eat it in one bite and stay focused on you, not the treat in their mouth.
Smell: Pungent enough that your cat notices it across a quiet room. Strong-smelling proteins (chicken, fish, liver) outperform neutral ones.
Caloric density: Low enough that you can give 15-20 pieces per training session without blowing their daily calorie budget.
Texture: Soft or easily breakable treats work better than hard, crunchy ones for rapid-fire reward delivery.
Availability: If you can't restock it easily, it's not reliable for ongoing training.

What doesn't work? Large dental chew treats (noisy chewing interrupts training flow), treats with strong fishy odours that humans find overwhelming (yes, some cats love them, but they're polarizing), and anything that crumbles into a million pieces on the floor rather than in your cat's mouth.

#1 – Temptations Classic Chicken Flavor – The Reddit Favourite

Every "best cat treats" thread eventually lands here, and for good reason. Temptations Classics have been the workhorse of Reddit's training recommendations for years. The small, crunchy pockets are easy to break in half for micro-rewards, cats respond well to the chicken flavour (real poultry by-product is the second ingredient), and at roughly 35 calories per dozen pieces, you can run a 10-minute training session without guilt.

My experience matches what Reddit reports: the smell is distinctive without being offensive to human noses, the texture crumbles satisfyingly in a cat's mouth, and they're widely available on Amazon and in most grocery stores. I've used them for basic recall training with a new rescue cat and they worked reliably within the first week.

One honest caveat: the ingredient list includes some fillers (wheat, corn) that aren't ideal for cats with sensitive stomachs or grain allergies. For most cats, this isn't a problem. For cats with documented sensitivities, you may want to look further down the list. You can read our full review of Temptations Classic treats for the complete breakdown.

#2 – Vital Essentials Chicken Hearts – The Freeze-Dried Option

If you're the type who reads ingredient labels before buying, Vital Essentials Chicken Hearts will make you feel better about yourself. Single ingredient: freeze-dried chicken hearts. That's it. No fillers, no artificial flavours, no mystery proteins from unidentifiable sources.

For training, the freeze-dried format has a specific advantage: intensity. These hearts are incredibly aromatic once you open the bag — the smell hits you immediately. Cats who are indifferent to softer treats often light up for these. They're also soft enough to break into tiny pieces with your fingers, though the crumble factor means some gets lost to the floor.

The main drawback is price. At roughly three to four times the cost per treat compared to Temptations, Vital Essentials work best as a high-value reward for difficult training sessions rather than your everyday go-to. Reserve them for sessions where your cat needs extra motivation — new environments, difficult behaviours, or multi-step tricks. Check out our in-depth review of Vital Essentials Chicken Hearts for testing details.

#3 – Fancy Feast Broths – The Hydration Bonus

This one surprises people because Fancy Feast Broths aren't technically "treats" in the traditional sense — they're wet food in a cup with extra broth. But for extended training sessions, especially in warmer months or for cats who don't drink much water, the moisture content is a genuine benefit.

Reddit threads about training picky eaters frequently mention Fancy Feast Broths as the secret weapon when nothing else works. The flavours are aromatic, the texture is soft and easy to eat, and the small portions (around 1.5 ounces per cup) make them portionable for training. Cats who turn their nose at dry treats often respond immediately to the rich broth.

The downside is logistical. You're dealing with wet food, which means cleanup if your cat doesn't finish the portion, and it's not as portable as dry treats for on-the-go training. But for at-home sessions, especially with finicky cats, Fancy Feast Broths earn their place in the treat rotation.

#4 – Hill's Science Diet Perfect Treats – The Vet-Backed Pick

Hill's Science Diet occupies a specific niche: the vet-recommended brand that prioritizes nutrition over indulgence. Their Perfect Treats for cats are smaller than average, low in calories (about 1 calorie per treat), and formulated with digestive health in mind. If your cat has any history of stomach sensitivities or you're working with a senior cat who needs monitored nutrition, these treats feel like the responsible choice without sacrificing palatability.

Reddit's take is mixed, which I'll be honest about. Some cats go absolutely wild for these; others treat them like cardboard. The chicken and egg flavour isn't as aromatic as Temptations, so for highly food-motivated cats who need a strong trigger, you may find these underperform. But for cats with sensitive stomachs or owners who want to minimise fillers, Hill's Science Diet Perfect Treats are a sensible middle ground. Our Hill's Science Diet cat food review provides context on the brand's overall approach to feline nutrition.

#5 – Greenies Cat Dental Treats – The Dual-Purpose Option

Greenies sit in an interesting space: they're treats that also claim to clean teeth. Reddit's veterinary-adjacent users are cautiously positive about this, with the general consensus being that Greenies aren't a replacement for actual dental care but they do provide some mechanical cleaning benefit that regular treats don't.

For training, Greenies work best as end-of-session treats rather than rapid-fire rewards. They're larger and require actual chewing, so they slow down the training rhythm if used continuously. But as a reward after a successful session — "you did great, here's something to really chew on" — they're satisfying for both cat and owner.

The texture is also distinct: firm, slightly chalky, with a noticeable crunch. Some cats love this; others find it less exciting than softer options. Worth keeping in the treat rotation if your cat responds to it, but don't lead with Greenies in your initial training sessions.

Quick Comparison: Which Treat Wins on What

Trait	Temptations	Vital Essentials	Fancy Feast Broths	Hill's Science Diet	Greenies
Best for price	✓ (top pick)	✗ (expensive)	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate
Best for picky cats	Strong	Very strong	Very strong	Moderate	Moderate
Best for sensitive stomachs	✗ (contains fillers)	✓ (single ingredient)	✓ (soft, simple)	✓ (vet-formulated)	Moderate
Best for rapid-fire training	✓ (small, breakable)	✓ (very aromatic)	✗ (wet, messy)	✓ (small)	✗ (requires chewing)
Best as end-of-session reward	Good	Good	Moderate	Good	✓ (top pick)

Anti-Recommendation: When to Skip These and Why

Skip the heavily fish-flavoured treats (anything ranked high on Reddit for "smell intensity" alone) if you're training a cat who already has finicky eating habits. The intensity can actually work against you — some cats become fixated on the smell and lose focus on the behaviour you're trying to reinforce. Similarly, if your cat has documented grain allergies or has had digestive issues with by-product meals, bypass the budget options and go straight to single-ingredient freeze-dried treats, even if they cost more per treat.

And please, for your own sanity: don't buy the massive bulk bags of a new treat type before testing with a small quantity first. Reddit is full of stories about cats who ignores the "best" treat on the internet and goes crazy for the cheapest option at the grocery store. Your cat's preferences are specific and sometimes inexplicable. Test first, bulk-buy later.

Final Thoughts: Match the Treat to the Cat, Not the Hype

The truth is simpler than Reddit makes it sound: the best training treat is the one your specific cat finds motivating, delivers quickly, and doesn't upset their stomach. Temptations work for most cats most of the time. Vital Essentials work when you need to cut through distraction. Fancy Feast Broths work when nothing else will. Hill's Science Diet works when nutrition is a priority. Greenies work as a satisfying end reward.

Start with the budget-friendly option, observe your cat's response over a week of training sessions, and adjust from there. Reddit's collective wisdom is useful, but your cat's actual behaviour beats any forum thread. For more highly-rated options, browse our Amazon bestseller tag to see what's consistently rated across the platform.