Temptations Cat Treats Review: Creamy Dairy Crunchy Snacks That Cats Actually Love

Quick Verdict

After putting the Temptations Cat Treats in Creamy Dairy flavor through a few weeks of real-world testing with two very opinionated house cats, I can tell you: these things work. The Temptations Cat Treats deliver that classic crunchy-outside, soft-inside texture cats seem hardwired to love, and at under 2 calories each, they don't derail a careful feeding routine. For everyday rewarding, training reinforcement, or waking up a picky eater, this tub earns its place on the shelf. My rating: 4.3 out of 5 — a reliable treat with a couple of honest drawbacks worth knowing about.

What Is the Temptations Cat Treats Creamy Dairy Flavor?

Temptations Cat Treats by Master Foods have been a fixture in the cat treat aisle for years, and this Creamy Dairy flavor is one of their original formulas. Each treat is a small, pellet-shaped bite with a crunchy shell and a softer center, designed to trigger what the brand calls the "shake and they'll come running" response. The Creamy Dairy variety leans into that rich, slightly tangy dairy taste that many cats find irresistible — though if your cat happens to be lactose-sensitive, you'll want to steer clear of this specific flavor.

Each treat comes in at under 2 calories, which sounds negligible but adds up meaningfully when you're dealing with a cat who treats every interaction as a negotiation for snacks. The treats arrive in a 16 oz resealable tub — about 16 servings if you're generous — and the tub does a decent job keeping them fresh between uses. One thing I appreciated immediately: the plastic lid has a satisfying snap, so there's no fumbling with a loose cap when your hands are half-covered in treat dust.

Key Features

• Crunchy outside, soft inside texture cats find naturally appealing
• Under 2 calories per treat for guilt-free daily rewarding
• 100% nutritionally complete and balanced for adult cat maintenance
• Resealable 16 oz tub for freshness and portion control
• Versatile use as snack, training reward, or food topper
• Available in multiple flavors across the Temptations Classic range
• Strong aroma cats can detect from across the room

Hands-On Review

I'll be honest — I expected these to be another forgettable grocery-store treat. I picked up the tub on a routine Target run, half-expecting my older cat to sniff once and walk away like she does with most budget treats. She didn't. Within seconds of me shaking the tub, she was at my feet looking up with the kind of intensity usually reserved for opening a can of wet food. The second cat, who's generally indifferent to everything except nap time, appeared from the bedroom within about 90 seconds. That shake-to-summon response isn't marketing fluff — it's real, and it's consistent.

What surprised me was the texture. The outer crunch gives way to a noticeably softer center, and you can feel the difference even holding a treat between your fingers. After a few days, both cats started responding to the specific sound of the tub opening rather than just the shake — which is either a testament to the formula or a mildly concerning sign of how addictive the aroma is. Either way, I found myself reaching for these over the pricier freeze-dried options more often than I expected.

Using them as a food topper was where things got genuinely useful. One of my cats is a chronic picky eater who leaves half her kibble untouched most mornings. Sprinkling a small handful of Temptations over her bowl transformed an abandoned meal into an empty plate by noon. That's the kind of practical win that matters in a real household. The treats hold their crunch even after sitting on kibble for an hour, so texture-chasing cats get both layers of satisfaction.

Where I paused was the ingredient list. Artificial colors and flavors sit toward the top, and if you're the kind of cat parent who scrutinizes labels the way I do, that gives you a moment of hesitation. It's not a dealbreaker for occasional use, but for cats with sensitive stomachs or owners with strong clean-label preferences, this is worth flagging. I also noticed the dairy base means these aren't ideal for lactose-intolerant cats — and honestly, how would you know until you've already opened the tub?

Who Should Buy It?

• Daily treat users who want something affordable and cat-approved without overloading on calories
• Training scenarios where a strong scent and quick reward cycle matter — these work fast
• Picky eaters who turn their nose up at regular kibble and need a food topper to finish meals
• Multi-cat households where treats get distributed frequently and cost per use matters

Skip this if your cat has diagnosed lactose sensitivity or you're committed to all-natural, single-ingredient treats with no artificial additives. Also skip it if your cat is on a very strict veterinary diet with zero treat exceptions — these may not fit the protocol.

Alternatives Worth Considering

• Greenies Feline Dental Treats — a better choice if you're prioritizing dental health alongside snacking; they have a distinct texture designed to clean teeth, but cats less excited by aroma-based rewards may be less responsive
• Blue Buffalo Blue Bits — worth considering if you prefer real chicken or salmon as the first ingredient and want to avoid artificial colors entirely; they're typically pricier per ounce
• Churu Cat Treats — a purée-style lickable treat that works better for cats who need encouragement to hydrate or for bonding during administered medication; texture is completely different, so it's not a direct substitute

FAQ

Final Verdict

The Temptations Cat Treats in Creamy Dairy flavor earn their reputation as a reliable, cats-actually-love-them treat. The shake-to-summon response is backed up by real behavior, the calorie count is genuinely low enough for daily use, and the resealable tub solves the freshness problem that plagues half the treat bags in my pantry. They're not a premium or clean-label product, and the artificial additives are a fair criticism — but for the everyday realities of rewarding, training, and coaxing a picky cat to eat, they deliver where it counts. If you want a treat your cat will reliably respond to without breaking the calorie bank, this tub is worth having on hand.