The cat treat aisle is overwhelming. Crunchy, chewy, freeze-dried, dental, lickable, grain-free, high-protein, limited ingredient — every bag and tube makes health claims, and they can't all be right. Worse, most cat owners never flip the package over to check what they're actually feeding their cat.
This guide cuts through the marketing and looks at what actually matters nutritionally in cat treats: calories, protein sources, moisture content, fillers, and additives. By the end, you'll know exactly what to look for and what to avoid.
Calories: The Number That Matters Most
The single most important thing to check on any cat treat is the calorie count. Obesity is the most common nutritional problem in domestic cats, affecting an estimated 60 percent of the U.S. cat population. Treats are a major contributor because owners don't track treat calories the way they track meal calories.
Here's how popular treat categories compare:
- Crunchy kibble treats: 1 to 3 calories per piece, but cats typically eat 10 to 20 pieces per serving. Total: 10 to 60 calories per treat session.
- Chewy/soft treats: 3 to 8 calories per piece, with servings of 5 to 10 pieces. Total: 15 to 80 calories.
- Freeze-dried meat treats: 1 to 5 calories per piece, servings of 5 to 10 pieces. Total: 5 to 50 calories.
- Lickable puree treats: 6 to 15 calories per tube. One tube is a complete serving. Total: 6 to 15 calories.
- Dental treats: 10 to 30 calories per piece, 1 to 2 pieces per day. Total: 10 to 60 calories.
Churu Cat Treats sit at the low end of this spectrum at just 6 calories per tube. That's one of the lowest calorie counts available for a treat that your cat will actually enjoy. For cats on weight management programs, this matters enormously.
Protein Sources: Real Meat vs. Fillers
Cats are obligate carnivores. Their bodies are designed to process animal protein, not plant protein. When evaluating cat treats, the protein source should be real, named meat — not vague terms like "meat by-products" or "animal digest."
What to look for:
- Named protein first: "Chicken," "tuna," "salmon" — these tell you exactly what animal the protein comes from.
- Meat as the first ingredient: Ingredients are listed by weight. If chicken is first, the treat is primarily chicken.
- Minimal processing indicators: "Chicken meal" is more processed than "chicken" but still a named, legitimate protein source.
What to avoid:
- "By-products" without a named animal: "Meat by-products" could be anything. "Chicken by-products" at least tells you the species.
- "Animal digest": A processed flavor additive that could come from any animal source.
- Excessive plant proteins: Corn gluten meal, soy protein, and wheat gluten are cheap protein fillers that cats don't digest efficiently.
Churu treats use farm-raised chicken and tuna as primary ingredients. No ambiguous by-products, no plant protein fillers, no mystery meat.
Moisture Content: The Hidden Health Factor
Most cat owners don't think about moisture in treats, but it's one of the most impactful nutritional factors — especially for cats who don't drink enough water.
Chronic low-grade dehydration is common in domestic cats, particularly those on dry food diets. It contributes to urinary tract problems, kidney stress, and constipation. Any treat that adds moisture to your cat's daily intake is doing real health work.
Moisture comparison across treat types:
- Dry crunchy treats: 5 to 12% moisture. Essentially zero hydration benefit.
- Semi-moist chewy treats: 15 to 30% moisture. Minimal hydration.
- Wet/pate treats: 60 to 78% moisture. Moderate hydration.
- Lickable puree treats: 80 to 91% moisture. Significant hydration.
At 91% moisture, Churu treats deliver more hydration per serving than any other treat category. Each tube is essentially a small hydration supplement disguised as a treat your cat loves.
Grains and Fillers: What to Watch For
Cats don't need grains. Their digestive systems evolved to process meat, not corn, wheat, or rice. While small amounts of grain aren't harmful, they're nutritionally unnecessary in cat treats and often serve as cheap filler to reduce manufacturing cost.
Common fillers to be aware of:
- Corn and corn gluten meal: Cheap carbohydrate and protein source. Low nutritional value for cats.
- Wheat and wheat gluten: Another cheap filler. Some cats have wheat sensitivities.
- Soy: Used as a protein extender. Cats process soy protein poorly compared to animal protein.
- Artificial colors: Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1 — your cat doesn't care what color the treat is. These dyes exist solely for human marketing appeal.
Churu treats are grain-free with no artificial preservatives or colors. The ingredient list is short and recognizable — exactly what you want in a cat treat.
Preservatives: Natural vs. Artificial
Treats need some form of preservation to stay fresh. The question is whether those preservatives are natural or synthetic.
- Natural preservatives: Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols), vitamin C (ascorbic acid), and rosemary extract. These are effective and well-tolerated by cats.
- Artificial preservatives: BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin. These are more controversial, with some concerns about long-term health effects in animals.
Single-serve packaging — like Churu's individually sealed tubes — reduces the need for heavy preservatives because each serving is consumed shortly after opening.
Quick Nutrition Comparison
| Factor | Crunchy Treats | Chewy Treats | Freeze-Dried | Churu Puree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calories per serving | 10-60 | 15-80 | 5-50 | 6 |
| Moisture content | 5-12% | 15-30% | 2-5% | 91% |
| Grain-free options | Some | Some | Usually | Always |
| Protein source clarity | Varies | Varies | Usually clear | Named meat |
| Hydration benefit | None | Minimal | None | Significant |
Choose Treats That Work for Your Cat's Health
The best cat treat is one that your cat actually eats, fits within their calorie budget, and doesn't fill them up with junk ingredients. Churu Cat Treats deliver on all three fronts: 6 calories, 91% moisture, real farm-raised protein, grain-free, and a taste that even picky cats can't resist. Read the labels, compare the numbers, and your cat will be healthier for it.