Cats can enjoy a small festive treat, but choose food made specifically for cats, check its ingredients and calories, and keep all treats below 10% of your cat’s daily calories. Avoid common holiday hazards such as seasoned foods, fatty scraps, bones, chocolate, and dairy. If your cat has a health condition, food sensitivity, or prescribed diet, ask their veterinary team before offering anything new.
What Christmas treats can cats eat?
The simplest choice is a cat-specific treat with clear ingredient and calorie information. Look for an appropriate size and shape, and supervise your cat while they eat. Limited-ingredient options may make it easier to check what is in a treat, but a label alone cannot establish that a product suits a particular cat or medical diet.
For a festive human-food option, Cornell says a very small piece of plain, lean turkey may be okay for a cat. Keep it unseasoned and boneless: poultry bones can cause gastrointestinal obstructions, while fatty meat can predispose cats to pancreatitis. Cornell generally advises avoiding human food around cats during the holidays. Cornell Feline Health Center’s holiday-hazards guidance explains these risks.
How many treats can I give my cat?
“Treats should always make up less than 10% of a cat’s daily calorie intake,” advises the WSAVA Nutrition Committee in its 2025 guide. Treats are extras, not meal replacements; the rest of the diet should remain complete and balanced. The guide’s calorie examples are based on an average healthy adult cat in ideal body condition, so they are not a personalized allowance. Ask your veterinary team what is appropriate for your cat, especially if they need to lose or gain weight or have a medical condition. WSAVA’s 2025 treat guidance covers the calorie limit and individual needs.
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- Paw-sitively Perfect Stocking Stuffer: Your cat can’t wait to get their paws on these scrumptious cat Christmas treats….just shake the bag, and they’ll come running for these cat snacks
- Crunchy Outside, Creamy Inside: These irresistible cat treats have a visible soft cat treat center wrapped in a crunchy cat treat shell and have 2x more creamy filling than Temptations Classic Cat Treats
- Made with Real Meat: Temptations Tender Fills cat treats are made with real meat and no added artificial flavors for a taste your cat will find merry and bright
- Make Treating Fun: Create an irresistible bonding moment with your favorite feline with a crunchy, soft cat treat that is a great addition to their normal feeding routine
- Convenient Stay-Fresh Pouch: Resealable pouch will keep your cat off Santa Claws’ naughty list because it makes for easy treating while keeping your cat’s paws out of the cat snacks
Count calories from all extras, including scraps and homemade treats. Check the calories per serving on a commercial treat’s label; if they are not listed, WSAVA advises contacting the manufacturer. A treat’s small size does not necessarily mean it contributes few calories.
Which Christmas foods should cats avoid?
Keep holiday dishes, ingredients, and drinks out of reach. WSAVA lists the following as toxic food ingredients for cats:
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- MADE WITH WHOLESOME INGREDIENTS YOU CAN TRUST: Every Inaba product is crafted with high-quality ingredients including real chicken and natural wild-caught tuna
- KEEP YOUR FELINE HYDRATED WITHOUT ADDING CALORIES: Each delicious, creamy Churu tube contains 91% moisture and only 6 calories (a tenth of the calories of traditional dry cat treats), which makes it a healthy snack you can feel good about feeding
- FREE OF THE BAD STUFF: These treats contain no grains, preservatives, artificial colors, or carrageenan. We include Vitamin E to help support your cat’s immune system
- HAVE THEM EATING OUT OF YOUR HAND: Churu treats are designed to be hand-fed for bonding moments. They can also be used as a topper for wet or dry food or to help administer medication
- A FESTIVE TREAT WITH A HANDY SPOON: This holiday variety pack includes a Churu spoon. Perfect for squeezing out the treat without getting it on your hands. It’s a clean, convenient way to share the joy with your cat
- Onions, leeks, shallots, garlic, and chives
- Grapes, raisins, currants, and sultanas
- Chocolate and xylitol
- Alcohol, raw yeast dough, and caffeinated drinks
WSAVA also cautions that many cats are lactose intolerant and says to avoid milk and dairy products. Fatty meat and poultry bones are unsafe choices for the reasons noted by Cornell. The FDA’s broader holiday pet-safety guidance also warns about rich scraps, chocolate, alcohol, holiday plants, ribbons, and tinsel; plants and decorations are hazards rather than treats, but should also be kept away from curious cats.
How to choose a store-bought cat treat
Use the label to assess whether a treat fits your cat, rather than relying on festive packaging or a general “natural” claim. AAHA recommends treats specifically labelled for cats and suggests considering limited-ingredient options. Compare products on the points supported by the label and your cat’s needs:
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- Paw- sitively Perfect Stocking Stuffer: Your cat can’t wait to get their paws on these scrumptious cat Christmas treats….just shake the bag, and they’ll come running for these cat snacks
- Cats Lose Their Cool: Temptations Mixups Catmas Casserole cat treats are crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside
- Under 2 Calories Per Cat Treat: Our cat Christmas treats will have your favorite feline feeling merry and bright because each crunchy cat treat is under 2 calories and can be used as a cat snack, meal, or cat food topper
- 100% Complete and Balanced For Adult Cats: Your furry friend will enjoy their holidays snacking on a cat treat that’s 100% nutritionally complete and balanced for adult cat maintenance
- Convenient Stay-Fresh Tub: Resealable tub will keep your cat off Santa Claws’ naughty list because it makes for easy treating while keeping your cat’s paws out of the cat snacks
- Species: Is it explicitly labelled for cats?
- Ingredients: Can you identify what it contains, and does it avoid hazardous ingredients?
- Calories: Are calories per serving stated? If not, ask the manufacturer.
- Size and shape: Is the piece appropriate for your cat and manageable to eat? WSAVA advises choosing an appropriate size and shape to reduce choking risk.
- Diet fit: Does it conflict with a food sensitivity, medical condition, or veterinary-prescribed diet?
For seasonal shopping, search for cat-specific holiday treats and apply the same checks you would to any other treat. No particular brand or listing is established here as veterinarian-approved or suitable for every cat.
A simple homemade tuna treat for cats
AAHA publishes this Tuna Tidbits recipe for cats. It is a treat, not a complete or balanced meal, and it may not suit every cat—check with your cat’s veterinary team if health or diet needs apply. The recipe uses:
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- FOUR SINGLE-INGREDIENT MEAT FLAVORS Chicken, Duck, Salmon & Liver recipes give dogs and cats more protein choices. Each flavor is made with a single meat ingredient for a simple treat experience.
- FREEZE-DRIED TO PRESERVE TASTE Made with a freeze-drying process that helps preserve the natural flavor and texture of real meat, creating an irresistible bite pets love.
- HIGH PROTEIN MEAT TREATS Rich in animal protein and made from real meat ingredients, these bite-sized treats provide a delicious snack option for daily rewarding.
- THREE WAYS TO FEED Serve directly as a crunchy treat, crumble over pet food as a meal topper, or rehydrate with water for a softer texture and added variety.
- TRAINING REWARDS & EVERYDAY SNACKS Easy to carry and portion, these freeze-dried treats are great for training sessions, bonding moments, or rewarding good behavior anytime.
- One can of tuna in water, drained
- One cup of oat flour
- One egg
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Combine the ingredients and blend them.
- Form the mixture into small balls.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until firm.
Let the treats cool before offering one, and count it toward your cat’s daily treat calories. See AAHA’s holiday safety tips and Tuna Tidbits recipe for the published recipe.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to do if your cat eats a risky food
If you suspect your cat has eaten a toxic ingredient, bone, or another dangerous item, contact a veterinarian promptly. AAHA advises contacting a veterinarian when toxic ingestion is suspected. Do not wait for symptoms before seeking guidance; tell the clinic what your cat may have eaten and, if known, how much and when.
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- Paw-sitively Perfect Stocking Stuffer: Your cat can’t wait to get its paws on these turkey-flavored cat treats...just shake the bag, and they’ll come running for these cat snacks
- Cats Lose Their Cool: Temptations Holiday Dinner Tantalizing Turkey Flavor cat treats are crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside
- Under 2 Calories Per Cat Treat: Our cat Christmas treats will have your favorite feline feeling merry and bright because each crunchy cat treat is under 2 calories and can be used as a cat snack, meal, or cat food topper
- 100% Complete and Balanced For Adult Cats: Your furry friend will enjoy their holidays snacking on a cat treat that’s 100% nutritionally complete and balanced for adult cat maintenance
- Convenient Stay-Fresh Pouch: Resealable pouches will keep your cat off Santa Claws’ naughty list because it makes for easy treating while keeping your cat’s paws out of the cat snacks
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
