Catswell Breathies Cat Treats

September 18, 2010 11:33 pm | By Zootoo Editor AmyLi

These treats are best described as jerky, but only in appearance and texture and not in smell. Long, thin and meaty, these treats are conveniently very light and come in different sizes. They’re designed to help improve kitty breath – something these two cats that sampled the goods have never had to grapple with, personally – and the smell of mint and parsley is apparent. It wasn’t enough, though, to make these cats pause and think twice about what they were just going to shove into their mouths. The cats didn’t think twice before gobbling down the jerky treats, and were even willing to work through some of the larger pieces I didn’t stop to break up for them.

The treats are rich in protein, easily digestible, low in fat and said to help improve cats’ teeth, as well as their breath. That isn’t to say the treats are a substitute for brushing cats’ teeth, but they do appear to be rich in nutrients that lend to a well-balanced snack. No hormones, salt, flour, corn, soy, rice, gluten, fillers, or antibiotics? Well, then, what’s left? The top ingredients include chicken breast, flaxseed, vitamin e, mint, cinnamon bark, oyster shell flour, rosemary and parsley. Recognition of all the ingredients is always a major plus, and the cats seemed to think so, too. The treats cost $3.99 and can be found in all major pet stores. If your cats are anything like the ones that tried these treats, they will thank you for springing for the extra buck or two.

If owners intend to feed their cats these treats in order to maintain healthy breath and teeth, however, there is a bit of upkeep required – the package says that cats under five pounds require three to five treats a day, while cats five to 10 pounds take in six to 10 treats a day. The larger cats, from 11 to 15 lb, should consume 11 treats or more in order to enjoy their maximum effect.

Pros: Meat-intensive natural treats come in different sizes – none of which cats seem to be able to resist.

Cons: The fresh-breath effect seemed more short-lived than long-term.