Every cat owner discovers the same thing eventually: your cat will turn its nose up at the expensive organic food you researched for an hour, then lose its mind over a $0.50 tube of chicken paste. That’s Churu. And if you haven’t tried it yet, your cats are missing out.
I have three cats — Mr. Kitty (ragdoll, extremely picky), Xena (tortie, will eat anything that holds still long enough), and Billy (Maine Coon mix, food-motivated to an alarming degree). Finding treats that all three of them agree on is basically impossible. Except for Churu. Churu is the great unifier.
Here’s what I’ve tried, what works, and the one accessory that makes treat time way less messy.
Quick answer: Inaba Churu Chicken Varieties 50-Pack ($25) is the single best cat treat you can buy. Every cat I’ve ever seen try it goes wild. Pair it with a ridged ceramic lick plate ($10) so they can eat it without making a mess — the ridges slow them down and keep the puree in place.
Inaba Churu — The Best Cat Treat, Period
Check price on Amazon — $25 for 50 tubes
If you’ve spent any time on cat Reddit or TikTok, you already know about Churu. It’s a lickable puree treat that comes in a squeezable tube, and cats react to it like it’s some kind of controlled substance. The first time I opened one, all three cats appeared in the kitchen within seconds — including Mr. Kitty, who normally couldn’t care less about treat time.
What makes it different: The texture. Churu is a smooth, creamy puree with a strong aroma. Most dry treats rely on crunch and coating. Churu hits the smell and taste buttons simultaneously, and the lickable format lets cats eat it at their own pace instead of scarfing down chunks.
What’s in it: Real chicken or tuna puree, water, and a few natural thickeners. No grains, no artificial colors, no preservatives. Each tube is only about 6 calories, which matters if you’re watching your cat’s weight. The high moisture content is also a bonus — if you have a cat that doesn’t drink enough water (looking at you, Mr. Kitty), Churu adds some hydration to their day.
The 50-pack jar is the way to buy them. The smaller packs work out to significantly more per tube, and you’ll go through them faster than you expect. We burn through a jar roughly every six weeks with three cats.
The Medicine Trick
This is the real reason Churu deserves the top spot. You can hide medicine in it and cats will eat it without flinching.
We’ve mixed crushed pills, liquid antibiotics, and deworming paste into Churu, and all three cats ate every bit without hesitation. The strong flavor and creamy texture completely mask the medication taste. Before Churu, giving Mr. Kitty a pill involved a towel, two people, and at least one person getting scratched. Now I just crush the pill into a tube, squeeze it onto the plate, and walk away.
If you have a cat that needs regular medication, this alone is worth the price of admission.
Other Ways to Give Pills
Churu works great for crushed pills, but some medications need to go in whole. Two options we’ve used:
Greenies Pill Pockets ($8 for 85 treats) — These are purpose-built for hiding pills. You drop the pill into the soft pocket, pinch it closed, and hand it to your cat like a normal treat. Two of our three cats take them without issue. Mr. Kitty figured out the trick after a few days, but most cats won’t.
Inaba Churu Tubes as pill wraps — For the cats that outsmart pill pockets, you can squeeze out some Churu, wrap it around the pill, place it in the back of the cat’s mouth, and hold their mouth closed until they swallow. There’s a technique to it — tilt the head slightly back, hold gently but firmly, and wait for the swallow reflex. It’s not as elegant as the pill pocket method, but it works when nothing else does.
Chicken vs. Tuna Varieties
The Chicken Varieties jar includes chicken, chicken with scallop, chicken with cheese, and chicken with shrimp. The Tuna Varieties include tuna, tuna with chicken, tuna with scallop, and tuna with shrimp.
All three of my cats prefer the chicken varieties, but they’ll eat the tuna without complaint. If your cat is a fish cat, go tuna. If you’re not sure, start with chicken — it tends to be the more universally liked option.
The Plate That Changed Treat Time
Check price on Amazon — $10
This is the accessory I didn’t know I needed. If you squeeze Churu onto a regular flat plate, it slides around, spreads into a thin layer, and your cats end up pushing the plate across the floor trying to lick it clean. It’s messy and annoying.
This ceramic lick plate has concentric ridges that hold the puree in place. The Churu settles into the grooves, which means:
- Less mess — the puree stays put instead of sliding
- Slower eating — cats have to work the ridges with their tongues, which prevents scarfing
- Easier sharing — multiple cats can eat from it without one cat pushing all the food to one side
- Easy to clean — ceramic goes in the dishwasher, unlike silicone lick mats that warp
We own three of these plates now. When all three cats want Churu at the same time (which is always), having multiple plates prevents the inevitable standoff. The plates also work great for wet food, pumpkin puree, or anything else with a soft texture.
Tip: The cutout notch on the side is designed for flat-faced breeds to eat more comfortably, but it also works as a thumb grip when you’re carrying a plate full of Churu to the feeding spot.
Our Treat Drawer
We keep a dedicated drawer in the kitchen stocked with treats and feeding supplies. The cats know exactly which drawer it is — you can’t walk within three feet of it without someone appearing and meowing. Our daily setup:
- Churu 50-pack jar — the main event
- Friskies pate cans — their daily wet food (they get one can split between three cats each evening)
- Lick plates stacked — easy to grab and serve
- Dry food bowl — always available as a baseline
Temptations — Best Crunchy Treat
Check price on Amazon — $15 for variety pack
If your cat prefers a crunch, Temptations are the most reliable dry treat I’ve found. They have a crunchy outside and a soft inside, and the variety pack lets you figure out which flavor your cat likes without committing to a full bag of something they might reject.
What I like:
- Consistent quality — every cat I’ve ever had likes these
- The resealable bag keeps them fresh
- Small enough to use as training rewards
- The variety pack is perfect for figuring out your cat’s favorite flavor
What could be better:
- They’re not the healthiest option — more of a junk food treat
- Cats can get obsessive about them (Billy will scream at the cabinet if he hears the bag)
- The chicken flavor tends to crumble at the bottom of the bag
Temptations are our “shaking the bag” treat — the sound of that bag is the fastest way to get all three cats to come running. I use them when I need to round everyone up for vet visits or to lure someone out from under the bed.
Greenies Dental Treats — Best for Dental Health
If you want a treat that actually does something beyond making your cat happy, Greenies dental treats are designed to clean teeth and reduce tartar buildup. The texture is slightly abrasive — not enough to bother your cat, but enough to scrub against the tooth surface as they chew.
What I like:
- Actually has a functional benefit beyond calories
- VOHC accepted (Veterinary Oral Health Council)
- The chicken flavor is well-liked by all three cats
- Crunchy enough to provide the teeth-cleaning action
What could be better:
- Some cats don’t like the texture — it’s denser than Temptations
- Mr. Kitty ignores these completely (picky cats may not care for them)
- More expensive per treat than Temptations
I give these to Billy and Xena a few times a week as a dental supplement. Mr. Kitty won’t touch them, but he also won’t touch most things that aren’t Churu, so that’s not really a fair test.
What I Don’t Recommend
Cheap grocery store treats with artificial colors: If the treat is bright red, green, or yellow, it’s dyed. Your cat doesn’t care what color their food is, and those artificial colors are unnecessary additives.
Treats with too much filler: Check the ingredients list. If the first ingredient is corn, wheat, or “meat by-products” without specifying the animal, you’re paying for filler. Churu’s first ingredient is chicken or tuna. Temptations aren’t perfect here, but they’re better than the bargain bin options.
Raw freeze-dried treats without proper sourcing: These can be great, but quality varies wildly. Unless you trust the brand and can verify the sourcing, stick with established brands.
Product Comparison
| Treat | Type | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inaba Churu Chicken 50-Pack | Lickable puree | $25 | Overall best, hiding medicine, picky eaters |
| Inaba Churu Tuna 50-Pack | Lickable puree | $25 | Fish-loving cats |
| Temptations Variety Pack | Crunchy | $15 | Daily treats, rounding up cats |
| Greenies Dental Treats | Dental chew | $7 | Teeth cleaning, functional treat |
| Greenies Pill Pockets Chicken | Pill pocket | $8 | Hiding whole pills |
| Ceramic Lick Plate | Accessory | $10 | Serving Churu without mess |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best cat treat?
Inaba Churu lickable treats are the overwhelming favorite. All three of my cats — including Mr. Kitty, who rejects most treats — go absolutely wild for them. The creamy puree texture and strong aroma are irresistible. If you only buy one treat, make it Churu.
Are Churu treats healthy for cats?
Yes. They’re made with real chicken or tuna puree, contain no grains, artificial colors, or preservatives, and each tube is only about 6 calories. The high moisture content is also good for cats that don’t drink enough water on their own. They’re one of the healthier treat options available.
Can you hide medicine in cat treats?
Absolutely — this is one of Churu’s best features. Crush a pill or mix liquid medication into a tube squeezed onto a plate. The strong flavor and creamy texture completely mask the medicine taste. For whole pills, Greenies Pill Pockets work great — drop the pill in, pinch it closed, and hand it over like a treat. All three of my cats eat medicated Churus without any fuss, and two of three take pill pockets without issue. It turned medication time from a two-person wrestling match into a non-event.
How many Churu treats can I give my cat per day?
Inaba recommends up to one tube per day. Each tube is about 6 calories, so it won’t impact your cat’s diet significantly. For multi-cat households, one tube shared between cats is a good approach — squeeze it onto a ridged plate and let them share.
Why won’t my cat eat treats?
Some cats are just picky. Mr. Kitty ignores Temptations, Greenies, and most dry treats. But he’s never turned down a Churu. If your cat rejects crunchy treats, try a lickable puree — the texture and aroma are completely different, and many cats that ignore dry treats will devour Churu.
Bottom Line
- One treat to rule them all: Inaba Churu Chicken 50-Pack ($25). Every cat loves it, it hides medicine, and it’s actually healthy.
- Get the plate: A ridged ceramic lick plate ($10) makes serving Churu cleaner and slower. Buy two if you have multiple cats.
- For crunchy treats: Temptations Variety Pack ($15) is the reliable standard. Great for rounding up cats.
- For dental health: Greenies ($7) a few times a week supplements their dental care.
- For daily medication: Greenies Pill Pockets ($8) make pill time a non-event for most cats.
If you’re keeping your cats comfortable beyond treats, our best cat water fountain guide covers hydration, and our how to keep cats off furniture guide has saved our couch. For the long-haired cats that need extra attention, our grooming guide covers the full routine.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I just opened the treat drawer and three cats just materialized in the kitchen.
Products Mentioned in This Article
INABA Churu Cat Treats Chicken Varieties 50-Pack
Lickable puree treats made with real chicken that all three of our cats go absolutely wild for.
- Every cat we've tried it on loves it — including our pickiest eater
- Perfect for hiding crushed pills or liquid medication
- Only about 6 calories per tube with no grains or artificial colors
- High moisture content helps with hydration
- You'll go through a jar faster than you expect with multiple cats
- Messy to serve without a lick plate
INABA Churu Cat Treats Tuna Varieties 50-Pack
Tuna-based version of Churu lickable treats for fish-loving cats.
- Same irresistible puree format as the chicken variety
- Great option for cats that prefer fish flavors
- Healthy ingredients with no grains or preservatives
- Our cats prefer the chicken varieties over the tuna
- Same mess issues as all Churu tubes without a lick plate
Temptations Classic Crunchy Cat Treats Variety Pack
Crunchy outside, soft inside treats that every cat seems to love — our go-to for rounding up all three cats.
- Consistent quality — every cat we've ever had likes these
- Resealable bag keeps them fresh
- Small enough to use as training rewards
- Variety pack helps you find your cat's favorite flavor
- Not the healthiest option — more of a junk food treat
- Cats can get obsessive about them
- Chicken flavor tends to crumble at the bottom of the bag
Greenies Feline Dental Cat Treats Chicken Flavor
Dental treats designed to clean teeth and reduce tartar buildup while your cat snacks.
- VOHC accepted — actually provides a functional dental benefit
- Chicken flavor is well-liked by most cats
- Crunchy texture provides teeth-cleaning action
- Some cats don't like the denser texture
- Picky cats may ignore them completely
- More expensive per treat than Temptations
Cat Ceramic Lick Plate with Ridges
Ceramic plate with concentric ridges that holds Churu in place and slows down eating.
- Ridges keep puree in place instead of sliding everywhere
- Slows eating so cats don't scarf it down
- Dishwasher safe ceramic — unlike silicone lick mats that warp
- Multiple cats can share one plate without pushing food around
- You'll want to buy multiple if you have more than one cat
- Ceramic can break if dropped
Greenies Feline Pill Pockets Chicken
Soft treat pockets designed to wrap around pills and capsules for easy medication delivery.
- Makes daily medication routine simple and stress-free
- Soft texture molds easily around most pill sizes
- Chicken flavor is well-liked by most cats
- 85 treats per bag lasts weeks of daily use
- Some cats figure out the pocket and spit out the pill
- Strong smell that some cats are suspicious of at first
INABA Churu Creamy Cat Treat Tubes
Soft creamy treat tubes that can be used to wrap around pills for cats that won't take pill pockets.
- Backup method when pill pockets fail
- Strong flavor helps mask pill taste
- Soft enough to mold around a pill
- Requires a technique — you need to hold the cat's mouth closed briefly
- Not all cats tolerate the direct approach
- Messier than pill pockets