Last updated Apr 19, 2023
Advertised as America’s #1 cat treat, most Temptations cat treats come in many flavors. Learn more about this popular cat treat in our unbiased review.
The Cats.com Standard – Rating Temptations on What Matters
We have analyzed Temptations cat treats and rated them according to our standards here at Cats.com. Our grades are based on the species-appropriateness of the food, the quality of the ingredients, product variety, price, customer experience, and recall history. You can read more about our ratings here.
Here are our ratings for Temptations in these key areas:
Ratings
- Species-Appropriateness – 6/10
- Ingredient Quality – 6/10
- Product Variety – 8/10
- Price – 8/10
- Customer Experience – 7/10
- Recall History – 8/10
Overall Score: 7.2/10
We give Temptations cat treats a 43 out of 60 rating or a B grade.
About Temptations
Unlike most other pet treats, Temptations are 100 percent nutritionally complete and balanced for adult cat maintenance. They provide all the nutrients your cat needs in the amounts needed. However, Temptations does recommend feeding your cat a well-balanced meal in addition to the treats. It’s just nice to know the treats are relatively nutritious compared to many other treats.
Temptations are also the right size to fit in treat-dispensing cat toys and watch your cat chase them around the house.
The “classic,” original Temptations treats are crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. They also come in creamy treats and soft meaty bites. Temptations has a wide variety of flavors.
If you’re wondering how many Temptations treats you can feed your cat, the product suggests that you can feed up to 15 treats per 10 pounds (4.5 kg) of cat in a day as a treat or snack. Each treat contains fewer than 2 calories.
If you are giving these treats as your cat’s main meal, ¼ cup of Temptations treats can replace ¼ cup of a cat food such as Whiskas Meaty Selections Food for Cats. Don’t forget to provide fresh drinking water for your cat at all times, including when you are giving your cat treats.
On the down side, Temptations has been compared to “kitty crack.” The recipes are made from tasty ingredients (to cats) but they aren’t usually considered the highest quality. You can expect ingredients such as chicken by-product meal, ground corn, animal fat, wheat flour, and dried meat by-products. You might not approve of these ingredients but cats really love Temptations. As long as your cat isn’t allergic to any of these ingredients, they probably won’t do any harm, especially if the treats are fed in moderation.
Sourcing and Manufacturing
Temptations cat treats are made by Mars Petcare, part of Mars, Incorporated. Mars is an American multinational food processing, confectionery, and veterinary services corporation. Mars has headquarters in McLean, Virginia, while Mars Petcare has headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee.
Mars Petcare has 85,000 associates/employees with locations on six continents. Mars operates some 22 factories in the United States, several plants in Canada, factories in the UK, along with operations in other countries.
As for sourcing ingredients, Mars recently announced that it is making progress toward procuring 100 percent of the fish it uses from more sustainable sources.
According to the label and responses on Amazon.com, Temptations are made in Canada. However, we don’t now where all of the ingredients are sourced.
Has Temptations Cat Treats Been Recalled?
We didn’t find any evidence of Temptations having been recalled after a check of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration Database.
There was an accusation on Facebook in 2016 that Temptations had killed someone’s cat (or more than one cat) but the company responded and the post was removed. We checked Snopes.com about the allegation.
They said that it was “unproven.” The claim originated from Punkin’ Pawz Palace Cat Sanctuary but it was repeated across the Internet. There were no FDA withdrawals or recalls related to this claim. Punkin’ Pawz Palace Cat Sanctuary removed the post a month later.
What Kinds of Cat Treats Does Temptations Offer?
Temptations offers seven different kinds of treats on their web site: Classics, Creamy Purrrr-ée, Jumbo Stuff, Meaty Bites, MixUps, Seasonal, and ShakeUps. In additional to these types of treats, the brand offers an amazing array of flavors: beef, chicken, dairy, salmon, tuna, catnip, crab, lobster, shrimp, and turkey.
All together, we found 34 different kinds of Temptations treats on the brand web site.
The most popular flavors are reported to be Tempting Tuna Flavor, Savory Salmon Flavor, MixUps Surfer’s Delight.
The highest rated treats (other than the seasonal treats) were the 6-Pack Variety Pack, the 6-Pack Feline Favorites, Crabby Crab Flavor, and ShakeUps Clucky Carnival.
Temptations Cat Treat – Top 3 Recipes Reviewed
| Product Name | Food Type | Primary Protein | Calories | Price | Our Grade |
| Temptations MixUps Surfer’s Delight treats | Dry | Chicken | 368 kcal per cup | $0.53 per oz | B- |
| Temptations Tempting Tuna Flavor Cat Treats | Dry | Chicken | 368 kcal per cup | $0.86 per oz | B |
| Temptations ShakeUps Crustacean Celebration Cat Treats | Dry | Chicken | 394 kcal per cup | $0.76 per oz | B- |
#1 Temptations Mixups Surfers’ Delight
Temptations MixUps Surfer’s Delight treats is one of the most popular flavors made by Temptations. Like other Temptations treats, these snacks are crunchy on the outside and soft inside.
These treats have tuna, shrimp, and salmon flavors. The main ingredients (by weight before cooking) are: Chicken By-Product Meal, Ground Corn, and Animal Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols).
Some of the ingredients in the treats could be considered questionable. Ground corn and wheat flour, for example, can be problematic, especially if your cat is allergic to corn or wheat. Animal fat is vague. It’s an unnamed fat. “Meat by-products” is another vague ingredient from an unidentified source. “Natural flavors” can be broth from the meat in the food (perhaps the chicken by-product meal) but it’s also vague so there’s no way to know.
We did notice the natural tuna. If you’re unfamiliar with natural tuna, it’s high quality tuna fillets caught with traditional fishing methods. It helps keep the oceans and sea life safe. It’s something that Mars has been committed to doing. The natural tuna is not a big ingredient in this food but it’s still noteworthy.
Chicken by-product meal can be a good ingredient featuring lungs, liver, and kidneys. These are parts that your cat would love to eat. They are high in protein and easy to digest.
The treats are a mix of ingredients, some of which you might not like. On the other hand, these are inexpensive treats, about 2 calories each. They are a fun, tasty food for cats so you can’t complain too much about the ingredients, especially when cats love them so much.
This food contains (calculated) 368 kcal per cup.
Ingredients
Chicken By-Product Meal, Ground Corn, Animal Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Brewers’ Rice, Wheat Flour, Dried Meat By-Products, Natural Flavors, Brewers’ Dried Yeast, Natural Tuna, Shrimp & Salmon Flavor, Dried Cheese
Ingredients We Liked: Natural tuna, Chicken by-product meal, dried cheese
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Unnamed animal fat, meat by-products, Red #40 (a dye)
Common Allergens: Wheat flour, ground corn, fish (tuna; shrimp and salmon flavor), chicken by-product meal
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Temptations treats are only 2 calories per treat
- They come in over 30 different flavors
- The treats can provide complete and balanced nutrition for an adult dog’s maintenance diet
Cons
- Some ingredients are vague and unnamed
- Most of the treats contain corn and/or wheat flour
#2 Temptations Tempting Tuna Flavor
Temptations Tempting Tuna Flavor has thousands of positive reviews on the Temptations cat treats web site. It may be the single most popular flavor the brand makes. Made with flounder, cod, and whitefish flavors, they are sure to be a favorite with any cat that loves fish.
This recipe contains no artificial ingredients. The main ingredients according to their weight before cooking are: Chicken by-product meal, ground corn, and animal fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols).
The treats also contain wheat flour, if this is a concern for your cat. However, the majority of pet treats do use flour, especially if they are baked.
Natural tuna flavor is used in this treat but it is not one of the first few ingredients. Natural tuna are high quality tuna fillets caught with traditional fishing methods. The Mars Corporation has been committed to keeping the oceans and sea life safe. Natural tuna is a small ingredient in these treats but it is worth noting. The treats also have “natural flavors” which may include some of the fishy flavors in the food.
The main ingredients (by weight before cooking) are: Chicken By-Product Meal, Ground Corn, and Animal Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols).
Some of these ingredients in the treats could be considered questionable. Ground corn and wheat flour, for example, can be problematic, especially if your cat is allergic to corn or wheat. Animal fat is vague. It’s an unnamed fat. “Meat by-products” is another vague ingredient from an unidentified source.
Chicken by-product meal can be a good ingredient from lungs, liver, kidneys. These are parts that your cat would love to eat. They are high in protein and easy to digest.
These are inexpensive treats, about 2 calories each. Even though chicken by-product meal and ground corn are the first ingredients and natural tuna is low on the list, cats seem to love them judging by the many positive customer reviews. As long as your cat isn’t allergic to any of the ingredients in these treats, they should be safe to give your cat in moderation.
This food contains (calculated) 368 kcal per cup.
Ingredients
Chicken By-Product Meal, Ground Corn, Animal Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Brewers’ Rice, Wheat Flour, Dried Meat By-Products, Natural Flavors, Brewers’ Dried Yeast, Natural Tuna Flavor, Dried Cheese
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken by-product meal, dried cheese
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Unnamed animal fat, unnamed meat by-products, caramel color
Common Allergens: Wheat flour, ground corn, fish (tuna flavor, other flavors)
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Temptations treats are only 2 calories per treat
- They come in over 30 different flavors
- The treats are relatively nutritious and not full of sugar like many pet treats
Cons
- Some ingredients are vague and unnamed
- Most of the treats contain corn and/or wheat flour
- The treats contain chicken by-product meal and dried meat by-products with only natural tuna flavor
#3 Temptations ShakeUps Crustacean Celebration
Like their Classics, Mix-Ups, Jumbo, and other treats, Temptations ShakeUps are very popular with cats. They have all of the things that customers love about Temptations – nutritional adequacy, 2 kcal per treat, and no artificial flavors – and they are still crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. Plus, they come in some new flavors with a little more protein than other Temptations treats.
Temptations ShakeUps Crustacean Celebration features lobster, crab, and shrimp flavor to make any cat happy. The main ingredients in these treats are similar to other Temptations treats: Chicken by-product meal, ground corn, and animal fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols). It does contain natural lobster, crab, and shrimp flavor but this ingredient is low in the ingredient list.
Ground corn and wheat flour can be problematic if your cat is allergic to these ingredients. However, most pet treats do use flour in some form, especially if they are baked. Animal fat is vague. It’s an unnamed fat. “Meat by-products” is another vague ingredient from an unidentified source.
Chicken by-product meal can be a good ingredient from lungs, liver, kidneys. These are parts that your cat would love to eat. They are high in protein and easy to digest.
The treats do contain several artificial colors which can be off-putting for some consumers. Cats really don’t care about the color of food and treats so these colors are only added to appeal to consumers.
These treats are slightly higher in protein than other Temptations treats. They are also slightly higher calories.
As with other Temptations treats, ShakeUps Crustacean Celebration treats get rave reviews from customers on behalf of their cats. They are similar in ingredients to other Temptations treats. Some cats may even like them more since they have a little more protein along with the lobster, crab, and shrimp flavor.
This food contains (calculated) 394 kcal per cup.
Ingredients
Chicken By-Product Meal, Ground Corn, Animal Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Brewers Rice, Wheat Flour, Dried Meat By-Products, Natural Flavors, Brewers Dried Yeast, Natural Lobster Crab & Shrimp Flavor, Dried Cheese
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken by-product meal, dried cheese
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Unnamed animal fat, unnamed meat by-products, Red #40, Blue #2, Yellow #5, Yellow #6
Common Allergens: Wheat flour, ground corn, shellfish (lobster, crab, and shrimp flavor)
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Temptations treats are only 2 calories per treat
- They come in over 30 different flavors
- This recipe is slightly higher in protein than most other Temptations treats
Cons
- Some ingredients are vague and unnamed
- Lobster, crab, and shrimp are only “flavors;” these foods are not present in the food
- This recipe contains the artificial colors Red #40, Blue #2, Yellow #5, Yellow #6
What Do Customers Think of Temptations Cat Treats?
There are literally thousands of positive reviews online about Temptations cat treats. People and their cats love these treats. Of course, there are some negative reviews but most people report that cats are crazy for these treats.
Positive Reviews
My cat is addicted to all of the temptations flavors. He talks to us until we give in. If we run out he will get depressed and stare at us. You’ve created a monster…lol – by Tigerlilymom
I have bought approx. 6 different varieties of Temptations. My cats go nuts when they see me reach for this one! They put their front feet on the wall and paw at my hand – sometimes grabbing my hand to pull it down to their mouths – to pull my hand down with one of these, apparently tasty, morsels! Definitely gets an A+ from my felines! – by Chris on Aug 17, 2021
Negative Reviews
I have two tabby cats 5 years old. My cats aren’t picker eaters by any means but they seriously strayed away from any treats from this brand. Definitely do NOT recommend. – by giannac15
I don’t know what’s wrong with these treat lately. I’ve been buying them for 3+ years and suddenly my cats will hardly touch them. They pick through them. I drop around 30 on a plate for each cat and each cat eats around 6-10 of them if that. So yeah, 20 or so are left and they won’t touch them. I add more treats and the ones left previously are still there along with most of the new ones I gave them. Whatever you guys changed -FIX IT. I’m not going to buy cat treats that are mostly inedible. Either GO BACK TO THE FORMULA YOU USED TO USE OR I AND 1000S OF CAT OWNERS ARE SURELY DONE WITH YOU. TAKE YOUR PICK. My cats used to eat EACH AND EVERY TREAT. If I don’t see my cats eating them -ALL- again I’ll declare that you’re infusing these “treats” with garbage. STOP CUTTING CORNERS. YOU CHARGE AN ARM AND A TOE AS IS. ——- really, really, really disappointed customer – by cutcorneRgarbage on Sep 11, 2021
How Much Do Temptations Cat Treats Cost?
Temptations are inexpensive. A 3-ounce bag of treats is less than $2. A 16-ounce tub costs a little over $8. This is a popular value size. Customers also like the resealable tub for storing treats. The 30-ounce tub for about $16 is also popular.
If you are buying online, do check around to compare shipping costs. Some sites charge more for shipping than others.
Overall, Are Temptations Cat Treats a Good Choice?
Temptations are the most popular cat treat in the United States. Cats really do love them. They do contain some ingredients that you might prefer they didn’t contain but your cat will probably enjoy them.
Temptations cat treats should be given in moderation.
How Do You Order Temptations Cat Treats?
If you’re in the United States or Canada, Temptations are easy to find in stores and online. If you’re ordering online you can check Amazon.com or Chewy.com.
In the UK, they are sold on Amazon.com.uk and pet supply sites. They are also sold through the Whiskas web site since Mars owns Whiskas.
All About Cats is uber fabulous.. I have a question regarding seafood and oil in cstfood; is the seafood checked for mercury content?
I suppose it depends on the supplier, but there is no requirement for cat food to be tested for mercury, and these levels are often higher than the levels recommended for certain species. Note that neither the AAFCO nor NRC have established appropriate or excessive levels for mercury in pet food. This article sheds some more light on the issue.
My cats are so addicted to Temptations that I got worried. That they are made by Mars and have a laundry list of ingredients, with grains at the top, added to my skepticism. Your review has somewhat eased my doubts about this “crack” for cats, so I’ve decided to hold off on flushing it down the toilet.
Hate that they changed the name to indoor care instead of hairbball control, not even the same ingredients!!! Why would you break something that is not broken? Are you not Cat Friendly? My cat can only have the hairball treats for he is on special cat food from the vet, and now its even worse because my cat has no treats. Guess you wanted your customers not to be happy!!! Or our furbabies…..
Hey Gwen, sorry to hear that the formulation change left your cat without treats. What are your cat’s special needs? I might be able to help you find a good alternative.
A neighbor gave me a 6.3 oz bag of Temptations MixUps. My cat went crazy over it. I only gave her 3 – 4 pieces once or twice a day. When she got to the end of the bag she quit eating and drinking and would hide in a corner. This went on for about ten days and it looked like she would die soon if she didn’t get help. I made a vet appointment: He determined that her kidneys, etc were good. Somehow I believe that Tempations did this to her and almost killed her. She’s better now since she went to the vet. I would not recommend that anyone give Temptations to their cats.
Sorry to hear about your kitty, Margaret! It’s heartening that your vet didn’t find any medical problems but you’re right that it could still have something to do with the Temptations. I am by no means a veterinarian or expert, but I’ve seen anecdotes (and have heard cat owner friends) that say some cats who eat Temptations regularly will later refuse to eat anything else.
This is a potential issue with other products that contain flavoring agents. Pet food manufacturers have found a way to make their products more appealing in an inexpensive but not particularly cat-appropriate way. If this is what’s happening, it might not be that your cat is sick – he just doesn’t want to eat anything but Temptations.
Did the vet find anything else that could be contributing to the problem? It sounds like your cat is doing better now and it’s probably a good call to avoid Temptations in the future. Best of luck!
My 11 year old male feral cat loves the chicken Temptations treats for cats in either the 3 oz & 6.3 oz sizes, but a few years ago, during Pandemic, my grocer had only the $8-$9 bucket size of the same exact treats and my cat would eat a few then snub them…when he was in back sleeping I’d transfer some into the 6:3oz bag he had just finished but he took a sniff & wouldn’t touch them. Luckily the 2 bag sizes are USUALLY back at my grocers. Recently a neighbor was going to store so I gave her money for a couple of the 6.3 oz bags, grocer was out of both & she came back with that bucket one…she wasn’t aware of past problem with it. Darnit! the exact same thing happened again! Supposedly same product, (same labeling as the 2 smaller packages), but my cat will not eat it.
AND NOW, an even bigger upset, about a month ago Freddie’s had the 3oz packages for $1.67, they’d been gradually going up in price since Pandemic, NOW, a week or two ago, the package is down to TWO ounces, AND, they were ON SALE for 2 packages of the TWO oz bags, for $5!! Within a month, 3oz bags were $1.67 each, now the bags are $2.50 each but only 2 oz! Oh, and like I said, that was $2.50 ON SALE! Yikes! I hope my cat doesn’t go through withdrawal because I just can’t stand getting screwed by those companies that WE, the consumers, made rich…
Barb
.n
I don’t like how you basically dismiss the fact that Temptations contain so many red flags in terms of ingredients: by-products, meal, unnamed meats, corn, grains, etc, just because cats like them. Why should treats be given special treatment from normal food?
Also, Temptations are Dreamies in the United Kingdom, correct?
Good point—I’ll keep your critiques in mind. Regarding your last question, yes! They are Dreamies in the UK.
My cats love , love temptation treats so when I the cat food by temptations I was excited. However both of my cats throw up this food. Im very so disappointed and wasn’t $15 dollars. What is in this cat food to make not one but both of my cats throw up….
Hi Kelly, I’m so sorry that your cats became sick. I’m not sure which Temptations treats you gave them but the treats I reviewed all contained wheat flour, artificial colors, and some ingredients that could be allergens for some cats. Many cats do seem to love the taste of the treats but they don’t contain the healthiest ingredients. Even though some of the ingredients were not great, I did feel that I also had to consider the fact that there are hundreds of very positive reviews for the treats online.
I hope your cats will be well.
Nov. 2023 Christmas Advertisement on TV is Horrible. The orange tabby cat at the piano is fine. The orange cat the ladies are feeding the cat HAS DILATED EYES LOOKS DRUGGED. SO SAD. My cat’s years ago lived temptations. Today and the last 5 years my cat will not touch them in any way. He must know something is wrong with them. Will not buy product. They should take this advertisement off TV.
Every time my cat eats these even if I give him just a few he throws up would not recommend this product!