- Home
- Best Products
- Cat Treats
- Best Dental Treats for Cats 2024
Best Dental Treats for Cats 2024
Written by Emily Bayne
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 05/17/2024, edited: 05/17/2024
The Wag! team conducts independent research and consults pet experts to curate our recommendations. This content is supported by our affiliate pet partners and we may receive a commission on the links provided.
Have you noticed your kitty's teeth are looking a little tarnished lately? Is their breath getting progressively worse? If so, it might be time for some proactive measures to keep your kitty's dental hygiene in check!
Regular brushing and dental treats are a great way to combat plaque buildup between professional cleanings. Dental disease is one of the most common problems in adult and senior kitties, so being vigilant and proactive can help prevent discomfort, odor, and even tooth loss. The good news is with regular cleanings and some crunchy treats, you may be able to prevent this unpleasant condition.
Now, let's get into some of our favorite cat dental treats!
Overview
WHIMZEES by Wellness Dental Cat Treats
Wellness is one of our favorite feline brands and is also a favorite of pet nutrition expert and Wag! veterinary consultant Dr. Georgia Jeremiah. The hard texture helps to scrub off tartar, while spearmint, rosemary, and green tea extract work as a preservative and freshen your furbaby's breath.
We like that Whimzees come in a variety of flavors and feature real meat as the first ingredient! Plus, they're rich in protein and are fortified with vitamins, so you can feel good about what your kitty is snacking on.
Available sizes
- 2 oz
- 4.5 oz
Product variations
- Chicken & Salmon
- Chicken & Tuna
- Chicken
WHIMZEES by Wellness Chicken & Salmon Dental Cat Treats
Why Wag! loves Whimzees
- 29% protein and 7% fiber
- Fortified with vitamins and minerals
- Contains three different probiotics for gut health
- Vet-recommended
Considerations & concerns
- All the products in this line contain chicken, which is unsafe for cats with poultry allergies (we would love to see more non-poultry offerings from this line!)
What Pet Parents Say about Whimzees by Wellness
"All three of my cats love these! They have all tried other dental treats but I never seen them react this way with any of them. Even my one extremely picky cat really enjoyed these! They're smaller size treats, too, which they seem to prefer versus other brands sizes."
"Hearing the crunch of the treat was almost like a signal that it's doing its job by brushing her teeth. She seems to really like the flavor and begs for more when it's time to put the bag away."
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from Chewy. Copyright Wellness Pet Company, Inc.
VetriScience Perio Plus Everyday Health Feline Bites Dental Cat Treats
If you're looking for a science-backed and vet-recommended dental treat brand, Vetriscience Labs is one of the best.
These treats feature two layers: the top layer, which contains breath-freshening ingredients like cinnamon, spirulina, and parsley, and the inner core, which is fortified with vitamins and minerals for optimal oral health.
Their Perio Plus Everyday Health cat dental treats feature all-natural ingredients like anise and fenugreek to freshen kitty breath and aid in digestion. These have a yummy chicken flavor which cats love and contain a variety of probiotics to help with gut health too! Tasty and nutritious? Vetriscience gets an A+ from us!
VetriScience Perio Plus Feline Bites Dental Treats for Cats
Why Wag! loves Vetriscience
- Uses rosemary extract rather than artificial preservatives and flavors
- Contains several probiotics
- Money-back guarantee — if you don't love it, it's free!
Considerations & concerns
- Only comes in one flavor and size
- Several reviewers felt that the treats were too large for their kitties
What pet parents say about Vetriscience
"No verdict yet about dental benefits, but my old kitty Mollie loves these things. She hollers at me every morning until I give her one. Cats are weird, and she may decide she's bored with them tomorrow, but since I got them and every day since, she gobbles them up. 4 instead of 5 stars because I honestly don't know yet if it's helping her dental health."
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from Chewy. Copyright VetriScience.
Greenies Feline Catnip Flavor Adult Dental Cat Treats
Greenies Catnip Flavor Dental Cat Treats combine the plaque-fighting properties that greenies are known for with the tasty and tantalizing flavor of catnip. Your cat will go pawsitively bonkers for these treats.
The best part is they are super low-calorie at just 1.36 calories per treat making them purr-fect for training or cats trying to shed some pounds. These treats come in a variety of package sizes and flavors, too, making them great for every budget and palette.
Available sizes:
- 2.1oz bag
- 4.6 oz bag
- 9.7 oz tub
- 21 oz tub
Product flavors:
- Oven-Roasted Chicken
- Tempting Tuna
- Savory Salmon
- Shrimp
- Catnip
Greenies Catnip Flavor Dental Cat Treats
Why Wag! loves Greenies Feline
- Uses rosemary and mixed tocopherols rather than artificial preservatives
- Vet-recommended and even sold in many vet offices
- Under 2 calories per treat
Considerations & concerns
- Some parents complain that these are too small for feeder toys
- For adult cats only, not for kittens
What pet parents say about Greenies Feline
"I ordered this container because I ordered a bag of the catnip treats originally not knowing if my cats would even like them. Well, I woke up the net morning and one of my cats (JETT) had ripped open the bag with his teeth and was helping himself and his brothers and sister to catnip heaven! Thankfully I caught them before they were able to eat the whole bag but I thought I would circumvent that happening again by ordering a container they can't get into.... yes, they've figured out how to get the top off so now I am going to have to hide them in the cabinet. Hopefully they won't figure out how to open the cabinet but at lest I did find out that they LOVE the catnip flavor dental greenies! Now I have a [colony] of fiends!"
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from Chewy. Copyright Mars Inc.
Virbac C.E.T. Intelli Dent Cat Bite
Virbac claims that just 3 of their Intelli Dent bites a day can improve your cat's oral health, and most pet parents seem to agree! These crunchy bites work to rid your cat of smelly breath, plaque, and tartar buildup. Plus, these treats are suitable for almost any diet and calorie budget since they are low fat and are just 2.6 calories per treat!
Virbac C.E.T. IntelliDent Cat Dental Treats
Why Wag! loves Virbac C.E.T. Intelli Dent Cat Bites
- Claims fewer treats to help with dental health than other leading brands
- Yummy fish flavor that cats like
- Low-fat, low-calorie recipe
- Combats plaque and freshens breath
- Contains ingredients to help with urine PH
Considerations & concerns
- Since the original recipe was revamped, some pet parents feel the new treats are too small for effective cleaning
- Contains phosphoric acid to help with urine PH and red iron oxide, a food coloring agent which some pet parents may find problematic
- Currently, it only comes in one flavor, fish
- The Virbac website suggests giving no more than 17 treats per day
What pet parents say about Virbac C.E.T. Intelli Dent Cat Bites
"My cats loved original dental treats, but due to discontinuation, I was skeptical about buying these at first. My 3 cats love them! One cat had gingivitis but got better w these treats. All 3 cats now need dental cleanings and have gingivitis now because they went without these dental treats for so long. Nothing else compares! So happy they at least came out w/something but wishing they'd bring back original. Sadly only comes in fish flavor."
"My Barney anxiously waits every night for his "bedtime treats." Unfortunately, because they are quite small, he often just swallows them rather than chewing them, unlike the older dental treat. So, although I do not know if they are actually helping his teeth at least he is getting a healthy snack!"
Read more reviews on Petco.
Image sourced from Chewy. Copyright Virbac.
Tartar Shield Cat Treats
Tartar Shield Cat Treats is a vet-recommended brand that can be found in vet offices across the US. These treats are primarily made of ground corn and chicken meal but are fortified with vitamins and minerals to supplement your cat's diet. Plus, these treats are made and sourced right here in America!
Tartar Shield Cat Treats
Why Wag! loves Tartar Shield
- Crunchy exterior to promote teeth cleaning
- Easy-to-digest formula
- Vet-recommended
- USA-made
Considerations & concerns
- Corn is the leading ingredient
- Only come in one flavor and bag size
What pet parents say about Tartar Shield
"Contrary to his reaction, when I tried brushing his teeth with a brush or gauze, this has been the most palatable way of [cleaning] my cats problem gums!"
"My 7 year old kitty looks forward to her daily treats! Great dental treat even for finicky kitties!"
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from Chewy. Copyright Tartar Shield Pet Products.
FAQ
What are cat dental treats?
Do dental treats work for a cat's oral hygiene?
What should I look for in a good dental treat for my cat?