Are Temptations Cat Treats Bad?

Last Updated on September 10, 2020

There has been a lot of wonders and worry over a Facebook post that seemed to have blown way out of proportion. The cat treats from MARS known as Temptations are being considered a deadly treat to a lot of caring cat lovers out there. While the treats aren’t  “deadly” I wouldn’t consider them to be healthy either. You still need to be aware of the ingredients!”

Creating the Issue

A lot of cats out there can handle some of the worst diets there are. From over-processed canned and dry food to unhealthy snacking and treats. The issue is, while a lot of cats “CAN” eat this stuff, many will suffer health consequences from it. Just like humans, if we eat more junk and processed foods then we should, our bodies will let us know by creating what we consider to be “symptoms” of some illness or disease. These so-called symptoms are actually your body’s way of trying to correct a problem. If you work against your body’s ability to heal itself by continuing to put the same crap in it, it will continue to have more problems. A cat’s body is no different!

Read the Ingredients Label

Looking at the ingredients on any cat product, there are a few you want to either minimize or completely get rid of depending on your cat’s health. These include corn, wheat, by-products (including meat meals), saturated oils, yeast, and heavy grains. The first 5 ingredients are the most important because they are labeled from the most to the least as far as quantity in the recipe.

If we look over the Temptations ingredients (I am reading off of the Backyard Cookout flavor), we will see the 5 following ingredients listed first and in this order: Chicken By-Product, Ground Corn, Animal Fat, Dried Meat By-Products, and Brewers Rice. Noting what I had just mentioned above, these treats are not “healthy” by a long shot. If we were to compare human food to cat food, consider something like this the McDonald’s of cat treats. No cat food or treat should EVER have all 5 ingredients from the no-no list.

Cats Love Them

Part of the reason many cats love them is down to the number of preservatives and additives in the ingredients. My cats love these treats and yes, I do give them to them but I also consider them for what they are. They basically are fast-food grade cat treats that should be just that, TREATS. Would you eat McDonald’s every day and consider yourself eating a healthy diet? I would certainly hope not! I am not telling you to stop feeding these to your cats but you really need to consider the ingredients and the amount you are feeding them. Small amounts here and there will be fine but don’t consider this a daily treat for your cat. Always consider your cat’s health as well. These treats may actually cause them some harm, especially cats sensitive to grains or those of them who have corn allergies. It is in the best interest of your cat that you be sure they are on the proper diet (including treats) for their own needs. 

UPDATE & WARNING

Since writing this post I have noticed my cat doing something many have complained about and that is pulling out his fur. He did this on a few of his legs and the bald spots were not tiny, they were very noticeable. He is an indoor cat and only goes out while on a leash under my supervision. I also do not leave any kind of cleaner or pills out where he can reach them. The only thing I had changed was buying him a different flavor of Temptations, the Catnip Mixup flavor. I have stopped giving these treats to him altogether several months ago and the fur has grown back. He no longer pulls out his fur either. He does have food sensitivities and it was likely down to an allergy. If you are wondering what I feed my cats now, it is PureBites freeze-dried treats . For many people experiencing issues like this, it is best to try another type of treat with limited ingredients. Getting your kitty tested for allergies will help to determine which food/treats are best. 

For those who have experienced sudden changes (illness or death), it is likely due to your cat getting into something poisonous. 

You really have to pay attention to what you keep in your home and if you allow your cat to go outdoors, it should be in an enclosed area or under your supervision. Many people use rat poison outside their homes. Cars also leak anti-freeze which is known to taste sweet to cats and dogs. I have done research on several treats, several cases, and other than food allergy symptoms which will get worse over time, there is nothing in these treats that will cause sudden death. So unless some poison was added to the treats by mistake, we have to assume the sudden illness and death cases are caused by something else.

Conclusion

Whether you choose to continue to feed your cat Temptations treats or not, that is up to you. While most cats will be fine eating treats like this, not all of them will. For my cats, it came down to allergies and I had to stop buying them. If you suspect for any reason the treats are causing issues with your cat, it is best to stop providing them and take them to a vet to get tested for food allergies. One of the most common food allergies for cats is corn. Cats can also have bad reactions to plastic bowls, perfumes, and even fleas (some cats are deathly allergic to fleas). To find healthy alternatives, please read Healthy Treats for Cats.


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208 thoughts on “Are Temptations Cat Treats Bad?”

  1. I used to give my cat Temptations only as a “treat”. That means 2-3 once in a while. When I read about the recall, I tossed them out. She ate high quality canned and raw food. She liked coconut oil as a treat, and got it twice a day. I tried several treats that she wouldn’t eat, until I got soft Lean Treats by Nutrisentials made with real skinless chicken, in a resealable zipper pouch. The package says “available only at your veterinarian” but I ordered them online. I’m not remembering the company, but a search should bring them up.

    Pet food manufacturers want your pet to be “addicted”, so it’s easy to see why so many are, with the special TREATment given to make sure it happens. Don’t trust your cat’s health to the people who profit from your pet food buying habits. Do the research.

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  2. I have noticed that since giving my cat these, she seems to be having a major problem with her rear end. She licks at it really bad lately, like it’s really bothering her. I know cats do this, as she does too, but NEVER this bad! I admit, I DEFINITELY over feed her these. She gets several “bundles” a day. So much so that I can hardly get her to eat her normal food anymore…which she loved!! I’m starting to get worried about her, as sometimes she seems as though she can’t get to it fast enough. I’ve been trying to cut her back on these, but she bothers me so bad to get some, I finally give in. I really need to stop…I know. Just an observation I’ve noticed since giving her these. I’ve even considered taking her to the vet!

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    • Thanks for your comment Alan. There is a chance she is having an allergic reaction to one of the ingredients. Is she also cleaning and chewing at her skin more? Cut her back slowly and see if there is an improvement.

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  3. My cat loves temptations, but I am starting to find tufts of fur around the house and now I saw where she has large piece of fur missing from her leg. I am going to stop her treats and switch to another brand and see if that is the issue. Thank you for this article.

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  4. I gave my cat Temptations Jumbo Stuffed treats the other day and she threw up in half an hour. I gave her one today to see if it was the treat that made her sick or if she was just stressed (my roommate had moved in the day I originally gave her the treat) and three hours after I gave her the treat today, she threw them up. So they’re going in the trash can for sure

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  5. Thank you for posting this information.

    My 15 year old male cat — who is an indoor/outdoor cat and the mayor/alpha predator of our neighborhood — had been losing significant weight, pulling his fur out and vomiting.

    A $$$$ trip to the vet found nothing out of the ordinary in his labs — checking for diabetes, thyroid, etc — and had no diagnosis. We considered his diet, and realized the Temptations were the only change. His symptoms line up with what you and other posters are reporting.

    In less than a week off the junk, his fur loss is stopping, and his digestion seems better. Fingers crossed. You may have helped save another cat-life.

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  6. The only time my kitten eats temptations is at the vet, when she’s about to get a vaccine. The vet will lay out a few cookies and she will happily eat them while she gets stuck with the needle. Since this is only every 3 weeks, I am okay with it. At home she eats blue wilderness kitten food (chicken flavor) and the blue wilderness salmon treats. She loves those! I considered buying temptations for her to snack at home too, but I’d rather they be only a VERY special treat, for traumatic occasions like vaccines or vet visits in general.

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  7. I’m one of thos people that had no idea that Temptations could be dangerous, and my cat has been getting them for 4-5 years. But it’s only been during the past year that I noticed subtle, occasional changes in my one cat, and I didn’t attribute the problem to the treats. But after reading these other comments, I believe I’ve unknowingly been poisoning my little Buckwheat. He has been showing signs of addiction–even coming in the middle of the night waking me up with yowls, and bugging me for his treats. He started licking and pulling at his fur a lot more the past few weeks, and again, I just thought it was fleas.

    Then, a few days ago, I opened a new bag of Temptations (beef), and started giving them to him several times a day. That’s about when I became concerned about Buckwheat’s behavior. He started getting lethargic, and sleeping all the time, and wants to be held in my arms constantly. More to the point, my kitty hates having his belly rubbed, but now he allows it. I had just decided to take him to the vet tomorrow to be checked out, when I came across this article, and especially seeing everyone’s comments, many of which I’ve noticed in my cat.

    Effective immediately, I’ve discontinued giving Temptations to him. Hopefully, he’ll start getting better by tomorrow, but I’m still going to take him to the vet, just to be sure. Thanks to all of you who have shared your pets’ experiences. You may just have saved my baby from dying.

    Having said that, does anyone have a suggestion of what we can offer as a substitute “goodie” for cats?

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    • Thanks for sharing that with us Linda. He likely has a food sensitivity or allergy. Some can come out of the blue while others tend to get progressively worse over time. If your vet is able to check him for food allergies, that is a good place to start. Most cat treats (including Temptations) have roughly the same ingredients. To be on the safe side, you can try something with minimum ingredients until you know what the issue is. Freeze-dried meats usually have only one to three ingredients in them and should be safe but not all cats enjoy those.

      I have tried several since switching. Some of them my cats would like at first and then decide to not eat, others they would not eat at all. Currently, I am feeding my boys “Purina Beyond Grain Free Chicken & Egg Recipe” (https://amzn.to/2LSRhw3). I would prefer to find something healthier but they at least enjoy these. You can also offer things like hard boiled eggs and clean cuts of lunch meat (no sugars, preservatives, etc.) as healthier treat options but both have to be done in moderation. Never give a cat raw eggs (they are toxic raw), they have to be cooked. One hardboiled egg should be a week’s worth of treats for reference.

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  8. My 1 year old small cat really likes these. Not a addiction, but she prefers it over other treats available. Her health is completely fine and she seems to like these treats. She doesn’t seem to have any adverse reactions to this particular item and doesn’t seem to have some issues that some people say their cat has. She has a ranged diet. Should I keep giving her these treats? Or should I stop completely? She also seems perfectly normal. (I might edit if I see any reactions etc.)

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    • Thanks for your comment ButterMeows. As a cat parent, you have to make the best choice for your kitty. If she is healthy and happy, then there is no reason to not give them to her. Some cats have bad reactions to them (certain ingredients), others do not. If you notice any health issues arise in the future, get her tested for food allergies and go from there. While I wouldn’t consider them “healthy”, they still meet the requirements to be standard cat treats. For most cats, these treats (given as such) are harmless.

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  9. We have 4 cats who are nuts over Wilderness Cat Treats – here are the ingredients in the order given on the package: deboned chicken, chicken meal, potato starch, peas, Brewer’s Dried Yeast, Chicken Fat, Natural Flavor, Citric Acid, Potassium Chloride, preserved with Mixed Tocopherals, Oil of Rosemary

    Crude Protein: min 20%, Crude Fat : min 12%, Crude Fiber 40% max, Moisture 10% max
    Anyway our cats go bonkers over them – we feed about 5-10 to each cat – I am concerned about their addiction, but after reading this article it appears that Wilderness Cat Treats may be safe. Any thoughts?

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    • Thanks for your comment Gail. Also, thank you for sharing about these treats. It will help other cat owners see there are other options cats will enjoy just as much. Being that there are far fewer ingredients, I think these are fine. I would imagine this isn’t an addiction but just an enjoyment for the flavor.

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  10. My cat was losing patches of hair. My vet thought it was flea allergies and we were giving him shots, to no avail. Then 2 of my friends cats started doing the same thing. The only thing we had in common was the temptations treats. I was going to go back to the vet and continue with the shots but before I did, I decided to experiment. I completely quit giving them treats. It’s been a little over a week and my cats hair is finally growing back in. So I just say buyer beware

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  11. My cat died of urethra blockage, caused by urinary stones and he loved chicken temptations, i wish I would have done research first.. I feel guilty that I have him temptations.

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    • Thanks for your comment Joy. A lot of cats who have allergies and/or food sensitivities will often have skin irritation that is itchy which could lead to hair pulling. It may take some trial and error with your cat’s own personal taste but treats with the least amount of ingredients are usually the best for them.

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      • She’s 15 and never had allergies until these treats. After you stopped feeding your cat the treats HOW LONG after did it take for them to stop pulling out the fur. It’s only been about 4 days since I stopped giving them to her

  12. My 14 year old cat had stopped eating the normal amount of food a day. to encourage her to eat I put Temptation treats on the top of her food and occasionally would give her one or two treats never more than 5 to 10 pieces a day as a result she went from 7 1/2 pounds to 8 and 1/2 pounds. her fur has grown back. she’s healthier. vet was pleased with her overall appearance. She is a tiny cat to begin with, so 8 and 1/2 pounds is a healthy amount of weight both my cats love Temptations both are in excellent health and both have beautiful fur I feed them Hills senior dry and purina wet food on a regular basis

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    • Thanks for your comment Anna, glad to hear these treats are okay for your cats. A lot of people have used them to help their cats put on weight. The issues with these treats (and many others) comes down to allergies, some of which not all cats have.

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  13. My Cat is 4 years old and loves temptations, but several months ago his fur started to fall out. First, only small patches, then expanding to large areas on both sides of his torso and his back legs. He is also very sensitive to touch on his bare areas. Your site is the first time I heard of this reaction, so thank you for this very helpful information. No more temptations. Hopefully his fur will grow back.

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    • Thanks for your comment Robert M. Yes, my cats were having the same reaction and it ended up being down to allergies. Give it a few weeks and see if things improve. If it is an option, getting him tested for allergies is a good idea so you know what to avoid in the future.

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  14. I just incidentally found this blog. My cat is 10 years old. I got her as a 4 week old feral cat. Very wild. I started her on professional food but around the age of 8 months she stopped eating all cat foods, professional then commercial, wet or dry. She won’t eat any “human” food. I tried waiting it out for 4 days and still she refused to eat. So one day I caved in and bought some Temptation Treats. She ate them. This is going to sound awful but since 2010 that is all she eats except a single Honey Nut Cheerio once or twice a year. Believe me, I continue my efforts of trying but this has now run into several thousand dollars so far. I have literally purchased every single brand and variety of wet and dry that PetSmart carries. Unfortunately I only recently found out PetSmart takes the food back if your pet won’t eat it. Oh, I’m sure they would have but after 30-40 bags of returned food they would probably tell me they could no longer sell me the food. Recently I took her to the vet, only the 3rd time in her life because she’s impossible to nab: very skiddish, I’ve never been able to pick her up. Anyway, her health is excellent and my vet said she wasn’t concerned about Harlow’s diet because her labs were within normal range. By the way, Harlow is also an indoor cat and pulls tufts of hair out but it’s seaonal related. She is very furry.

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  15. I think I blew it. My cat Dude loves temptations, and I did read where it said only a few at a time however I give him around 20 a day. I love my little lion. He’s been dragging his bottom on the carpet but no worms in sight. What should I do.

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    • Thanks for your comment Manuel. Did you check to see if litter or feces was stuck to his butt? Cats tend to do that when this happens. I am not sure if this would be in relation to these treats or not. If he is constipated or has diarrhea this can cause the anus to become very itchy.

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      • I believe your correct on dude possibly being constipated. He usually urinated in his sandbox and # 2 outside. Well I wanted to check his #2 for worms so I kept him in all day and night. Nothing. He would step in it, look at me then step out. He did this four times. Was he telling me something?

      • He is likely uncomfortable. It can be down to an issue with his diet, something that had bothered him outside (stress related), or an underlining medical cause. It is best to take him to a Vet to be certain. I would cut out the treats for the time being and make sure he is drinking enough fluids.

      • I’ve been giving my three cats temptation the only one I stopped giving them was the one that has catnip that made my cat acting weird that’s the last time I feed them that but been giving the temptation snacks over a year no problems

  16. I would care to disagree with your claims that ingredients such as by-products and corn are “bad” ingredients. It’s difficult to compare pet food brands to human food brands, especially junk food, because while human junk food is catered almost entirely towards taste, cat food also has to reach specific nutritional requirements for it’s intended consumers. People like to say that certain ingredients are “fillers,” but in truth, every ingredient in pet food is put there for either nutrition or palatability (usually both). The closest thing to a filler that exists in pet food is added coloring. To say that certain ingredients are strictly bad is based is an unfounded claim, the reality is much more nuanced. Corn is put in pet food to provide amino-acids that aren’t in meat. Since by-products consist mostly of organ meat, they provide both protein and naturally occurring nutrients that reduce the need for supplementation. These ingredients are no better nor worse than those in “holistic” pet foods, as long as they reach their nutritional requirements, they are all virtually identical.

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    • Thanks for your comment. The reason corn is not safe is down to allergies. Most corn in the world (especially in the US) is not even real corn. It is a product making GMO foods. These genetically modified organisms are made in labs. They can have anything from anti-biotics to pesticides in them. Both humans and animals can and often do have ill effects to corn because of this. It should be used in moderation or not at all. Feel free to read over the study for yourself: http://www.ijbs.com/v05p0706.htm

      As for byproducts, they can be used by companies to cut corners. Sure, the meat parts found in most pet foods labeled as “byproducts” could have nutritional value but it can also harm an animal because there is no clear indication of how much of one mineral or vitamin is in said byproduct (they vary greatly). Most byproducts are indeed used for filler to cut cost and are not reliable sources of nutrients for pets. I am not saying you are completely wrong here but companies lie all the time and it is a lot easier to use cheap junk in pet food than it is in human food. It is best to approach this by researching individual companies.

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  17. To be honest, I’ve fed my cat(bob) temptations since about a month ago, and he has been perfect. Maybe it’s because he knows he only gets them during training.
    But I promise I try and keep him healthy, I’ve looked at these comments and a lot of you guys are saying that you have indoor cats. Now I know a lot of people will discourage this, but I let my cat out when he wants. We’ve been doing that for 2 years now. Do you think there is something out there that’s like an anti-temptations? I mean, it could be a possibility. What do you think?

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    • Thanks for your comment Thebunnylove. A lot of people fear the worst when something is brought to their attention. A lot of food and treats for cats is debated on. As mentioned, most cats do fine with these treats in moderation but not all cats will react the same. It is up to the owner to decide what is best for their cat.

      I will never advocate allowing a cat to roam freely outdoors because of safety hazards. Regardless of what I say, there will still be people who do this. I get what you mean.

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      • Okay now I see the side effects, my cat threw up bile a week ago. Mom said no temptations for a month but I still give him 2 or 3 a week. It was pretty bad, he kept hacking and hacking but nothing came out till he went to eat. It ended up in Bobs food.

    • Omg my cat stalks me and grabs at me while I’m sleeping for the treats! She’s addicted to them and was pulling her fur out in HUGE clumps. I cut her off cold turkey. Trying a different type of treat and less often

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