Ethical high-protein cat treats for Oriental Shorthairs

Cats are notoriously fussy about treats — they tend to respond to strongly-scented, meat-based options and frequently reject anything sweet or grain-heavy. The best cat treats are high-protein and low in additives, which also tends to align well with ethical sourcing priorities. Before I point you in the right direction, can I ask: is this for training, enrichment, or just rewarding your cat? And does your Oriental Shorthair have any dietary restrictions or sensitivities I should know about?

That's a really common tension for vegan owners, and honestly the most ethical position you can take is exactly yours — cats are obligate carnivores, so withholding meat genuinely harms them. The goal then becomes finding treats where the animal welfare and sourcing standards are as high as possible. Can I ask one more thing: is your Oriental Shorthair on the lean side or a healthy weight? Oriental Shorthairs can be prone to being underweight, so I want to make sure calorie density isn't a concern.

Perfect — that gives you plenty of flexibility. For your situation, I'd recommend Natures Menu Freeze-Dried Chicken Cat Treats. They're made from 100% free-range chicken with no additives, fillers, or artificial anything — the entire ingredient list is essentially one item. Freeze-drying preserves the natural scent and flavour intensely, which Oriental Shorthairs respond to very well given how smell-driven they are. For enrichment hiding around your flat, they're also ideal: small, dry, easy to tuck into puzzle feeders or under objects without creating mess. Natures Menu is one of the more transparent brands on sourcing — free-range, UK and EU supply chains — which is as close to ethical as you'll get in the cat treat category. They're available on Amazon UK and most independent pet retailers.

Daily is fine as long as you keep to the serving guidance on the pack — typically a small pinch for a cat her size. Because they're pure protein with no fillers, they won't unbalance her diet the way grain-heavy treats might if overfed. Just treat them as a supplement to her main food rather than a meal in themselves, and you're good. For enrichment use, you'd naturally be scattering small amounts anyway, so portion control takes care of itself.

Glad it was helpful. Natures Menu freeze-dried chicken is genuinely one of the cleanest options on the market, so you're making a good call on both the welfare and nutrition front. Enjoy the enrichment sessions — Oriental Shorthairs tend to love a good hunt around the flat.