First treats for a 10-week-old kitten

A 10-week-old kitten just off the weaning stage is a really specific moment — their digestive systems are still developing, so introducing treats needs to be done gently and with the right texture and ingredients. Cats are notoriously fussy about treats anyway, and kittens even more so — they tend to respond to strongly-scented, meat-based options and will usually reject anything sweet or grain-heavy. The best kitten treats are high-protein, low in additives, and soft enough not to be a choking risk. Is this mainly for bonding and handling, or are you already thinking about basic training — and does the kitten have any known sensitivities so far?

That's a great sign — tolerating wet food well after weaning means her gut is coping. For bonding and handling at this age, you want something she can smell strongly from your fingers, soft enough to eat in one go without chewing much, and with an ingredient list short enough that if anything upsets her you'll know exactly what caused it. Can I ask — is she eating any dry kibble yet, or is it all wet food still?

The breeder is right — her teeth and digestion aren't ready for dry food yet, and solid crunchy treats are off the table too. Stick entirely to soft or semi-moist options. For a kitten this age, I'd recommend Applaws Kitten Chicken Breast in Broth — it's essentially a tiny pouch of shredded real chicken in a light broth, nothing else added. You can tear off a small piece straight from your fingers, it smells intensely of meat so kittens go for it immediately, and the ingredient list is genuinely just chicken and water. It's also hydrating, which is a small bonus at this age. Give her a piece no bigger than your thumbnail, once or twice a day maximum — her stomach is tiny and treats shouldn't compete with her main kitten food for nutrition right now.

Applaws pouches are on Amazon UK, most large supermarkets, and pet retailers like Zooplus. They come in multipacks which work out better value — search 'Applaws kitten chicken breast pouch' and you'll find them easily. One thing worth knowing: once opened, treat the pouch like wet food and refrigerate any unused portion, using it within 24 hours. At this age keep treats as a handling and trust-building tool rather than a daily habit — a few tiny pieces during a cuddle session is all you need. She'll be ready for a slightly wider range of treats from around 12 weeks onwards.

Brilliant — enjoy this stage, it goes fast. Consistent gentle handling with food rewards now makes a huge difference to how sociable and confident she'll be as an adult cat. Good luck with her.