What Is the Best Lickable Treat for Cats in South Africa?
What is the best lickable treat for cats in South Africa? For a versatile everyday reward, Inaba Churu is the strongest all-round option in our current range. For a cat owner specifically looking for a functional purée, Kit Cat Purr Puree Plus+ deserves its own category: the available variants are Urinary Care Tuna, Collagen Tuna and Joint Care Tuna.
The right choice depends on what you need from the treat. Flavour variety, kitten suitability, texture, functional positioning and your cat’s medical diet all matter more than declaring one tube the universal winner.
What is the best lickable treat for cats in South Africa?
- Best all-rounder: Inaba Churu Creamy Lickable Cat Treat Tubes.
- Best functional option: Kit Cat Purr Puree Plus+.
- Best kitten-specific option: Inaba Churu Kitten.
- Best skin-and-coat-positioned Churu: Inaba Churu Skin & Coat.
- Best hairball-positioned Churu: Inaba Churu Hairball Control.
All of these are complementary treats. They can support bonding, training and enrichment, but they do not replace complete cat food or veterinary treatment.
Best all-rounder: Inaba Churu
Inaba Churu Creamy Lickable Cat Treat Tubes are the best general starting point because the smooth texture works for hand-feeding, food topping and lick-mat enrichment. The current range includes Tuna with Chicken, Tuna with Salmon, Tuna with Shrimp, Chicken with Shrimp and Chicken with Scallop.
Choose according to your cat’s established protein preferences and check the individual variant label because ingredients and calorie content can differ. A cat that likes chicken is not legally obliged to recognise shrimp as an improvement.
Why it is the all-rounder
- Several flavour choices in one familiar format
- Individual tubes that are easy to portion and serve
- Suitable for direct feeding, a bowl or a compatible lick mat
- A soft texture that requires no crunchy bite
- Useful as a high-value reward for cooperative handling and training
Its high-moisture format contributes some fluid, but a lickable treat is not a hydration treatment and does not replace fresh water or complete wet food.
Best functional option: Kit Cat Purr Puree Plus+
Kit Cat Purr Puree Plus+ are functional lickable purées. They should not be presented as merely another flavour alternative to Churu.
The three current Purr Puree Plus+ variants
- Urinary Care Tuna: the urinary-care-positioned option.
- Collagen Tuna: the collagen-positioned option.
- Joint Care Tuna: the joint-care-positioned option.
Select the envelope by its exact formula and intended use—not by assuming every Purr Puree Plus+ variant does the same job. These products are complementary functional treats. Urinary Care does not treat urinary disease, Joint Care does not replace assessment or pain management, and Collagen Tuna is not a substitute for a complete diet.
If your cat has urinary symptoms, mobility changes, a diagnosed condition, a prescription diet or already receives supplements, speak to your vet before choosing a functional treat. Check for ingredient overlap and make sure the product fits the cat’s full feeding plan.
Best lickable treat for kittens
Inaba Churu Kitten is the clearest choice when you specifically want a kitten-labelled lickable treat. Introduce it in a very small amount and keep the kitten’s main nutrition centred on complete kitten food.
Do not assume that every adult-cat treat automatically suits every kitten. Check the age or life-stage directions on the package, and ask your vet when the kitten has digestive problems, allergies or a medical diet.
Other functional Churu options
Inaba Churu Skin & Coat
Inaba Churu Skin & Coat uses the familiar Churu texture with a skin-and-coat positioning. It remains a treat; persistent itching, hair loss, dandruff or skin lesions need veterinary assessment rather than another tube.
Inaba Churu Hairball Control
Inaba Churu Hairball Control is positioned for hairball support. Repeated retching, vomiting, appetite loss or difficulty passing stool should not be assumed to be an ordinary hairball problem.
How to compare lickable cat treats properly
1. Start with the purpose
Decide whether you want a general reward, a kitten-specific option or a functional formula. That immediately narrows the range more effectively than comparing package colours under pressure.
2. Check the exact variant
Ingredients, calories and feeding directions can differ between flavours and formulas in the same product family. Read the selected variant’s label rather than relying on a general claim about the brand.
3. Confirm that it is complementary
Most lickable treats are complementary foods, not complete meals. Added taurine or vitamins do not automatically make a treat nutritionally complete. Likewise, a short ingredient list is easy to read but is not, by itself, proof that one product is superior.
4. Consider your cat’s normal diet
A cat on a prescription or elimination diet may not be able to have an ordinary lickable treat. Cats with known allergies need the full ingredient panel checked—not only the large flavour word on the front.
5. Compare price per serving
Compare the number and size of tubes or envelopes, not only the shelf price. Also consider waste: the cheaper pack is not better value when your cat files an immediate rejection.
How many lickable treats can a cat have?
Use the feeding directions and calorie information on the selected product. A common rule of thumb is to keep all treats to no more than about 10% of daily calories, with most nutrition coming from complete and balanced food. The number of tubes that fit within that allowance differs by product and cat.
VCA’s guidance on cat treats explains why treats need to remain a small part of the overall diet. Ask your vet for an individual allowance when your cat is growing, overweight, underweight, pregnant, nursing or medically managed.
Safe and useful ways to serve lickable treats
- Offer directly from the tube while keeping the torn edge away from the cat’s mouth.
- Squeeze a small amount onto a clean spoon or flat plate.
- Spread it thinly across a suitable lick mat for a longer enrichment session.
- Use a small amount as a topper without allowing it to replace the complete meal.
- Refrigerate leftovers when the package instructs you to, and use them promptly.
- Introduce new products gradually and stop if vomiting, diarrhoea, itching or another reaction occurs.
If you plan to hide medication in a lickable treat, confirm with your vet or pharmacist first. Some medicines must not be crushed, mixed with food or divided, and the dose is unreliable if the cat leaves part of the treat behind.
Which lickable treat should you buy?
- Choose classic Inaba Churu when you want the most versatile everyday option and several flavours.
- Choose Purr Puree Plus+ when you deliberately want Urinary Care Tuna, Collagen Tuna or Joint Care Tuna and the formula suits your cat.
- Choose Churu Kitten when you want a kitten-specific product.
- Choose Skin & Coat or Hairball Control when that product positioning matches your purpose and your vet has no concerns.
If your cat refuses every option presented by Management, read what are the best treats for a cat that refuses everything. For a broader overview of treat formats, see our cat treat recommendations for South African owners.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best lickable treat for cats in South Africa?
Inaba Churu is the best general all-rounder in our current range because it is versatile and available in several flavours. Kit Cat Purr Puree Plus+ is the better choice when you specifically want a functional purée.
Is Kit Cat Purr Puree Plus+ a functional treat?
Yes. The current options are Urinary Care Tuna, Collagen Tuna and Joint Care Tuna. Choose the exact variant by its intended use and ingredients. These remain complementary treats and do not treat medical conditions.
Can kittens have lickable treats?
Choose a kitten-labelled product such as Inaba Churu Kitten and follow the package directions. Keep treats from displacing complete kitten food.
Are lickable treats hydrating?
They contain more moisture than dry treats and contribute some fluid, but they do not replace fresh water, complete wet food or veterinary treatment for dehydration.
Can I give a lickable treat every day?
Possibly, provided it suits the cat and remains within the daily calorie allowance. Follow the individual label rather than applying one universal tube count to every product and cat.
The verdict
The answer to what is the best lickable treat for cats in South Africa depends on whether you need a general reward or a functional formula. Classic Inaba Churu is the strongest all-rounder. Kit Cat Purr Puree Plus+ is the functional specialist, with Urinary Care Tuna, Collagen Tuna and Joint Care Tuna clearly separated by purpose.
Browse all lickable cat treats, compare the Inaba Churu range, or inspect Kit Cat Purr Puree Plus+ before the cat assumes control of procurement.