Does Your Company Make Cat Treats? Here’s What Retailers Want and Will Carry

Editor’s note: For our new Retailer Wishlist column, we asked store owners and buying managers what they wish existed in the cat treat category. Manufacturers, take their ideas and run with them! If you already make a product asked for here, let them know. Or tell us about it at Global Pet Expo. We’ll be reporting live from the show. Email editor@petsplusmag.com to invite the PETS+ team to your booth.

• Holiday Cat Treats. Last year was the first that I saw Christmas-themed treats for cats, brought them in and sold out in three days. I do find that cat customers do not buy as much as dog customers, but I think we need to give them more options and see what happens. — Michelle Smith, Natural Pet Center, Fargo, ND
• A cat chew. Everything is for dogs, but I think a chew for cats would be amazing. — Anna Woodcock, Brown Dog Bakery, Ankeny, IA
• A meat-based, freeze-dried, responsibly sourced/ethically and responsibly raised treat from a company that supports indies. — Jennifer Larsen, Firehouse Pet Shop, Wenatchee, WA
• There are a lot of frozen dog treats, but not as many marketed to cats. More awareness around products that are good for cats but have been packaged for dogs, like chicken necks — good for both, but I would love some signage around why cats would love them, too! — Heather Leonard, The Well Balanced Paw, Staunton, VA
• Soft and chewy cat treats with a price point under $5. — Brianna Swanberg, Mutts + Meows Natural Pet Market, Nashville, TN
• Something in a Pounce-like canister you can shake and the cats come running to the noise for a healthy treat. — Janelle Pitula, Wags to Whiskers, Plainfield, IL
• Label dog versions of dehydrated or freeze-dried dog or cat since they are the same product. A lot of cat owners like to see that information before they will buy it. Why not? — Jodi Etienne, Razzle Dazzle Doggie Bow-tique, Bradley, IL
• High quality, individually wrapped treats would do well. More freeze dried and soft healthy treats. — Jess Calton, Chow Hound Pet Supplies, Walker, MI
• We have a lot of broth options, but people want the gravy that comes in canned cat or dog food. They ask for it in bottles. — Lori Willis, A1 Pet Emporium, Oklahoma City, OK
• We need more crunchy treat options for cats! — Johnna Devereaux, Fetch RI, Richmond, RI
• Bakery-style treats. — Barb Morris, Treats On A Leash, Ames, IA
• I find what’s missing in food and treat categories are other freeze-dried or dehydrated organ meats. We have liver, hearts and lung, but what about the rest? — Paula Gorman, Pet Supplies ‘N’ More, Muskego, WI
• I wish all the packaging came with an open window to show the size and texture, and specifics of how hard/soft the treat is. — Cristen Carlson, Riverside Animal Clinic Feed Store, McHenry, IL
• More meat-based treats, maybe even some that are also a hydrator. — Elaina Stanley, Three Happy Hounds, Fernley, NV
• Small frozen cat treats. — Comora Tolliver, Barkers Anonymous, Hendersonville, NC
• Grub/insect-based treats. — Keith Henline, Asheville Pet Supply, Asheville, NC
• More variety, and different ideas on how to do cat training with their treats! — Cassie Nilsson, The Mill Stores, Whiteford, MD
• More soft options. Most are dry and crunchy. — Debbie Lange, Benson’s Canine Cookies, Lakeland, FL
• Functional cat treats (digestive, dental, urinary tract). — Jenny DuBrock, Don’t 4 Get About Me, Pingree Grove, IL
• I would like to see something more to offer my cat customers because I won’t carry grocery store cat treats. It would definitely have to be affordable, though, because my cat customers won’t spend like the dog customers will. — Kelly Hilzendager, Treat Play Love, Grand Forks, ND
• A product NO cat would turn down — good luck. — Teresa Bues, Urban Dog Barkery, Houston, TX