The Purrrfect Little Treat (Natures Menu Chicken & Liver Treats)

Member Name: FourPaws

Product:	Natures Menu Chicken & Liver Treats
Date:	05/05/09 (219 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: High meat content, natural, bite sized, good value for money

Disadvantages: Not great for teeth

*What are Natures Menu Chicken & Liver Treats?*
These healthy, natural cat treats are produced by the Natures Menu company, who make and produce a wide range of wet foods and treats, using only natural and fresh ingredients, for both cats and dogs of all life stages.

*The product itself*
I've never really been a cat person, don't get me wrong, I do like them, I just prefer dogs by miles, I think they're more affectionate and I like the way they depend on you for everything, whereas a cat is much more independent. However, my fiancé is the complete opposite to me, preferring cats over dogs. So, to keep us both happy, we have two of each, amongst many, many other pets!

First is Jet, who adopted us a few years ago- literally turning up our cottage one night and never leaving. He is a pure black moggie who absolutely tiny and still looks like a kitten despite being around 5 years old and he is a grumpy old bugger. He'll disappear after breakfast in the morning, not to be seen until teatime later that evening, he'll sod off again for another couple of hours after he has eaten and then return once more at ten o'clock on the dot, and then he'll stay in for the night, so I don't really see him much. He'll come looking for the occasional cuddle some evenings but mostly keeps himself to himself. Then we have Meg, those of you who read my reviews regulary may remember the two litters of kittens I hand reared late last year. Meg is the kitten that I kept, and I have a much closer bond with her, having hand raised her since she was 6 days old. Now, cats may not be my favourite animals, but now I have the two of them, I do love them, and wouldn't part with them for the world!

Cat treats aren't something I generally think of buying, I'm not sure why as I purchase shop brought treats for my dogs on a very regular basis, but I never seem to get any for the moggies, much preferring to just crack open a tin of tuna for them to share when I fancy giving them a treat, but in Pets At Home a little while a go, I decided to have a look what they offered in terms of cat treats to spoil Jet and Meg with.

The ones that caught my eye were these Nature Menu treats, they were available in a couple of different flavours if I remember rightly, but it was the Chicken & Liver ones I purchased to try with my cats, as I often buy a bit of liver for them from the butchers which they adore, so I was sure they would love these.

The treats are very small, only around 1cm long and half a centimetre or so thick and are moist chewy treats, rather than crunchy biscuits ones and like all Natures Menu products, they are made with an impressively high level of fresh meat and carry a promise of containing absolutely no artificial colours, flavours or chemicals.

The Natures Menu treats contain high levels of protein (31%) which is essential for healthy muscles and helps growing animals to develop at a steady pace, healthy oils which help promote a thick and glossy coat aswell as supple skin and lastly, various vitamins and minerals for general overall wellbeing. Chicken is also a lean source of protein, which makes the treats suitable for the tubby kitties out there who could do with loosing a few pounds!

Natures Menu claim the treats are suitable for cats aged 1-7 years and this may be worth taking notice off if you have a cat younger or older than that age range, as liver has the potential to be a bit rich and could upset delicate tummies.

*Packaging*
The Natures Menu treats come packaged in a small, pink foil packet which can be resealed to keep the treats fresh and moist even after opening. On the front we are told the company and product names, and on the back is all the usual information you'd expect to find such as ingredients, nutritional information, feeding guides and of course, contact details for Natures Menu.

*Price & Availability*
Natures Menu appears to be quite a popular brand and I have noticed their products stocked in many pet shops, both on and off line. I purchased my 60g packet from Pets At Home for £1.16.

*My opinion*
As I mentioned earlier, shop brought cat treats aren't something I generally think of buying. Jet has quite a sensitive stomach so new foods can generally upset him, hence why I normally stick to tuna, a few prawns or some plain chicken as treats for him, but I'm was sure both he and Meg would appreciate some different tasty treats and that's why I purchased these!

I'd heard of Natures Menu as far as dog food goes, my dogs have had the pouches of wet food on occasion and have enjoyed them an awful lot so I had high hopes for these cat treats, I also like the rules that Natures Menu make their products according to- making them only with fresh meats and including no artificial nasties so I was confident I'd brought a decent product and was looking forward to seeing what Jet and Meg thought of them.

Later that night, when both cats were in and settling down for bed, I got the packet back out the cupboard and decided to give the moggies a little bed time treat. Upon opening the packet I was hit with a very strong meaty smell, which instantly got both Jet and Meg's attention, and peering into the pack I was confronted with loads of tiny little treats- the perfect size for a cats tiny mouth and also very good value for money too considering the amount which was inside the packet. I reached in the packet and drew a couple out, offering one to each of the cats whilst Grace and Benson sat looking on with a look of sheer disgust on their faces, that the cats were getting something they weren't. It was the crime of the century as far as they were concerned.

Anyway, back to the cats. Jet wasn't sure of his treat at first, he took it in his mouth a couple of times and then spat it back out again, I think the soft moist texture baffled him a little bit as he is fed mainly a dry food diet so isn't use to the taste of soft things, but he did eventually give it a little chew and finally swallowed it, and well, once he did, that was the beginning of the love affair! As I said at the start of my review, Jet is quite a grumpy moggie and we rarely get a purr out of him, but these treats sent him into over drive. I think I heard him purr more in the space of three minutes than I have the entire time I have owned him. I think it is safe to say he adored the treats!

The reaction was equally pleasing from Meg. She gobbled her treat up straight away and was round my ankles looking for more in an instant. Although Meg isn't a year old yet, I did give her a few of the treats as the ingredients list was very simple, no nasty things to upset her tummy and she has eaten raw fresh liver before, which of course is very rich with no problems so I didn't think these treats would cause her any ill effect and I was glad to say, that was infact the case. Same with Jet, he can have a bit of a dodgy tummy at times but wasn't affected at all by these treats.

My only concern with the treats is the fact they are moist chewy ones, and soft food coats the teeth, which can lead to plaque and tartar build up. This wasn't so much of a worry for Jet as he eats mainly dry food, but Meg has started to avoid the stuff like the plaque, preferring wet food, so she doesn't get crunchy things to scrape her teeth clean, and these treats just add to the problem. But other than that, I can't fault them.

I've brought a couple more packets for them since the first packet and they still wolf them down like they haven't eaten in ten years each time I offer them one and they love the Salmon & Trout flavour just as much as these Chicken & Liver ones and they have become the cats bedtime treat, they'll both have a couple before they settle down for the night and it gives me a chance to give the pair of them a quick cuddle, and also bond a bit more with the very independent Jet.

I also find them very handy for when I need to get Jet in from outside for whatever reason, a quick shake of the packet and he comes running and is purring round my ankles literally begging for one, I've also found them useful for helping to train Meg to use her litter tray, they make nice little rewards and can easily be broken into smaller pieces for her tiny little kitten sized mouth!

Overall, a lovely treat for cats made with high quality ingredients which are sure to please even the fussiest of moggies.

Summary: Full marks from Jet & Meg!