From the manufacturer
Proudly American Crafted
With decades of experience in the meat industry, we source exclusively premium protein.
Grain & Gluten Free
Minimally processed to preserve vital nutrients and minerals for a diet our pets deserve.
Whole Animal Protein
We tap into the rich, natural nutrients of muscle and organs for high-quality protein.
Ahi Tuna Bites Chicken Hearts Rabbit Bites Duck Liver Minnows Chicken Giblets Ingredients Ahi tuna, mixed tocopherols Chicken hearts Rabbit, mixed tocopherols Duck liver Minnow Chicken liver, chicken heart US Sourced ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ EU Sourced ✓ ✓ USA Made ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ No Rendered By-products, Fillers or Artificial Ingredients ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Grain Free ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Single Protein ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Certified Gluten Free (Certificate ID 68908 issued by GFCO) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Farm Raised ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Wild Caught ✓ ✓
Demi Covington –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cat’s favorite snack!
My cat absolutely loves these, they don’t smell fishy either.
Amazon Customer –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Loves them
My cat loves them eats them in 1 second
TIFFANY –
5.0 out of 5 stars
minows for the win
My cat absolutely loves these cat treats! The variety of flavors keeps her excited, and the crunchy texture seems to be a big hit. The resealable packaging is convenient, ensuring freshness for every treat. Highly recommended for cat owners whose feline friends have a discerning palate!
Robert –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very strong smell but the cat’s came around
My two cats were both a bit apprehensive with these at first… same thing with the chicken offered by the same company, but the came around and ate them which is a win for me. They don’t get as excited for these as they do for some of the other treats we’ve tried, but since these are much healthier than kitty candy bars, we will keep buying Vital Essentials (though not likely the salmon because the smell is overpowering on the humans of the house)
4 people found this helpful
Mason StetlerMason Stetler –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Minnows!
I have 4 cats, one of them is obsessed, one will occasionally eat one, and the other two are not interested. I think because they are dry that is why. But I will definitely continue to buy them for my one cat who is obsessed, never seen him love a treat so much!
One person found this helpful
B. Fairchild –
5.0 out of 5 stars
My cat loves them!
My cat is very picky and turns her nose up as most treats/food. The instant I opened these she was all over them! The smell is kinda intense/gross for me but I don’t mind since the seal keep the smell from leaking out.
One person found this helpful
Jedury olio –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great treats
I tried the Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Treats in Minnows, and my cat loves them! The 0.5 oz size is perfect for occasional treats. The freeze-dried nature retains the nutritional value, and the minnows seem to be a hit. They are a great option for cat owners looking to incorporate raw, minimally processed treats into their pet’s diet. Just be mindful of the strong fishy smell, which is common with freeze-dried products. Overall, a delightful and healthy treat option for feline friends.
3 people found this helpful
hannah –
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fan favorite
My cat loves these treats! Super amazing one ingredient product too!
Cj roberson –
5.0 out of 5 stars
My two dogs love them!
My pets love them. But they are so expensive I have to ration them carefully!!
Renee Nichols –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Kitty crack!
My cat goes crazy for these treats. If I don’t put them under lock and key, he climbs shelves to get to them, rips the bag apart and eats them all.
One person found this helpful
Danielle –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Treat
My kitty is obsessed with these treats!!!
Kendra James –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good food topper
My cats love there little minnows
Alejandro Martinez –
5.0 out of 5 stars
My kittens loves this things
Simple, I leave the bag in the table and my cat Tita just jump on the table, and grab the whole bag and start running 😂
Allison Miller –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Kitty Krack!
I need to order more! Got the little bag to try on my cats. Love the simple ingredients, whole prey, freeze dried raw snacks. I also got a sample bag of the chicken hearts and they were a hit! The cats cant resist. Even the little feral cats. Definitely stocking up.
JS –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well received.
She adores these.
Jessica B. –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cats love it
My cats love these treats and they are good for their dental hygiene.
cf17cf17 –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love this brand!
Planning to try a few other treats from this brand because my cats are OBSESSED with these minnows! I also have the chicken hearts and they love those too!
2 people found this helpful
Michael Desvernine –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Devoured it and is now running around my house
My cat (2 years old) just tried one of these chicken hearts and snatched it out of my hand before I could blink and is now chasing and running around with my dog. I’d say he likes it.
2 people found this helpful
Stephaniecarrion –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Yummy
My cats are picky but they love these
Julian Hayden –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tasty
My cats would try to open the cabinet to get to this treat. It smells delicious and I can tell cause they go crazy for it.
One person found this helpful
ShaniquaShaniqua –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Too hard
I have 5 cats and I’d say 3/5 liked them. Same with the minnows flavor. The difference is that the chicken hearts are huge and fairly hard for their teeth. A couple of my cats were chewing on it for a few minutes and still couldn’t break it down and just gave up. If you cut them into smaller pieces it’s not too bad. They do love them though.
4 people found this helpful
TSX –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great raw treats
My kitty loves the freeze dried minnows. They definitely smell like fish, which makes them extra irresistible. I take a few and hide them to help encourage natural foraging behavior and he always seems to find them all! So I think the natural fish smell is really good for him.
J. S. –
5.0 out of 5 stars
My cats are obsessed with their little fish
When they hear the bag they will chase me down until I give them one. For the price I’m more than happy to keep buying them and it seems to be a better option than some other treats out there since it’s freeze dried whole. Honestly 10/10 for me but I think my cats would say 1000/10. 😆😁
Chloe –
4.0 out of 5 stars
My cat love these!
Both my cats love these treats but I do wish the bag didn’t smell as much because my cats have gotten into them three times. I have not notice any different in their teeth.
Hunter Williams –
5.0 out of 5 stars
I mean my cats literally went crazy.
My bigger chunk boy ate them full sized but my pretty lady needed it cut in half before she ate one. I used them as toppers!! I srsly recommend , especially if you’re just starting with looking for better cat treats.
SerenaSerena –
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best treats!
I love getting these treats for my cats! They absolutely love them! I’ve tried both the minnows and chicken hearts with them and they both ate them right up! I also think overall it’s just kind of a cool idea and it’s really nice that they use clean ingredients!
One person found this helpful
Denise P. –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great product
Talking about my cat Darby, he’s a Maine Coon Rescue, ordered this dried duck liver to see if he would like it , when I opened the package he immediately tried to take it from me . He is a finicky eater and it’s so good to see him excited to try something new
booknapping –
4.0 out of 5 stars
My cat loves these
My cat loves these very much. There aren’t a ton in a bag, but they’re big. Beware that they really look like chicken hearts. I need to break them apart for my old cat to eat because of the size, but she eats them right up.
One person found this helpful
Amy –
5.0 out of 5 stars
My Cat Loves Them So Much I Had To Get A Pantry Lock
my cat goes absolutely bonkers for these, she recognizes the packaging and will not accept other treats while she knows there’s minnows in the house (where she suddenly learned math i don’t know). She’s so obsessed that I had to buy a child lock for my pantry, otherwise she will spend all day sitting and trying to open the door to get to them. She wakes me up in the middle of the night to bother me for them. So 10/10 would recommend
One person found this helpful
140angel140angel –
5.0 out of 5 stars
UPDATE my cat can literally jump higher
at first she was skeptical of the whole fish by itself, so i broke one in half and stuck it in wet food to get her used to it. now she eats them either way and begs for them!UPDATING BECAUSE WOW AMAZING RESULTS!! backstory- I had purchased a cat hammock from amazon. i hung it on the wall just ever so slightly too high from the couch for my cat. she would attempt the jump and pretty much never make it, so she stopped trying. it really frustrated her because she loves the hammock, she would meow beneath it wanting to go up there so bad 🙁 i live in an apartment so i didn’t try to move it, we just developed a routine where she’d climb my shoulder up. for months we did this, she was too scared to try the jump anymoremy cat is super healthy and 3 years old for reference. i’d always given a fairly basic cat diet of dry and wet food, but i want to do better. i started feeding the minnows seeing that they were a good protein treat. with these being the only new food i introduced into her diet whatsoever, after 3 months of feeding these every 2-3ish days, I would find her up there by herself! today we’re 5 months in and she jumps onto her hammock every single day with ease.family members who don’t see her too often, even commented recently that her fur is so sleek and that she looks so strong and healthymy only complaint is my second bag of these seemed to contain about half the amount of minnows as the first bag, and all smaller ones. but tbh they make my cat stronger for $7!!!! i could care less
2 people found this helpful
Kat mcsparren –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not for every cat
My older cats were not a fan but my youngest one would cry for these they are all natural and deffiantly his favorite
Qob & Jant –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Finally got an answer. Company says Duck Liver is sourced and made in US!
My cat l o v e s these treats! I am soooo thrilled to know this product is completely sourced and humanely made in the USA! My cat has IBD and these make him happy, thus making me happy! Thank you Vital!!!
One person found this helpful
Cristhy Miranda –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love!
I was absolutely surprised by this product. My cat has never had any raw food before and I thought why not see if she likes it as a treat . At first she was confused so I just placed the smallest minnow into her food dish and immediately she ate it and fell in love, to the point I had to hide the treat bag from her. Her stomach was completely fine with the small change in treats too which I’m very happy about. 10/10 recommend !
One person found this helpful
Nicole –
5.0 out of 5 stars
cats go bonkers
PROS- my cats including my partner’s brother’s cat absolutely go feral for themCONS- cat’s will fight you to death
One person found this helpful
Paloma Sapien –
5.0 out of 5 stars
My cat loves these
My 1 year old cat has recently become pickier with her food so I got these to add to her meals to make sure she’s getting enough protein. She loves these little fishies so much she’ll eat them the second I put the bowl on the ground. Oh and just a warning if you are squeamish – these fish are literal freeze dried fish with the eyeballs still there and everything haha
One person found this helpful
Quynh H. –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Been using it and this is my thoughts
Good nutritional value for my cat. However I have to ease him into eating it by mixing it with his wet food. Been on the subscription for months and will continue to support
Yarisnel Urena –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good!!
my cat loved these so much he goes crazy for them, i will buy again!!
Eflows414 –
5.0 out of 5 stars
my cat loves these
My cat has become a bit finicky lately so tried these. She loves them.
MonaLS –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Rabbit Treats for My Cat on a Limited Ingredient Diet
My cat was put on a rabbit diet by the veterinarian, and I was concerned I wouldn’t be able to find him treats. He loves these treats. The only disadvantage is that they don’t come in a larger package.
Priss Ann –
4.0 out of 5 stars
The lads love them
My two boys love a novel protein in their diets to keep things exciting, and rabbit is one of those I turn to in order to spark their interest and keep them eating healthy. These did not disappoint.At first they weren’t sure about these. They don’t look like your usual little cat treats. Once I got them to taste a little bit, they were ready to crunch on these freeze dried nibbles. They’re healthy and a fantastic reward for bonding or for being Very Good Kitties.Any way you go about it, they are a hit with these two very food motivated felines. They haven’t turned one down since that first bite.The only issue I have with these is they’re a little larger than the usual housecat likes to snatch up and eat. With that, I have one wobbly cat who has a heck of a time eating one if I don’t break it up first. Smaller pieces would be ideal, so these will probably only be a once in a while purchase. Aside from that, I love that these are a treat and entirely within a good diet for my cats.
8 people found this helpful
CH –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Treat
My cat LOVES these and eats them in a second. Glad to have found a healthy treat for him since he’s food/treat obsessed which causes weight issues for him.
Brittany Ohern –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Depends on the cat
Tried these for my picky cat but to no avail. Idk what she wants these days!!
Keremy –
5.0 out of 5 stars
My kitty loves themmm
My Girl loves these, and they’re so good for her. Been giving her one almost everyday for a couple weeks now as a food supplement to her wet food. Her coat and belly definitely thank me for it ✨
One person found this helpful
Shaila –
5.0 out of 5 stars
My cat is OBSESSED
I just gave my cat one of these treats for the first time…and now shes trying to get into her snack cupboard…will definitely be getting her some more !
David A –
5.0 out of 5 stars
My cats loved these
Both of my cats really like eating raw chicken hearts but they’re too expensive for me to buy and ship. I saw these vital essentials freeze dried chicken hearts and thought I would give them a try and see if my cats like them. My cats loved them. They actually got in my closet where I keep the treats and ate the whole bag. They definitely didn’t disappoint.
3 people found this helpful
Meghan –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Now my cat’s favorite treats
Found these treats on TikTok and thought I would give them a try with my cats, one who is a very particular eater. They both love them and I love that they are healthier than the processed treats!
Agustin Sanchez –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Cat love
My cats love this flavor, and I have bought a few of them to know which one they like and mostly they like them all.
Tanner Gettings –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Cats are not a fan
I thought I’d try a new cat treat for my kitties so they can get a variety of things and I wanted a more healthier treat for them. All they did was smell the crap out of it, they aren’t big fans at all of this kind. My cats are just weird and picky so 😑🤷♀️they haven’t had anything freeze dried too before..disappointing but a swing & a miss!Update—I think they had to get use to a new treat . They like them now! but won’t devour like other treats I have. I will still continue to get varieties and try them.
Emily Saenz –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cats Love it
My cats love these, and I like how they are already in pre cut pieces!
K Gilbert –
5.0 out of 5 stars
True Love
Our family recently got a new cat who is super skittish and initially reluctant to bond. I wanted her to choose whether she wanted to be around me and used treats to coax her.I want her to have some healthy treats so I tried a couple of the minnows and she was hooked! She looks around for more as soon as she finishes one. Even better is that only a few days and a couple of short sessions with her, she jumped into my lap to snuggle and get pets.
3 people found this helpful
Jo Marie –
5.0 out of 5 stars
My Cat loves them!
They came sealed in a zippered plastic package. They were very fresh, solid, no crumbs and smell like freeze dried fish. My cat wanted more than he was given, so they must be good. The regular price was a bit higher than I have found for similar freeze dried treats in the past. I was lucky at the time, they were 25% off, otherwise, I doubt. I would have bothered. I may try the dog freeze dried salmon treats next, as it is a better buy in the larger packaging and I had to break the treats up for my cat anyway, so it won’t be any different than with the cat treats, as there is only one ingredient.
2 people found this helpful
Kelly –
5.0 out of 5 stars
LOVE THIS COMPANY! LOVE THEIR PRODUCTS!
First I wanted to say, this is my 100% honest customer review. I’m not partnered with this company and no one told me what to write.I love this company. I love their products. Freeze dried food, treats, etc.I have bought from this company so many times, I can’t even count.All their products are fair priced, and great quality for my kitty. My cat goes crazy for all the treats and food. I wish people would understand that RAW and freeze dried food and treats is the best for your cat. Some people will give this company a bad review just because their furry friend didn’t like it.I recommend that if you never fed your cat raw or freeze dried before, you need to start them off slowly. There are guides online. Don’t review a product badly because your cat doesn’t like it. Make sure you take the proper steps of converting them from processed cat food to raw/freeze dried.Love the ingredients in all the products. It’s literally just the one ingredient, if not just a handful of ingredients.I will support this company to the end and I feel like you all should try them out!
10 people found this helpful
Amazonbuyer –
5.0 out of 5 stars
CREEPY BUT ONE CAT LOVES!
For two little strays found in a dumpster as kittens years ago, my cats are quite the little divas and are VERY picky. Finding treats they will eat with any consistency is a problem as they tend to lose interest. So I do usually stick to the freeze dried specifically because does have long shelf life so can sit quietly until the cats regain interest. In scrounging for different flavor options, I ran across these freeze dried minnows and thought — why not give these a try?? I must admit I honestly do not know what I was expecting when I ordered these cat treats. Very obviously can see the individual little minnows, so ?? Anyway, these arrive and …. as soon as I opened the bag, I was like — OHMIGOD!!! They are actual little minnows frozen mid swim!!!! That truly creeped me out, but striving to be an adult…. I get two out and present to The Divas. Diva #1 sniffed and gave me THE most disgusted look before stomping off in a “you must try better next time” huff. Diva #2 however promptly grabbed a minnow from my hand and immediately chomped its little head off. Then reached for the second minnow and took off running with it, leaving the remains of the first on the floor. GROSS!! But I gingerly picked it up and set it in her treat dish hoping she would eventually return.Hours later, I noticed Diva #2 busily swatting something all over the dining room. She still had the second treat completely intact and was having the best time bopping it around the floor, then tossing it into the air, then chasing it around again. Okay, I thought, at least she is enjoying it, even if not in the manner I expected. The day went on and I forgot about the treats.Until I got up in the middle of the night stumbling sleepily into the master bath. Suddenly…. my foot landed on something small, damp and slimy…. jolted awake, I look down and …. it was the treat Diva #2 had been playing with all day that she had ended up bringing into my room!! Anyone who has ever had a fish aquarium most likely has had a fish or two which somehow managed to jump out of the lidded aquarium to land on the ground (of course when no one was home to save it) and then found said fish in the exact same manner I just described. It is truly DISGUSTING!!! (not to mention sad for the poor fish!). The only difference is that these little minnows are already not living so one does not have to feel guilty about not being around to save it.I swear I heard both Divas laughing as I ran to clean my foot off and get a tissue to clean up the “treat”. The next day I noticed the first treat was missing from Diva #2’s treat dish — I have not found it (….yet) but am assuming she finished it off.Since then, Diva #2 happily chomps up these minnows in full. Sometimes she plays with them first, but eventually she does eat all of the treat. Her sister still refuses to have anything to do with them, but seems to enjoy watching the play. There are quite a few treats in the bag, so I shared some with a co-worker. My co-worker had the same reaction to the treats that I did, and her cats had the same reaction as mine as well — one plays / eats them, the second one refuses to have anything to do with them.I doubt I will order a second bag — but only because these truly do creep me out. That is a personal thing, has nothing to do with the treats themselves. Diva #2 truly seems to enjoy them (both as a plaything and as a treat) and Vital Cat brand is rated pretty high with vets as good for cats since they don’t have any added ingredients. I will continue to get other flavors of the Vital Cat – I just can’t do the minnows!!As I mentioned, Vital Cat is a highly rated brand, so are definitely worth the try. if you order these and your cats refuse to eat them, you can always donate to a pet shelter.
155 people found this helpful
Liz Mystic –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Tasty and Addicting, But Not as Affordable
I just got my first kitty cat and have been researching the best treats to feed that ‘raw cat energy’. 100% natural treats seem to be the way to go so I got these minnows.My 1yo old girl is obsessed!! She was someone’s barn cat’s litter child. I don’t know if she ever has seen a fish or what she ate on the farm so I was skeptical of her even liking these minnows. She has the cutest habit of putting her paw on my fingers and lowering the treat to her mouth.After one bite it was pure love! Now shes addicted to them. We only give her one a day, and it’s probably her most looked forward to item of the day. Forget her top tier wet food, wands, etc. She wants these minnows!! I was afraid of them leaving a mess, but they really don’t long as the cat doesn’t play with them.I did dock a star because $6.99/0.5oz isn’t an amazing price. Do I wish they were cheaper? Yeah. Keeping my eye out for other brands that are cheaper, or for a sale on this brand. But I’m so appreciative they exist in the first place!
8 people found this helpful
J. Michelle –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Kitty Crack!
My girl loves these duck liver treats. I use it as a kibble topper. She won’t eat her kibble without her freeze dried duck liver. It’s an affordable addition to otherwise bland kibble that makes meal time more enjoyable. Anytime the bag is opened she comes running as they are highly desired.I also use these treats for positive reinforcement of desirable behavior such as when she cooperates with groom time without nipping at the brush.I just ordered the minnows so we’ll see if she likes those also. Vital makes all sorts of healthy options for your cat. Highly recommend.Update Jan 26th, 2024I did get the minnow option. I also got rabbit from a local shop by me. Minnow sadly is a no for my girl however they look exactly as described with all the organs and everything in them. The rabbit looks like pellets and hard to break. The rabbit for my girl is 50/50. I thought she’d like the treat given that I’ve been serving her freeze dried full meals from Primal Instinct brand she loves both dry and rehydrated cooked. I’m not sure what Vital is doing with the rabbit option as my girl isn’t the enthusiastic about eating it.Duck treat is still her all time favorite freeze dried treat followed by Origin freeze dried raw lamb treat.I’m still giving the options 5 star as I can’t expect my girl to love everything presented to her. It’s great if your fur baby loves the other flavors as Vital is reasonably priced for their options and highly desired.Overall, I still highly recommend all of their treats.
3 people found this helpful
NessNess –
3.0 out of 5 stars
My cats don’t like it all 6 cats
It’s very hard, I broke it up they hated it…It still had eyes, I put it in water overnight to see if it would rehydrate and it did and the eye got more scary…Brooklyn NY water came in strong, 2nd pic is after a week in water
16 people found this helpful
JFM1 –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Snacks for my picky fur baby
I don’t give my furry feline many snacks, but decided to give these a try for variety in his diet. Oh boy does he love these! They don’t last long, but I only give him one or two a night. Will keep buying these for him.
4 people found this helpful
Alison K –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great quality
My cat loves these as a food topper!I like to add them so she gets a variety of nutrients. She will only eat them with wet food though so not sure how other cats would take to them as just a treat.I do find that they are a bit large so I do try and break them up which is difficult but I don’t mind because I know the quality is better than other brands.
One person found this helpful
Lulu –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Happy Cat!
My old boy Felix is a picky eater. Finicky. Doesn’t like most treats. But demands treats. Daily. So I, as his servant, must find new treats constantly. Spend all of my hard-earned money on bags of treats that he turns his nose up at. He will walk away, as I forlornly offer a fine-china tiny bowl (the king only eats from fine china) of obviously sub-standard treats. And then I give up, give the treats to a friend who has a cat who has fewer dietary requirements (and obviously, less taste). Then I tried these – AND FELIX LOVES THEM. A ringing endorsement. Doesn’t turn around and show me his butt. He actually empties the fine-china bowl and demands a few more. So… BE LIKE FELIX. Try these.
One person found this helpful
Hegla Lithgow –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Paw-sitively Irresistible – Vital Essentials Freeze Dried Cat Treats, Minnows
Vital Essentials Freeze Dried Cat Treats, especially the Minnows variant, has become an absolute favorite in my cat’s treat repertoire. The 0.5 oz pack is perfectly sized for a satisfying feline snack.The freeze-dried technique preserves the natural flavor and texture of the minnows, creating a treat that my cat finds irresistibly delicious. It’s clear that Vital Essentials understands the importance of providing high-quality treats for our feline friends.The convenient packaging keeps the treats fresh and ensures they remain in optimal condition. It’s evident that the brand prioritizes both the quality of ingredients and the satisfaction of discerning feline taste buds.In summary, Vital Essentials Freeze Dried Cat Treats, Minnows, is a five-star treat in my cat’s book, and consequently, mine as well. A reliable go-to for a happy and contented kitty.
One person found this helpful