Sheba Meaty Tender Sticks are soft, individually wrapped cat treats that run about 13 to 14 calories per stick, so one or two a day is plenty for most adult cats. They are a treat, not a meal, and the ingredient list is mostly meat and meat by-products plus a little sugar and salt.
What they are
Sheba (made by Mars) sells these as “soft and savory” treats for adult cats. According to the retailer listings we checked, each stick weighs about 0.14 ounces, and they come in packs of 5 or 15. The label is aimed at adult cats, roughly ages 1 to 7. Sheba says they contain no synthetic dyes and no corn, wheat, or soy.
Ingredients and nutrition
These details come from the PetSmart listings for the chicken and salmon sticks. Other flavors and variety packs have their own ingredient lists, so check the back of your pack.
| Chicken | Salmon | |
|---|---|---|
| First ingredients | Chicken, pork, pork liver, turkey, pork meal | Salmon by-product, pork, pork liver, turkey, pork meal |
| Crude protein (min) | 34% | 34% |
| Crude fat (min) | 15% | 15% |
| Crude fiber (max) | 3% | 3% |
| Moisture (max) | 30% | 30% |
| Calories | 13 kcal per stick (3,341 kcal/kg) | 14 kcal per stick (3,516 kcal/kg) |
Further down both lists you will find sugar, brewer’s dried yeast, animal plasma, yeast extract, salt, taurine, vitamins, and preservatives. Both flavors include pork, so a “chicken” stick is not a chicken-only treat. Cats with a poultry, pork, or fish allergy should skip them unless a vet says otherwise.
How many can a cat have?
Veterinary groups generally recommend that treats make up no more than about 10 percent of a cat’s daily calories. A typical 10-pound indoor cat eats roughly 200 to 250 calories a day, which leaves about 20 to 25 calories for treats. At 13 or 14 calories each, that is one or two sticks, and only if you cut back the regular meals slightly. Ask your vet for the right number for your cat, especially if she is overweight, older, or has a health condition.
Because the sticks are soft, they are easy to break into small pieces. That works well for training or for hiding a pill, though check with your vet before crushing any medication into food.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Soft texture is easy for most cats to chew, including many seniors.
- Individually wrapped, so each stick stays fresh.
- Low calorie per stick, which makes portion control simple.
- Widely available at grocery stores and pet retailers.
Cons
- Contains sugar and salt, which cats do not need.
- Includes pork and by-products, which some owners want to avoid.
- Not complete and balanced, so it cannot replace a meal.
- The label notes trace amounts of other ingredients may be present from shared manufacturing equipment.
Claims worth ignoring
Some websites describe these sticks as “ideal for diabetic cats,” “good for sensitive stomachs,” or “packed with premium raw ingredients.” None of that appears on the product listings. A cat with diabetes, kidney disease, or digestive trouble needs a diet chosen with a veterinarian, and a sugar-containing treat is not an obvious fit.
Other Sheba products
If you are comparing the brand, see our reviews of Sheba Perfect Portions trays and Sheba wet cat food. For more treat ideas, our guide to the top salmon cat treats covers five other options with calories listed, and our Ciao Churu article explains lickable treats.
Bottom Line
Sheba Meaty Tender Sticks are a convenient, soft treat that most healthy adult cats enjoy, as long as you keep it to one or two sticks a day and count them toward the daily calorie budget. If your cat has allergies, weight problems, or a medical condition, talk to your vet before making them a habit.
This article is general information, not veterinary advice. Call your veterinarian about any change in your cat’s diet or health.
