Vital Essentials Minnows Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Treats, 0.5-oz bag

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At a Glance

  • Raw
  • Grain-Free
  • Gluten Free
  • Natural
  • Limited Ingredient Diet
  • High-Protein
  • Immune Support
  • Skin & Coat Health
  • Made in USA
  • All Lifestages

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About This Item

Details

  • These freeze-dried raw cat treats are packed with extra protein from premium, responsibly sourced minnows for the peak nutrition your kitty deserves.
  • Protein-rich muscle and organs deliver a natural source of vitamins and minerals for energetic play, healthy skin, a shiny coat, strong teeth, and essential gut health.
  • Vital Essentials pet treats are made in the USA using responsibly sourced, humanely harvested ingredients.
  • Made with a single animal protein and no additives, fillers, dyes, flavorings, artificial preservatives, grains, or rendered by-products—great for picky eaters and cats with allergies.
  • Frozen within 45 minutes of harvesting, Vital Essentials protein is freeze-dried raw to lock in vital nutrients, flavor, and freshness with minimal processing.

Ingredient Information

Feeding Instructions

Raw Feeding Made Simple

Feeding just 20% raw can boost your pet’s health, and Vital Essentials makes it easy. Made with whole-animal, butcher cut protein and no fillers or artificial additives. Feed as a special treat for simple, raw nutrition.

Even 20% Makes A Difference

Every pet deserves the benefits of raw protein. Try adding raw meals weekly, mix raw in with kibble, or offer it as a treat. Even a small amount—just 20% of their daily intake—can make a big difference in their health.

No Shortcuts. Only Butcher Cuts.

Vital Essentials butcher cut protein is made with carefully sourced, farm-raised meats. It’s ground once and freeze-dried a full 48 hours at their state-of-the-art USA facility to lock in the nutrients your pet deserves.

Today’s Special: Lifelong Vitality

Support your pet's health with Vital Essentials. Protein-rich diets promote strong muscles—ideal for active pets. Help boost immunity, musculature, and heart health with their range of butcher cut protein freeze-dried raw recipes.

About Vital Essentials

Vital Essentials creates healthy, delicious, and biologically appropriate food using real, ethically sourced meat and premium ingredients. Made right here in the USA, because your best friend deserves nothing less.

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Questions & Answers

25 Customer Questions

What is the difference between the minnows for cats and the minnows for dogs?

Answer by Chewy • Jun 27, 2018
The only notable difference is the size of the bags available. Both the dog and cat versions have identical nutritional value

Where are these freeze-dried? Is any part of this process affiliated with China? And does the same to for the salmon freeze-dried treats?

Answer by Chewy • Mar 28, 2022
All Vital Essentials treats are sources and manufactured in the USA.

Are minnows actually anchovy?

Answer by Chewy • Dec 20, 2018
Minnows and Anchovies are not the same type of fish. An anchovy is a small common forage fish of the family Engraulidae while Minnow is the common name for a number of species of small freshwater fish, belonging to the family Cyprinidae.

Are these intended to be given to cats straight from the bag, or soaked in warm water first? Or are both acceptable? Thanks!

Answer by Chewy • May 22, 2019
It's not required to soak treat before feeding.
Reviews
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4.2
Rated 4.2 out of 5 stars
4887 Ratings
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Customers Mention

Chewy identifies key considerations with the help of artificial intelligence and our veterinarians.

Digestibility

67% Positive

Ingredients

78% Positive

Manufacturing Process

72% Positive

Nutritional Balance

72% Positive

2316 Customer Reviews

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
By MARLENE on Jan 6, 2026

FREEZE DRIED FISH TREATS

PETS HAVE PREFERRED FOOD TASTES, JUST LIKE HUMANS. WHEN I BEGAN OPENING THE PACKAGE OUR OLDER CAT JAROSLAV 14 (CZECH FOR JERRY) CAME RUNNING. I TOOK ONE FISHY OUT

PETS HAVE PREFERRED FOOD TASTES, JUST LIKE HUMANS. WHEN I BEGAN OPENING THE PACKAGE OUR OLDER CAT JAROSLAV 14 (CZECH FOR JERRY) CAME RUNNING. I TOOK ONE FISHY OUT , EXAMINED IT AND TOSSED IT TO HIM. HE SNIFFED IT AND ATE IT. I CALLED JOSEF 12, AND TOSSED ONE TO HIM. HE SNIFFED HIS, BACKED UP AND WALKED AWAY. JARA WENT OVER TO IT, SNIFFED AND WALKED AWAY. I PUT IT ON THE SIDE NEAR A CABINET. 2 HRS LATER IT WAS GONE. I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE ATE IT. SOMETIMES THEY'LL BOTH EAT THE FISHY TREAT, OTHER TIMES THEY'LL WALK AWAY. I BOUGHT IT SO THEY'D HAVE AN EXPERIENCE OF A DIFFERENT TREAT. WHEN I PRESENT IT, I'LL SAY FISHY FISHY SO THEY KNOW WHAT FOOD TYPE IT IS AND WHAT TO EXPECT. TEACH YOUR CAT HUMAN LANGUAE FOR FOODS AND TOYS. MANY CAT OWNERS THINK YOU GET A CAT AND IT MAKES IT'S OWN LIFE. THEN THEY WONDER WHY THEY HAVE A NEUROTIC CAT. IT'S ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER, NEEDS PLAYED WITH, TOYS, SAFE PLACE, AND RESPECT. YOU WOULDN'T LIKE ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE PETTING YOUR HEAD, PATTING YOUR BACK, PULLING YOUR HAIR, OUR PICKING YOU UP AND CARTING YOU OFF. YOUR CAT MOST LIKELY WON'T LIKE THAT EITHER. BACK TO TREATS. IF YOUR PET DOESN'T LIKE IT, DONATE TO A PET SHELTER. MARLENE ><>

Rated 4 out of 5 stars
By Elizabeth on Jan 14, 2026

Great low carb high omega 3 cat treat

My cat loves these treats, high in omega 3 fatty acids which are good for skin and coat health, and low carb so good for cats who need help managing their weight

My cat loves these treats, high in omega 3 fatty acids which are good for skin and coat health, and low carb so good for cats who need help managing their weight. Whole freeze dried minnows come in various sizes from dime size to half a finger length. My cat eats anything and eats them whole, but you can easily break them into smaller pieces if needed. A bit pricey but worth it for an occasional treat.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars
By Jessica on Dec 19, 2025

Love feeding a whole prey treat

Being able to feed whole prey, single-protein, single-ingredient treats is so nice! I LOVE these treats in concept - I feel better knowing they're getting high quality

Being able to feed whole prey, single-protein, single-ingredient treats is so nice! I LOVE these treats in concept - I feel better knowing they're getting high quality treats that are good for them. Unfortunately only one of our four cats actually eats them (the one who's rarely met a food she doesn't like). The other three won't touch them and they're not usually overly picky eaters. From the human standpoint, there is a bit of an ick factor reaching your hand into a baggie of dead fish, but our kitten loves them so much and is so sweet gently taking (and running off with) her daily fishy that it's worth it. As with all treats by this brand, I wish I could order bigger bags - we go through them quick.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
By Akilah on Jan 13, 2026

My baby predators love hunting

And these tiny fish are perfect as a meal topper or treat while hunting. I tried the chicken hearts as well, I have to smash that up because they are too tiny to

And these tiny fish are perfect as a meal topper or treat while hunting. I tried the chicken hearts as well, I have to smash that up because they are too tiny to eat whole but the minnows are easier for them to handle. They like to hunt for these in our over-the-door cat tower and play and then I have to collect them, crush them up and serve as a meal topper.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
By Autumn on Dec 29, 2025

Cat loves it, perfect for pills

Smokey goes crazy over these minnows! He'll meow nonstop if he sees me mess with the bag. A bonus (and the reason I like it) is that it's perfect for hiding pills

Smokey goes crazy over these minnows! He'll meow nonstop if he sees me mess with the bag. A bonus (and the reason I like it) is that it's perfect for hiding pills. We snip the head off the minnow and then push the pill inside the body cavity - super easy and our notoriously pill adverse kitty doesn't even realize he's taking his medicine! Well worth the price tag to make medicine and snack time easy.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars
By Lauren on Jan 14, 2026

Makes my cats puke

Even if mixed in wet food, broken apart, or whole, as soon as they start chewing it, they immediately start gagging. I think the texture grosses them out, but maybe

Even if mixed in wet food, broken apart, or whole, as soon as they start chewing it, they immediately start gagging. I think the texture grosses them out, but maybe the taste. There is barely a smell to the bag, so I don't think its that. I was sad, I really wanted them to love this, but they eat around it or puke it up promptly.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
By Claire on Jan 16, 2026

All 4 went bonkers for these!

shocking, I was really shocked....all four of our picky fur herd LOVED these! That is an absolute first for all of them to like something. The little fish are

shocking, I was really shocked....all four of our picky fur herd LOVED these! That is an absolute first for all of them to like something. The little fish are crisp and crunchy and not too big, so they were really loved. They smell enticing, not overpoweringly fishy, just right

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
By Tori on Dec 14, 2025

Cat is Obsessed

I have a picky cat and I truly didn’t know if he would like these treats, as he isn’t keen on any type of fish flavor. He immediately became obsessed! I’m excited

I have a picky cat and I truly didn’t know if he would like these treats, as he isn’t keen on any type of fish flavor. He immediately became obsessed! I’m excited to try other items from this brand. The only thing to keep in mind is with a big minnow to break it into two. The first time he had a big one it got caught a bit in his teeth and he struggled to swallow. Definitely a supervised treat.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
By SHEILA on Jan 4, 2026

Mad for Minnows

My recently passed 16yo kitty loved these! Did I say, LOVED? I recently adopted a bonded pair of 6yo kitties. I gave them minnows and were really perplexed. It’s

My recently passed 16yo kitty loved these! Did I say, LOVED? I recently adopted a bonded pair of 6yo kitties. I gave them minnows and were really perplexed. It’s about a month now, and when I go near where I keep the minnows they start meowing like mad! They won’t take “Enough now” for an answer! L

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
By Robin on Dec 20, 2025

They get very excited

I ring a bell when it's time to give my two cats treats. I use the bell followed by a treat for another reason. If we ever have to leave our home quickly I can get

I ring a bell when it's time to give my two cats treats. I use the bell followed by a treat for another reason. If we ever have to leave our home quickly I can get them to come to me immediately. The Vital Essential Minnows is a huge hit. I ring the bell, when they come I tell them to "sit" and then they get the treat. I only give them one a day since they are rather pricey.