Healthy Holiday Treats for Dogs & Cats: 2026 Gift Guide
Quick answer: The best holiday treats for dogs and cats are festive recipes made with real, recognizable ingredients and a clear calorie count, so you can spoil your pet without upsetting their tummy. This season, our top picks are the limited-edition Turducken soft & chewy treats, The Muttstletoe, the Pawliday Treat Bundle and, for cats, our Holiday Rabbit Jerky. Keep treats to about 10% of your pet's daily calories and skip risky table scraps like chocolate, grapes, onions and cooked bones.
What makes a holiday treat healthy?
A healthy holiday treat looks festive but is built like an everyday treat you can trust. Here's what to look for on the bag:
- Real protein first: turkey, duck, rabbit or salmon at the top of the ingredient list.
- Short, readable ingredient lists: fewer ingredients make it easier to find what works for sensitive pets.
- Calories per treat on the label: so you can enjoy the season and still keep portions in check.
- Small, breakable pieces: perfect for stockings, training and sharing between pets.
Smart Cookie's 2026 Holiday Gift Guide
| Gift | Best for | What's inside |
|---|---|---|
| Turducken (also in a 3-pack) | Stockings, training and picky pups | Soft & chewy, grain-free recipe with turkey, duck, chicken and sweet potato. 7 kcal per treat. |
| The Muttstletoe (also in a 3-pack) | Classic holiday flavor | Turkey, pumpkin and cranberries with ground flax seed. |
| Pawliday Treat Bundle | The all-in-one gift | Our seasonal recipes together in one bundle, oven-baked in small batches. |
| Holiday Rabbit Jerky for Cats | Cats with sensitive stomachs | Limited edition. 100% rabbit: a single-ingredient, low-fat novel protein. |
| Rabbit Jerky Strips | Dogs with food sensitivities | 100% rabbit, nothing else. 15 kcal per strip. |
| Freeze-Dried Salmon | Low-calorie stocking stuffer | Wild-caught salmon, about 2 kcal per treat, rich in omega-3s. |
| Smart Cookie Gift Card | Pet parents who have everything | Lets them choose their pet's favorite flavors. |
Turducken: the holiday favorite
Our limited-edition Turducken brings real turkey, duck and chicken together with sweet potato in a soft, grain-free bite. Each treat is about 7 calories and easy to break into smaller pieces, which makes it just as good for training as it is for stuffing a stocking. Pet parents love it: it holds a 5-star average from verified buyers.
The Muttstletoe: all the fixin's
Hearty turkey, velvety pumpkin and cranberries make The Muttstletoe a warm celebration of fall and winter in every bag. Ground flax seed rounds out this handcrafted seasonal recipe.
Holiday treats for cats
Cats deserve a stocking too. Our Holiday Rabbit Jerky for Cats is 100% rabbit: naturally grain-free, low in fat and easy to digest, so it's a great fit for felines with sensitive stomachs. For variety, add our cat treats in duck, salmon and wild boar.
Holiday foods to skip (and safe ones to share)
The holiday table is full of foods that are perfectly fine for people but risky for pets. According to VCA Animal Hospitals, these are the ones to keep out of reach:
- Chocolate, coffee and caffeine, especially dark and baking chocolate.
- Grapes and raisins, including baked goods like fruitcake.
- Onions and garlic, raw or powdered (found in stuffing and gravy).
- Xylitol, a sweetener in sugar-free gum, candy and some baked goods.
- Macadamia nuts, alcohol and raw yeast dough.
- Turkey skin, fatty trimmings and cooked bones, which can upset digestion or splinter.
Safe to share in small amounts: plain cooked pumpkin (not pie filling), plain sweet potato, green beans, carrots, and apple slices with the core and seeds removed. Serve them unseasoned, with no butter or oil.
If you think your pet ate something toxic, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
How many holiday treats is too many?
Veterinary nutrition guidelines from WSAVA recommend that treats make up no more than 10% of your dog's daily calories. For a healthy adult dog of about 10 kg (22 lb), that's roughly 47 calories a day from treats. In practice, that looks like:
- About 6 Turducken treats (7 kcal each), or
- About 3 Rabbit Jerky Strips (15 kcal each), or
- Over 20 Freeze-Dried Salmon bites (about 2 kcal each), a great option for lots of small rewards.
Breaking treats into smaller pieces is an easy way to reward more often during busy holiday days. If your pet has a medical condition or eats a prescription diet, check with your veterinarian first.
Holiday treat FAQs
Are holiday treats okay for dogs with sensitive stomachs?
Yes, when the recipe is simple. Choose limited-ingredient treats with a real protein first, like our grain-free Turducken, or single-ingredient options like Rabbit Jerky Strips, and introduce anything new gradually.
Can dogs eat turkey on Thanksgiving or Christmas?
Small pieces of plain, boneless, skinless cooked turkey are generally fine. Skip the skin, gravy, stuffing and bones. A turkey-based dog treat is an easy way to let your pup join the celebration safely.
What is a good stocking stuffer for a cat?
A single-protein treat is a great pick. Our Holiday Rabbit Jerky for Cats is 100% rabbit and gentle on sensitive stomachs.
When should I order holiday treats?
Our holiday recipes are limited edition, so we recommend ordering early in the season to make sure your pet's favorites arrive before the big day.
Ready to fill the stockings? Shop all Holiday Treats for Dogs & Cats and make this season the tastiest one yet.
