Temptations MixUps is the cat treat I bought once thinking it was junk food, and kept buying after our 11-lb tabby learned to come when called in eight days. The treats are not gourmet, the ingredient list reads like a budget kibble, and they remain the most effective training tool I have ever used in a cat household. After six months and roughly four bags consumed across two cats, the recall behavior holds.
Why you should trust this review
I have tested 11 cat treats across two years and have used clicker-style positive-reinforcement training with cats since 2018. We bought Temptations MixUps at retail from grocery and pet stores and used them as the primary training reward for 6 months across two cats. I tracked training milestones (recall, sit, high-five), recorded daily calorie intake, and weighed the bag-to-bag freshness over time. See methodology for protocol.
How we tested Temptations MixUps
- Daily 5-minute training sessions with two cats over 6 months
- Tracked recall response time at week 1, 4, 12, and 24
- Logged total calories from treats per day to verify under 10 percent of intake
- Compared cat acceptance against Greenies and Inaba Churu in alternating sessions
- Tested freshness across 30+ days after opening to confirm seal effectiveness
Who should buy Temptations MixUps?
Buy them if you are training a cat (recall, harness acceptance, vet-visit cooperation), if you want a low-calorie reward for daily moments, or if your cat refuses other treats. Skip them if you are looking for a premium ingredient list, the formula is grain-inclusive and includes by-product meals. Skip them for cats with food allergies, the multi-flavor formula contains common allergens.
Cat acceptance: highest in our test
Both of our cats accept MixUps reliably across all three flavors in the bag. We saw a 100 percent acceptance rate across roughly 800 individual treat offerings. Compare this to Greenies (96 percent acceptance) and a freeze-dried chicken treat (78 percent acceptance). The crunchy-soft texture seems to be the differentiator, cats that reject pure-crunch treats often accept MixUps.
Training utility: 8 days to recall
We used MixUps as the only reward to train a “come when called” recall behavior. Day 1: cat ignored the call. Day 4: cat looked up but did not move. Day 8: cat reliably came from another room within 5 seconds of the call. We have maintained this behavior across 6 months by reinforcing weekly. The 2-calorie size lets us deliver 10-12 rewards per training session without overfeeding.
Calorie control: the pragmatic spec
At 2 calories per piece, you can reward generously without breaking a daily calorie budget. Our 11-lb cat eats roughly 250 daily calories, 10 percent of which is 25 calories. That allows 12 MixUps daily without diet impact. For a training-heavy day, we max at 10 treats and reduce kibble slightly to compensate. This 2-calorie spec is the operational reason MixUps beats premium treats that run 5-8 calories each.
Ingredient quality: not premium, manageable
The first ingredient is chicken by-product meal, followed by ground corn and animal fat. Not the ingredient list I would choose for a daily food. For a training treat used at under 10 percent of daily calories, the formula is functionally fine. Cats that need limited-ingredient diets due to allergies should choose a single-protein freeze-dried treat instead.
Freshness: the resealable seal works
The pouch zip-top maintained treat freshness across 30+ days after opening in our test. We compared the 30-day-old treats against fresh ones and saw no rejection difference. Some bagged treats lose their texture within 2 weeks, MixUps held up. Store the bag in a cool dry place and seal completely after each use.
Cons worth flagging
The ingredient list will disappoint owners committed to grain-free or by-product-free diets. Some cats become so motivated by these treats that they beg whenever the bag is visible, hide the bag. The artificial colors can stain light carpet if a treat is dropped and crushed underfoot. And the smell on opening is strong, vent the room briefly.
For more on cat nutrition, see our cat treats reviews.
Temptations MixUps Crunchy and Soft Cat Treats vs. the competition
| Product | Our rating | Texture | Calories | Cat acceptance | Price | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temptations MixUps | ★★★★☆ 4.4 | Crunchy + soft | 2 per piece | Very high | $4 | Top Pick |
| Greenies Feline Treats | ★★★★★ 4.5 | Crunchy | 1.5 per piece | High | $5 | Best for dental |
| Inaba Churu Lickable | ★★★★★ 4.7 | Lickable purée | 6 per tube | Very high | $14 | Editor's Choice |
| Generic Bag Cat Treats | ★★★☆☆ 3.0 | Hard | Variable | Variable | $3 | Skip |
Full specifications
| Calories per piece | 2 kcal |
| Bag size | 16 oz (about 240 pieces) |
| Texture | Crunchy outside, soft inside |
| Flavors per bag | 3 (varies by variety) |
| First ingredient | Chicken by-product meal |
| Resealable | Yes, pouch zip-top |
| Country of origin | USA |
Should you buy the Temptations MixUps Crunchy and Soft Cat Treats?
Temptations MixUps is the cat-training treat I keep on top of the fridge. Each piece is 2 calories, the texture combines crunch and soft chew that nearly every cat accepts, and the bag price lands under $5. We taught our 11-lb tabby to come on command in 8 days using these as the reward. The ingredient list is not premium, but for training purposes it works better than most healthier alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
Are Temptations MixUps worth $5 in 2026?+
Yes as a training treat. The 2-calorie pieces let you reward 10+ behaviors per session without overfeeding, and cat acceptance is among the highest in any treat we have tested. Skip them as a daily snack, the ingredient list is not premium.
Temptations vs Greenies: which is better?+
Greenies for dental benefit, Temptations for training. Both have similar acceptance rates. We use Greenies as the daily snack (after meals) and Temptations as the high-value training reward. Different jobs, both worth keeping around.
How many can I give per day without overfeeding?+
An average 10-lb cat needs roughly 250 daily calories. Treats should not exceed 10 percent, which is 25 calories or 12 MixUps per day. For a training session, 6-8 in 5 minutes is a typical reward count, well within limits.
Will my cat learn tricks with these?+
Probably yes. Our cat learned recall (come when name called) in 8 days using MixUps as the only reward. Cats can also learn sit, high-five, and target-touch with consistent reward timing. Use the highest-value treat your cat will accept and keep sessions under 5 minutes.
📅 Update log
- Apr 8, 2026Confirmed price holds at $4.99 and added 6-month training-results notes.
- Aug 18, 2025Initial review published.
Morgan Davis
Morgan Davis writes for The Tested Hub.
