High customer satisfaction combined with an extremely competitive price makes this a standout value in the mid-tier treat segment.
Price vs. rivals
Cheaper
CheaperTypicalPricier
Priced below most similar crunchy-and-soft cat treat blends, likely to appeal as a budget-friendly option among popular alternatives, despite its premium rating.
Ease of use
Excellent 95/100
The high rating suggests most people find it straightforward to use, likely involving simple pouring or dispensing for cat treats.
Overview: What This Temptations MixUps Review Covers
If you’re reading a Temptations MixUps catnip treats review and trying to pick a flavor, Catnip Fever is the one with catnip mixed into the soft center. The crunchy shell behaves like the original Temptations. The inside is what changes the experience.
The short version of any Temptations MixUps review is that this line solves the bored-cat problem. Cats that turn up their nose at a single-texture crunch often stay put for the soft center. It’s an everyday reward, not a health food, and priced like it should be.
Key Features That Matter at Feeding Time
Crunchy outside, soft inside: The dual texture is the whole point. The crunch gives you that familiar Temptations sound, then the soft center gives cats a reason to chew instead of just swallowing.
Catnip Fever flavor: Catnip is mixed into the center, so you get the playful response you’d expect from fresh nip, without the mess of loose leaves everywhere.
16-ounce tub for $6.49: One of the best price-per-treat ratios in the aisle. The smaller pouches cost almost as much and vanish in two days.
Resealable lid: It snaps shut properly, which keeps the soft centers from drying out and stops the smell from drifting through the cupboard.
Widely available: Mars Petcare makes these, which means the same formula and the same quality no matter where you buy them.
Fit for You: Best Crunchy Soft Cat Treats for Picky Cats
You’ve watched your cat sniff three different treats and walk away from all of them. The soft center is the reason MixUps usually end the negotiation.
You need a high-value reward for training sessions, leash walking, or getting a scared cat to trust you.
You have more than one cat and need a tub big enough to keep the peace. Nobody wants to ration treats.
You want a treat you can keep in your jacket pocket without it becoming a waxy mess. These hold up fine.
You’re cat-sitting for a friend and want to bring the one brand that cat already knows and loves.
Uses That Earn Their Keep
After a vet visit, a cat who’s furious with you can usually be coaxed out from under the bed with a soft-center treat. The shake of the tub also works as a recall signal if your cat is in another room or, worse, outside where they shouldn’t be.
The soft center makes these useful for older cats that struggle with hard food. If your cat gives you a look when you offer a brittle dental treat, MixUps go down easier while still giving the teeth something to do.
They’re also a decent pill-disguise in a pinch. Push the pill into the soft center, roll it back into a ball, and most cats will inhale it before they notice. It won’t work on every cat, so keep a backup plan.
Experience: A Temptations MixUps Review of Daily Life
The first thing you notice is the sound. The crunch is familiar, but then there’s a second, softer bite. The scent is mild, not aggressively fishy. Expect crumbs at the bottom of the tub after a couple of weeks, because the soft centers rub off and settle between the crunchy pieces.
The lid matters more than you’d think. Leave it off overnight and the soft centers start to firm up — after a few days, you have a tub of plain crunchy treats and the main selling point is gone. So close the lid. That’s the one habit that keeps the texture right.
The small annoyance is the rolling. These treats are small and round enough to escape. You will find one under the refrigerator. You will find one inside a slipper. Your cat will hear them skitter across the floor before you even know they dropped.
You will also become the person who shakes the tub to summon the cat from the other end of the house. It works shockingly well, and now you own a ritual.
Pros and Cons
Pros
The soft center closes deals. Cats that reject plain crunchy treats often accept these, because the texture gives them something different to chew.
Genuinely cheap. At $6.49 for 16 ounces, you’re paying less per treat than almost anything else in the treat aisle.
Catnip works. If your cat reacts to catnip, this version gets the expected response. Slightly goofy, very happy.
Easy to find. You can buy these at a gas station in an emergency. That is a real advantage.
Cons
The ingredient list is budget-grade. Chicken byproduct, corn, wheat, soybean meal, and artificial colors are all in there. It’s not poison, but you’re not eating clean here.
Soft centers dry out. Forget to close the lid and the whole tub turns crunchy. Then you’ve lost the reason you bought them.
Messy crumbs. Soft-center bits end up on the rug, in the couch, and occasionally in your socks.
Your cat will demand them. This is a treat cats recognize. The sound of the lid opening will summon your pet from any room in the house.
Advantages: Temptations MixUps vs Greenies Cat Treats
Temptations MixUps vs Greenies cat treats comes down to what you’re optimizing for. Greenies are crunchy all the way through and marketed mainly as a dental chew. They work okay for that, but they’re a harder bite. MixUps, with their soft center, win the picky-cat test and are easier for older cats with sensitive mouths. Greenies win if you want a daily dental routine. MixUps win as an everyday reward that cats actually get excited about.
Against freeze-dried meat treats, MixUps are cheaper and don’t have that “is this even food?” moment when you open the bag. But if you’re choosing between a single-ingredient freeze-dried meat and a corn-based treat, the freeze-dried option is objectively cleaner. The trade-off is price and convenience.
You don’t have to pick just one. Many owners keep MixUps as the main reward and use Greenies as the dental option. They serve different jobs, and cats rarely complain about having both.
Who Should Buy These (and Who Shouldn’t)
Buy them if you have a cat that snubs one-texture treats. The soft center makes this one of the best crunchy soft cat treats on most shelves.
Buy them if you want a high-value training reward that fits in your pocket and costs almost nothing per piece.
Buy them if you’re tired of buying tiny pouches and want a tub that lasts months.
Skip them if you’re strict about ingredients. Look for freeze-dried single-protein treats or ones without corn, wheat, or artificial colors.
Skip them if your vet has put your cat on a prescription diet that doesn’t allow extras.
FAQ
Is the Temptations MixUps Catnip Fever worth it?
Yes, if your cat is one of the many that reacts to catnip and you want a solid everyday treat. At $6.49 for 16 ounces, you get months of treats for less than the price of a drive-thru meal. If your cat ignores catnip entirely, the standard chicken flavor is a better pick.
What are the Temptations MixUps Catnip Fever ingredients?
The main ingredients are typical of budget cat treats: chicken byproduct meal, ground corn, wheat flour, animal fat, soybean meal, and fish oil, with added catnip. You’ll also see artificial colors on the list, which is the main reason ingredient-conscious owners skip the brand. No raw meat, no single-protein purity here.
How long does a 16-ounce tub last?
A single cat getting a few treats a day will stretch one tub for roughly two to three months. That estimate depends on your hand and the cat’s negotiating skills, because a determined cat will get more treats than you planned to give.
Is Temptations MixUps safe for kittens?
Most manufacturers recommend treats for cats around 12 weeks and older, and Temptations follows that same pattern. If you have a kitten, check the label guidance and talk to your vet before adding treats to a young cat’s diet. It’s better to be sure with a growing animal.
Can cats eat Temptations MixUps every day?
Yes, within reason. Treats should stay under about 10 percent of daily calories, and Temptations puts a feeding guide right on the tub. The bigger risk is that your cat learns to beg at the exact time you used to sit on the couch.
How does Temptations MixUps vs Greenies cat treats work for dental health?
Greenies is the dental-specific option and works as a daily chew. MixUps are softer in the middle, so they don’t scrub teeth the same way. If dental care is the goal, Greenies are the better tool; if you just want a treat cats love, MixUps win.
Final Verdict: Temptations MixUps Review Bottom Line
Temptations MixUps Catnip Fever is one of the best value-for-money cat treats you can buy, and this Temptations MixUps review keeps coming back to the same point: the soft center gives you an edge with picky cats that plain crunchy treats just don’t have. The ingredient list won’t impress anyone who reads labels, but the cat doesn’t care, and the price is right.
If you want a treat that gets results, costs almost nothing per piece, and is available at every store within driving distance, buy the 16-ounce tub. Just remember to close the lid.
Temptations MixUps Cat Treats vs the Real Alternatives in 2026
Temptations MixUps cat treats sit in a specific slot. At $6.49 for a 16 oz tub of Catnip Fever, you are paying a small premium over the basic mix bags for two things: actual catnip that smells strong enough to trigger a reaction, and a dual texture (crunchy hollow bits plus soft puffs). It is the most direct alternative to Friskies Party Mix, but with a specific “picky cat” audience in mind. If your cat ignores single-texture treats, this bag is a cheap test to see if variety fixes the boredom.
Product
Price Range
Key Strength
Key Weakness
Best For
Temptations MixUps (Catnip Fever)
Mid ($6.49)
Catnip potency + texture variety
Some cats only eat one of the two textures
Picky indoor cats bored with standard treats
Friskies Party Mix
Budget ($4–$5)
Price per ounce
No functional catnip; uniform texture profile
Multi-cat homes where volume matters
Greenies Dental Treats
Premium ($10–$12)
VOHC dental health seal
High cost per treat; hard texture is a deterrent
Tartar control and bad breath
Inaba Churu
Premium ($2/tube)
Near-100% acceptance rate
Expensive per reward; sticky application
Pill hiding, recovery, and outright food refusal
Temptations MixUps cat treats vs Friskies Party Mix
This is the fight that matters most because the bags look like cousins on the shelf. Temptations MixUps cat treats vs Friskies Party Mix is really a question of intent. Friskies gives you a pile of mixed shapes with a generic crunch. Temptations gives you specific crunchy pieces plus the soft puffs, all drenched in catnip. Open the Catnip Fever bag and you smell the nip immediately. Open Friskies and you get a generic meat smell. If your cat goes crazy for the Temptations but picks at the Friskies, you have your answer. If your cat eats both with equal enthusiasm, save the extra couple of dollars and buy the Friskies.
Temptations MixUps cat treats vs Greenies cat treats
A Temptations MixUps vs Greenies cat treats comparison feels unfair until you realize your cart only has room for one of them. Greenies are a tool for scraping plaque. They are hard, and many cats find them suspicious. Temptations MixUps are designed to be easy. The crunchy bits shatter easily, and the soft puffs dissolve. If you have a senior cat or a cat with a sore mouth, the Temptations texture is safer. If you need the VOHC seal on your receipt to keep your vet happy, Greenies is the specific alternative you need. One prevents plaque. The other prevents boredom. Most cats prefer the one that prevents boredom.
Temptations MixUps cat treats vs Inaba Churu
The conversation about the best crunchy soft cat treats for picky cats usually ignores that some cats simply refuse crunch. They want a paste they can lap up. Inaba Churu is the king of that situation. If you tried Temptations MixUps Catnip Fever and your cat just licks the dust off the crunchy bits and walks away, stop buying dry treats. Buy Churu. But if your cat eats the Temptations MixUps and enjoys them, you are getting vastly more value for money. One 16 oz tub of Temptations lasts longer than a box of Churu tubes and costs less than three of them. The trade-off is acceptance rate versus volume. Churu is for emergencies. Temptations is for daily rewards.
Pick the Temptations MixUps Catnip Fever if your cat reacts to catnip, likes having two textures to choose from, and you want a big bag that doesn’t break the bank. Skip it if your cat is strictly a budget eater (buy Friskies Party Mix), strictly a dental case who needs intervention (buy Greenies), or strictly a wet snacker who hates the word “crunchy” (buy Inaba Churu).
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