Which is better - actual treats or dry food as treats?

I feed Ruby canned food, plus several dry treats a day.    In another thread I saw someone post that they give their cat high quality dry food as treats.   That got me wondering, would a high quality dry food be a better / healthier treat than say "Temptations" or even the vet bought treats?   And if the dry food is better, how long does a bag stay fresh?  

I would say dry food. Even if you're not giving them a lot, something that's "nutritionally complete" even for the small amount they receive, is better than eating junky treats which are more or less empty, carby calories. Not all treats are created equally, so something like Pure Bites (single ingredient, dried meat), while it is less substantial than Temptations treats are what I would consider to be less bad. If I were to personify, I would say treats are like getting potato chips as opposed to a small but relatively healthy appetizer (or a small serving of a meal, instead of a greasy bag of junk from a vending machine or takeout).

I give my cats Go! Free+Fit kibble as a treat and use it as a training tool. It's one of the best kibbles I have found, and it's within my budget when I feed in moderation. I keep it in a plastic, sealable container but since I buy the 4lb bags, I don't imagine it will last more than a year and a half. If you can keep it in a sealed container in a cool, dry, and dark place, it should last as long as the "best by" date on the bag specifies, if not longer.

Our cats seldom get their Pure Bites, Green Bites, or Temptations anymore, actually... those are reserved for super special occasions, like claw trimming or if my boyfriend wants to sneak them out when I'm not looking to get some cat love. They learn to appreciate what little dry food they get, and they want to work for it instead of being picky and waiting for it over wet food

pinkdagger:   thanks  for your reply.   I may have to look for a high quality kibble to use as treats.  Ruby loves to eat ANYTHING, so I'm sure she won't have a problem with the change.

shadowkitty2001:    Ruby says meow back to you.