Inaba Churu Cat Treats Review

You tear the packet, and suddenly your cat teleports into the room screaming. Welcome to the cult of “Kitty Crack.” In this brutally honest Inaba Churu cat treats review, we are asking the hard question: is this viral paste actually safe, or just expensive junk food?

Many owners worry this is the feline equivalent of McDonald’s tasty, but terrible for their health.

Here is the spoiler: You are wrong.

This isn’t just a snack. After decoding the ingredients, it turns out to be the single most effective medical and hydration tool a cat owner can buy.

Let’s investigate.

What Is Inaba Churu?

If you tried to explain this product to a non cat person, you would sound insane. “It is a tube of meat yogurt that I hand feed to my predator.”

But that is exactly what it is.

Inaba Churu is a squeezable, pureed cat treat. It has the consistency of a thick soup or custard. You tear off the top, squeeze the tube, and your cat licks it directly from the packet as you push it up.

It sounds simple, but it has completely changed the pet industry.

From 1805 to TikTok Fame

Unlike many trendy pet brands that pop up overnight, the company behind Churu Inaba Ciao is a heavyweight.

They are a Japanese company that has been harvesting high quality seafood since 1805. They started selling fresh tuna in Japan over 200 years ago and moved into pet food in 1958.

This matters because they aren’t a marketing company; they are a seafood company. They know fish.

The name “Churu” is actually onomatopoeia. In Japanese, it represents the sound of slurping (like buzz or hiss).

Why Did It Go Viral?

Churu became the most famous cat treat on the planet because it changed the way we interact with our pets.

Before Churu, “treating” your cat meant throwing a dry biscuit on the floor and walking away. It was transactional.

Churu is interactive.

Because you have to hold the tube, you are forced to spend 60 seconds face to face with your cat. You are sharing a moment. It creates a deep, primal bonding experience that dry treats simply can’t match.

Plus, the reaction is hilarious. The internet is full of videos of cats making the “Churu Face” ears back, eyes wide, licking frantically. It is effectively a dopamine hit in a plastic tube.

The Ingredients Label: Decoding The Tube

When a treat costs less than a dollar and makes your cat act like a recovering addict, your first instinct is suspicion. Is it full of sugar? Is it laced with catnip? Or Is it just meat flavoured chemical sludge?

I flipped the packet over to read the fine print so you don’t have to.

Here is the honest breakdown of what is actually inside that plastic tube.

The Good: Grain Free, Preservative Free & High Moisture

The ingredient list on a Churu tube is shockingly short. In the pet food world, a short list is a good list.

The first two ingredients are almost always Water and a Protein Source (Chicken, Tuna, or Scallop).

• The Moisture Win: Domestic cats are chronically dehydrated. In the wild, they get water from eating raw mice (which are 70% water). Modern dry biscuits have 10% water. Churu is 91% water. By feeding this, you are “stealth hydrating” your cat, which is the single best thing you can do to prevent kidney disease.
• No Junk Fillers: There are no grains, no corn, no wheat, and no soy. These are cheap “carb fillers” that budget brands use to bulk up food. Churu is basically pure protein and broth. Just like a high protein diet such as Feline Natural, Churu prioritizes meat over fillers.
• No Preservatives: You might wonder, how does it stay fresh on the shelf without chemicals? It’s the packaging. The tubes are effectively tiny, vacuum sealed cans. The contents are sterilized inside the foil, meaning bacteria can’t get in until you tear it open.

The “Secret Sauce”: Why Is It So Addictive? (The Umami Science)

Why does your cat lose their mind for this stuff? It isn’t magic, and it isn’t drugs.

It comes down to biology.

Humans love sugar, but cats physically cannot taste sweet things (they lack the taste receptor). Instead, they are “Super Tasters” for Umami the savoury, meaty flavour found in amino acids.

Inaba creates a “flavour bomb” by using concentrated Natural Fish or Scallop Extract.

Think of this like a high end stock cube. It is a concentrated blast of savoury aroma rich in nucleotides. When this hits your cat’s tongue, it triggers an intense signal to their brain that says: “THIS IS HIGH VALUE FRESH PROTEIN.”

They aren’t addicted to a chemical; they are responding to an evolutionary trigger that tells them they have found the ultimate food source.

The Manufacturing Myth: Thailand vs. China

This is the big question for Australian owners. We are rightfully suspicious of pet treats made in Asia due to the horror stories of the past (specifically dog jerky recalls).

So, where is Churu made?

While Inaba is a Japanese company, the Churu tubes you buy on Amazon Australia are almost exclusively Made in Thailand.

Do not panic.

Thailand is effectively the “Tuna Capital of the World.” If you buy a tin of human grade tuna (like Sirena or John West) from Woolworths, check the label it is probably made in Thailand.

Their food safety standards for canning seafood are world class. Inaba owns their own human grade facilities in Thailand to produce these treats. This is a massive step up from the “outsourced mystery factories” often associated with cheaper generic treats.

3 Ways To Use Churu (It’s Not Just A Snack)

If you are just handing the tube to your cat and letting them lick it, you are missing the point. You are effectively using a Ferrari to drive to the shops.

Churu is sticky, smelly, and high value. That makes it the ultimate tool for manipulating your cat into doing things they hate.

Here are the three hacks I use daily.

1. The “Hydration Hack” (For Cats Who Hate Water)

Kidney disease and urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the biggest killers of domestic cats. Why? Because cats are terrible at drinking water. They evolved to get moisture from food, and dry biscuits are dehydrated.

If you have a senior cat or a male cat prone to crystals, Churu is your secret weapon.

• The Recipe: Don’t feed it straight from the tube. Squeeze the contents into a bowl and mix it with half a cup of warm water.
• The Result: It creates a “meat soup.” Because the flavour is so strong, your cat will drink the entire bowl of water just to get the taste of the tuna.

It is the easiest way to trick them into drinking a full glass of water without a fight.

If you have a senior cat who won’t drink from a best cat water fountain, Churu is your secret weapon.

2. The “Trojan Horse” Method (Hiding Pills Successfully)

Trying to force a pill down a cat’s throat usually ends with you bleeding and the cat plotting your murder.

Churu has a thick, creamy consistency that is perfect for hiding medicine. Unlike solid treats, it coats the pill, masking the smell and the taste.

The Technique:

1. Squeeze a small blob of Churu onto a plate.
2. Place the pill (whole or crushed) into the blob.
3. Immediately cover it with a second blob of Churu.
4. Do not hesitate. Offer it to the cat immediately.

Because they lick Churu so frantically, they usually inhale the pill before they even realize they have been bamboozled. It turns “Medication Time” into “Treat Time.”

Squeeze a tube onto a textured lick mat to turn a 10-second snack into a 10-minute activity.

3. High Value Recall Training (The Emergency Brake)

Have you ever tried to call your cat, and they just rotated their ears and ignored you? That is because you are boring.

You need a signal that means: “If you come here right now, you get the jackpot.”

I use Churu exclusively to teach my cat to come when called in case of emergencies.

Also I never feed Churu just because they look cute. I only feed it when I call their name and they come running. Over time, they learn that the sound of that specific foil wrapper tearing means Liquid Gold is available.

Why this saves lives:
If your cat ever accidentally escapes outside, or if there is a fire alarm and you need to find them instantly, you don’t want to be shaking a bag of dry biscuits. You want a trigger that overrides their fear. Crinkling a Churu tube is that trigger.

Kristen’s Hands On Test: The Battle Of The Tubs

If you are buying Churu one packet at a time at the supermarket, you are ripping yourself off. The only logical way to buy this stuff is in the 50-Tube Bulk Tubs from Amazon. It brings the cost per tube down significantly.

I purchased the two most popular tubs available on Amazon Australia the Chicken Variety (Orange Tub) and the Tuna Variety (Blue Tub) to see which one offered the best value and the best reaction.

Here is the breakdown of the battle.

Contender 1: The Chicken Variety 50-Pack (The “Safe Bet”)

This is the bright orange tub you see everywhere. It contains 5 different chicken based recipes (Cheese, Shrimp, Crab, Scallop, and plain Chicken).

• The Smell Test: This is the “human friendly” option. When you crack open a chicken tube, it smells like a mild roast chicken soup. It doesn’t have that punch in the face fishy odour that lingers in your kitchen.
• The Cat Reaction: My cats loved it, but it was a “polite” obsession. They finished every drop, but there was less screaming involved compared to the fish.
• Best For: Sensitive Stomachs. If your cat gets loose poops from rich fish, this is the safest entry point. It’s also the best choice if you have a weak stomach and hate the smell of seafood.

Contender 2: The Tuna Variety 50-Pack (The “Stink Bomb”)

This is the blue tub. It is the heavyweight champion of “Umami.” It mixes various Tuna recipes (Tuna with Chicken, Tuna with Salmon, etc.).

• The Smell Test: Warning: These tubes are potent. They smell like a fresh tin of John West tuna left in the sun. To me? Gross. To my cat? Pure perfume.
• The Cat Reaction: This tub wins on “excitement.” The Tuna tubes triggered a primal frenzy that the Chicken ones didn’t. This is the “High Value” jackpot.
• Best For: Bribery & Medicine. If you need to hide a pill or trick a cat into liking you, you need the Tuna. The scent is so strong it masks the smell of medication perfectly.

The Verdict?

If you have a cat with a sensitive tummy or you live in a small apartment and hate fish smells, buy the Chicken Tub.

If you have a picky eater, a senior cat who needs appetite stimulation, or you need to hide pills, buy the Tuna Tub. The stinkier, the better.

The Pros & Cons Of Inaba Churu Treats

No product is perfect, not even “Liquid Gold.” While I clearly love this stuff, there are some genuine downsides you need to know before you buy a bulk tub.

Here is the unfiltered breakdown.

The Pros: Why It Wins

• Stealth Hydration: This is the biggest medical benefit. If you feed dry food (kibble), your cat is likely chronically dehydrated. One tube of Churu is 91% water. It is effectively a tasty kidney safeguard.
• The “Bribe” Factor: It is the only treat I have found that works 100% of the time. Vet visits, nail trims, and brushing becomes possible because the reward is so high value, they ignore the discomfort.
• Weight Control: Dry treats (like Greenies or Temptations) are calorie bombs full of carbs. One tube of Churu is only 6 calories. You can feed two a day without turning your cat into a chonker.
• The Bond: You have to hold it. You can’t just throw it on the floor. That 60 seconds of interaction creates a genuine bond between you and the cat.

The Cons: The Ugly Truth

• The Environmental Nightmare: This is the biggest negative. Every single tube is a strip of non recyclable plastic (in most curbside bins). If you go through a 50-pack tub, that is 50 pieces of plastic trash. It is not eco friendly.
• The Price Tag: Let’s be real it is expensive. A packet of dry biscuits costs $5 and lasts a month. A tub of Churu costs significantly more and disappears fast if you aren’t careful.
• The “Monster” Effect: This stuff is potent. Once your cat knows what the packet looks like, they may start screaming every time you go near the pantry. You are creating a monster, so be prepared for the begging.

If you care about the environment, the plastic waste hurts. But if you care about getting water into your cat and having a “magic button” for medication, the benefits outweigh the trash. Just be mindful of how often you use it.

Buying Guide: Best Value Packs On Amazon AU

Here is the biggest rookie mistake I see people make: they buy the small 4 packs at the supermarket.

If you are buying Churu in those tiny bags, you are effectively paying “convenience store” prices. You are ripping yourself off.

The only logical way to buy this product is in the 50-Stick Tubs. is the secret the pet stores don’t want you to know: You are getting ripped off on the small packs.

If you buy the standard 4-packs at the supermarket or local pet shop, you are paying a premium for the packaging. It’s like buying a single can of Coke instead of a slab.

The only smart way to buy Churu in Australia is the 50-Pack Variety Tub.

It brings the cost per tube down drastically, and the plastic tub keeps them safe from cats trying to chew through the bag (which happens more than you think).

When you do the math, the price per tube drops significantly when you buy the bulk bucket. Plus, you get a hard plastic storage container instead of a drawer full of loose bags.

Here are the two specific tubs you should be looking at on Amazon.

1. The “Sensitive Tummy” Pick: Chicken Variety 50-Pack

This is the Crowd Pleaser. It is widely considered the “safest” option because chicken is generally easier on a cat’s digestion than rich seafood.

• Recommended for most households. It is the Chicken Recipe Variety Pack.
• What’s Inside: 50 tubes. It includes Chicken with Cheese, Chicken with Scallop, Chicken with Crab, Chicken with Shrimp, and Plain Chicken.
• Why Buy This One: It is the safest bet. Chicken is generally easier on a cat’s digestion than rich fish. If you have a cat who occasionally gets loose poops, or if you hate the smell of strong seafood, this is the tub to get.

2. The “Picky Eater” Pick: Tuna Variety Tub (Blue)

This is the Tuna Recipe Variety Pack.

• What’s Inside: 50 tubes. It includes Tuna with Chicken, Tuna with Salmon, and other deep sea blends
• Why Buy It: If your cat has ever had loose poops from fishy food, or if you hate the smell of strong seafood in your kitchen, this is the one to get. It’s mild, creamy, and reliable.

The “Subscription” Hack

If you are an Amazon Prime member, keep an eye out for the “Subscribe & Save” option on these tubs. You can often shave another 10% off the price, making it cheaper than almost any physical pet store in

What’s Inside: A mix of deep sea fish recipes that tap into that “Umami” addiction we talked about earlier.

• Why Buy It: If you have a cat who refuses to eat, or you need to hide a bitter pill, you need this tub. The chicken flavour is sometimes too mild to mask medication, but the Tuna flavour covers up everything.

Kristen’s Verdict

Stop buying the small bags. You will run out in a week.

Grab the 50-Pack Tub. It seals shut (keeping your pantry smelling fresh), it saves you money in the long run, and you will have a 2 month supply of “bribery” ready to go whenever you need it.

Conclusion: Is It Worth The Hype?

I am usually the first person to call out “viral” pet products. Usually, when something gets this popular on TikTok, it is because it looks cute, not because it is actually good.

I went into this investigation expecting Churu to be over hyped junk food.

I was wrong. firsthand, I was wrong.

This isn’t just a treat. If you treat it like a snack, it is expensive.

But if you view it as a medical tool, it is priceless.

There is simply no other product on the market that allows you to trick a cat into drinking half a cup of water, or swallowing a bitter pill without a fight. For

Inaba Churu is one of the rare instances where the product actually lives up to the fame.

It isn’t just a treat; it is a problem solver.

• Does your cat hate drinking water? **Ch that reason alone, it deserves a permanent spot in your pantry.

My Final Recommendation
Don’t be afraid of the addiction. Lean into it.

Buy the bulk tub to save money.

• Is it impossible to give them a pill? Churu fixes it.
• Do shelf (seriously, they will find it), and use it as your secret weapon. Whether you need to trim their claws, apologize they ignore you when you call them? Churu fixes it.

Yes, the plastic waste is annoying, and it for stepping on their tail, or just tell them you love them. Churu is the universal language for “I love you.”

Just be prepared for the screaming.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I feed my cat Churu every day?

Yes, you can. Unlike dry treats which are full of carbs, Churu is mostly water and protein. However, it is not a complete meal. Think of it as a healthy smoothie, not a dinner replacement. Sticking to 1 or 2 tubes a day is a safe limit.

Is Churu safe for kittens?

Absolutely. As long as your kitten is weaned (eating in protein and moisture, a cat with a very sensitive stomach might get loose stools if they eat too much, too fast. If your cat has a delicate tummy, stick to the Chicken varieties (which are milder) and start with half a tube to test their tolerance.

Is Inaba Churu made in China?

No. The bulk tubs sold on Amazon Australia are manufactured in Thailand, which is the global hub for human grade canned tuna. Inaba owns their own FDA registered facilities, meaning they control the safety standards rather than outsourcing to random factories. Always check the back of your specific pack to be sure. solid food), Churu is safe. In fact, it is a brilliant tool for socialisation. Feeding it by hand teaches kittens that human hands are good things, helping to prevent biting behaviours later on.

Will Churu make my cat fat?

Surprisingly, no. One tube contains only about 6 calories. For context, a handful of dry treats (like Temptations) can be double or triple that. Because it is 91% water, it is one of the lowest calorie treats on the market, making it great for chubby cats on a diet.

Do I need to refrigerate Churu?

Unopened tubes are shelf-stable just keep them in the pantry.