About Inaba
Inaba's story goes back to 1805, when Yoshizo Inaba built a business around sustainably harvesting tuna for Japanese families. That same commitment to quality protein carried through the generations until the family brought its expertise to pet nutrition in 1958. The Inaba brand itself was formally established in 1989, and in 2012 the now-iconic Churu lickable treat was introduced, reaching the United States in 2016. Today Inaba holds the position of Japan's most popular premium pet treat brand, with products sold to pet parents in countries across the world.
Inaba Product Range
Churu Puree for Cats: Churu tubes for cats pack 91% moisture into just six calories per serving, with real chicken and wild-caught tuna as the primary protein sources. Every tube is grain-free, carrageenan-free, and made without artificial colours or preservatives, with added taurine for overall feline health. Available in dozens of flavour varieties and formats including Sticks and Bites.
Churu for Dogs: Churu for Dogs brings the same squeezable, lickable concept to canine nutrition, with each tube containing 91% moisture and only nine calories. Made with human-grade chicken and wild-caught tuna, it works equally well as a training reward, a food topper, or a practical tool for administering medication. Churu Bites for Dogs offer a soft outer layer filled with the same creamy Churu filling inside.
Churu Meal Toppers for Dogs: Unlike standard treat tubes, Churu Meal Toppers are nutritionally complete and balanced to AAFCO standards for adult dogs. Each tube delivers 85% moisture and around eleven calories, making it compatible with raw, fresh, and kibble diets without upsetting the nutritional balance of the main meal.
Churu Nourish Veterinarian Formula: Developed specifically for veterinary use, Churu Nourish is a highly palatable liquid puree designed to stimulate appetite and support caloric intake in cats that are reluctant to eat. It is particularly suited to post-surgical recovery, illness, or situations where medication or stress has reduced a cat's appetite.
Grilled Fillets for Cats: Inaba Grilled Fillets are hand-cut, lightly grilled portions made from human-grade tuna, chicken, and mackerel. High in protein, low in calories, and free from artificial additives, they can be hand-fed or used as a premium food topper.
Why Buy Inaba from HardyPaw?
- Genuine, Authentic Products: Every Inaba product at HardyPaw is fully authentic, imported and stocked to the original recipe with no substitutions.
- Licensed Pet Pharmacy: HardyPaw is a licensed pet pharmacy stocking the full Inaba range, including the veterinarian-exclusive Churu Nourish formula.
- Competitive Pricing and Value: The full Inaba range, including multi-pack options, is priced competitively for pet parents who use Churu as part of a daily routine.
- Expert Pet Health Support: Our team can guide you to the right Inaba product, whether you need a daily treat, a food topper, or a veterinary appetite stimulant.
Why Vets Trust Inaba?
- Japan's Most Popular Premium Pet Treat Brand: Inaba holds the top position among premium cat treat brands in Japan and has grown into a globally recognised name with products sold across dozens of countries.
- Human-Grade, Responsibly Sourced Ingredients: Cage-free chicken is sourced from supervised family farms, while skipjack tuna is responsibly caught in West Pacific waters with a certificate of origin for every batch. All production follows the same quality assurance standards as a human food plant.
- Clean Safety Record, No Product Recalls: A search of both the AVMA and US FDA databases returned no recall records for Inaba Churu products, reflecting the brand's consistent approach to ingredient quality and manufacturing safety.
- Veterinarian-Endorsed Appetite Stimulant: Churu Nourish is actively recommended by veterinary professionals as a natural appetite motivator for cats with reduced food intake due to illness, medication, surgery, or stress.
- FDA-Registered Manufacturing Facilities: All Inaba products sold in North America are produced in the brand's wholly owned facility in Saraburi, Thailand, which operates under the same quality assurance standards required of FDA-registered human food plants.
Frequently Asked Questions About Inaba
Q1: What is Inaba and what is Churu?
Ans: Inaba is a Japanese pet food brand with over 200 years of seafood heritage, now operating as Japan's most popular premium pet treat company. Churu is its signature product, a squeezable lickable puree treat designed for hand-feeding cats and dogs, loved worldwide for its palatability and high moisture content.
Q2: What are Inaba Churu treats made from?
Ans: Churu treats are made with human-grade chicken and wild-caught tuna as primary proteins, with added taurine for feline health. Every tube is produced without grains, artificial colours, preservatives, or carrageenan, following the same food safety standards applied to human food manufacturing.
Q3: Are Inaba Churu treats good for cats that do not drink enough water?
Ans: Each Churu tube carries a moisture content of 91%, making it one of the most hydrating treat options available for cats. This is particularly valuable for cats that rely primarily on dry food, as it helps offset the fluid deficit that comes with a low-moisture diet.
Q4: Can Inaba Churu be used to give cats their medication?
Ans: Yes. The creamy, palatable texture of Churu makes it highly effective for disguising tablets or liquid medicines. Veterinary professionals specifically recommend Churu Nourish for use during injections, examinations, and medication administration where a calm, engaged cat makes a significant difference.
Q5: Are Inaba treats suitable for dogs too?
Ans: Yes. Churu for Dogs is a lickable puree made with human-grade proteins, carrying 91% moisture and only nine calories per tube. Churu Bites and Churu Meal Toppers extend the range further, covering training rewards, food enhancement, and complete nutritional topping for dogs.
Q6: What is Churu Nourish and when should I use it?
Ans: Churu Nourish was put together specifically for veterinary settings, where getting a reluctant cat to eat is sometimes the difference between a smooth recovery and a difficult one. If your cat has stopped eating after surgery, during illness, or simply because stress has knocked their appetite sideways, squeezing a tube of Nourish into their bowl gives them something genuinely appealing alongside the calories their body needs to heal.
Q7: How many calories are in Inaba Churu treats?
Ans: Each standard Churu cat tube contains six calories, which is roughly a tenth of the calorie load found in a typical dry cat treat. Dog Churu tubes come in at nine calories each. This makes Churu one of the most calorie-conscious options available for daily treat feeding in both cats and dogs.
Q8: Are Inaba products safe? Have there been any recalls?
Ans: A thorough search of both the AVMA and US FDA databases found no recall records for any Inaba Churu product. All items are produced in a wholly owned facility operating to FDA human food plant standards, with every batch of tuna arriving with a verified certificate of origin.
