If you’re aiming to introduce a variety of rewards and truly engage your feline friend, the journey begins with establishing a foundation of healthy, moisture-rich meals. Dry kibble, regardless of its organic or grain-free claims, is simply not the optimal primary food source for cats. They are naturally designed to obtain essential moisture from their diet.
The pet food industry, particularly manufacturers of dry food, often employs strategies to create a strong preference for their products. They may apply coatings to kibble that can lead to a cat becoming reliant on, or even addicted to, dry food. This can result in owners perceiving their cat as “picky” when, in fact, the cat has been conditioned to a specific, less-than-ideal food source.
Many cat owners express concern when their cat seems uninterested in any form of treat. Often, this lack of interest stems from the cat being on a perpetual dry food diet, with food left accessible throughout the entire day.
Consider the analogy of having a money tree in your backyard that continuously replenishes itself. If you could access a significant amount of money whenever you desired, would you feel motivated to go to work? It’s unlikely. Similarly, when a cat has constant access to food, their motivation to work for rewards diminishes significantly.
To cultivate a cat’s desire for training rewards, it’s crucial to move away from free-feeding and transition to scheduled meals. Aim for at least three small meals per day. For owners who are away for extended periods, an automatic feeder designed for wet food can be a valuable tool. Ensuring your cat consumes a healthy diet rich in moisture is paramount. Implementing these adjustments should lead to a noticeable improvement in your cat’s food motivation, making training rewardS more effective.
My Approach to Selecting Cat Training Treats
When I choose treats for training cats, I consider several key factors:
- Nutritional Value: My preference is to avoid highly processed treats and opt for those composed of just one or a few natural ingredients. This ensures the treats contribute positively to the cat’s overall health.
- Size: Rewards should be small. This not only helps maintain the cat’s motivation throughout a training session but also prevents unnecessary calorie intake and potential weight gain. If a cat spends a significant amount of time consuming a large treat, it can disrupt the training flow.
- Texture for Training: While training with wet treats is possible, I find dry food pieces to be more practical. Dry treats are generally easier to handle and can be tossed away, encouraging the cat to be more active during training.
What types of treats align with these criteria? For indoor training sessions, I highly recommend freeze-dried treats. These treats are healthy, dry, and can be easily broken down into tiny, manageable pieces. Freeze-dried options are available in a variety of protein flavors, offering a good selection for your cat.
One potential drawback of freeze-dried treats is their cost. To make them more budget-friendly, consider purchasing freeze-dried cat food and breaking it into small pieces for rewards. Many freeze-dried cat foods are marketed as “toppers” meant to be added to a cat’s regular meal to enhance its appeal or nutritional content. Using these as training rewards can be a cost-effective strategy.
A significant advantage of freeze-dried treats is their general palatability; most cats readily accept them. If your cat is initially hesitant, try sprinkling a small amount of the crumbled treat over their wet food to encourage acceptance.
While freeze-dried treats are suitable for many training scenarios, I elevate the reward value for more challenging behaviors. This includes tasks like nail trims, desensitization for vet visits, or training sessions conducted in distracting outdoor environments. In these situations, I prioritize high-value rewards, sometimes focusing less on the strict health aspect. For my own cat, Jones, these high-value treats typically include lickable options like Inaba Churu Purée and Temptations. Although used sparingly, these treats are invaluable for maintaining Jones’s motivation during demanding training sessions.
Getting Started with Your Cat’s Training Journey
The most effective starting point is to focus on enhancing your cat’s regular meals. Establish a consistent feeding schedule and transition your cat to a diet that is rich in moisture. Once these dietary improvements are in place, you can begin using small portions of their regular dry food as training rewards. Introduce some freeze-dried treats to gauge your cat’s response.
I advise reserving highly palatable, lickable treats, such as Inaba Churu puree, and more processed options like Greenies and Temptations, for mastering the most challenging behaviors. These potent rewards are best saved for when maximum motivation is required.
