Hi,

We have a bengal boy about 9 months old. I am familiar with the basic principles of behaviorism and know that a reinforcer is needed for any training to occur. The problem is - we can't seem to find any treats that he loves or even really likes. People have suggested catnip (totally indifferent to it) and greenies (he'll eat them, but not always and definitely doesn't love them) and this gel-type stuff that is supposed to help with furballs (can't remember the name, also completely indifferent to). The best I've been able to come up with is when he's craving attention to verbally praise him while petting/giving attention ("good boyyy!") and have been hoping the praise alone can become reinforcing, but I'm not sure how well that's working and I'd really like to have a tangible reinforcer to give him.

Any suggestions for tangible reinforcers/treats that our picky boy will actually enjoy?

Thank you!!

Have you tried cooked chicken or prawns?

Benji doesn't seem bothered by commercial treats but loves chicken.


Heather

No, we haven't - will definitely try! Thank you!

Freeze dried chicken treats... Thrive.... Come in other meats as well.

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Lollo

Have a look for store own brand (Wainrights ''dog'' treats I buy) freeze dried chicken ... you can get duck and tuna also that Ive seen. Thrive are very overpriced for a freeze dried treat that other companies also sell.
My girl is mad for freeze dried treats but they are not good for training because you cannot easily break them into smaller bits (they go to dust) and they dry out kitty's mouth to the point where they gag on them (like a human eating a box of crackers).
I found a chicken jerky treat and it has enough scent and flavour to interest my girl even after a meal she shows an interest in chewy dehydrated jerky meats (chicken is her favourite and duck she likes too). (pet jerky, plain and no additives)
Where do you live by the way? ... different products available in different places.

I actually find Thrive treats easy to cut into smaller treats. I buy the big tubs from Cat shows or Amazon so they don't work out that expensive. Never had a cat or kitten suffer from a dry mouth from having them either.

The prawn Thrive treats are especially good as the look and smell just like prawns. You can snip them with scissors into tiny pieces and all 5 of my cats love them...

Different experiences of them i guess....

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Lollo

they are dry and brittle and dont break up easily... I end up with lots of dust and uneven broken up bits all different sizes.
I do training for longer periods these days and freeze dried treats just suck all the moisture out of (any) kittys mouth and throat. Ive seen my girl gag on them when Ive given her too many.
for that reason IMO freeze dried treats are not ideal to give many of them in one session.... they even say on the tube not to feed more than a few.
I only have experience of the two main flavours and ''tube'' size of thrive that are easy to find on pet shop shelves.
They are super strong in flavour and scent thats for sure, but I keep them for jackpot treats and occasional treats along side others I use.

The chicken flavour is the most crumbly and the fish is quite firm but the prawn liver and beef are more chewy so easy to snip into small pieces. They also don't have the same chalky texture. I use them all the time with my cats and no problem.

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Lollo

Praise can train. My Bengal taught herself to play fetch - I praised her every time she brought the toy back. Now we play nearly every day. She lets me know when it's time by dropping her toy of choice in my lap and yelling at me. She loves her pets and "good girl", and if it's enough for her, it is enough for me.

chalky yes... and really really dry in an absorbent way that sucks up saliva... hence my human eating dry crackers analogy... but these other flavours your telling us about (made by Thrive?) Ive never seen for sale.
Any idea where (petshops) you can buy these different flavour/meat type thrive treats from?
are the only online?

I have noticed the freeze dried duck (not cleo's favourite however) was kinda firmer and less crumbly and yes easier to break in half or snip with scissors... in comparison the chicken cubes sort of explode into one or two usable bits (random sized) and a pile of dust that goes to waste, I have to wet down the leftover chicken dust for cleo to be able to lap it from a plate... dry it just gets pushed around by whiskers without her being able to lick it up. very frustrating for her even if its fun to watch her try :p

If the other kinds are also easy to break up and less chalky dry Im really interested to try them out.

I tend together a large tub from cat shows. But I think Amazon sell them.

The prawn is especially good, the better one to snip. Followed by beef as its more fibrous so doesn't crumble.

I use them at times to encourage eating when my girls are being fussy. I crumble them on top of food. That's how I know prawn beef and liver don't crumble!

http://www.swallowhealthydiet.com/Pet-R ... -Maxi-Tube

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Lollo

Not sure if products available at shows are any use to most owners... that dont go to shows.
I did find Thrives full range online from zooplus (Id trust more than buying from an amazon seller) and they look good... but I dont pay Thrive prices... Ill continue to look for other freeze dried treats from less expensive companies (like wainrights... identical treats and half the price).

LeosMama?
have we helped?
Tell us your country for more specific suggestions.

The shops that sell at cat shows have online stores as well, i just cannot remember the name. Plus, many people go to shows as visitors as they are all over the country so there may well be one near you where you can visit and see wonderful cats plus purchase cat things at the many stalls. They are all open to the public from around 1230pm....

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Lollo