Does the perfect treat for My Girl exist, or is it Just My Imagination?
August 6, 2022 12:53 PM Subscribe
Is there a chicken-free treat that my cat will like as much as Temptations?
After some GI issues last year, poultry and pork are off the menu for Maggie Murderface. Temptations were her favorite high-value treat, and we still haven't found a replacement. Apparently "chicken byproduct meal" is delicious, and the crunchy outside/soft inside texture seems to be key. She has zero interest in puree treats in tubes or bonito flakes. She craves the crunch. These Wholly Fish salmon treats are close but a little too hard. Orijen lamb treats are also close but a little too soft. She likes freeze-dried single-meat treats okay but gets bored before the bag is finished: salmon, minnows, and lamb liver are in the current rotation. Most freeze-dried rabbit we've found tends to come in pieces that are too hard and too big. The only human food she's interested in are salty crunchy things and she occasionally gets a small corner of a chip. Other than the poultry and pork restrictions nutrition isn't a concern, her overall diet is healthy for her. We're looking for the tastiest cat junk food here.
After some GI issues last year, poultry and pork are off the menu for Maggie Murderface. Temptations were her favorite high-value treat, and we still haven't found a replacement. Apparently "chicken byproduct meal" is delicious, and the crunchy outside/soft inside texture seems to be key. She has zero interest in puree treats in tubes or bonito flakes. She craves the crunch. These Wholly Fish salmon treats are close but a little too hard. Orijen lamb treats are also close but a little too soft. She likes freeze-dried single-meat treats okay but gets bored before the bag is finished: salmon, minnows, and lamb liver are in the current rotation. Most freeze-dried rabbit we've found tends to come in pieces that are too hard and too big. The only human food she's interested in are salty crunchy things and she occasionally gets a small corner of a chip. Other than the poultry and pork restrictions nutrition isn't a concern, her overall diet is healthy for her. We're looking for the tastiest cat junk food here.
I don't have the Tuna ones on hand to check ingredients, but Greenies SmartBites have a slightly softer center that's supposed to be for hairball control, though that's not really important for my guy, and he seems to love them in any flavor. I think he likes the mix of textures.
posted by kitten kaboodle at 3:01 PM on August 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by kitten kaboodle at 3:01 PM on August 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
My cats went crazy when I bought crab from the seafood counter at the grocery store, then boiled it -- just from the smell; it's not like I had the idea on my own that they'd like it. It was the last thing my cat was interested in eating when he'd lost his appetite for everything else.
In short: buy some crab, cook it, and be prepared to ask your cat to do something challenging to earn it so it stays special :)
posted by amtho at 3:13 PM on August 6, 2022
In short: buy some crab, cook it, and be prepared to ask your cat to do something challenging to earn it so it stays special :)
posted by amtho at 3:13 PM on August 6, 2022
I don’t have an answer and only have a dog (who ain’t too proud to beg), but I love your question title.
posted by Mchelly at 8:38 AM on August 7, 2022
posted by Mchelly at 8:38 AM on August 7, 2022
Response by poster: She's turning down nutritional yeast today, but she's known for changing her mind so maybe she'll get into it later. We'll try crab, I bet she'll like it but it won't have that texture sensation.
Unfortunately even the fish-flavored Greenies are chicken based. The ingredient lists are very similar to Temptations so I'm sure she'd love them. Is this the moment I become the person who makes their own cat treats? (Honestly I'm surprised that hasn't happened sooner.)
posted by doift at 9:46 AM on August 7, 2022
Unfortunately even the fish-flavored Greenies are chicken based. The ingredient lists are very similar to Temptations so I'm sure she'd love them. Is this the moment I become the person who makes their own cat treats? (Honestly I'm surprised that hasn't happened sooner.)
posted by doift at 9:46 AM on August 7, 2022
What a pretty baby! That's all I got. Sorry, no help with the treats. :)
posted by poppunkcat at 2:13 PM on August 7, 2022
posted by poppunkcat at 2:13 PM on August 7, 2022
Friskies Party Mix Natural Nums are the kitty crack for our cats - they come in a variety of flavors, but no idea if they have a chicken-free version.
posted by soylent00FF00 at 3:47 PM on August 8, 2022
posted by soylent00FF00 at 3:47 PM on August 8, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by nouvelle-personne at 2:09 PM on August 6, 2022