Crunchy treats for fussy Himalayan cats

So paste treats are a firm no — that's actually pretty common, especially with older cats who've developed strong texture preferences. Cats are notoriously fussy about treats in general: they respond best to strongly-scented, meat-based options and tend to reject anything sweet, grain-heavy, or with an unfamiliar texture. The best treats are high-protein and low in additives. Before I point you toward something specific — is this mainly for rewarding your Himalayan, or are you also thinking about enrichment or training? And does she have any health issues I should know about, like kidney concerns or a sensitive stomach?

Brilliant, that really narrows things down. A 9-year-old Himalayan with a sensitive stomach — I want to steer clear of anything with too many fillers or artificial flavourings, which rules out a lot of the cheaper crunchy options. Has she shown any preference for particular proteins, like chicken versus fish? And when you say she has a sensitive stomach, does that mean occasional vomiting, or loose stools, or both? Just want to make sure I'm not sending you toward something that causes a different problem.

That's really helpful. If the vomiting is mostly speed-related rather than an ingredient intolerance, a small crunchy treat is actually a good format — she can't bolt it the way she might wet food. My recommendation is Dreamies Cat Treats in Chicken. They're one of the most consistently accepted crunchy treats across fussy cats, the chicken flavour is strong enough to get a real response, and they're small enough that you're not overloading her in one go. The texture is a firm, light crunch — nothing chewy or gummy — so if she's been rejecting pastes on texture grounds, this is about as far from that as you can get. They do contain some cereal, so I wouldn't make them a huge daily habit, but as a reward treat in small amounts for a cat with no diagnosed grain intolerance, they're a solid choice. Look for the resealable pouch rather than the small single-flavour packets — better value and you can control portions more easily.

They're fine for a healthy 9-year-old in moderation — Himalayans at that age aren't yet considered senior in the way that would flag specific nutritional concerns, though they're heading that way. The main thing to watch is quantity: Dreamies are calorie-dense for their size, so stick to the guideline of around 15 treats per day maximum and factor them into her overall food intake. They're not suitable as a main food source obviously, but as occasional rewards they're perfectly appropriate. If her vet ever flags early kidney issues down the line — which is worth monitoring in older cats — you'd want to reassess, but right now they're a reasonable fit.

Good luck — the success rate with Dreamies on texture-fussy cats is genuinely high, so I'd be surprised if she holds out. Start with just two or three so she gets the idea without overdoing it on day one. If she does reject them, come back and let me know — there are one or two other crunchy options worth trying, but Dreamies chicken is the sensible first step.