Best treats for indoor training a Turkish Van

Transitioning an outdoor cat to indoor life is genuinely tricky — especially a Turkish Van, which is an active, independent breed that's used to having the run of outside. Using treats to reinforce staying in is a smart approach, but it only works if the treats are compelling enough to compete with the call of the outdoors. Cats are notoriously fussy — they respond best to strongly-scented, meat-based options and often ignore anything sweet or grain-heavy. The best training treats are high-protein, small enough to give frequently without overfeeding, and low in additives. A couple of quick questions: does your cat have any dietary restrictions or sensitivities, and how often are you planning to reward — like, every time he or she settles calmly indoors, or more as a check-in treat throughout the day?

That's a really sensible two-stage approach — rewarding the return inside and rewarding calm settling are different behaviours, and reinforcing both will speed things up. For that kind of frequent, consistent use you need something small, smelly, and immediately motivating. What's she like with food generally — does she eat enthusiastically, or is she more indifferent and picky?

That tells you a lot — she's responding to moisture and strong meat scent, which is exactly what you'd expect from a cat with outdoor experience. Dry crunchy treats often don't cut it for these cats because they lack the aromatic punch. You want something with a bit of give to it, or at least a very intense meaty smell. Have you tried anything soft or semi-moist yet, or has it all been the hard biscuit-style treats?

Right — then the hard biscuits were always going to be a tough sell for her. My recommendation is Dreamies Cat Treats, specifically the chicken or tuna variety. They're semi-crisp on the outside with a soft, creamy filling, and the scent is strong enough that most cats clock them from across the room. They're small — perfect for giving multiple times in a session without worrying about calorie load — and they're one of the most consistently effective training treats for cats that are food-motivated but ignore dry biscuits. The filling adds just enough moisture and fat to make them genuinely appealing. For your specific use case — rewarding return indoors and calm settling — you want something that feels like a real payoff, and Dreamies reliably land that way. Keep a small pot near the door and another near wherever you want her to settle. The association builds quickly.

The main one is that they're quite palatable, so some cats become very treat-focused and start pestering. Keep portions small — three to five pieces per reward is plenty — and don't use them as a substitute for meals or you'll undermine her appetite for proper food. Also worth checking the bag for the feeding guidelines relative to her weight, just to keep daily intake in check during the training period. But used as a marker treat in short, intentional sessions, they're fine and very effective.