One of my cats is completely non-responsive to edible treats. Be it salmon, chicken or beef flavored, he completely ignores any treats I give him.
I want to be able to reward him/get him to come when I shake a bag of treats, but can't figure out any way to do this without edible treats, since he does not respond to praise like a dog.
What alternative ways are there to reward cats?
Both of my cats (mother and daughter) have a fondness for catnip. Like typical dry treats, shaking the packaging it comes in will make a noise your cat should be able to hear without difficulty.
The mother cat has a fondness for wet cat food, but will not eat dried fish treats (though she is very interested in the smell). Her daughter is the exact opposite: loves dried fish treats but will not touch wet cat food.
Keep in mind that the treat doesn't need to make a noise if all you want to do is teach your cat to come when called. Many cats associate the sound of a can opener with food and will come running any time they hear it, even when it isn't their designated meal time. Personally, I like "here kitty kitty" since it can be heard from very far away.
My cats also respond to the sound of patting my hand on the top of their scratching post. This is already a place that they like to be. They've come to associate that noise with lots of petting, so all I have to do is say their name when I do it and they will come running.
You could also to try a brush for your cat. Mine absolutely love being brushed so much that they'll tolerate being near my dog (I got him a year ago and the cats are still standoffish towards him).
