Cat owners frequently run into a problem when it comes to supplementing their pet’s normal daily diet. You’d like to add some rewarding treats into the mix, but much of the pre-made stuff is unhealthy or low-quality.
Fortunately, there’s another way! Homemade cat treats are a wonderful way to add some flavor and love to an otherwise ordinary pet meal plan. Let’s take a look at 10 of the most scrumptious DIY cat snacks you can find.
1. Carrots and Catnip
By combining two beloved cat snack staples, carrot and catnip treats are virtually guaranteed to be a hit with your feline companion. All you need to get the ball rolling on these is some coconut or olive oil, all-purpose flour, catnip, carrots, and eggs.
To prepare the snacks, you’ll start by preheating your oven and mixing the oil and flour together. From there, you stir your shredded carrots and some (optional) catnip into the mix. Finally, roll out the dough, cut it into squares, and place in the oven for about 12 minutes.
Let the treats cool and then serve them up to your (no doubt delighted) friend!
2. Chewy Biscuit Treats
If your cat is a big fan of dough-based snacks, then chewy biscuit treats are the perfect route to go. Creating these delicious biscuit goodies is surprisingly easy. As your base, you’ll want to use a wet and meaty dish (preferably either canned cat food or baby food.)
Then, whisk the base together with eggs, olive oil, parsley, and water. Add in some brown rice flour, along with fully cooked rice. Lastly, bake for 12-to-15 minutes, let the treats cool, and serve at your discretion.
3. Spinach and Chicken
Some cats are particularly huge fans of chicken-based treats. For these pets, DIY spinach and chicken is the go-to dish! To prepare these snacks, you’ll need to get your hands on some steamed chicken thighs, spinach leaves, quick cooking oats, eggs, and flour.
Once you’ve acquired your ingredients, blend everything together (except for the flour.) After you have the ingredients blended, add the flour and massage until you have a doughy texture. Finally, as usual, bake, cool, and serve.
Almost any cat will love these treats, nearly as much as they love chasing laser pointers!
4. Homemade Tuna Treats
Cats are quite famous for their love of tuna, so it’s only natural to fashion some DIY treats from the dish. And, unlike some of the more elaborate entries on this list, these treats are very simple to make!
All you need to create these tuna snacks is a tin of tuna and 1 egg. Blend some whisked egg white together with your tuna and put the mixture in a piping bag. Pipe the mix into rounds along a baking sheet, bake for around 20 minutes, and let cool.
5. Salmon and Sweet Potato
Now, while tuna may reign supreme, cats certainly won’t scoff at other fish. Including salmon! Simply mix your salmon and sweet potato together in a bowl, add some processed oats and parsley, and freeze the mixture for a few hours.
It’s important to note that cats should only consume a small amount of sweet potato, so it’s best to give your pet these treats sparingly.
6. Cornmeal and Chicken
This is a quick and easy treat to dish up for the particularly well-behaved cats out there! All you need to procure for these snacks is canned chicken, cornmeal, and 1 egg. Mix the three ingredients together thoroughly, bake for 6-8 minutes, and you’re done.
Since pet cats gaining weight is a very real concern, it’s best to limit calorie-dense treats like this to special occasions. Your pet will thank you in the long run!
7. Catnip Crouton Treats
That’s right, we’ve got more catnip treats to add to the list! Croutons are a fun and delicious way to incorporate catnip into a little snack. Regardless of which unique cat breed it belongs to, your pet is likely to enjoy it.
For this type of cat treat, it’s ideal to have tuna, coconut flour, olive oil, eggs, and, of course, dried catnip. To put it all together, blend all the ingredients in a food processor. Once the texture of the mix is smooth, divide and add to a baking sheet and bake for 12-to-15 minutes.
8. Chicken Rollovers
Let’s move on to another simple, 3-ingredient DIY cat treat. You can prepare homemade chicken rollovers with just ground chicken, oat flour, and fresh parsley. Stir the 3 ingredients in a mixing bowl, roll into small ball shapes, and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 12-to-15 minutes, let cool, and introduce the finished product to your cat!
9. Fish and Chips
If you have more than one cat, this is a fantastic choice for a homemade treat. The snacks can easily be divided up among the pets, and whatever is left over can be frozen for another day! Plus, the ingredient requirements are minimal. All you need is oil, frozen haddock, and a sweet potato.
To cook this treat, cut the sweet potato in half and place it on a baking tray along with the fish. Cover the two ingredients with a light layer of oil and then bake for 10 minutes. Divide and give out portions to each cat and freeze the leftovers.
10. Mini Meatballs
Finally, we have a meaty treat sure to have your cat drooling in anticipation (metaphorically; literal drooling is another matter entirely!)
To start, use your or your pet cat’s preferred meat to create small meatballs by combining the meat together with an egg and flour. Next, fry up the meatballs, optionally pairing with cheese. Last but not least, serve the treat to your ecstatic feline friend!
