Tag: #cat-food-recipes

DIY Holiday Treats for Cats: Recipes They’ll Love

The holidays are a time for giving, and who deserves a little festive love more than your furry feline friend? Creating DIY holiday treats for cats is a fun and thoughtful way to show your kitty some extra love. Plus, it’s a great way to ensure they’re enjoying safe, healthy, and tasty snacks. Let’s dive into easy recipes for cat-friendly cookies, festive catnip treats, and even homemade cat toys your cat will adore!

Why DIY Holiday Treats Are Purr-fect

There’s something magical about making treats with your own hands, especially for your pets. Not only does it allow you to control the ingredients and avoid harmful additives, but it’s also a chance to create something special for your cat. Plus, DIY content is a hit during the holidays, as pet owners look for ways to include their furry family members in the festivities.

Easy Recipes for Cat-Friendly Cookies

Cats are obligate carnivores, so most traditional cookies don’t work for them. But with a few simple tweaks, you can whip up treats your cat will love.

Tuna Cat Cookies

These bite-sized goodies are packed with protein and flavor.

Ingredients:

  • 1 can of tuna in water (drained)
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup whole wheat flour (or a cat-safe alternative like oat flour)

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Mix the tuna and egg in a bowl until smooth.
  3. Gradually add the flour until a dough forms.
  4. Roll out the dough and use small cookie cutters (like fish or star shapes) to create festive treats.
  5. Place the cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 10–12 minutes, or until firm.
  6. Let them cool completely before serving.

Storage Tip: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

Festive Catnip Treats

What says holiday cheer better than catnip? These treats will have your cat purring with joy.

Catnip Crunchies

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup whole wheat flour (or oat flour)
  • 1/3 cup dry catnip
  • 1/3 cup chicken or fish broth (unsalted)
  • 1 egg

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C).
  2. Combine the flour and catnip in a bowl.
  3. Add the broth and egg, mixing until a dough forms.
  4. Roll into small balls or press into festive molds.
  5. Bake for 12–15 minutes, or until golden brown.
  6. Cool completely before sharing with your cat.

Pro Tip: Adjust the amount of catnip based on your cat’s preferences.

Homemade Cat Toys for a Playful Holiday

While treats are tasty, toys are a wonderful way to keep your cat entertained. Here are a couple of easy-to-make DIY holiday toys.

Sock Snowman Toy

Supplies:

  • Clean sock
  • Catnip
  • Polyester filling or cotton
  • String

Instructions:

  1. Fill the sock with a mix of catnip and polyester filling.
  2. Tie the sock securely with string, creating sections for the “head” and “body” of the snowman.
  3. Use a non-toxic marker to draw a face, or sew on felt pieces.
  4. Toss it to your cat and watch the fun begin!

Festive Feather Wand

Supplies:

  • Wooden dowel or sturdy stick
  • Ribbon or twine
  • Feathers (non-dyed and pet-safe)
  • Hot glue gun

Instructions:

  1. Tie ribbons or twine to the end of the dowel.
  2. Use a small amount of hot glue to attach feathers to the ribbons.
  3. Let the glue cool completely before playing with your cat.

Pro Tip: Customize the colors to match your holiday décor for an extra festive touch!

Tips for Safe DIY Cat Treats and Toys

  • Stick to Cat-Safe Ingredients: Avoid anything toxic to cats, like chocolate, onions, garlic, or xylitol.
  • Use Fresh Ingredients: Always check expiration dates and avoid using anything that’s been sitting in your pantry for too long.
  • Supervise Playtime: Keep an eye on your cat with homemade toys to ensure they don’t accidentally swallow anything.

Wrapping It All Up

This holiday season, delight your cat with homemade treats and toys crafted with love. Whether you’re baking tasty tuna cookies or crafting a playful feather wand, these DIY holiday treats for cats are a surefire way to bring joy to your home. Remember, the best part of the holidays is spending quality time with the ones you love—your cat included!

Which of these ideas will you try first? Share your creations and let us know how your kitty reacts to these festive surprises!

Quick and Easy Cat Treat Recipes You Can Make At Home

Hello, fellow cat lovers! Are you looking to spoil your furry friends with some delicious homemade treats? Not only can making your own cat treats be a fun and rewarding experience, but it also allows you to know exactly what ingredients are going into your pet’s diet. Today, I’m excited to share with you some easy and healthy homemade cat treat recipes that your kitty will adore. Let’s dive in!

Why Make Homemade Cat Treats?

Before we get into the recipes, let’s talk about why you might want to make your own cat treats.

  1. Healthier Ingredients: Store-bought treats can sometimes contain questionable ingredients, including artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors. Making treats at home lets you use fresh, wholesome ingredients.
  2. Customization: You can tailor the recipes to suit your cat’s dietary needs and preferences, whether they have allergies, are on a special diet, or just have particular tastes.
  3. Bonding Time: Cooking for your pet can be a great way to bond. Plus, it’s always satisfying to see your cat enjoy something you made just for them.

Essential Tips for Homemade Cat Treats

  • Use Cat-Safe Ingredients: Always ensure that the ingredients you use are safe for cats. Avoid chocolate, onions, garlic, raisins, and anything with xylitol.
  • Moderation is Key: Even though these treats are homemade, they should still be given in moderation. Treats should not make up more than 10% of your cat’s daily caloric intake.
  • Storage: Most homemade treats do not have preservatives, so store them in an airtight container and refrigerate them. Freeze any extras to prolong their shelf life.

Recipe 1: Tuna and Catnip Crunchies

Ingredients:

  • 1 can of tuna in water (drained)
  • 1 cup of oat flour
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon of dried catnip

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. In a bowl, mix the tuna, oat flour, egg, and catnip until well combined.
  3. Roll the mixture into small balls and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  4. Flatten each ball slightly with a fork.
  5. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the treats are golden brown.
  6. Allow to cool completely before serving.

Recipe 2: Chicken and Sweet Potato Bites

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup of cooked chicken breast (shredded)
  • 1/2 cup of mashed sweet potato
  • 1/4 cup of oat flour
  • 1 egg

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. In a bowl, combine the shredded chicken, mashed sweet potato, oat flour, and egg.
  3. Mix until a dough forms.
  4. Roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut it into small shapes using a cookie cutter.
  5. Place the shapes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  6. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the treats are firm.
  7. Allow to cool before serving.

Recipe 3: Salmon and Pumpkin Treats

Ingredients:

  • 1 can of salmon (drained)
  • 1/2 cup of pumpkin puree
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup of whole wheat flour

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. In a bowl, mix the salmon, pumpkin puree, and egg until well combined.
  3. Gradually add the whole wheat flour until a dough forms.
  4. Roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut it into small shapes.
  5. Place the shapes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  6. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the treats are firm.
  7. Allow to cool completely before serving.

Recipe 4: Cheesy Cat Treats

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup of oat flour
  • 1 egg

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. In a bowl, combine the shredded cheese, oat flour, and egg.
  3. Mix until a dough forms.
  4. Roll the dough into small balls and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  5. Flatten each ball slightly with a fork.
  6. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the treats are golden brown.
  7. Allow to cool before serving.

Recipe 5: Turkey and Spinach Bites

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup of cooked turkey (shredded)
  • 1/2 cup of finely chopped spinach
  • 1/4 cup of oat flour
  • 1 egg

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. In a bowl, mix the shredded turkey, chopped spinach, oat flour, and egg until well combined.
  3. Roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut it into small shapes.
  4. Place the shapes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  5. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the treats are firm.
  6. Allow to cool before serving.

Final Thoughts

Making homemade cat treats is a wonderful way to show your feline friend how much you care. These recipes are easy to make and use simple, cat-friendly ingredients that are sure to please even the pickiest of eaters. Remember to store the treats properly and feed them in moderation. Happy baking!

If you have any questions or want to share your own homemade cat treat recipes, feel free to leave a comment below. We’d love to hear from you!

References:

I hope your kitty enjoys these treats as much as mine do! Until next time, happy baking and purring!

Best Cat Soup: Easy Fish Broth Recipe

You can use almost anything for this cat soup recipe: fish trimmings, fish heads, unseasoned shrimp or crawfish shells. This is really just fish stock without the vegetables and seasonings that aren’t good for your cat.

Fish Broth Recipe

Place the fish trimmings in a large pot and cover with water. Bring the pot to a boil and then lower the heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Strain the stock through a fine mesh sieve or cheese cloth lined colander to remove any bones. You may want to do this more than once to be sure. Then return the clear broth to the rinsed pot and boil for 15 to 20 minutes to reduce the stock and intensify the flavor. Let it cool and freeze in individual servings. I just use an ice cube tray. Very easy!

Want something even easier?

Bonus Recipe: Instant Tuna Soup

Take a can of tuna in water. Drain off the water. Serve it to your cat. You’re welcome!

You can use the tuna to make something nice for the family: tuna salad, tuna casserole, tuna croquettes…

Everyone wins!

Punch Up The Flavor

Onions and garlic and in fact all members of the allium family of plants including shallots, leeks and chives are toxic to both cats and dogs. Even small amounts of these over long periods of time can cause anemia in cats. And cats are obligate carnivores, so I have no reason to believe that vegetables of any type would be flavor enhancers for them. What to do? I recommend using those lickable cat treats like Churu as condiments. Mix or match the flavors to your broth to amp up flavor and palatability.

Many cats are lactose intolerant, so cream and cheese are not actually good choices to include in your cat’s food. Plain unsweetened yogurt with live probiotic cultures is less of a problem and more easily digested. But heat will destroy the probiotic bacteria that makes it more digestible. If you want a creamier, richer texture, a better choice is to purée cooked, unseasoned fish, shrimp or crawfish and add that as a thickener and to add to the umami flavor of the broth.

Conclusion

Adding soup to your cat’s diet can help with weight management as well as hydration and can be a nice change of pace for your feline friend.

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