Homemade Cat Treats Your Feline Will Love

There's never a need to convince your cat that he or she is perfect. Ever. They already know it in their furry souls. You can thank them every day for guarding the apartment, kiss them on the head and give him plenty of love and attention. Whenever you really want to show your little fur-ball how much you love them, there's only one way that's best — homemade cat treats.

3 easy recipes for homemade cat treats

The first thing to establish is what's your cat's favorite food.

Do they go crazy for the smell of fish?

Have you caught them stealing chicken off the table?

Make a homemade cat treat that revolves around their favorite “people food" for extra purrs and snuggles.

Chicken and catnip crunchies

According to cat expert Jackson Galaxy, 90 percent of a cat's diet should come from protein. “When you give your cat treats, it's an opportunity to teach them something and/or reward their behavior," he says.

This recipe combines the protein cats need with one of their favorite plants, catnip.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup flour
• 1 can shredded chicken
• 1 egg
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 Tbsp catnip (from the pet store)

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Grease a cookie sheet with butter or cooking spray
3. Combine all ingredients into a food processor and blend until full mixed
4. Scoop out cat-sized bites onto the cookie sheet
5. Bake in oven for 10-15 minutes until brown
6. Remove cookie sheet and transfer treats to a cooling rack
7. Once completely cooled, they're ready to serve
8. Store extras in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week
9. The combination of catnip and chicken will create a scent that's sure to drive your furry friends wild, and they'll absolutely love the flavor. Just make sure you offer these treats in moderation to keep them on a healthy diet.

3-ingredient salmon treats

The Cookie Rookie offers up a quick and easy salmon recipe to treat your feline friends. You can even cut them up into little Goldfish shapes to mimic the crunchy treats you can find in a store.

Ingredients:

• 1- 10 oz. can of salmon, undrained
• 1 egg beaten
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• Optional: Goldfish cookie cutters

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Pulse entire 10 oz. can of salmon, undrained, in a food processor
3. Chop as finely as possible. Transfer salmon to a stand mixer.
4. Add in beaten egg and all the whole wheat flour
5. Combine until the dough becomes tacky, but not sticky. You can add up to 1/3 cup of water if the dough seems too dry. If too wet, add in a little more flour.
6. Remove dough and roll out on a floured surface to about 1/4-inch thickness
7. Cut the dough into the shapes of your choice
8. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place treats on sheet
9. Bake for about 20 minutes until treats are slightly brown and crunchy
10. Allow to cool fully before serving
11. Store extras in an airtight container on the counter for up to two weeks. A super cute treat, made with love, is just what your kitties need. Not to mention that favorite fishy smell to entice them.

Canned cat food treats

For those of you who want to create something homemade without starting from scratch, consider using the food your cat already eats. If you feed your fur baby canned cat food, you can make Snack Triangles.

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Spread 1/2 can of cat food onto a sheet of wax paper
3. Cut the flattened cat food into triangles about a 1/2 inch thick
4. Transfer to an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes
5. Flip the triangles and bake for 15 minutes more
6. Serve cooled treats to your cat

You can also make cat treats from the dry food you have at home:

1. Toss about two cups of dry cat food into a blender and pulverize
2. Dump into a bowl and add water until it has a dough-like consistency
3. Shape into treats and bake for about 30 minutes on an ungreased cookie sheet until they crisp up
4. You know your cat will love these treats since they come from the food they eat every day

Things to remember when cooking up homemade cat treats

As you prepare that perfect homemade cat treat, don't forget to look closely at the recipe. Make sure you're using ingredients that are good for your cat. Certain things, like cheese, may be your kitty's favorite food, but it can upset their tummy.

Feline health

It's easy to forget about your kitty's health when you're giving them treats. A treat here and there adds calories. Make sure you consider how treats fit into your cat's overall diet. Take into consideration how much your fur baby weighs and whether they should be cutting back on what they eat rather than eating more. We all love a fat cat, but if you're treating your cat often, make changes to their regular food intake to compensate.

Research ingredients

Now, we may as well admit it — nothing is good enough for a cat. Cats are transcendent beings, and no food intended for mere mortals can ever truly suit them. However, we must work with what we have. Before you make any recipe for homemade cat treats, thoroughly research the ingredients. Make sure everything is good and safe for cats.

Many common kitchen ingredients that are perfectly fine for humans are terrible for cats. For example, onion, garlic or even chocolate can make cats sick and even prove deadly in large quantities. When in doubt about a particular item, check with your vet or don't use it.

Don't forget about the love

Food is one of the quickest ways to any heart, but treats should not and cannot replace love and attention. Your baby will flip over your homemade cat treats, but they still need lots of mental and social stimulation. Apartment cats will appreciate the extra attention for sure. Make sure you play with your kitty at least once a day and love on them as much as possible.

You can even incorporate treats into playtime. Purchase a treat puzzle toy, or make one yourself using an empty soda bottle. Cut some paw-sized holes in the bottle and drop in a treat. The fewer holes you include, the trickier the puzzle will be. Your cat will have tons of fun figuring out how to get the treat out. Their reward for their hard work? Your homemade snack.

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