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    Home » Pets

    Homemade Cat Treats Recipe

    Modified: May 12, 2025 · Published: Jul 15, 2015 by Vicky · This post may contain affiliate links · 85 Comments

    12623 shares
    • 299

    Do you have a cat? A lot of people will tell you that cats are clean animals and this is true when you are talking about their physical hygiene. They take great care to groom and keep themselves clean. But when it comes to eating and using the litter box, I find their habits can be a little more messy. My cat can make huge messes but that doesn't stop us from spoiling her. She has a cozy bed on each level of house and numerous cat toys. But being a cat, her favorite thing to do is eat. She recently got treated to some homemade cat treats and boy was she pleased! I made them using a few ingredients that you probably already have at home. Be sure to check out these Catnip Cat Treats recipe as well. Thanks to Bounty for sponsoring this post.

    I made these homemade cat treats using just a few ingredients I had in the pantry and my cat gobbled them up!

    Please check with your vet before giving your pet these or any treats. We are not responsible for any issues that may incur from making these. 

    You can make this homemade cat treat dough in a bowl, but it whips up quickly in a food processor. If the dough appears to be too sticky, simply add more flour a tablespoon at a time.

    making homemade cat treats

    This dough gets very sticky when you are rolling it out, so be sure to have extra flour on hand for dusting.

    homemade cat treats

    I'm going to let you in on a little secret to making these homemade cat treats. Use a bottle cap as a cookie cutter! The size is just right for making small treats for kitty.

    homemade cat treats dough

    My cat can eat these this size but they are also easy to break up if your cat prefers a smaller treat.

    easy homemade cat treats

    They will puff up a little while baking.

    homemade cat treats recipe

    I have a confession to make. I tried one. Yes, I ate a cat treat. When I looked at the ingredients there was nothing that I don't normally eat anyway, so I figured it was safe. They were pretty good. Nothing I would eat for a snack on a regular basis, but I can see what my cat digs them.

    homemade cat treats on baking sheet

    This is my cat Charlotte. My husband and I adopted her before we had kids, so her life has changed quite a bit in the last 7 years. Today she spends her days getting petted roughly by little hands, being carried where she doesn't want to go, and woken up from naps. So if any cat deserves some treats, it's Charlotte.

    rag doll cat

    These homemade cat treats hit the spot! I try not to give her more than a few a day because she is getting older and obesity is a concern.

    cat eating homemade cat treats

    They keep in a sealed container, like a mason jar for a up to 5 days refrigerated. The next time I make these, I am going to try adding a little dried catnip.

    homemade cat treats recipe - the best one I've tried!

    Homemade Cat Treats

    Ingredients:

    • 1 can tuna in oil, drained
    • 1 egg
    • 1 ¼ cups of flour, plus extra for dusting
    • ½ cup water
    • dash of parsley
    • bottle cap for cutting out treats

    Directions:

    1. Preheat oven to 350.

    2. In a food processor mix tuna, egg, flour, water and parsley until a dough forms. If the dough looks too sticky, add a bit more flour.

    3. Dust a surface with flour and roll out dough to ½ inch thick.

    4. Use a bottle cap to cut out treats from the dough.

    5. Bake for 20 minutes on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

    6. Let cool and serve to your cat.

    FAQs For Homemade Cat Treats

    Are these treats safe for all cats?

    They’re made with simple, cat-friendly ingredients, but every kitty is different. If your cat has allergies or special dietary needs, it’s always best to check with your vet before trying new treats.

    How should I store these treats?

    Pop them in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge for up to 5 days. If you want to store them longer, you can freeze them for up to a month.

    Can I make the dough ahead of time?

    Yes! Most cats love them. Of course, some cats are famously picky, so it might take a couple of tries to win them over. But once they’re hooked, you’ll have a very devoted taste tester.

    If you have a cat and liked this homemade cat treats recipe, check out:

    How to Keep Your Older Cat Active

    DIY Cat Toys

    More Pets

    • Catnip Cat Treats Recipe
    • How to Keep Your Older Cat Active
    • DIY Cat Toys

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Emily says

      March 11, 2025 at 1:53 pm

      How long do these stay good?

      Reply
      • Vicky says

        March 13, 2025 at 12:04 pm

        The homemade cat treats from this recipe will stay good for a few weeks if stored in a sealed container, like a mason jar.

        Reply
    2. kittiesandpuppy-dogs says

      June 15, 2022 at 8:46 pm

      The treats were a great success; definitely would make them again. The only thing was that the bottle cap was too big, but it’s easily fixed: I tear the treats apart into little pieces before I give them to my kitties. My cats Amigo and Bitsy love them. Amigo even “helped” in the kitchen while they were being made (he got a lot of yummy batter).

      Reply
    3. Ursula says

      June 15, 2022 at 8:39 pm

      I also tear apart the treats before giving them to my cats as the bottle cap was too big for them.

      Reply
    4. Ursula says

      June 15, 2022 at 8:28 pm

      The treats were a great success. I used catnip instead of parsley and my cats Amigo and Bitsy loved it. Bitsy wasn’t around for the finished product, but she had some of the batter and Amigo “assisted” me in the kitchen.

      Reply
      • Hayley says

        April 14, 2024 at 5:46 pm

        Making these right now as I'm typing, I'm excited for my cats to try them , they are names rusty and zozo I'll keep you updated on how it goes. I added some cat nip and some cheese

        Reply
    5. Angela says

      June 19, 2020 at 7:54 am

      Hi there, I am curious if these treats can be froze in case my cat doesn't eat them all? Will the shelf like still be a few weeks or will they remain good until i use them? Thank you

      Reply
    6. Pamela A Davignon says

      June 06, 2018 at 9:08 am

      What kind of flour do I use

      Reply
    7. LIZ says

      March 07, 2018 at 6:39 pm

      HI THERE DO WE NEED TO USE TUNA OR CAN WE USE OTHER THINGS BECAUSE I'M ALLERGIC TO TUNA

      THANKS
      -LIZ

      Reply
      • Vicky says

        March 16, 2018 at 12:08 pm

        I have only made it with tuna, sorry.

        Reply
    8. Zoe says

      January 14, 2018 at 9:40 pm

      Also do you have to use a food processor?

      Reply
      • Vicky says

        January 15, 2018 at 3:12 pm

        A blender might work as well.

        Reply
    9. Zoe says

      January 14, 2018 at 9:27 pm

      Do you have to use parchment paper?

      Reply
      • Vicky says

        January 15, 2018 at 3:13 pm

        No, but I like it so I don’t have to use cooking spray and it makes clean up easier.

        Reply
    « Older Comments
    Vicky from Mess for Less

    I'm Vicky, the founder of Mess For Less, which I started in 2011 to share easy, family-friendly recipes. With over a decade of experience as a home chef and recipe developer, I love creating meals that bring people together. I also design play and learning activities for kids, using my background as a former teacher with a Master’s degree in education. Learn more about me.

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