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.
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.
This dough gets very sticky when you are rolling it out, so be sure to have extra flour on hand for dusting.
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.
My cat can eat these this size but they are also easy to break up if your cat prefers a smaller treat.
They will puff up a little while baking.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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:
christie says
the jury is out about grains and cats. i'd probably use stone ground wheat flour in place of refined flour... but then, i can't make these because my cats are so finicky they HATE tuna. weird cats. but really i wanted to post something because your cat charlotte looks like a a carbon copy of my jordy... i had jordy longer than i had my children at home! he was 19 years old when we had to have him put down. it's been six years, and i still miss him terribly. i'll never have a home without cats, but i'll never have a cat that could ever replace him in my heart.
Vicky says
Christie, sorry to hear about Jordy. He sounds like a special cat. 19 years is a long time.
Meghan says
Do you have a recommendation of substitutions for any allergies. Such as flour, tuna or eggs. If you don't have all substitutions it is okay. I am looking at recipes to make so I can create my own, but I don't want to not be able to feed the treats to one of my cats. Also, if you have any recommendations on making recipes
Vicky says
Sorry Meghan, my cat doesn't have any allergies so I am not well versed in substitutions. That must be tough to deal with.
JANET says
Brown rice flour is good to use if have allergies or its good for dogs that have it...assume cats as well?
Sydnee Terrell says
About how many treats does this recipe yield?
Vicky says
Ours made between 50-60 but it will depend on the size you make them.
Isabelle says
You shouldn't feed your cat grains. Therefore these treats aren't good for cats because of the flour. Fail.
Vicky says
Thanks for your comment Isabelle. Have a wonderful day.
Patricia Schneider says
I'm sorry Vicky, but she is right. I have a list that was posted of things cats cannot and should not eat and flour is on the list. Perhaps if you used a grain-free flour, such as almond flour, the treats might be better for the kitties.
Vicky says
Thanks for the input Patricia. If you are concerned, a grain free flour like you suggested might work as well. My vet didn't see a problem for my cat, but all kitties and vets are different.
DKF says
Actually, whole grains are recommended for cats. Wheat berries (ground or smashed) are mentioned specifically, so I don't think flour would be a problem. But I suppose you could replace oat flour. Just like humans, animals can have food sensitivities. Ilost my baby a few months ago, so I can't test this out right away, but I have a feeling he would have loved this with chicken. Also, the parsley is good for breath and digestion. Thanks for sharing!
Lithara says
Actually wheat gluten (and flour) will eventually cause damage to a cat's kidneys and intestinal tract. It takes a long time, but it can happen. Oats have saponins in them which actually destroys red-blood cells in cats (They don't have the enzyme to break down the oats and neutralize the saponins). MOST plant material can cause a change in the urinary pH, leading to struvite crystals and kidney damage. I would go with RICE Flour instead of wheat. Cat's can digest rice but not any other grain or nut flour. Hope this helps!
Kristy says
Yes, definitely use brown rice flour. I've been doing a lot of research and although it may change the consistency of the treat a bit, it's better safe than sorry. Especially if you are giving them to someone's pet as a gift.
Kelly says
I use coconut flour which is grain free. Just got to use your brain if you don't like using normal flour. I appreciate this recipe for trying to also sneak in CBD oil for my senior kitty. Wish me luck
Jim Pickren says
That is absolutely incorrect. Grains shouldn't be the main source of calories but as a binder in a treat it Is fine. Ask your vet.
Irma says
I wonder if flour is healthy for the cats?
Vicky says
I have never had a problem with store bought treats that contain flour but I always recommend checking with your vet if you are concerned. I am not a vet and can't offer that kind of advice.
Tiffany says
Neither of my cats are fond of tuna. I wonder if a wet canned cat food would work in place.
Vicky says
I'm curious about that too. If you try it, please let me know how it goes.
Suzanna Gurule says
I am wondering if canned chicken would work. My cat does not like tuna either. Gonna give it a try.
Bella says
This is two years later, but I would try canned chicken and salmon or even sardines. Watch the sodium levels. As far as the flour, it's a binder and is used in most pet products.
Susan says
Do these need to be refrigerated because of the tuna? Or are they okay to leave out?
Vicky says
Hi Susan, I store them in the refrigerator. Happy New Year!
Krys says
Is Charlotte relatively picky? Or have food sensitivities? I also have an old kitty, but when she has too much canned tuna it just doesn't seem to agree with her 🙁
- Krys
Vicky says
Hi Krys, She is picky but loves tuna if that helps.
Wendy says
Why does the tuna have to be in oil? Can it be tuna in water out of a can?
Just curious if it makes a difference so that the recipe didn't call for oil.
Let me know!
Thanks!
amy says
do baking these produce any fishy smells by using the tuna? cooking smells travel in the apartments I'm in and just wanted to know if I need to be proactive to mask any smells as to not offend neighbors!
Vicky says
Good question! I did not notice anything but my sense of smell isn't keen.
Jeanne says
You could roll these out into long straws and cut with a knife- would save time and you could adjust the size; that cap looks a little big for my cat to eat a treat that big.
Vicky says
That is a great idea Jeanne! I will try it with the next batch.
Billie-Jo says
I ended up doing that at the end. like gnocci but smaller. The cap was to labor intensive.
Billie-Jo says
I also think chilling the dough would make it easier to work with. We have a wood stove and our house is warm. I am sure canned chicken would work too. I ended up using a lot more flour than the recipe called for. I have to wait and see if the cats like them. LOL, I have 5! Sheldon, Howard, & Leonard. Sweet Pea and Tillie.
Connie Caraway says
Tested the bottle cap, to big for my cat to eat. Recipe sounds good and will try. I am now making my dog treats so why not my cat as well.