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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. only the good stuff 4 cats says

      January 14, 2018 at 1:46 pm

      Why should cats eat flour? Think about it for yourself and decide. Our 3 cats only get the good stuff - 100% meat & fish & water -the good stuff costs the same as Wiscotz & Co.! Never seen a cat eating muesli / cereals or carrots & co. Have you?

      Reply
    2. Wendy says

      January 10, 2018 at 2:56 pm

      LOL

      Disregard my comment!

      I just now found out that you can make it with tuna in water!

      Thanks anyway!

      🙂

      Reply
    3. Gisela Runge says

      January 07, 2018 at 9:12 am

      I was excited to make a treat for my 2 cats. Neither one will eat them. I tried them and I think they taste great so I guess I’ll be eating them. Will not try making treats again. the tuna flavour is light not overwhelming.

      Reply
      • keith says

        January 22, 2018 at 10:27 am

        I also made the tuna treats for my 4 cats and NONE of them even tried to eat my treats! BUT, my dog loves them so my work was not a waste.

        Reply
        • Vicky says

          January 22, 2018 at 10:29 am

          I wouldn't have thought a dog would go for tuna treats. I guess they are not as notoriously picky as cats.

    4. Markeeta whitney says

      November 30, 2017 at 2:29 pm

      Is it plain flour or self raising flour

      Reply
      • Vicky says

        December 01, 2017 at 10:06 am

        I used plain flour.

        Reply
    5. Shelley says

      November 27, 2017 at 4:55 am

      If I don't have tuna in oil should ua f2f a separate oil?

      Reply
    6. Michelle S says

      October 28, 2017 at 5:10 pm

      Wow...my cat loved these!!! And so did my dogs!!! How long do they last? Do yu have to store in frig since they are baked?

      Reply
    7. Kristy says

      October 21, 2017 at 6:24 pm

      Hi Vicky, I have a question. I am making these for gifts and a lot of them. lol I am putting them in cute little baggies. How am I going to keep all these treats fresh? I noticed they are good in the fridge for only 7 days. Any recipes that don't have to be refrigerated? They will be bad before I can give them as gifts. Thank You ....

      Reply
      • Chance says

        October 28, 2017 at 3:14 am

        Hi Vicky,
        What breed is your cat? My cat is a Himalayan and Himalayan’s are very picky so I was just asking to make sure that the half of the Large tuna can we have, because if she doesn’t like it, What a waste.
        Cheers chance

        Reply
    8. paula says

      October 09, 2017 at 6:11 pm

      I used a pizza cutter to cut into small squares...worked great!

      Reply
      • Vicky says

        October 10, 2017 at 9:33 am

        Great idea!

        Reply
    9. Monique says

      August 04, 2017 at 6:40 am

      Today i wanted so spoil my baby and made her these treats. She did not even look at them. So sad.

      Reply
      • Vicky says

        August 04, 2017 at 10:14 am

        That is such a bummer. Cats are so finicky! I buy my cat special treats all the time and she turns up her nose.

        Reply
    10. Monique says

      August 04, 2017 at 6:39 am

      Today i wanted to spoil my baby, and made her the treat, she did not even look at it. So sad,all my hard work.

      Reply
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    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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