5 Tasty Homemade Cat Treats

Want to spoil your cat without spending a pretty penny? Making homemade cat treats means you have something special to give them without needing to make a special trip to the shops. Plus, you can tailor these cat treat recipes to their tastes.

Because, you know, cats are fussy and like things to be just right.

Luckily, we’ve gathered some foolproof recipes. So no matter your culinary skills or your cat’s culinary judgement, you’ll be able to serve up something they love.

Check out these five homemade cat treat recipes and share any extra ones on our Facebook page. Remember to include treats in your cat’s overall calorie count though – a few a day could lead to weight gain, obesity, and possibly even diabetes if you overdo it.

The best homemade cat treat recipes

There are loads of homemade cat treat options available. Your cat’s favourite will depend mostly on their individual taste. Just like you might love chocolate while your best friend loves popcorn.

That aside though, here are five recipes which get rave reviews – hopefully your kitty will approve too. Click the recipe heading to get to the recipe site!

1. Catnip and tuna treats

If your cat is one of the 66% who loves catnip they’ll adore these treats. The tuna is a firm favourite obviously, and means you can give treats to everyone in a multiple cat household even if one or more of your cats doesn’t respond to catnip.

2. Chewy parsley, chicken, and rice treats

This is a well-known recipe amongst those initiated into the homemade cat treat universe. Your cat will go mad for the chicken and parsley flavours, and should love the texture too. Plus you get to “squeeee” over all those cute ginger cat photos as you scroll.

If you choose baby food, just remember to check for toxic ingredients. More on this further down.

3. Carrot and catnip baked treats

Catnip makes an appearance yet again, this time in combination with carrots. Just make sure to grate or very finely slice the carrots. Big chunks can be a choking hazard. If you want nice crunchy homemade cat treats, bake these for longer than the suggested 12 minutes.

4. Sardine and flax seed treats

If there was an equivalent of healthy fat superfood for cats, this would be it. While us humans turn to avocados and olive oils, sardines and flax seeds are packed full of the types of oils which will make your cat’s coat sleek and shiny.

Just don’t go overboard, as they can be high in calories too and contribute to obesity.

5. Spinach cat treats

Your cat will love munching on these treats. Plus, the green colour looks beautiful in a glass jar. Simply follow the recipe in the video below.

Extra things you can add to cat treats

Although cats don’t need vegetables in their diets, some cats love the taste of things like pumpkin.

Regardless, remember that these homemade cat treats should form a very small part of their diet, not a major part. In moderation, things like rice, certain fruits, and bits of fish and meat are fine for cats.

If you want to spruce up your cat treats with some fur favourites, here are some ingredients they’ll (hopefully) appreciate:

• Cooked fish
• Cooked meat like chicken (not too fatty or salty)
• Catnip
• Cooked eggs
• Fish oils
• Strawberries
• Spinach (if you’ve seen your cat eat grass, you’ll know they like leafy greens!)
• Rice

As you rummage through those cupboards, keep in mind there’s a few things that really aren’t safe for cats…

Things not to include in homemade cat treats

If you’re a kitchen genius and want to start experimenting with your own recipes, we salute you. Just be aware that cats can’t eat everything we humans can. While they might not pose a problem to us, there are lots of staples which are poisonous for cats.

Here are some common ingredients you should definitely leave out of the homemade cat treats.

• Xylitol
• Milk/cheese
• Onions
• Garlic
• Chocolate (read about chocolate toxicity)
• Coffee or other caffeine sources
• Citrus fruit (grapefruit, orange, lemon and so on)
• Grapes and raisins
• Nuts (especially macadamia nuts)
• Avocado

And while we’re at it, read about plants that are toxic to pets and common household items that are toxic to pets which you might not suspect.

Remember, if you’re not sure, leave it out. Or do a solid amount of Google research.

Cat insurance for all kinds of cat-astrophes

While you’re cooking up a storm for your kitty, remember to think about cat insurance too. That way if they do sneak into the chocolate stash, you can make a trip to the vet without it burning a hole in your pocket.

Check out our three affordable cat insurance plans, which are all available to purchase online. You even get one or more months of free pet insurance when you sign up. Click below for more.