Easy Homemade Cat Treat Recipes

Five homemade cat treat recipes follow: a baked tuna treat, a baked salmon treat, chicken balls, frozen tuna cubes, and a sardine treat with dried catnip. Parsley is left out of the chicken and sardine recipes because the ASPCA lists it as toxic to cats. The sections before the recipes cover what vets and cat charities say about unsafe ingredients, tuna, and catnip.

What Makes A Cat Treat Safe To Bake

Start with what to leave out. Cats Protection says, “In general, we wouldn’t recommend feeding your cat food meant for humans unless your vet has advised it. It can be hard to know how many calories human food contains for your cat, and it can unbalance their diet. Also, a lot of human foods can be harmful to cats.” The ASPCA says of onion, garlic, and chives: “Although cats are more susceptible, dogs are also at risk depending on the amount ingested.” Cats Protection says, “chocolate is a complete no-no for cats,” and lists “grapes, raisins and currants,” noting that “Consuming this fruit can cause kidney failure in cats.” The ASPCA says of xylitol, a sweetener found in baked goods among other products: “Xylitol can cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and potentially liver damage depending on the amount ingested.” Cats Protection warns that “A raw dough contains some amount of alcohol and produces carbon dioxide which if eaten can expand within a cat’s stomach and cause obstruction.” Cornell says, “Milk is not generally recommended as a treat for cats, as many cats are lactose-intolerant and can develop gastrointestinal problems if fed dairy products.” None of the five recipes uses milk or another dairy food.

Raw ingredients are the next risk. The ASPCA says, “Raw meat and raw eggs can contain bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli that can be harmful to pets and humans alike.” For chicken, Cats Protection says to “always ensure that any chicken you feed them is cooked, preferably boiled and does not contain any bones.” The salmon and sardine recipes bake the egg into the dough.

Salt is the third thing to skip. The ASPCA says, “Excessive salt intake can produce increased thirst and urination, and sometimes abnormal electrolytes in the blood depending on the amount ingested.” Add no salt to any treat.

A cat with a health condition needs a vet's word first. The VCA says, “If your cat has a medical condition and/or is on a special food, it is important to check with your veterinary care team before feeding your cat treats.” It adds that if a cat has food allergies, “it is critical to select treats that do not contain the suspected allergen.” Blue Cross says, “Your vet may suggest feeding a senior diet to help maintain weight,” so ask the vet before you add treats for senior cats.

Tuna In Cat Treats

Two of the five recipes use canned tuna, and the cat sources do not agree on it. PDSA publishes homemade tuna treats made from “1 tin of tuna in water (undrained),” an egg, and plain flour, and a vet-approved catnip version made from “145g of tuna chunks in spring water.” Its frozen tuna treats come with this note: “Remember to get tuna in water rather than tuna in brine or oil.”

Cats Protection is more cautious: “If your cat eats a small amount of tuna, it may not cause harm. However, canned tuna made for humans should not be fed to cats regularly, due to the lack of essential nutrients that cats need for their optimal health.” It adds that tuna “can also be high in salt and mercury, which can be harmful to your cat if eaten in large amounts.” The VCA is firmer: “Cats of all ages should not be fed milk or tuna.” The Cornell Feline Health Center says, “Some cats that have consumed canned fish products meant for humans have developed potentially serious neurological disorders.”

Catnip In Cat Treats

Only the sardine recipe uses catnip, one tablespoon of the dried herb, the same amount as PDSA's vet-approved tuna catnip biscuits. Cats Protection says, “If a cat eats catnip in small doses it is safe. But eating it will not have the same effects as sniffing it.” It also says, “There hasn’t been much research done on the effects of catnip on cats. But it’s believed to be safe and non-addictive.”

The ASPCA lists catnip as “Toxic to Cats” and says, “Many cats love catnip, but it can cause vomiting and diarrhea. It makes some cats sedated and others stimulated.” Its page adds: “If you suspect your pet may have ingested a potentially toxic substance, call the ASPCA Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 or contact your local veterinarian as soon as possible.”

Picking The Best Cat Treat

The simplest cat treat is a bit of the cat's usual food. Cats Protection says, “If you want to offer your cat a treat, it’s best to offer some of their usual food without exceeding their normal food allowance for the day.” The VCA gives the same idea: “Try using a portion of your cat’s regular food as treats.”

The VCA says it is okay for a treat to be incomplete, but “the proportion of these unbalanced items should be kept low.” When you bake something new, it says to introduce it slowly: “Introduce new things slowly and one at a time, especially if your cat is prone to tummy upset. If you are testing out a new treat, only give a small piece to try at first.”

Tuna Cat Treats (serendipityandspice.com)

Combine a 5 oz. can of tuna packed in water, ½ cup white cornmeal, ½ cup flour, and ½ cup water until the mixture forms a ball. Break off small bite-size pieces and roll them into little balls. Place them on a baking sheet and flatten each with a finger. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes, 5 minutes on each side. Cool before serving.

PDSA's tuna treats use plain flour. The VCA's page on grains for dogs and cats says, “Grains like wheat, oats, rice, corn, and barley provide protein, fiber, and essential vitamins and minerals.” PDSA says of its own tuna treats, “Remember that these are treats and should only be given to your cat in moderation.”

3 Ingredient Salmon Kitty Treats (thecookierookie.com)

Take the skin and bones out of 10 oz. of canned salmon. Pulse the undrained salmon in a food processor until fine. Combine the fish, 1 beaten egg, and 2 cups whole wheat flour in a stand mixer until it makes a dough.

Add up to 1/3 cup water (or more flour) if needed. Roll out dough on a floured surface to ¼ inch thickness. Use a small cookie cutter to create treats. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Cool before serving.

Cats Protection says of fish: “It should be properly cooked and bones removed before giving it to them, but also only give a few pieces at a time.” PDSA's salmon biscuits use “170g of skinless and boneless salmon (one tin),” one egg, and plain flour.

Chewy Chicken Rollovers (aspcapetinsurance.com)

Combine ½ cup ground chicken and 1/3 cup oat flour. Roll the mixture into ½-inch little balls and place them 1 inch apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes. Cool before serving.

The recipe at aspcapetinsurance.com also adds 1 tbsp. of minced parsley and greases the sheet with non-stick spray. Leave the parsley out. The ASPCA's plant page lists parsley as “Toxic to Cats,” with the clinical sign “Photosensitization (sunburn, dermatitis), large amounts are needed to cause this effect.” Salt in large amounts can be very harmful to a cat, so add none.

Frozen Tuna Treats (thewonderforest.com)

Mash up one can of tuna packed in water with about ½ cup additional water. Puree the tuna and water mixture (a Magic Bullet works well) and pour it into a plastic food storage bag. Cut a small hole in one corner and fill ice cube trays (ones made for tiny cubes) with the mixture.

Freeze for a few hours, then pop out of trays and serve. PDSA lists frozen tuna among its homemade summer treats for cats: “Mash or blend tuna with a little water, then put small cat-treat-sized dollops onto some greaseproof paper or into ice cube trays and pop in the freezer overnight.”

Sardine Catnip Kitty Delight (offbeathome.com)

In a food processor, combine ½ cup brown rice flour, ½ cup oat flour (in place of the quinoa flour in the original), 1 tbsp. dried catnip, 5 oz. sardines in spring water, and 1 egg until the dough comes together. For an older cat that is losing weight, Blue Cross says: “If your pet is not on a medical diet, you could also try adding a small amount of tinned tuna or sardines (in spring water) to tempt them.”

The dough can be rolled into little balls or pressed onto parchment paper and cut into shapes with a small cookie cutter. Place treats on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Cool before serving.

The recipe at offbeathome.com also uses ¼ cup of chopped parsley and ½ tbsp. of olive oil. Parsley is out because of the ASPCA listing above, and the olive oil is out too. Fat in high levels can be dangerous.

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FAQ

How often can I feed treats to my cat?

Cornell says, “A good rule of thumb is not to let treats exceed 10 to 15 percent of a cat’s daily caloric intake.” Cats Protection says that if you give treats, “make sure you limit the amount you give them, so they don’t gain weight. Also, reduce their usual daily allowance of regular cat food to allow for the extra calories in the treats.” Give treats alongside a regular feeding schedule. The rest of the day's food can be one of the best cat food brands.

Is feeding my cat raw fish safe?

No. Cats Protection says, “Uncooked meat and fish or raw eggs may contain harmful bacteria and parasites.”

Can I feed my cat cooked fish all the time?

No. Cats Protection says fish should be “fed as part of a balanced diet,” and that you should “only give a few pieces at a time.” For chicken it says, “Feeding only cooked chicken long-term can lead to nutritional deficiencies.”

Sources

• ASPCA, People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets.
• ASPCA, Toxic and Non-toxic Plants: Parsley.
• ASPCA, Toxic and Non-toxic Plants: Catnip.
• Cats Protection, Cats and Human Foods.
• Cats Protection, Cats and catnip.
• VCA Animal Hospitals, Cat Treats.
• VCA Animal Hospitals, Nutritional Benefits of Corn and Grains for Dogs and Cats.
• VCA Animal Hospitals, True or False: Milk and tuna are great foods for cats.
• Cats Protection, Feeding Your Cat.
• Cornell Feline Health Center, Feeding Your Cat.
• PDSA, Cat tuna treats.
• PDSA, Make your own tasty tuna cat biscuits.
• PDSA, Make your own scrumptious salmon cat biscuits.
• PDSA, Homemade summer treats for your pet.
• Blue Cross, Caring for Older Cats.