As a cat owner, you know that your furry friend deserves the best, especially when it comes to their meals. While store-bought cat food may be convenient, nothing beats a homemade meal crafted with love. In this post, we're diving into 10 must-try recipes that will not only satisfy your cat’s hunger but also give them a healthy, nutritious boost.
1. Tuna Cake
Ingredients:
- 1 can tuna, drained
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 egg white
- ⅛ teaspoon shredded mild Cheddar cheese
- 4 peeled, cooked shrimp
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 2 muffin cups with cooking spray.
- Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and then fill the muffin cups equally.
- Bake for 15 minutes. Invert onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- Plate the cake and garnish cakes with shrimp.
Reference: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/265170/birthday-cake-for-your-cat/
2. Salmon Sweet Potato Cake
Ingredients:
- ½ 5-ounce can chunk-style skinless, boneless salmon in water, drained well
- ¼ cup finely chopped cooked chicken or turkey breast
- ¼ cup mashed sweet potato
- 1 teaspoon rice flour
- 2 tablespoons plain yogurt
- 1 teaspoon natural creamy peanut butter
Instructions:
- Mash the salmon. Add diced chicken and mashed sweet potato and mix well.
- Stir in the rice flour until it forms a dough.
- Place a lightly greased 3-inch round cutter on the plate.
- Spoon 1/3 cup mixture into the ring. Firmly pat mixture out into an even layer. Carefully remove ring. Make two of these patties.
- Place in freezer for 15 minutes to firm up the patties.
- To assemble cake. Spread peanut butter between the two patties.
- Plate the cake and decorate top of cake with the yogurt.
3. Tuna Cookies
Ingredients:
- 5 ounces canned tuna not drained
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 large egg lightly beaten
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 325 ℉. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place the canned tuna in your food processor. Pulse until tuna is finely chopped.
- Mix the tuna, whole wheat flour, and eggs together. Add the olive oil and mix well.
- Scoop out the mixture with a tablespoon, place it on the lined baking sheet and flatten it slightly. Use a fork to press each piece of dough.
- Bake for 15 minutes. Cool completely and store in an airtight container.
4. Egg Gravy For Cats
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup diced celery
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup milk
Instructions:
- In a large saucepan celery over medium heat until vegetables are soft. Add chicken broth, and salt. After it starts boiling reduce the heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes.
- In a small bowl gradually add chicken broth, whisking continually until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs and milk. Add to the previous bowl, whisking continually until smooth.
- Pour gravy back into the saucepan, and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until gravy comes to a boil and thickens.
Reference: https://petsmotherland.com/how-to-make-cat-gravy/
5. Chicken Cookies
Ingredients:
- 1/2 pound of boneless, skinless chicken
- 1 cup of quick cooking oats
- 1 egg
- 1 very generous tablespoon of catnip
- 1/4 cup of flour
- 1/3 cup of water
Instructions:
- Boil the chicken until cooked throughout.
- Pulse the oats, catnip, egg, chicken and water in your food processor.
- Mix all of the prepared ingredients in a bowl with the flour.
- Knead the dough until it is no longer sticky. Flatten the dough and roll it out to a little less than 1/4-inch thick.
- With a heart-shaped cookie cutter cut out your treats from the dough.
- Heat the oven to 350 F. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 20 minutes.
- Cool completely and store in an airtight container.
6. Salmon Cake
Ingredients:
- 1 can salmon
- 1 tablespoon cooked broccoli, mashed
- ¼ cup whole wheat bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon brewer’s yeast
Instructions:
- Combine all of the prepared ingredients in a bowl.
- Mix until blended and serve.
- You can store in the refrigerator up to 3 days.
Reference: https://www.lovetoknowpets.com/cats/homemade-cat-food-recipe
7. Mini Fish Tacos
Ingredients:
- 1 8-inch whole wheat tortilla wrap (Check the ingredients list to ensure that there are no artificial sweeteners, which are toxic to pets)
- 1 Inaba Churu Tuna with Salmon Puree Cat Treat
- 2 oz. fresh, wild-caught salmon filet, cubed
- 1/4 teaspoon catnip
- A small amount of extra-virgin olive oil
- Optional: 1/4 teaspoon shredded Parmesan cheese (Feel free to omit if your cat has dietary restrictions)
Instructions:
- Take your cubed salmon filet out of the fridge and dry with a paper towel a few minutes before cooking, so it may reach room temperature. Heat a pan over medium-high heat (about 400 degrees Fahrenheit) and add a thin layer of extra-virgin olive oil.
- Place the fish in the pan, cooking for 5 to 7 minutes on each side. (It’s cooked through when the fish flakes easily with a fork.)
- After removing from the pan, allow the salmon to rest for about 3 minutes before chopping into kitty-bite-sized pieces. You’ll need two teaspoons of chopped salmon.
- Using a 2-inch round cookie cutter, cut two rounds from the tortilla. Toss the scraps.
- Spread 1/4 to 1/2 half of the Inaba Churu Tuna with Salmon Puree Cat Treat evenly over the two mini tortillas.
- Top each taco with 1 teaspoon chopped, cooked and cooled salmon, 1/8 teaspoon parmesan and 1/8 teaspoon catnip. Serve immediately or refrigerate.
Reference: https://be.chewy.com/mini-fish-tacos-cat-treat-recipe/
8. Salmon Cookie
Ingredients:
- 6-7 ounces of canned salmon, with the juice
- 1/2 cup cornmeal
- 1/4 cup non-fat dry milk
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 cup flour (whole wheat or all-purpose)
Instructions:
- Combine the above ingredients (except flour) and stir.
- Slowly add the flour, stirring well.
- Flatten the dough and roll it out to a little less than 1/4-inch thick.
- Using a knife, cut into bite-sized pieces about the size of your kitten.
- Heat the oven to 350 F.
- Place on an ungreased baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes.
- Cool and store in an airtight container.
Reference: https://missmollysays.com/homemade-salmon-cat-treats-recipe/
9. Salmon Cookie
Ingredients:
- 10 ounces canned salmon (undrained)
- 1 egg (beaten)
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Pulse 10 ounces of undrained, canned salmon in a food processor to chop as finely as possible. (10 ounces canned salmon)
- In a stand mixer, combine salmon, 1 egg (beaten), and 2 cups whole wheat flour until dough forms. If the dough is too dry, add up to 1/3 cup water. If it’s is too wet or sticky, add a bit more flour. The dough should be tacky but not sticky. (1 egg, 2 cups whole wheat flour)
- Roll dough on a floured surface until about 1/4-inch thick. Use a 3/4-inch cookie cutter in the shape of your choice to create your treats.
- Place treats on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 350° for about 20 minutes. When they’re slightly browned and crunchy, they’re done.
- Allow to cool before serving.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
Reference: https://www.thecookierookie.com/3-ingredient-salmon-cat-treats/
10. Meat Cookies
Ingredients:
- 5 oz can of chicken, with juice
- 1/3 cup yellow corn meal
- 1 egg
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350 ℉. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Shred the chicken (and juice)in a bowl, and knead it to mush.
- Add the yellow corn meal and eggs. Mix well.
- Spread the mixture on the parchment paper to 1/4-inch thickness.
- Using a knife, cut into bite-sized pieces about the size of your kitten.
- Bake for 2-4 minutes. Cool completely and store in an airtight container.
Now that you have these 10 delectable recipes at your fingertips, it’s time to start cooking up some feline-approved meals. Bon appétit to your purring food critic! Don't forget to experiment, and most importantly, enjoy the joy of seeing your cat love every bite!