The snacks and prizes for cats play a fundamental role during their education, and reinforcing good behavior is always synonymous with success. However, there are many people who prefer to opt for a natural diet to nourish their furry companion, since in addition to ensuring the quality of the products it helps to strengthen their immune, cardiovascular and joint systems, provided that it is established under the supervision of the veterinarian or feline nutritionist.
On the other hand, it is no secret to anyone that the palate of cats is much more demanding than that of other animals and, therefore, some of them tend to reject industrial prizes, leading their human companions to make them at home. To help you, on our site we explain how to make cat cookies and we share with you 4 very easy cat snack recipes, keep reading!
Before cooking…
Before we get down to work with the recipes for homemade cookies for cats, we will briefly review the ingredients that we will use, your benefits and how to replace them if you don't have any of them.
- Wholemeal flour Unlike refined flour, wholemeal flour is the result of processing the whole grain, without wasting any of its parts. Thus, said flour has a higher percentage of fiber than refined flour, being much more digestible for the cat and, therefore, preferably when preparing homemade recipes. The most recommended for their multiple benefits are wholemeal oatmeal and rice flour, although we can also use the wholemeal version of wheat or corn flour.
- Canned tuna Despite popular belief that tuna should be the main ingredient in a cat's diet, the truth is is that it is not one of the most recommended fish due to its high content of mercury and sodium. However, a little fresh tuna cooked from time to time, or a can of tuna in water can be beneficial thanks to the protein content, which is why we will not use more than the recommended amount in our recipes.
- Chicken breast Chicken, on the other hand, is a food that is part of the list of most recommended meats for cats due to its nutritional value and low fat content, so that we can offer it more frequently. The feline is a carnivorous animal and, as such, requires a high percentage of protein to stay he althy, and what better way to provide it than through homemade recipes? In this sense, we have chosen the part of the breast because it is one of the he althiest, however, you can also use the thigh and even viscera such as liver. Likewise, you can use turkey meat instead.
- Catnip What cat doesn't go crazy over catnip? And it is that the properties of this plant native to Europe produce an overstimulation in the animal that allows them to stay mentally and physically active. In itself, it is not a toxic plant for cats, but it is recommended not to abuse its consumption and offer it in moderation.
- Eggs Especially the ground egg shell provides cats and dogs with a high mineral content, so we can use it to season your homemade recipes and increase their nutritional value. However, for the cookies we will not use this part, we will use the interior, which is characterized by containing proteins, essential amino acids, vitamins and good fats. Despite its multiple benefits, it is not advisable to provide the animal with more than two eggs per week, which is why in the following preparations we will use one per recipe.
- Plant milk Although not all cats develop lactose intolerance, it is true that most of them end up presenting it in greater or lesser extent. Thus, to avoid any negative reaction, we recommend opting for vegetable milks such as almond milk, rice milk or oat milk.
- Natural yogurt Probiotics are made up of strains of beneficial bacteria that are necessary for proper digestion, as well as for synthesizing certain vitamins and minerals. Today we have a whole range of products with probiotics specially designed to promote the intestinal flora of the cat, however, if we seek to use more natural and cheaper foods, yogurt is one of the best. In this sense, it is necessary that the selected yogurt is as natural as possible and without added sugars. Likewise, we can use yogurt to replace milk when making cookies, since the amount of lactose is much lower.
- Olive oil. This type of vegetable oil mainly provides the cat with antioxidants, vitamin E and good fats. It can be substituted with linseed oil if olive oil is not available.
- Fish oil In addition to being an excellent source of omega 3 fatty acids for cats, fish oil supports their immune system, has important anti-inflammatory properties, balances cholesterol levels and promotes the cardiovascular system.
- Vegetables Not everything in a cat's diet is meat or fish, nor do all owners offer the same diets to their felines, so vegetables are also a good source of vitamins, fiber and minerals for them. For the preparation of cookies, the most recommended vegetables are carrot and pumpkin, although we can also use cooked peas or cucumber as substitutes for these products.
Recipe for cat tuna crackers
If your cat loves tuna, these simple crackers will be her downfall! Remember that it is recommended to use tuna in water, since we will already add oil to the recipe. For its preparation, you can use manual whisks, a spatula, a wooden spoon and even a blender.
Ingredients
- 1 can of tuna
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon fish or olive oil
- 1 tablespoon catnip
Preparation
- Drain the tuna, crumble it well and mix it with the egg in a large enough bowl.
- Add the fish or olive oil and continue mixing to integrate the ingredients.
- Add the catnip and, finally, the selected wholemeal flour, little by little and without stopping to beat.
- When you can, knead with your hands until you obtain a compact and homogeneous dough.
- Let the dough rest for a few minutes and, meanwhile, preheat the oven to 180 ºC.
- Roll out the cat biscuit dough with a rolling pin and cut into the shape you like best.
- Place the cookies on a parchment-lined baking tray and bake for 10-15 minutes, depending on the type of oven and the texture you want the snacks to have.
- When they are ready, remove the tuna crackers for cats from the oven, let them cool and offer them to your feline as a treat.
Cat Chicken Biscuits Recipe
As we pointed out in the first section, chicken meat is one of the most recommended for preparing homemade recipes for cats, both for its high nutritional value and for its low content of bad fats. However, remember, you can always substitute turkey meat.
Ingredients
- 1 cup cooked, chopped chicken breast
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon non-dairy milk or plain yogurt
Preparation
- Shred cooked chicken to make cat biscuits easier.
- If you use a blender or electric mixer, add the olive or fish oil, the egg and the tablespoon of milk or yogurt to the glass, and continue beating.
- Once the previous ingredients are integrated, add the flour little by little and without stopping beating to integrate it and form a uniform dough.
- Knead with your hands and spread the chicken cat biscuit dough with a rolling pin to shape them to your liking.
- Preheat the oven to 180 ºC and, meanwhile, place the cookies on a tray lined with parchment paper or waxed paper.
- Bake the cookies for 10-15 minutes, or until you see them done.
- Remove them, let them cool and give them to your furry companion.
Recipe for cat salmon crackers
Salmon is another of cats' favorite foods and, therefore, we couldn't miss the opportunity to prepare some delicious homemade cookies with it. For this recipe we recommend using oatmeal, since both this product and salmon help to improve your cat's skin and hair he alth, however, if you don't you have it you can also use any other type of wholemeal flour. As for the main food, you have the option of using fresh or canned salmon, since in both cases it is necessary to crumble it to make the dough.
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole grain oatmeal
- 50 grams of fresh or canned salmon
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons of oil
Preparation
- Crumble the salmon as much as possible and, if you consider it necessary, grind it a bit. If using canned salmon, it is not necessary to discard the liquid.
- Mix the salmon, the egg and the oil until the ingredients are completely integrated.
- Add the flour and incorporate it into the dough.
- Preheat the oven to 180 ºC and prepare a tray lined with baking paper.
- This dough is less compact than the previous ones, so you should place small portions with the help of a spoon on the tray to bake the salmon cat cookies for approximately 10-15 minutes.
- Remove, let cool and serve.
Vegetarian cat biscuits recipe
Some owners prefer to opt for vegetarian diets to feed their cats, which is why our list of cat biscuits could not miss an option that fits these characteristics. Of course, to carry out this type of menu, without any type of animal meat, it is necessary to consult the veterinarian first in order to offer the feline a complete, balanced dietand adjusted to your particular needs. That said, for the recipe for these cookies we have opted for two highly beneficial foods for cats: carrot and pear. However, as we pointed out at the beginning of the article, these products can be replaced with pumpkin, cooked peas, cucumber or apple. On the other hand, these homemade treats are also perfect for cats that usually consume a large amount of meat, and a lower percentage of fruits and vegetables.
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 grated carrot
- 1 pear, peeled and chopped
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Water
Preparation
- Grate the carrot and finely chop the pear, both products previously peeled.
- Mix the above foods with the egg and olive oil.
- Add the flour little by little and continue to mix.
- If you consider it necessary, pour a little water to bind the mixture and obtain a compact and manageable dough.
- Stretch the dough with a rolling pin, cut the cookies and preheat the oven to 180 ºC.
- Place the treats on a parchment-lined tray and bake the vegan cat cookies for about 10-15 minutes, or until done.
- Remove them from the oven, let them cool and serve.
How to give your cat homemade cookies?
Although the above cat biscuits are all made with natural and beneficial products for felines, in no case can they constitute the entirety of their diet. Therefore, we will offer cookies as a prize, snack or occasional complement to your usual diet, and without giving more than two in a row to avoid digestive problems. On the other hand, it is essential to observe the reaction of the feline when offering any new or homemade food to verify that it does not have any allergies or intolerances. If it assimilates it correctly, we can continue to provide it without problems, but if, on the contrary, it shows any negative sign, we must withdraw it immediately.
Conservation of cat biscuits
Being a homemade product, cat biscuits do not usually last more than a week, which is why we recommend making them In small quantities. To keep them, you must put them in a jar with an airtight seal and leave them in a cool place free of moisture, or in the refrigerator if the weather is very hot.
