4 Easy Cat Cookies Recipes

4 Easy Cat Cookies Recipes

Snacks and treats for cats play a vital role in their education, and to reinforce good behavior they are necessary. However, many people prefer to opt for a natural diet to nourish their furry friend. They have to ensure their pet's cardiovascular and immune systems are being strengthened, as well as their joints, provided that the chosen diet is established under the supervision of the vet or feline nutritionist.

It is no secret that a cat's palate is much more demanding than other animals, and therefore some felines tend to reject commercial snacks, leading their fellow humans to make them at home. To help you, AnimalWised will show you 4 easy cat cookies recipes to make at home!

Ingredients for easy cat cookies

Before we begin with our homemade cat cookies recipes, we will do a brief rundown of the ingredients that we will use, their benefits and how to replace them in case you do not have any of them.

  • Integral flour - Unlike refined flour, wholemeal flour is the result of processing the whole grain, without wasting any of its components. Thus, this flour has a higher percentage of fiber than refined flour, being much more digestible for the cat and, therefore, preferable when making homemade recipes. The most recommended for its multiple benefits are whole oatmeal and rice flour, although we can also use the whole version of wheat flour or corn.
  • Canned tuna - Despite the popular belief that tuna should be the main ingredient in the cat's diet, the fact is that it is not one of the most recommended fish because of 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 contribution of protein, that is why in our recipes we will not use more than the recommended amount.
  • Chicken breast - The chicken, however, is a food that is part of the list of meats most recommended for cats because of their nutritional value and low fat intake, so we can offer it more often. The feline is a carnivorous animal and, as such, requires a high percentage of protein to stay healthy, and what better way to provide it than through homemade recipes? In this sense, we have chosen the part of the breast for being one of the healthiest, however, you can also use the thigh and even the liver. Likewise, you can use turkey meat instead.
  • Catnip - What cat doesn't go crazy for this herb? The properties of this plant native to Europe produce an overstimulation that allows the animal to stay active mentally and physically. In itself, it is not a plant toxic to felines, but it is advisable not to abuse its consumption and offer it in moderation.
  • Eggs - Especially the ground eggshell, it can give cats and dogs a high content of minerals, so we can use it to spice up their homemade recipes and increase their nutritional value. However, for biscuits we will not use this part, we will use the interior, which contains proteins, essential amino acids, vitamins and good fats. In spite of its multiple benefits, it is not advisable to provide the animal with more than two eggs per week, which is why 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 to a greater or lesser extent. Thus, to avoid any negative reaction, we recommend opting for plant milks such as almond milk, rice milk or oat milk. Humans should take a leaf out of this book too!
  • Natural yogurt - Probiotics are composed of strains of bacteria that are beneficial and necessary for proper digestion, as well as to synthesize 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 economical 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 substitute milk when making cookies, since the amount of lactose is much lower.
  • Olive oil - This type of vegetable oil provides the cat with antioxidants, vitamin E and good fats, mainly. It can be replaced with linseed oil in case there is no olive oil available.
  • Fish oil - In addition to being an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids for the feline, fish oil strengthens their immune system, has important anti-inflammatory properties, balances cholesterol levels and promotes the cardiovascular system.
  • Vegetables - Not everything in the cat's diet is meat or fish, nor do all owners offer the same diets to their cats, so vegetables also represent a good source of vitamins, fiber and minerals for them. For the preparation of cookies, the most recommended vegetables are carrots and squash, although we can also use cooked peas or cucumber to substitute.

Check out forbidden foods for cats on AnimalWised, to ensure you are not putting your pet at risk.

Tuna cat cookies

If your cat loves tuna, these simple cookies will become their weakness! Remember that it is recommended to use tuna in water, since we will already add oil to the recipe. To combine the mixture you can simply use a spatula and a wooden spoon, or even a blender!

Ingredients

  • 1 can of tuna
  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon of fish oil or olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon of catnip

Preparation

  1. Drain the tuna, crumble it well and mix with the egg in a big bowl.
  2. Add the fish or olive oil and continue mixing to combine the ingredients.
  3. Incorporate the catnip and, finally, the selected wholemeal flour, little by little and without stopping beating.
  4. When you can, knead the mixture with your hands until you get a compact and homogeneous mass.
  5. Let the dough stand for a few minutes and, meanwhile, preheat the oven to 180 ° C.
  6. Spread the cat cookies mixture with a roller and cut them into the shape that you like the most.
  7. Place the cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and bake them for 10-15 minutes, depending on the type of oven and the texture you want to give to the snacks.
  8. When ready, remove the cat tuna biscuits from the oven, allow them to cool and offer them to your cat as a delicious treat.

Chicken cat cookies

As pointed out in the first section, chicken is one of the most recommended for making homemade recipes for cats, both for its high nutritional value and for its low intake of bad fats. However, remember, you can always substitute turkey meat.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup of cooked and cut chicken breast
  • 1 cup of whole wheat flour
  • 1 tablespoon of oil
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon of plant milk or natural yogurt

Preparation

  1. Shred cooked chicken to make the cat cookies more easily.
  2. If you use a blender or electric mixer, add to the chicken the olive or fish oil, egg and spoonful of milk or yogurt, and continue beating.
  3. Once the above ingredients are integrated, add the flour little by little and continue to beat to combine and form a uniform mass.
  4. Knead with your hands and spread the dough of the cat cookies with a roller to form them to your liking.
  5. Preheat the oven to 180 ° C and, meanwhile, place the cookies on a tray lined with parchment or wax paper.
  6. Bake the cat cookies for 10-15 minutes, or until you notice they are ready.
  7. Remove them, let them cool down and give them to your furry friend.

Salmon cat cookies

Salmon is another favorite food of cats and therefore we could not miss the opportunity to prepare some delicious homemade biscuits with it. For this recipe we recommend to use oatmeal, since both this product and salmon help improve the skin and capillary health of your cat. However, if you do not have it you can also use any other type of whole meal. 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 of whole wheat flour
  • 50 grams of fresh or canned salmon
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tablespoons of oil

Preparation

  1. Crumble the salmon as much as possible and, if you consider necessary, crush it a little. If canned salmon is used, it is not necessary to discard the liquid.
  2. Mix the salmon with the egg and the oil until the ingredients are fully integrated.
  3. Add the flour and incorporate it into the dough.
  4. Preheat the oven to 180ºC and prepare a tray lined with baking paper.
  5. This dough is less compact than the previous ones, so you should place small portions with the help of a spoon on the baking sheet for salmon cat biscuits for about 10-15 minutes.
  6. Remove, let cool and serve.

Check out our other homemade fish recipe for cats.

Vegetarian cat cookies

Some owners prefer to choose vegetarian diets to feed their cats, which is why in our list of easy cat cookies recipes we could not miss out this one. Of course, as with any homemade diet, it is necessary to consult first with the vet in order to offer the feline a complete and balanced diet and adjusted to their particular needs.

That said, for the recipe, we have opted for two foods highly beneficial to cats: carrot and pear. However, as we pointed out at the beginning of the article, these products can be substituted for pumpkin, cooked peas, cucumber or apple. These homemade goodies are also perfect for cats that usually consume a lot of meat, and a lower percentage of fruits and vegetables.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup of whole wheat flour
  • 1 grated carrot
  • 1 pear peeled and chopped
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil
  • Water

Preparation

  1. Grate the carrot and chop the pear, both products peeled beforehand.
  2. Mix the above foods with the egg and olive oil.
  3. Gradually add the flour and continue mixing.
  4. If necessary, pour a little water to bind the mixture and obtain a compact and manageable mass.
  5. Roll the dough with a rolling pin, cut the biscuits and preheat the oven to 180 ° C.
  6. Place the snacks on a tray lined with baking paper and bake the vegetarian cat cookies for about 10-15 minutes or until done.
  7. Remove from oven, allow to cool and serve.

How to give homemade cookies to your cat

Although the previous cat cookies are all made with natural products and beneficial for cats, in no case can they constitute the whole of their diet. So, offer the cookies as a reward, snack or occasional supplement to their usual diet, and without giving more than two in a row to avoid digestive problems.

On the other hand, it is fundamental to observe the reaction of the feline when offering any new food or homemade recipe to verify that they do not present any allergy or intolerance. If you assimilate it correctly, we can continue to provide the treats without problems. But if, on the contrary, they show any negative sign, we must withdraw it immediately.

Keeping Cats Cookies

Since it is a homemade product, cat cookies do not usually last more than a week, which is why we advise you to prepare them in small quantities. To keep them, you must put them in a jar with a hermetic seal and leave them in a cool and free of humidity, or in the refrigerator if the weather is very warm.

If you want to read similar articles to 4 Easy Cat Cookies Recipes, we recommend you visit our Homemade diets category.