7 Creative cat food recipes
BY READERS DIGEST
25th Jan 2019 Recipes
This nutritious meat and vegetable meal will be a welcome change of pace for your cat. You know exactly what is in it, and it’s budget-friendly, too. Makes 2 or 3 servings
You'll need:
- 2⁄3 cup (180 g) minced chicken or beef
- 1 jar mixed vegetable baby food
- 1 cat vitamin, crumbled (optional)
- 1⁄3 cup (35 g) plain dry
- breadcrumbs
Method:
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, poach the minced meat in a small amount of water until medium–rare. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
- Stir together the meat, meat juices, vegetables and vitamin, if using. Form into bite-sized balls and roll in breadcrumbs.
- Serve as much as your cat will eat in one sitting. Store the rest in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
Tuna treats
Cats are famous for loving tuna, and yours will jump for joy when you whip up these healthy treats that use a can of "people" tuna and a few pantry staples. As a bonus, the oil-packed tuna may help prevent hairballs. You won’t find fresh treats like this at any pet shop. Makes 24 or more depending on the size of the treat.
You'll need:
- 1 can oil-packed tuna
- 1⁄4 cup (35 g) polenta (cornmeal)
- 1⁄4 cup (20 g) bran cereal
- 11⁄2 cups (225 g) wholemeal flour
Method:
- Preheat the oven to 180ºC (Gas 4). In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients together.
- Press the dough out on a floured board and cut into small cookies with a cookie cutter or pizza roller.
- Place the treats on a greased biscuit tray and bake for 20 minutes or until light brown. Turn out onto a cake rack to cool.
- Store treats in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to a week or in the freezer for up to one month.
Catnip crackers
Cats will go bonkers for these catnip crackers, so save them for rainy-day treats and special occasions. Makes 24 or more depending on the size of the crackers.
You'll need:
- 3⁄4 cup (110 g) flour
- 1⁄2 cup (75 g) wholemeal fl our
- 10 g dried catnip (available at pet shops and in the pet aisle of some supermarkets)
- 1⁄2 cup (125 g) yogurt
- 1 egg
- 3 teaspoons honey
- 45 ml vegetable oil
Method:
- Preheat the oven to 180ºC (Gas 4). In a medium bowl, mix the flours and catnip together. Stir in the yogurt, egg, honey and vegetable oil.
- Press out the dough on a floured surface and cut into tiny treats using a cookie cutter or pizza wheel.
- Place on a greased biscuit tray and bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
- Store in a covered container in the refrigerator for a week or in the freezer for up to three months.
Quick fish stick treats
Cats and their human companions alike will love these instant treats made from inexpensive frozen fish fingers. Adding a sprinkle of garlic powder will help your cat to repel fleas. Makes approximately 36 treats.
You'll need:
- 1 box frozen, crumbed fish fingers
- 1⁄2 teaspoon garlic powder
Method:
- Empty the box of frozen fish fingers onto a cutting board.
- Sprinkle with garlic powder and cut the frozen fingers into 2–3 cm squares.
- Store the squares in a self-sealing plastic bag (along with the cooking instructions from the package) in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- To serve, remove a square and microwave according to packet directions, cool, then serve at room temperature.
Sardine balls
Cats will meow for the fishy flavour of these wholesome little fish balls. They’re easy to make, kind on the budget, and the oily fish may help keep hairballs from forming. Makes 6 or 8 treats
You'll need:
- 1 can (185 g) sardines, packed in oil
- 3⁄4 cup (75 g) plain breadcrumbs
Method:
- Empty the can of sardines into a mixing bowl. Mix in 1⁄2 cup (50 g) breadcrumbs. Roll the mixture into bite-sized balls.
- When all balls are made, roll them in the remaining breadcrumbs to coat.
- Store in a sealed container or self-sealing plastic bag in the freezer for up to three months. To serve, thaw a ball to room temperature and place in your cat’s food bowl.
Melon squares
Some cats love the fl avour of melon. If yours is among them, keep some of these mixed melon treats on hand.
You'll need:
- 1⁄2 orange-fleshed melon
- 1⁄2 green-fleshed melon
Method:
- Peel and cube the melon flesh as you would for a salad.
- Store melon cubes in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- Serve 1 or 2 cubes as a treat daily.
Cat grass buffet
House cats like green "grass" to nibble on, and this recipe offers your cat long-lasting variety for little money. You can buy untreated sprouting grains inexpensively at health-food shops or even cheaper at feed mills. Keep grains in sealed plastic containers in the refrigerator. Save an empty parmesan shaker to fill with seed mix: it makes sowing easier. Makes four 10 cm flowerpots of grass
You'll need:
- 1 cup (180 g) whole oat grains
- 1⁄2 cup (90 g) wheat grains
- 1⁄2 cup (90 g) barley seeds
- 1⁄4 cup (45 g) alfalfa seeds
- 1⁄4 cup (45 g) ryegrass seeds
Method:
- Put the grains into a sealed plastic container and shake to mix.
- Fill shallow, tip-resistant pots with potting soil and moisten with tepid water.
- Sprinkle the grains thickly over the top of the soil and cover grains with a sprinkling of soil. Set the pots in a sunny window and water as needed to keep the soil as moist as a wrung-out sponge.
- When the grass is about 2–3 cm tall, set a pot beside your cat’s dinner dish and watch the fun.
- For an ongoing supply, start a fresh pot of cat grass every other week.
