Cat Treats that are Homemade and Healthy
Good nutrition for your cat is essential for his long, happy, healthy life with you. Included in good nutrition are the choices you make for your standard food as well as treats for your cat. Every cat enjoys a tasty treat, and there are homemade treats which are better for your cat, and they provide a range of variety to meet the preferences of even the pickiest cat.
In considering homemade options for your cat’s nutrition, you must consider how much time you have to invest in the preparation and preservation of the food you make. You must also consider your budget for fresh items and the quality and freshness of the ingredients you must purchase.
Remembering that a high protein, low sugar, natural diet is best for the overall health of your cat, you may consider a manufactured food that meets these needs. You may decide that making your own food would be best. Think about a cat’s food choices in its natural habitat.
One of cat’s favorite ingredients is fish. I sometimes use a canned fish, like tuna, salmon, or sardines, to create a recipe that will satisfy his palette. If I am purchasing fresh fish for the family, I might pick up an extra filet to use for Tommy’s (our cat) food. These fish recipes provide Tommy with the necessary protein to keep him healthy.
Other great choices for providing the best nutritional value come from standard meat choices I would make for my family. I have used fresh or frozen chicken, as well as turkey to create recipes he loves. Remember the fresh meats are more similar to what he would choose to eat in his natural habitat. There are many ways to prepare these meats that make Tommy a very happy cat.
While vegetables are not a natural choice for cats in the wild, they can be used in some recipes you might consider making at home. They can be added to a meat-based recipe to add a little natural flavor that might entice your cat to try something new. Just be sure to meet his fundamental need for a high-protein, high-animal fat diet, which is what he would get if hunting for his dinner.
There are other ingredients to consider adding to your cat’s diet when you make your own food or treats. Eggs are incredibly rich in protein, and a cat would consume a bird egg as a delicacy if it found one in the wild. Tommy loves eggs added to some of his standard food choices. The rich flavor draws him to his bowl quickly, and leaves little behind when he’s done!
Milk is another ingredient that may bring your cat running. We all see the cartoons where cats drink from a bowl full of milk. While that is an option for your cat, remember not to leave it out too long. It can spoil when left at room temperature, and a cat with food poisoning is not a fun animal! Milk added to some of your cat’s favorite recipes can enhance the flavor, enrich the protein content, and add a little extra animal fat that your cat needs in his diet.
Because cats also need to eat a crunchy food that will help keep their teeth clean, you may want to find a great recipe for biscuits or crunchy treats to add to kitty’s diet. Some popular recipes include oatmeal, corn meal, and whole flour, which bake into a crunchy treat.
Cheese is another ingredient you might want to add to your cat’s diet. Some cats will gobble down a recipe that includes cheese. Other cats will not enjoy it, so try it with your cat and find out what his preferences are. Tommy loves cheese almost as much as he loves eggs!
Bouillon is another ingredient that might draw your cat to a recipe. It has a rich flavor, which when added to your meat products will bring out the natural flavors your cat loves. It also helps with the consistency of the food. Some cats are much fonder of a soupier texture. Experiment with what your cat likes best. Only you will be able to determine the best way to meet his needs. A word of caution: be aware of the sodium content of your bouillon and broth products. Use one that will not overload your cat’s sodium content.
There are a lot of options available to cat owners. If you are so inclined, you may make all your cat’s food, not just cat treats. It will take a commitment to his health and an investment of time and finances to provide the best-prepared food with the freshest and safest ingredients for your cat. By making most of Tommy’s food, we are certain that he is getting the best nutrition without the addition of preservatives to keep the manufactured foods safe.
For a list of cat treat recipes made with the ingredients listed in this article, visit
our resources page for a great set of healthy cat treat and food recipes
here: Cat
Resources
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