To most pet owners, our pets are members of the family. As such, we want to give them the best life possible.
A lot of the pet treats on the market contain ingredients that are unhealthy like sugar, salt, artificial colors and preservatives which can be very unhealthy for our pets.
There are also pets with food allergies and other dietary restrictions that make it hard for us to find treats to give them.
Thankfully, there is a way you can have healthy, homemade goodies right in your kitchen.
Here are some easy recipes for you to try, so you can give your fur babies a treat that you feel good about. After all, you know exactly what ingredients you used to make them! And if you’re in the mood to treat yourself as well, we have a small, but tasty, selection of treats you can make and share with your pup.
Homemade Cat Treats
Tuna & Catnip Cat Treats
Ingredients
- 1 4-ounce can of tuna in spring water (drain well)*
- 1 cup of whole wheat or oat flour (you can make oat flour by putting old-fashioned oats in your food processor and process until it’s a flour-like consistency)
- 1 Tbsp dried catnip
- 1 large egg
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F (176 degrees Celsius).
- Put all ingredients into a mixing bowl and mix until dough forms. You can also use a food processor for this step.
- Take 1/4 tsp pieces of dough and form each into a ball. This will make about 80 balls.
- Place dough balls onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet and lightly flatten into a disk.
- Bake about 15 minutes until they are golden and crisp. Turn off the oven and let the baking sheet cool completely.
- Remove for oven and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. For longer term storage, these can be frozen.
*You can also use boiled, puréed chicken for this recipe. Save the cooking water to use if the dough is dry.
Grain Free Cat Treats
Ingredients
- 2 4-ounce cans tuna in spring water (don’t drain)*
- 1/2 cup 100% Puréed canned pumpkin
- 3 egg yolks
- 1/2 cup coconut flour
- 1 Tbsp dried catnip
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 F
- Place all ingredients into a mixing bowl and mix until a dough forms. You can also use a food processor for this step.
- Take 1/4 tsp of dough and form each piece into a ball.
- Place dough balls onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet and lightly flatten each ball into a disk.
- Bake for15-16 minutes until they are golden brown. Turn off the oven and allow the baking sheet to cool completely.
- Remove from oven and store treats in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Can be frozen for longer storage.
*You can also use boiled chicken, puréed chicken for this recipe. Save the cooking water to add if dough is dry.
Homemade Dog Treats
Peanut Butter Dog Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole wheat or oat flour (make your own in a food processor until old-fashioned oats resemble flour)
- 1 cup toasted wheat germ
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 3/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup natural peanut butter
- 1 large egg
- 2 Tbsp canola oil
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 F
- Combine the dry ingredients and mix well, then add all the other ingredients and mix until a dough forms. You can use a food processor for this step.
- Form dough into a ball.
- Roll dough out on a lightly floured surface until it’s 1/4-inch thick. Cut into desired shapes using a cookie cutter.
- Place cookies 2-inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet.
- Bake 30-35 minutes until the bottoms are lightly browned. Turn the oven off and let the baking sheet cool completely.
- Remove from oven and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. These canine cookies freeze very well.
Peanut Butter, Pumpkin & Oat Dog Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 cups oat flour (or put old-fashioned oats in your food processor and process until it’s a flour-like consistency)
- 1/2 cup natural peanut butter
- 1/2 cup 100% puréed canned pumpkin
Directions
- Preheat oven to 250 F
- Place all ingredients into a mixing bowl and mix well until a dough forms. You can use a food processor for this step.
- Roll dough on a lightly floured surface until it’s 1/4-inch thick. Cut into desired shape using a cookie cutter.
- Place cookies onto baking sheets and bake at 250 F for 2 hours until cookies are dry and crispy. Turn off the oven and allow the baking sheet to cool completely.
- Remove from oven and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freeze.
Grain Free Dog Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups coconut flour
- 1/2 cup natural peanut butter
- 4 eggs
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 1 cup + 2 Tbsp 100% puréed pumpkin
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 F
- Place all ingredients into a mixing bowl and mix well until a dough forms. You can use a food processor for this step.
- Roll dough into a ball and roll out between two sheets of parchment paper until it’s 1/4-inch thick. Cut into desired shape using a cookie cutter.
- Place cookies onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes until cookies are hard. Turn off the oven and allow the baking sheet to cool completely.
- Remove from oven and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freeze.
Two Ingredient Dog Cookies
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup boiled chicken or turkey, save cooking water
- 2 cups whole wheat or oat flour
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 F
- Purée the boiled chicken or turkey until it is the consistency of baby food, use the cooking water as needed to get the right consistency.
- Combine the ingredients in a mixing bowl until a dough forms. You can use your food processor for this step. Roll dough into a ball.
- Roll dough out on a lightly floured surface until it’s 1/4-inch thick, and cut into desired shape using a cookie cutter.
- Place cookies on a baking sheet and bake 20-25 minutes until golden brown. Turn off the oven and allow the baking sheet to cool completely.
- Remove from oven and place in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freeze.
Homemade Meat Jerky for Dogs or Cats
Ingredients
- The only ingredient for this recipe is fresh meat.
- You can use beef (flank steak works well), venison, chicken or turkey breast or thighs.
Directions
- Preheat oven to 175 F (place oven racks in the upper middle and the lower middle positions).
- Slice the meat to 1/8 inch thick. To make slicing easier, place the meat in the freezer for 15-20 minutes.
- Line 2 large baking sheets with foil and place a wire cooling rack onto each baking sheet.
- Lay the meat strips out in a single layer onto the wire racks.
- Bake about 4 hours until meat is dry and firm, but still a little pliable. Cooking time could vary according to the meats’ thickness.
- Remove when done and allow jerky to cool completely. Place in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to one month.
Note: To give to smaller dogs and cats, break or cut the jerky into small pieces.
Give these recipes a try and show those furbabies how much you love them the healthy, homemade way.
Happy baking!!
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