Dear Kitten,
It’s time to celebrate two years together.
Two years of purring and tenderness. Two years of crying for food at five in the morning. Two years of sleeping in what you know is my spot on the couch. Two years of lint rolling all of my clothes. Two years of also keeping a lint roller in my car.
Two years of tricking my friends with your cuteness and leg rubs. Two years of attacking my shins. Two years of belly rubs turned forearm attacks. Two years of trying to get outside. Two years of climbing the walls… literally. Two years of sneaking into my food shots.
Two years of sitting in and on everything I need. Two years of sleeping at the foot of my bed… and attacking my feet at the slightest sign of movement. Two years of keeping me company. Two years of scaring my catsitters. Two years of making me laugh. Two years of making my boyfriends run screaming. Two years of eating exactly everything I make… including that pancake you snuck off the pan while I was photographing.
Two years of trying to convince me that you don’t love me… when I know you do… because I love you back. And I made you treats so quit your yappin’, and no you can’t go outside.
xo.
ps. We’ll always have Cat Land.
I made cat treats. Admittedly this is slightly ridiculous.
Yes, I realize that I can easily pop into any grocery and buy the kitten a package of treats without making my house smell like weird, warm, wet cat food.
Aaahhh, the things we do for love: make cat treats.
Aaahhh, the things we do because we’re ridiculous: watch the entire season of Bachelor Pad 3 with rapt attention. (Cry for help!)
I let the little guy (he’s totally not little, but he hates when I call him big-boned) get some sniffs and licks in. Happy Birthday, Kitten. I’m teaching you bad habits.
He was so sweet and tender as a youth.
I always knew he’d grow into his nose.
I didn’t know that he’d lose all sense of decency.
Can you teach a cat manners? Seriously.
I let him lick the cat treat dough bowl . Just this once… and just to see if he’d like it.
He did… but he would have licked the bowl if it had mushrooms and onions in it too. He’s a go-getter.
Note: Cats aren’t supposed to eat onions (or garlic). I know this. Don’t yell at me cat evangelists.
He used to sleep in bowls of the punch variety.
I always thought it was cute.
And then he got really big.
… which kinda makes me feel like I let a bengal tiger live in my house. (Unwise).
Kitten knows that this is my spot on the couch. He knows darn well…
(He doesn’t care.)
He really likes when the mail lady comes. If he could bark, I’m sure he would.
Your cat sleeps like this too, right?
Tell me this is normal.
All things considered (and I have considered all things), he’s a good helper… or at least consistent, and fluffy.
He let me get him a humiliating haircut… because he has the self-confidence to rock it.
Extreme closeup involving tiny tiny teeth.
It’s because of the tiny teeth, the shaved belly, and the constant companionship that I made these chewy cat treats.
I need to be clear. My cat eats absolutely everything. If I roasted an eggplant, this kitten would be all over it. He sneaks onto the counter to steal waffles, red peppers, and scallions. I have to keep the avocados away from him . For this reason… it’s hard for me to say with full certainty that these are the cat treats for your cat. Is your cat a normal finicky cat? Yea… it’s hard to say how these might go down. You might consider the addition of such treats as catnip or extra wet cat food in the dough. Cats have a very protein-centric diet. These treats are just meant to be a small addition to their diet, and not meant to replace their normal diets in any way. Cool?
Happy Birthday, Kitten!
Chewy Cat Treats for Cats
makes about 50 small treats
1 large egg
1 4-oz jar chicken and brown rice baby food (or something meaty which may include canned wet cat food)
1/4 cup parsley, coarsely chopped
2 teaspoons olive oil
2 tablespoons water
1 cup brown rice flour
1/2 cup cooked white (or brown) rice
other things you might add other treats like : 1 tablespoon of catnip or a hearty tablespoon of extra wet cat food.
Place a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together egg, baby food (or wet cat food), parsley, olive oil, and water. Add brown rice flour and cooked rice. Stir to incorporate. The mixture will be thick but spreadable.
Spread mixture onto prepared baking sheet creating a rectangle that is about 1/3 of an inch thick. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes.
Remove from the oven. Let rest until cool enough to handle, then slice soft dough into bite-sized pieces. Return pieces to the oven to bake for another 8 minutes. Remove from the oven. Allow to cool completely. Store in an airtight container in the fridge. I store my treats in the fridge just to be safe.
Melissa Smith
I’m curious. You say “chewy”. Can you elaborate on the consistency. Like how chewy and soft they actually are? I’m looking for something on the soft side. Unlike the typical hard treats you find in the stores. Thank you.
Tina
I am a self proclaimed “crazy cat lady” I’m ok with that. My comment being if your going to have a pet why not take the very best care of it? The store bought treats are more convenient but healthy? Not a chance. In the long run it takes a few more minutes of your time but consider what you’ll save in vet bills correcting what these store bought treats do to your pet. Just a thought. Agree disagree that’s your choice. Just think about it…
Kathy
We had a cat that looked exactly like yours! When we got HER, we named her Phoebe. When I took HER to be spayed, I brought HARLEY home neutered?? Anyway, we kep him shaved because he shed so much. He looked just like the Pink Panther but tan! He was quite a guy and I miss him.?
Alex west
This was a fun recipe but very disgusting smell with the canned cat food it was just i amlost died from the smell LOL.
Sealisk
My friends and I are doing a bake sale, but for pets. we are using this recipe cuz its like the only one that every cat would eat! it does work really well if u put catnip in!! :j
April
Your note at the top of the page, why “two years”? Did something happen to your kitten?
April
I love, love, LOVE the photo of the tiny cat teeth! I really want one like that of my meow; she has great chompers. :D
Miranda
I’m actually just a kid and me and my friend make treats for her cats and dogs and i just have to say, these treats are loved by her cats and her fluffy calico that hides away all the time actually comes out for these treats!
Stephanie Hanson
Would this be considered gluten free? Does it have a texture I could hide a pill in? My cat has cancer and is getting chemotherapy in a pill form. He has also started having epileptic seizures which we are trying to determine the cause of. This being said I am really worried about anything I am giving him. Thank you
joythebaker
Yes, they would be considered gluten free, rice flours are usually always gluten free. To be extra safe use a rice flour that says gluten free on it, Bob’s Redmill makes a great gluten free rice flour
Annie
I’ve heard it’s bad to give nursing cats parsley because it cuts off the milk supply. Keep it in mind! Thanks for the recipe!
Sunshine
Like very much that you don’t use wheat or corn. Have 18 cats many of them like to do as your cat does. And, I figure the reason they go to my spot on bed or coach is to be close to me or my scent. Thank you.