I‘ve done a lot of research on cats. By ‘a lot of research’, I mean that I’ve lived with an nutcase of a cat-animal for the past four years, and there are a few things I’ve learned. My cat, in particular, is bossy and unwilling to compromise. He’s a fan of avocado, anything I open with a can opener, buttermilk, and actually… anything that I eat, he wants to eat.
Since I am a maker of cookies for human consumption, I feel like it’s only fitting to make healthy and wholesome treats for my monster cat as well.
The best thing about these cat treats / cat cookies, is that they’re made out of actual whole foods! Oats, pink salmon, egg, olive oil, and dried catnip because cats are crazy for it. Cookies for cats! Let’s do this!
Tron is happy that, for once, I’m not waving him away from my food prep area. This time, it’s actually treats for him… not my cookies and biscuits.
No joke, three seconds after this picture was taken, Tron literally tried to tear through the bag of Purina Beyond Cat Food. He’s not a subtle creature.
Into a food processor with the oat flour, cat nip, and pink salmon. Salmon and oats are some of the great ingredients found in Purina Beyond Cat Food! Very good things!
Incidentally, with my leftover oat flour, I was thinking about making a face mask for myself. DIY all up in this joint.
A whole egg and olive oil. Great binders and good fats.
The dough comes together to be easily chapped into bite-size balls, pressed with a fork just before baking.
Yes… we’re basically making cookies for cats. Get all the way into it.
Once cooled, these cat cookies crisp up and can be stored in the refrigerator before you cat, if he’s anything like mine, eats every single one. It’s a good thing cats can’t open refrigerator doors.
This post is brought to us by Beyond Natural Cat Food. No corn, wheat, soy, gnarly by-products, or artificial colors or preservatives. Just the real food I give to TRONCAT to keep him extra sassy, nappy, and wise.
PrintHomemade Crunchy Cat Treats
Ingredients
- 1 (5 ounce) canned pink salmon or tuna, no salt added and packed in water, drained
- 1 cup oat flour*
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 heaping tablespoon dried catnip
Instructions
- *It’s easy to make your own oat flour. Simply grind old-fashioned oats in a spice grinder (or a super clean coffee grinder) until it is transformed into a light powder. There you have it — oat flour!
- Place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a blade attachment, combine drained salmon or tuna, oat flour, egg, olive oil and catnip. Pulse until mixture comes together. Bits of fish and dry food will remain but the mixture will easily form into small balls. It will be thick but pliable and not terribly sticky.
- Roll dough into 1/2 teaspoon balls and place on prepared cookie sheet. Use a fork to press marks into each cookie ball.
- Bake cookies for 10 to 12 minutes until they are dried on top and slightly browned. Allow to cool completely before offering to your kitty.
- Place treats in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to seven days.
Jillian
I love the idea of making treats for my cats, and knowing exactly what goes into them! As an aside, and I mention because I learned the hard way with a sick gato, dry food in general and high carbs – necessary in dry cat food – are not great for cats. Lisa Pierson, DVM (catinfo.org) is my favorite source for feline nutrition info. While most vets don’t know much about nutrition, she is in the know and provides a fantastic resource. Here’s to being a cat lady :)
jeanne
Had you tried freezing them to keep them longer?
joythebaker
That’s a great idea! I think that would be supreme!
Heather
Where’s a pic of ur ADORBS kitty enjoying a treat…thought for sure he would be starring in ur pics!!!
Renee
All of my dogs loved salmon treats too…I grow “cat grass” in the house and put that in the cookies too…
Dionna @ Mash Makes
ALL the way into this. I’m so glad I can embrace my inner cat lady in the kitchen.
Molly in Nashville
I’m definitely making these for my kitties, including my Tron look-alike. His name is UT and you’ll get that name if you live in Tennessee.
Millie | Add A Little
Looks like a fun activity!
Jamie Hirami
I love reading posts about Tron. I, too, have a giant orange catimal and he actually DID chew through a bag of Purina grain free cat food!
Arthur in the Garden!
Nice!
Rebecca @ Bring Back Delicious
Wow you have one lucky cat :) My dog is lucky to get a piece of cilantro that fell on the floor or maybe even an ice cube. Once in a good while, she’ll get a tortilla chip. I’m just amazed she can be happy eating the same kibble. every. single. day.
Marta S.
If I left our the catnip and acknowledged I don’t even have a cat, would it be totally weird if I ate them myself? :D
joythebaker
Hahaha, Marta! You comment made my day! I can’t see why not..make yourself some salmon cookies!
shelly
my cats are waaaaay into salami these days, which is not cat friendly I don’t think. perhaps these treats will be a nice cat-friendly consolation prize to the salami.
Rena
You are really good to your cat! I could imagine our cats would love this, too, but unfortunately one of our cats is not as slim and if I would give him what you show here I’m sure the cat won’t stop to eat :)
xx from Germany/Bavaria, Rena
http://www.dressedwithsoul.com
Rebecca @ DisplacedHousewife
What a luck cat!!
Sammi | Sunshine Recipes
You won’t believe this, but my little chihuahua loves salmon treats! Someone gave me salmon dog treats a couple years ago because dogs nickname is “salmon”. And she goes crazy for them!