We love to shower our cats with affection and sometimes even pamper them with cat treats and snacks. But are these snacks healthy for our cats?

Stick with Moderation

Cat owners are often concerned that their cats will get too overweight if they give their pet cat streets. Like with any food, moderation is key. If you give your cat treats too often then they may decide they prefer treats over their normal food. To prevent this from happening, try not offering treats more than three times a week.

Take it easy with “People Food”

Food specifically made for cats contains many vitamins and minerals that help keep a cat healthy. While people food isn’t necessarily bad for your cat, it should be kept to a minimum. Every now and then, feel free to offer your cat a small amount of cheese, fish, chicken, or liver. Raisins, grapes, onions, alcohol, salt, tea should NEVER be given to a cat. Even though we may love them, they are toxic to our furry friends.

Say ‘I’m Sorry” With a Treat

Sometimes we have to do things that our cat doesn’t like, such as claw-trimming or administrating a daily dose of medicine. To make up for any stress you put them under, praise your kitty with a treat and a pet. This will help to soothe them and be a little less mad at you.

Make Your Own Treats!

Cat treats that come from the store may contain preservatives and chemicals that you are unfamiliar with or just be something you don’t want to introduce to your cat’s diet. To know exactly what’s going into your treats, make your own! My favorite recipe is from “Modern Cat” and is easy for anyone to make.

To start off you will want to grease a cookie sheet and preheat your oven to 350° F. Next you will want to gather your ingredients; ½ c organic whole wheat flour, ½ c non-fat, powdered milk, ½ c cooked and chopped organic chicken, 1 Tbsp vegetable oil, 1 organic egg, beaten, ¼ c water, and 1 Tbsp chopped, fresh organic catnip (optional).

In a large bowl, mix and combine the flour, milk, and chicken. Once they are mixed add in the water, oil, beaten egg, and catnip. You don’t have to use catnip, it’s just a fun add-in! Once all of your ingredients are combined, continue to stir until you have dough that is sticky.

Place the dough in your hands and form small dime-sized balls and place them on the cookie sheet. With your hand or a spoon, flatten each ball. If need to adjust the size of your treats to accommodate your cat please feel free to do so at this time.

When your treats are flattened and the perfect size, bake them for 20 minutes total. At this point, don’t walk away from the kitchen. After the first 10 minutes, flip the treats over so they become golden brown on both sides. When the treats are fully cooked, remove them to the side to cool. To keep them fresh, keep them in an airtight container to save for later!