Share A Little Love

Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to show our loved ones just how much we care. For us cat owners, our fur babies are just as special to us as our human companions are. 

So, it’s completely natural that we would want to share this special day with our precious kitties! But how exactly can you give the gift of love this holiday season?

The famous saying ‘the way to someone's heart is through their stomach’ is not restricted to just us hoomans (cat lingo, if you know you know). Our furry friends love food as much as we do, if not more! So what better way to show your love than with a special Valentine’s treat!

You can’t beat a snack made with love, so we’ve shared some of our favorite cat-safe recipes for homemade cat treats. These recipes are super simple, so you don’t need to be a whizz in the kitchen to make them. However, if you’re short on time, we’ve included a couple of our favorite extra-special store-bought treats as well. Check it out!

1) Heart-Shaped Tuna Cookies

Although we would never consider putting tuna in a batch of cookies we were making for ourselves, felines love these tuna cookie hearts. They are quick to make, sugar-free, and require very few ingredients. 

However, be prepared for your kitchen to smell a bit fishy while you’re preparing them. We would also advise keeping your fur baby out of the room to avoid the mixture disappearing before it even gets into the oven!

Ingredients:

1. 6 ounces undrained canned tuna (You can replace with tinned salmon if you prefer)

2. 1 cup flour

3. 1 cup cornmeal

4. 1 egg

5. 2 tbsp water

Recipe:

1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir until a soft dough forms. If the mixture is too dry, add more water. If it’s too moist, add a little more flour.
2. Let the dough rest for 10 minutes.
3. Roll the dough on a flour-dusted surface until ¼ inch thick.
4. Cut into mini hearts. If you don’t have a mini heart cookie cutter, you can easily shape them with a knife.
5. Line a baking tray with parchment paper and bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

2) Chewy Chicken Treats

This is an excellent treat to make in a multi-pet household as both felines and canines love them to bits. 

They are chewier than the tuna cookies, and they don’t crisp either. If your kitty isn’t a fan of chicken, swap for a fishy alternative like tuna. Moreover, if your cat loves catnip, feel free to add just a little to the mix.

Ingredients:

1. 250g cooked chicken (cooled)

2. 1 cup instant oats

3. 1 egg

4. ¼ cup flour

5. 1 tsp catnip (optional)

Recipe:

1. Place the cooked chicken, oats, egg, and catnip (if using) in a food processor and pulse to blend. The mixture should be pretty wet. If not, add a dash of water.
2. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and gradually add the flour, stirring as you do.
3. Knead the dough on a floured surface until it no longer sticks to your hands. 
4. Roll out the dough to about ½ inch thick. You can then cut your treats into small hearts or any shape you prefer.
5. Place them on a parchment-lined baking tray and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

3) Banana 'Nice Cream'

Vegans love this recipe as a healthy, dairy-free alternative to ice cream. Although bananas are not typically a feline’s favorite food, many enjoy this refreshing treat. Plus, it’s totally safe for cats too. What’s more, this is a treat you can both enjoy together, while curled up on the sofa, watching your favorite rom-com this Valentine's day!

Banana ‘nice cream’ is basically just frozen mashed banana, and you do not need to add anything else to it. To prepare: 

1. Slice up a banana or two, then freeze for at least a few hours.
2. Place in a food processor or blender and whizz until it forms an ice-cream texture.
3. If you don’t have a food processor, let it thaw slightly, then mash it up with a fork instead. 

What if a banana is not to your kitty’s liking? You can also make this cat safe ice-cream alternative with coconut flesh instead.

4) Peanut Butter Dipped Strawberries

This is another snack you will enjoy just as much as your fur baby and requires no effort or time whatsoever. Chocolate is a toxic food for cats and should not be given even in tiny portions. However, natural smooth peanut butter can be a safe alternative as long as it does not contain the sweetener Xylitol. 

Check the ingredients first. Some well-known brands contain Xylitol or an unhealthy amount of sugar. So, only give your feline peanut butter if it is homemade or the most natural kind. Moreover, only give both strawberries and peanut butter in small amounts. Your kitty might only lick the peanut butter off the strawberry, but you can also try cutting them into small pieces. 

5) Temptations Blissful Catnip Treats

If your cat loves catnip, they will adore these catnip flavored treats from Temptations. These pocket-shaped rewards have a crunchy outside and a soft and creamy inside. They are 100% nutritionally complete with vitamins and taurine and are less than two calories per treat. This makes them a good option if you’re trying to put an overweight cat on a diet. 

6) Crumps' Naturals Pure Poultry Chicken Grain-Free Treats 

Source

Are you looking for a grain-free treat without additives, colors, or preservatives? If so, you’ll feel great giving your kitty these healthy cat treats. 

Made in Canada, these all-natural snacks consist of just two ingredients - North American sourced chicken mixed with vitamin E. They are freeze-dried raw to lock-in that poultry flavor your feline craves and make a suitable and yummy Valentine’s treat for cats of all ages and breeds.

Which of these tasty treats will you give to your fur baby this Valentine’s? Call us foodies, but we prefer the ones we get to eat too! Whichever you choose, be sure to shower your fur baby with affection this Valentine’s day.

For more tips on how you can care for your cat start by checking out our homepage.