Cat treats from your kitchen

An occasional treat of human food isn’t going to upset your cat’s digestive system. But treating on a daily basis will especially if you have the habit of letting your cat lick your dinner plate. Many foods that we eat on a regular basis and enjoy may not have the same effect on your cat. Not all human food is good for kitty’s digestive system. Some foods can even harm or kill your cat.

Here are some foods that are safe for cats to eat:

• Cream cheese- they especially love the salmon flavored.
• Green beans- cooked and mashed with a bit of butter.
• Chicken- boiled, no spices, keep the broth as well.
• Yogurt-plain with active cultures. Good for the digestive system.
• Hard-boiled eggs- yolk only.
• Baby food- no onion powder.
• Popcorn with no butter or salt (air popped).
• Pumpkin- canned not cooked.
• Sardines packed in water not oil.
• Cooked white rice.

Using just a few of the above ingredients, you can create safe and nutritious treats for your cat.

Cat treats

CheeseNips

• 1 container cream cheese (firm not softened)
• 1/3 cup loose leaf organic catnip, crushed fine.
• Using a melon baller (spray the inside of the melon baller with PAM spray, scoop out several balls of cream cheese.
• Spread the catnip on waxed paper and roll the balls in the nip
• Set aside on a strip of aluminum foil covered plate. Cover with freezer wrap and freeze.

Summer Tease

Obtain some regular ice cube trays. Every time you boil chicken (and don’t use spices) reserve the broth. Pour the broth into the ice cube trays. Freeze for a summer day treat.

Buy small marrow bones (that are hollow) inside the cavity squeeze in Spray Cheese, cream cheese, or put in some air popped popcorn dunked in yogurt. Give your kitty this kitty- licking treat.

Miceballs (ok riceballs) No mice are killed in the making of this treat.

• 1 cup cooked green beans
• ½ cup cooked white rice
• Sardines chopped fine

Place the rice in a small bowl. Make small balls of rice with your hands. With the back of a small spoon, make a small indentation in the center. Add the cooked and mashed green beans and finely chopped sardines in the center of each ball. Roll the rice ball up in the palm of your hand enclosing the meat and veggies inside. Refrigerate immediately. Serve at room temperature.

If you are concerned about how much food to feed your cat treat-wise or are worried if the treats are safe. Liz Palika’s new book The Ultimate Cat Treat Cookbook is one book to add to your collection. Each recipe was individually tested and vet- approved.

Treats are a welcome break from the kitty’s original diet. They are useful when training a cat, and yes, cats can be trained. Treats can comfort a kitty after a stressful vet visit, or just be a fun diversion after playtime. So treat your kitty in style occasionally. He will be sure to reward you with a headbutt and a purr