Once upon a time, I was a distance animal lover. As in, I loved animals, from a distance. But then my teenager brought home a cat for his birthday. And then he brought home a rescue Kelpie, and then another and then he bought one off my youngest’s partner. And we ended up with a smack menagerie (a snake and goldfish rounding out the group).
Being that making food is my love language, I started looking around for homemade pet treats. How else am I going to get these fur babies to love me? Google and Pinterest have so many homemade pet treat recipes for animals.
But always remember to check with your vet before introducing anything new into your pet’s diet. Below are a few of my favourite homemade pet treats for dogs, cats and the rest!
Some Fun, Easy Homemade Pet Treats Recipes:
Homemade dog treats: Peanut Butter and Banana Dog Treats
Recipe from: Love Mischka
Ingredients
- 1 banana preferably overripe
- ½ cup natural peanut butter (Make sure to check the ingredients for sweeteners or substitutes like xylitol. These can be dangerous for your pet to ingest).
- 1 cup Old-Fashioned Oats
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Mash an overripe banana in a medium-sized mixing bowl.
- Add the Natural Peanut Butter and Old-Fashioned Oats. Mix.
- Plop the mix on a sheet of parchment paper. Spread it out to your desired thickness. I recommend about 1/4”.
- Cut out in shapes of your choice.
- Place on a prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden.
- Let cool completely before giving to your dog.
Homemade cat treats: Tuna Catnip Treats
Recipe from: Joy the Baker
Ingredients
- 140g canned tuna in water, drained
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon dried catnip
Method
- Place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan forced). Line a cookie sheet with baking paper and set aside.
- In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a blade attachment, combine drained tuna, oat flour, egg, olive oil and catnip. Blend until mixture is smooth. 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 skewer to press an X-shape 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.
* Be cautious with catnip. Some cats love it, some don’t. But it has a multitude of uses. My big furry boy likes to roll around in it. But they can overdose on it, and it can cause them to have diarrhoea or vomit. If you’re going to use catnip in recipes, as a treat or put in teabags and dunked in water, use sparingly. *
What About Other Pets?
Homemade Goldfish Food
In addition to flakes, goldfish can enjoy frozen food cubes made out of shrimp, krill, mussels, insect larvae, spirulina etc. Goldfish can enjoy various fruits and vegetables when prepared correctly.
Homemade horse treats: Pumpkin Oatmeal Horse Cookies DIY Recipe
Recipe from: CowGirl Magazine
Ingredients:
- 4 cups whole oats
- 1 can pumpkin
- 2 cups water
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 ¾ cup whole wheat flour
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- 1 tbsp honey or molasses (optional)
Method:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Thoroughly mix the pumpkin and water together.
- Add the flour, oats, and spices.
- If desired, mix in the honey or molasses.
- Drop a few tablespoons of the mixture onto a greased cookie sheet.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until done.
Homemade rabbit treats: Raspberry Cookies
Recipe from: Bunny Lady
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup of rabbit pellet dry food
- 3 tbsp of oatmeal oats
- ½ cup of raspberries
- 2 tsp of dried mint
Method
- Preheat oven to 180ºC (160°C fan forced)
- Blend pellets and oats together into a dust. Puree raspberries and add the dried mint.
- Mix the ingredients together.
- Spoon onto a cookie sheet and flatten with a fork.
- Cook for 20 minutes then turn the oven off and leave the cookies in the oven for another 30 minutes.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
Ten Things to Keep in Mind when Making Homemade Pet Treats
- Treats are treats and should not be given too often or in place of their regular food. Limit the number of treats per day based on your pet’s size and dietary needs.
- Use high-quality, pet-safe ingredients. Avoid ingredients that are toxic to pets (e.g., chocolate, onions, garlic for dogs; certain fruits for rabbits and ferrets). Check for any allergies your pet may have and avoid those ingredients.
- Ensure treats complement your pet’s regular diet rather than replacing it. Be mindful of calorie content to prevent overfeeding.
- Choose treat textures appropriate for your pet’s size and chewing habits. Ensure treats are bite-sized and easy to chew, especially for smaller pets.
- Avoid additives like artificial colours, flavours, and preservatives. Check for ingredients that may be harmful to pets, such as xylitol (toxic to dogs).
- Before introducing new treats, consult with your veterinarian, especially if your pet has dietary restrictions, allergies, or health concerns.
- Ensure treats are free from small bones, pits, or other choking hazards. Monitor your pet while they are enjoying treats to ensure safety.
- Store homemade treats properly to prevent spoilage. Consider refrigerating or freezing treats with short shelf lives.
- Introduce new treats gradually to monitor for any adverse reactions or allergies. If your pet has a sensitive stomach, be cautious with introducing new ingredients.
- Use recipes specifically designed for the type of pet you have (e.g., dog treats for dogs, rabbit treats for rabbits). Be aware of differences in dietary requirements between species.
We at Mum Central love our furry friends! Make sure you check out our annual Pet Competition and put your name down to WIN one of several amazing pet products. ENTER NOW!
