Healthy treat hacks for your cat

While we love to spoil our feline friends, we should be careful that we don’t shower them with too many cat treats! If they’re given too many of their favourite kitty snacks, they could start piling on the pounds which is never a good sign as this can often lead to a reduced quality of life for them as well as other health complications.

Fortunately, you don’t have to look much further than your own fridge and cupboard for some healthy, cat-safe foods to feed your pet. We’ve put together this guide to help you decide on some human food that you can use as treats for your feline.

Human foods your cat can eat safely

Making a quick meal for your kitty can be easy, as long as you have the right ingredients. Here are some things you can feed your cat from your fridge or cupboard:

• Salmon
• Scrambled eggs
• Melon
• Blueberries
• Apples
• Broccoli
• Cooked boneless lean meat (chicken, beef, or turkey)
• Plain boiled rice
• Plain, unprocessed oatmeal
• Peas
• Tinned tuna
• Un-spiced deli cheese slices or chunks
• White fish (like cod)

Foods to avoid giving your cat

Not all food is pet-friendly, there are some ingredients you need to know about to prevent accidentally poisoning your cat.

Avoid these foods when prepping a treat for your feline friend:

• Avocado
• Alcohol
• Caffeine, coffee and tea
• Cooked bones
• Fat trimmings
• Grapes, raisins and sultanas
• Onions, garlic and chives
• Salt
• Sugar
• Sweets or chocolate
• Xylitol (an artificial sweetener)

Make your own cat treats

If you’re feeling particularly creative in the kitchen, why not attempt making some treats for your cat to enjoy using some of the feline-friendly ingredients listed above. To make a batch of frozen treats, you’ll need:

• 100g boneless tinned salmon or tuna, drained
• 1 small carrot
• 25g rolled oats

You’ll want to peel and cut the carrot into small pieces and boil them in a saucepan of water or steam them until soft.

Then, place the oats in a food processor and blend them into flour. Once this is done, add your chosen fish and carrot in with the oats and mix well.

All you have to do from here is spoon the (potentially stinky!) mixture into an ice cube tray or another mould and freeze until they’re set.

Once they’re frozen, these fishy treats are perfect for those warmer days!

Do you have any cat treat hacks? Don’t forget to share them with fellow feline lovers on our Facebook or Twitter page.

Before starting any new diet change for your cat, or if you have any concerns about what is suitable for your cat, always consult a vet.