Key takeaways<\/h3>- Homemade cat treats can be healthier than store-bought options, but they require careful ingredient choices since cats have specific tastes and dietary needs. Focusing on protein-rich, moisture-friendly ingredients like tuna, salmon and chicken can make treats both safe and appealing.<\/li>
- Not all human foods are safe for cats, so it’s essential to avoid toxic ingredients like onions, chocolate and grapes before making DIY treats. Simple recipes with minimal, wholesome ingredients are often the best way to keep treats both safe and easy to prepare.<\/li>
- There are plenty of easy homemade cat treat options — from tuna croutons to salmon bites — that use just a few ingredients and basic baking steps. Whether crunchy or chewy, these treats can double as special rewards or occasional indulgences for your cat.<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>
Which ingredients are safe to use in homemade cat treats?<\/h2>
Remember that some common human foods — including grapes, raisins, onion, salt and chocolate — are toxic to felines if ingested. Before you take on any homemade cat treats recipe, take some time to read up on all the foods that are dangerous to pets on the ASPCA website<\/a>.<\/p>“It’s important that cats have a lot of moisture, so too many grain- or cereal-based foods aren’t particularly good for them,” Stevenson adds.<\/p>
Now, hit the kitchen and don’t be surprised if a certain kitty tries to counter surf.<\/p>
11 DIY cat treats to make at home<\/h2>1. Chicken and cornmeal treats<\/h3>![\"homemade](\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/cat-eating-a-treat.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div><\/p>
Not only are these chicken and cornmeal cat treats<\/a> from Sustainable Slow Living<\/a> a delish treat for your kitty, with only three ingredients, they’re very easy to whip up. All you need is a 5-ounce can of chicken, cornmeal and an egg and voila! A tasty cat surprise.<\/p>2. Carrot and catnip crunchies<\/h3>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/10\/7.-Carrot-and-Catnip-784x1024.jpg\")
Image via Epicuricloud<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>These nutritious DIY carrot and catnip treats<\/a> from Epicuricloud<\/a> will make your cat feel extra loved. Mix shredded carrot and catnip with egg, oil and flour, and then flatten the dough for easy cutting with a knife or pizza wheel. Bake for 12 minutes or until they are slightly golden on top, and prepare to be your cat’s favorite human.<\/p>3. Fresh-baked protein treats<\/h3>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/10\/3.-Fresh-Baked-Flour-Treat-1024x778.jpg\")
Image via sammyssweetsandtreats\/Instagram<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>Sammy’s Sweets and Treats<\/a> made these baked cat treats<\/a> by mixing tuna with a packaged baking mix and cutting with a fish-shaped cookie cutter. If you want to make them at home, try this easy cat treat recipe<\/a> from Chewy. Start by mashing tuna with a fork, then mix in whole wheat flour, an egg, and if you want, catnip. If tuna isn’t kitty’s thing, substitute salmon or strained meat baby food in ham, beef or chicken flavors. <\/p>4. Tiny tuna croutons<\/h3>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/10\/Tuna-Cat-Treats-991x1024.jpg\")
Image via From Under A Palm Tree<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>If cats could use Instagram, they’d definitely “heart” these easy tuna treats<\/a> by From Under A Palm Tree<\/a>. To make them, mix canned tuna with olive oil, egg, flour and mashed banana. Flatten onto a parchment lined cookie sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes at 350 degrees, and then cut into kitty-bite sized pieces. <\/p>5. Hairball control homemade cat treats<\/h3>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/10\/5.-Hairball-cat-treats.jpg\")
Image via Broomstick Pet Treats<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>DIY cat treats that also help with hairballs? It’s a cat parent’s dream. These hairball control cat treats<\/a> from Broomstick Pet Treats<\/a> combine brown rice flour with canned pumpkin, egg, oil and ground flax to make a healthy and yummy snack for kitties. For an extra treat, you also have the option of adding some catnip before cutting into pieces and baking in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes. <\/p>6. Chewy treats<\/h3>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/10\/GettyImages-1291554300-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure>You’ll find variations of this chewy cat treat recipe<\/a> from Joy the Baker<\/a> all over the Internet — it’s that good. This tried and true recipe uses baby food or canned wet cat food as a base and includes parsley, rice and flour, baked for about 10 minutes. Clearly, cats have been passing this one down for generations.<\/p>7. ‘Kitty delight’ cat treats<\/h3>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/10\/6.-Kitty-Delights-853x1024.png\")
Image via Serendipity and Spice<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>These kitty delights<\/a> from Serendipity and Spice<\/a> are like little thumbprint cookies for kitties. This four-ingredient recipe whips up fast and easy. The hardest part is cooking the treats for five minutes on each side. But your cat doesn’t know that, so just tell them you worked on them all day.<\/p>8. Grain-free cat treat recipe<\/h3>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/10\/9.-Grain-Free-Cat-Treat.jpg\")
Image via Salt In My Coffee<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>These grain-free cat treats<\/a> from Salt In My Coffee<\/a> are crunchy, nutritious and gentle enough for young cats to chomp on. Combine tuna and pumpkin with coconut flour, mineral powder or parsley and egg, then drop by the quarter teaspoonful onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes, and don’t be surprised if these are gone before you know it. <\/p>9. 3-ingredient salmon treats<\/h3>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/10\/GettyImages-1018389356-1024x684.jpg\")
<\/figure>These salmon homemade cat treats<\/a> from Cookie Rookie<\/a> are fast, so easy to make and include only healthy ingredients for your best fur friend. All you need to make them is canned salmon, one egg and whole wheat flour. Combine ingredients in a stand mixer, then roll out and slice or cut with a 3\/4-inch cookie cutter of your choosing. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Don’t be alarmed if your cats pace excitedly around the kitchen the entire time. <\/p>10. Easy and cheesy homemade cat treats<\/h3>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/1.-Cheesy-Cat-Treat.jpg\")
Image via Cowboy Way<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>Feline taste-testers approved of these gooey, cheesy cat treats<\/a> from Cowboy Way<\/a>. They’re made from a combination of cheese, yogurt, flour, cornmeal and water. Flatten the mixture out with a rolling pin and bake like a pizza for 25 minutes, then cut into tiny, cat-friendly squares. If the finished product is firm on the outside and chewy on the inside, you’ve baked yourself some serious bargaining power.<\/p>11. Holy mackerel cat treats<\/h3>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/10\/Holy-mackerel-cat-treats-1024x681.jpg\")
<\/figure>Canned mackerel is the main ingredient in this holy mackerel cat treat recipe<\/a> from CDKitchen<\/a>, which also calls for breadcrumbs, egg, vegetable oil or bacon grease and Brewer’s yeast (said to be packed with vitamins). Mix the ingredients well, place treats one inch apart on a baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes. You’ll get soft, tasty morsels that your cat will want right meow.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"From catnip croutons to tuna treats, these DIY cat treats pack a variety of wholesome ingredients. Can you say purr-fect cat snacks?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1259,"featured_media":10302,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"enable_toc":false,"care_reviewed_by":0,"care_post_updated_flag":false,"care_updated_date":"2026-03-18T14:49:35.224Z","last_update":"2025-03-18","view_count":745044,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[1065,1126],"member-type":[3],"vertical":[7,25,21],"platform":[2],"class_list":["post-1858","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-cats","tag-pet-nutrition-and-diet","member-type-seeker","vertical-pets","vertical-pet-care","vertical-pet-health-safety","platform-resources"],"acf":[],"created":"2015-09-09","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1858","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1259"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1858"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1858\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":226748,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1858\/revisions\/226748"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10302"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1858"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1858"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1858"},{"taxonomy":"member-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/member-type?post=1858"},{"taxonomy":"vertical","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vertical?post=1858"},{"taxonomy":"platform","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/platform?post=1858"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- Homemade cat treats can be healthier than store-bought options, but they require careful ingredient choices since cats have specific tastes and dietary needs. Focusing on protein-rich, moisture-friendly ingredients like tuna, salmon and chicken can make treats both safe and appealing.<\/li>
- Not all human foods are safe for cats, so it’s essential to avoid toxic ingredients like onions, chocolate and grapes before making DIY treats. Simple recipes with minimal, wholesome ingredients are often the best way to keep treats both safe and easy to prepare.<\/li>
- There are plenty of easy homemade cat treat options — from tuna croutons to salmon bites — that use just a few ingredients and basic baking steps. Whether crunchy or chewy, these treats can double as special rewards or occasional indulgences for your cat.<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>
Which ingredients are safe to use in homemade cat treats?<\/h2>
Remember that some common human foods — including grapes, raisins, onion, salt and chocolate — are toxic to felines if ingested. Before you take on any homemade cat treats recipe, take some time to read up on all the foods that are dangerous to pets on the ASPCA website<\/a>.<\/p>
“It’s important that cats have a lot of moisture, so too many grain- or cereal-based foods aren’t particularly good for them,” Stevenson adds.<\/p>
Now, hit the kitchen and don’t be surprised if a certain kitty tries to counter surf.<\/p>
11 DIY cat treats to make at home<\/h2>
1. Chicken and cornmeal treats<\/h3>
<\/figure><\/div><\/p>
Not only are these chicken and cornmeal cat treats<\/a> from Sustainable Slow Living<\/a> a delish treat for your kitty, with only three ingredients, they’re very easy to whip up. All you need is a 5-ounce can of chicken, cornmeal and an egg and voila! A tasty cat surprise.<\/p>
2. Carrot and catnip crunchies<\/h3>
Image via Epicuricloud<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> These nutritious DIY carrot and catnip treats<\/a> from Epicuricloud<\/a> will make your cat feel extra loved. Mix shredded carrot and catnip with egg, oil and flour, and then flatten the dough for easy cutting with a knife or pizza wheel. Bake for 12 minutes or until they are slightly golden on top, and prepare to be your cat’s favorite human.<\/p>
3. Fresh-baked protein treats<\/h3>
Image via sammyssweetsandtreats\/Instagram<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> Sammy’s Sweets and Treats<\/a> made these baked cat treats<\/a> by mixing tuna with a packaged baking mix and cutting with a fish-shaped cookie cutter. If you want to make them at home, try this easy cat treat recipe<\/a> from Chewy. Start by mashing tuna with a fork, then mix in whole wheat flour, an egg, and if you want, catnip. If tuna isn’t kitty’s thing, substitute salmon or strained meat baby food in ham, beef or chicken flavors. <\/p>
4. Tiny tuna croutons<\/h3>
Image via From Under A Palm Tree<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> If cats could use Instagram, they’d definitely “heart” these easy tuna treats<\/a> by From Under A Palm Tree<\/a>. To make them, mix canned tuna with olive oil, egg, flour and mashed banana. Flatten onto a parchment lined cookie sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes at 350 degrees, and then cut into kitty-bite sized pieces. <\/p>
5. Hairball control homemade cat treats<\/h3>
Image via Broomstick Pet Treats<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> DIY cat treats that also help with hairballs? It’s a cat parent’s dream. These hairball control cat treats<\/a> from Broomstick Pet Treats<\/a> combine brown rice flour with canned pumpkin, egg, oil and ground flax to make a healthy and yummy snack for kitties. For an extra treat, you also have the option of adding some catnip before cutting into pieces and baking in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes. <\/p>
6. Chewy treats<\/h3>
<\/figure>You’ll find variations of this chewy cat treat recipe<\/a> from Joy the Baker<\/a> all over the Internet — it’s that good. This tried and true recipe uses baby food or canned wet cat food as a base and includes parsley, rice and flour, baked for about 10 minutes. Clearly, cats have been passing this one down for generations.<\/p>
7. ‘Kitty delight’ cat treats<\/h3>
Image via Serendipity and Spice<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> These kitty delights<\/a> from Serendipity and Spice<\/a> are like little thumbprint cookies for kitties. This four-ingredient recipe whips up fast and easy. The hardest part is cooking the treats for five minutes on each side. But your cat doesn’t know that, so just tell them you worked on them all day.<\/p>
8. Grain-free cat treat recipe<\/h3>
Image via Salt In My Coffee<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> These grain-free cat treats<\/a> from Salt In My Coffee<\/a> are crunchy, nutritious and gentle enough for young cats to chomp on. Combine tuna and pumpkin with coconut flour, mineral powder or parsley and egg, then drop by the quarter teaspoonful onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes, and don’t be surprised if these are gone before you know it. <\/p>
9. 3-ingredient salmon treats<\/h3>
<\/figure>These salmon homemade cat treats<\/a> from Cookie Rookie<\/a> are fast, so easy to make and include only healthy ingredients for your best fur friend. All you need to make them is canned salmon, one egg and whole wheat flour. Combine ingredients in a stand mixer, then roll out and slice or cut with a 3\/4-inch cookie cutter of your choosing. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Don’t be alarmed if your cats pace excitedly around the kitchen the entire time. <\/p>
10. Easy and cheesy homemade cat treats<\/h3>
Image via Cowboy Way<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> Feline taste-testers approved of these gooey, cheesy cat treats<\/a> from Cowboy Way<\/a>. They’re made from a combination of cheese, yogurt, flour, cornmeal and water. Flatten the mixture out with a rolling pin and bake like a pizza for 25 minutes, then cut into tiny, cat-friendly squares. If the finished product is firm on the outside and chewy on the inside, you’ve baked yourself some serious bargaining power.<\/p>
11. Holy mackerel cat treats<\/h3>
<\/figure>Canned mackerel is the main ingredient in this holy mackerel cat treat recipe<\/a> from CDKitchen<\/a>, which also calls for breadcrumbs, egg, vegetable oil or bacon grease and Brewer’s yeast (said to be packed with vitamins). Mix the ingredients well, place treats one inch apart on a baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes. You’ll get soft, tasty morsels that your cat will want right meow.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
From catnip croutons to tuna treats, these DIY cat treats pack a variety of wholesome ingredients. Can you say purr-fect cat snacks?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1259,"featured_media":10302,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"enable_toc":false,"care_reviewed_by":0,"care_post_updated_flag":false,"care_updated_date":"2026-03-18T14:49:35.224Z","last_update":"2025-03-18","view_count":745044,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[1065,1126],"member-type":[3],"vertical":[7,25,21],"platform":[2],"class_list":["post-1858","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-cats","tag-pet-nutrition-and-diet","member-type-seeker","vertical-pets","vertical-pet-care","vertical-pet-health-safety","platform-resources"],"acf":[],"created":"2015-09-09","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1858","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1259"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1858"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1858\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":226748,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1858\/revisions\/226748"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10302"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1858"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1858"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1858"},{"taxonomy":"member-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/member-type?post=1858"},{"taxonomy":"vertical","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vertical?post=1858"},{"taxonomy":"platform","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/platform?post=1858"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}