Tabby Treats ( Scrumptious from "Scratch!")

Kitties are like kids, they just LOVE treats! If you use treats as a teaching aid, treats can be very instrumental. Cats are smart, they very soon learn what the word TREATS means and will come running.

Here, with a rescue, there are many cats, and while good, nutrition for our pets may come with a high price tag there is something we can do about that. While I do not use a top-of the line catfood here, I do use one that does not contain soybean meal, corn as a main ingredient, artificial coloring, or rendered byproducts. They also get fresh food on a daily basis as well as homemade nutritious meals weekly and homemade nutritious treats daily.

It really is fairly easy, even for the novice, to make your own treats for kitty at home with no special equipment, though a food processor is almost a must for easy mixing, less mess. Costwise you are saving by spending about as much for one bag by making several times the amount for about the same price. Here are two recipes kitty will delight in. Remember, you are not loading them with unhealthy preservatives, so keep in the fridge only what you will use in a few days, or store all in an airtight bag in the freezer, taking out what you need daily, allowing to thaw and return to room temperature before offering to you cat or kitten.

Macky Mouse Treats

1 can mackerel-do not drain

3/4 -1 c. quick oats

1/2 c. soy flour (or vegetable protein powder)

2 eggs

3 T. fresh chopped spinach (no need to chop if using food processor)

3 T. grated carrot- ( couple baby carrots or half a large carrot cut up if using food processor)1/2 c. dry milk powder

1 T. cod liver oil or whole fish oil

2 cloves fresh garlic or 1/2 t. garlic powder

pinch taurine (optional for treats)

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 250 degees

Put all ingredients into *food processor and pulse till mixture is smoothe.( If mixture is not a thick consistancy, add another 1/4 c. oats)

Line a large cookie sheet with aluminum foil, spray well with no stick.

Next, with large spoon drop 10-12 gobs evenly onto the cookie sheet, then with back of large spoon, spread evenly to edges of the lined pan. Place in oven for 1/2 hour, take out and score with a pizza cutter or spatula making 1/2 inch squares. Return to oven for an additional 1/2 hour. Turn off oven leaving them in another 15 minutes. Lay paper towel over treats and invert pan to remove treats onto towel. cool, break up and store into airtight container or bags . Will keep in fridge abt. 3 days, will keep in freezer several months, taking as needed. These treats are soft and chewy, if you desire crunchier treats, follow same directions above, except , instead of turning oven off, invert treats onto another cookie sheet (bottom sides up) returning to oven an additional 1/2 hr., turn oven off, leaving them in 15 minutes more, then cool on towel as directed above.
OR- spread thinner on TWO sheets thereby making treats thinner, bake for same amount of time as suggested for chewy treats.

* If you do not own a food processor, you can mash up ingredients with a potato masher, then mix with an electric mixer.

Bitsy's Burger Bites

1 lb. ground beef, chicken or turkey (raw)

1 T beef or chicken boulion granules

1 T. cod liver oil

3/4 c. cornmeal

1/2 c. soy flour

1/2 c. dry milk

2 T. cheese (white cheese best)

3 eggs

4T. grated carrot or squash (no need to grate, just chop if using food processor)

2 T. dry parsley flakes

2 cloves garlic or 1/2 t. garlic powder

1/2 c. water (add up to 1/4c. more, if needed)

pinch of taurine (optional for treats)

Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 250 degrees

Place all ingredients into *food processor and pulse till fairly smoothe, slowly add the ground meat mixing/pulsing with each large spoonull, if mixture becomes too stiff, add a little more water.

Line a cookie sheet with foil, spray well with no-stick-(I use butter flavor)

Next, with large spoon drop 10-12 gobs evenly onto the cookie sheet evenly spaced, then with back of large spoon, spread evenly to edges of the lined pan. Place in oven for 35 minutes, take out and score with a pizza cutter or spatula making 1/2 inch squares. return to oven for an additional 1/2 hour. Turn off oven leaving them in another 20 minutes, lay paper towel over treats and invert pan to remove treats onto towel. cool, break up and store into airtight container or zip bags . Will keep in fridge abt. 3 days, will keep in freezer several months, taking as needed. These treats are soft and chewy, if you desire crunchier treats, follow same directions above, except , instead of turning oven off, invert treats onto another cookie sheet (bottom sides up) returning to oven an additional 1/2 hr., then turn oven off, leaving them in 15 minutes, then cool on towel.
OR- spread thinner on TWO sheets thereby making treats much thinner, bake for same amount of time as suggested for chewy treats.
Note: there will be some shrinkage during baking, depending on the amount of fat contained in your ground meat.

* If you do not have a food processor, you can mix items in a bowl with an electric mixer, then add ground meat, mixing with hands as you do meatloaf.

One recipe lasts a long time for one or two cats, you'll have fun, save money, and can pat yourself on the back, because you'll KNOW the ingredients in YOUR cat's treats! if you have children, engage their help in making kitty's treats, it will be a fun experience.