Homemade Catnip Treats

I've had so much fun writing this book, that I wrote a few extra recipes that couldn't be included. So, in this week's tip I wanted to share with you a fun treat you can make this summer for your cat at home, that is easy, fun and will make you and your cat happy.

Nibbling Cat

Is your cat one of those that loves to nibble on grass? Or for that matter, does your cat attack some of your houseplants (i.e. spider plants, ferns, palms, dracaena, to name a few)? There is a simple reason for this – sometimes cats just need a bit of fiber in their diet. Whether they are trying to get rid of a hairball or just need the extra fiber, they always seem to know.

While eating houseplants may just seem like a nuisance to you, it can actually be toxic to your cat. How, you ask? Let me tell you. Any preventative care you take for your plants can affect your cat if they eat them. So, if you spray them with plant food or insecticide, the plant is going to take up the nutrients or bug killer through their roots. Then your cat eats the leaves and ingests the poisons you fed your plant. It is a bit like secondhand smoke, but without the smoke. The same thing will happen if you use a service to fertilize and put insecticide on your lawn. If your cat is eating the grass, your cat eats whatever has been done to it, too.

Safe Herbs and Grasses for Kitty

So, if your cat is one of the many closet nibblers, I have the perfect solution for you. Did you also know you can grow grass at home that is safe for your cat? This will keep them away from any of your houseplants that might make them sick. Here is a list of safe grasses for you to grow by the back door or near a window, where your cat may like to hang out. These grasses are safe for them, and are sold at many health food stores and some pet stores.

• Catnip, which isn't actually a grass, but an herb. It can be grown indoors in a pot just as you would any other herb.
• Oat grass
• Wheat grass

The term "cut grass" means a grass grown inside your home that is safe for your cat. You can find them as seeds or already started in a pot. Grasses will provide very important fiber for your cat and something safe they can play with.

Casey’s Catnip Training Treat

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup Bisquick® baking mix
• 1 large egg
• 1 egg yolk, beaten
• 1 to 2 tablespoons water
• 1 tablespoon wheat germ
• ½ cup dried catnip
• ½ cup dried catnip, saved (for you to roll dough in afterwards)
• 2/3 cup ground turkey, cooked

Directions

1. Pre-heat your oven to 350°, and grease a cookie sheet with non-stick spray.
2. Place your cooked turkey meat in a food processor or blender, and blend until it becomes a thick paste.
3. In a large mixing bowl, mix the turkey, wheat germ, ½ cup dried catnip, whole egg, Bisquick® and your water.
4. Now take the turkey mixture, and using a tablespoon of the meat mixture at a time, roll it into a ball. Flatten your ball out a bit and roll it in the rest of the dried catnip that you set aside before.
5. Place the dough balls onto your cookie sheet, and bake them only until they turn golden brown. Baking time for your treats should be about 5 - 8 minutes (remember oven times may vary due to altitude and the weather outside). Please do not overcook this treat, because then your cat may not want to eat it. They usually like treats soft, but not too crunchy.
6. Take treats out of the oven and let them cool well; several hours is best. Then you can store you new treats in an airtight container for 5 days in the refrigerator or up to 1 month in your freezer.

I hope your cat enjoys these treats as much as my friends' cats do. These make great gifts too, and I love giving them for Christmas presents.

Previous Tips

• Hairball Remedies for Cats
• How to Move with Your Cat
• How to Pick a Cat Bed
• Tips on Finding a Lost Cat
• How to Handle Your Kitten or Cat
• Bringing a New Cat Home
• How to Pick a Vet
• How to Give a Cat a Pill
• Taking a Great Photo With Your Cat
• How to Clean a Cat’s Ears
• Making Your Own Air Freshener
• Cat Safety Tips
• Naming Your New Kitten or Cat
• Kitty Birthday Party
• Homemade Herbal Flea Collar
• Homemade Cat Toys
• Bringing a New Kitten Home
• Recipe for Homemade Cat Treats
• How To Make a Cat First Aid Kit