Homemade cat treats are such a fun thing to make, and your cat(s) will absolutely love you if you give them these tasty salmon cat treats! You only need 3 ingredients to make these, and they’re super healthy and nutritious for your beloved pet.
What’s in these 3-Ingredient Cat Treats?
You only need 3 ingredients to make these healthy homemade cat treats. And you might already have them all in your pantry!
- Salmon: Use canned salmon for this recipe, or another canned fish.
- Egg: Beat the yolk and whites together before combining with the flour.
- Flour: I recommend using whole wheat flour for these nutritious cat treats.
I love that these are real food ingredients, so I know my cat, Dill, is getting the best of the best!
It was such an honor to have this cat treats recipe printed in the August 2015 edition of Family Circle Magazine.
Any canned, oily fish will work in this recipe, and your kitty will thank you for being so creative. Try tuna, mackerel, or even canned shrimp! You can also substitute canned chicken.
If you want the goldfish shaped cutter I used, Here’s my affiliate link to get one. If you prefer, use any cookie cutter that is about 3/4-inch.
Add up to 1/3 cup of water to the dough if it’s too dry. If it’s too wet or sticky, add in a small amount of flour until you get the right consistency. It should be tacky but not sticky.
They should be slightly brown and crunchy on the outside.
How to Store Homemade Cat Treats
Let the treats cool completely before storing. Scoop them into an airtight container, like a mason jar, or resealable bags. Store them at room temperature or in the pantry, for up to 2 weeks.
They’ll be ready to hand out to your furry friend any time they need a treat. And these are healthy enough for them to eat (many) every day, so you can feel good about spoiling them!
If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Bonus points if you share a picture of your cats! Enjoy! You can also jump to recipe.
Three-Ingredient Salmon Cat Treats
Ingredients
- 10 ounces canned salmon undrained
- 1 egg beaten
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Pulse 10 ounces of undrained, canned salmon in a food processor to chop as finely as possible.10 ounces canned salmon
- In a stand mixer, combine salmon, 1 egg (beaten), and 2 cups whole wheat flour until dough forms. If the dough is too dry, add up to 1/3 cup water. If it's is too wet or sticky, add a bit more flour. The dough should be tacky but not sticky.1 egg, 2 cups whole wheat flour
- Roll dough on a floured surface until about 1/4-inch thick. Use a 3/4-inch cookie cutter in the shape of your choice to create your treats.
- Place treats on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 350° for about 20 minutes. When they’re slightly browned and crunchy, they’re done.
- Allow to cool before serving.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
- Any 3/4-inch cookie cutter will work fine for these treats. If you’d like to use the goldfish-shaped cutter in this post, here’s the link.
Nutrition Information
Cats cannot have salt. So do I need to use sodium free salmon? I haven’t seen that before and I’m wording if I should use fresh and cook it?
I used no salt added canned salmon!
can you use gluten free flours instead? for pet treats? I know this is a cat recipe, but my one fur kid can not have gluten.
You could try sweet rice flour, potato flour, or coconut flour!
Hi Becky!
Wondering if I can substitute almond flour. Thoughts?
I don’t recommend using almond flour in these cat treats, as high amounts of almonds can cause stomach upset in cats!
Thank you for your response. It’s much appreciated. I’ll give them a try this weekend.
We made the recipe exactly as written. It is a perfect recipe that many many pets enjoyed at the volunteer opportunity we shared in our City. The finely pureed salmon was what made them stellar and easy to work with. We will make this a staple for the houseless folks and their pets, both cats and dogs. Since we have used turkey breast, chicken breasts, tuna and even mackerel, this makes your recipe versatile. We have had this recipe requested to be in the regular rotation of treats. The overages we vacuum seal and it freezes beautifully. We appreciate you Becky.
I’m so happy to hear this recipe was a hit, Elle!
Both my cats and dogs loved them!
I’m so happy to hear they were a hit, Michelle!
They were disgusting my cat has to go to the vet because of it and found out that the salmon got stuck in her throat
I’m so sorry to hear about that! The salmon should be finely chopped to keep it from getting stuck!
My cats won’t touch them. I even tried with our clinic cat and he wouldn’t touch them either. I have no idea why. I wouldn’t suggest making them.
I’m sorry these treats didn’t work out for you, Hollie!
Ordered cute cookie cutters from Amazon, couldn’t wait to make these. Four cats and two dogs refused to eat them. None of these critters are picky eaters. I think it’s the wheat flour.
I’m sorry to hear that, Kathie!
Not one of my five cats would even touch these. Looking for a new recipe.
I’m sorry your fur babies didn’t enjoy this recipe! Maybe they’re not fans of salmon!
Hi, No – I used mackerel. they loved it raw but I worry about the raw egg. The first batch was much too crunchy, so I cooked them less, but that didn’t work either. I have left over and I am going to add cat nip. I hope that works.
Yes, raw eggs are not considered safe for cats! Hope your next batch turns out!
I think I’ll just cut the dough into a grid so I’ll have little squares since I don’t have any cookie cutters. The cats don’t care if they look like fish. If the cats don’t like them, I’ll eat them. Lol. I think I’ll use coconut flour instead of wheat since we’re gluten-free here. That’s supposed to be a good substitute for whole wheat flour when making cat treats. I can imagine the “noise” I’ll have to endure while I’m making these treats. The cats will be impossible until they’re done! Luckily they don’t get on the counter when I’m cooking.
I hope your cats love them!