You know those gogurt cat treats, the liquid cat treats that come in a tube? Not only are they tasty, but they’re great for keeping your cat hydrated when she’s on the go (especially during the summer). Cats are notorious for not drinking enough water and typically don’t drink much from a water bottle or portable water bowl when out on an adventure. One of the ways you can help keep your cat hydrated is by giving it treats with a high water content, such as a pureed cat treat that can be licked off.
inaba churus and other similar brands are good examples of pureed cat food treats. while tasty and hydrating, they have a couple of drawbacks:
- there is no good way to close them once opened! they are essentially like cat gogurt, and once opened, there is no going back. Unless your cat eats the entire tube at once, you should throw the rest away and waste it or try to find a way to keep it from dripping and making a mess for the rest of your adventure. easier said than done.
- packaging is made from single-use plastic. I do my best to be eco-friendly whenever I can, and reducing the use of single-use plastics is one of the easier ways to do it.
In an effort to remedy both of these problems with pasta cat treats, I decided to try making a lickable homemade cat food that 1) can be closed and 2) comes in a reusable container.
I think I made it and I’m excited to share my recipe with you. although it’s not perfect, it’s been a decent and easy solution for us!
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homemade cat puree recipe: churu copycat
time commitment: about 8-10 minutes
note: the recipe can be decreased or increased according to your needs. for every 1 ounce of chicken you start with, you’ll need 1 tablespoon of water.
Step 1: Measure 4 oz. chicken (or whatever protein source you’re using)
step 2: fill the pot with enough water to cover the chicken. put water on the stove to boil.
step 3: add the chicken and cook for 5-6 minutes, or until no longer pink in the center.
step 4: cut the chicken into bite-size pieces to make things easier in your ninja or food processor.
step 5: move the chicken to your ninja/food processor and add 4 tablespoons of water.
step 6: mash the chicken and water until it acquires a paste-like consistency. you don’t want any pieces of chicken.
step 7: Pour the liquid cat treat into the plastic squeeze bottle. I didn’t have a funnel, but if you do, I highly recommend using it for this step! (since originally writing this post, I discovered these popsicle tube molds that would work well for this recipe! I could even freeze the recipe in these tubes for a special treat during the summer months.)
step 8: cut off the tip of the squeeze bottle just to make the hole a bit larger.
step 9: enjoy!
tada! Now you have a tasty treat for your cat to enjoy on adventures that is moisturizing, can be closed and stored for later, and comes in a reusable bottle!
The treat can get a little messy, but so are store-bought liquid cat treats… once your cat learns to eat from the bottle, it won’t be so bad.
Too much trouble? just buy a box of inaba churus!
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about the author
emily hall is the “mom” to seven cats, one dog and two sugar gliders. She has been writing in the pet industry for nearly 10 years, with a focus on cat travel and adventures. emily and her husband enjoy hiking, road trips, camping and canoeing with her three adventurous cats. read more about her here.
