If you’re familiar with cat “gogurt” treats – those irresistible liquid cat treats in a tube – you already know how much cats adore them. Beyond being incredibly palatable, these lickable treats are a fantastic way to boost your cat’s hydration, especially when you’re out and about, exploring the world together. Cats aren’t always the best at staying hydrated, often snubbing water bottles or portable bowls during adventures. Offering a treat with high water content, like a smooth, lickable puree, is a clever trick to encourage fluid intake and keep your feline friend feeling their best. Think of these as delectable cat food supplements that are as enjoyable as they are beneficial.
Brands like Inaba Churu have popularized these puree cat treats, and for good reason. They’re undeniably tasty and hydrating. However, there are a couple of common drawbacks to consider:
- The Inconvenience of Single-Use Packaging: Once you open a tube of these delectable cat food treats, there’s no resealing it. Similar to human gogurt tubes, once it’s open, it’s open. If your cat doesn’t finish the entire tube in one go, you’re faced with the dilemma of discarding the remainder (and wasting product) or attempting to awkwardly store it without leaks and messes during your outing. It’s a challenge, to say the least.
- Environmental Impact of Single-Use Plastic: For those of us striving to minimize our environmental footprint, single-use plastics are a significant concern. Reducing our reliance on these plastics is a simple yet impactful step towards a more sustainable lifestyle.
Driven to find a better solution to these issues associated with pre-packaged cat paste treats, I embarked on a mission to create a homemade lickable cat food alternative. My goals were simple: 1) a resealable container and 2) reusable packaging.
I’m thrilled to share my successful recipe with you! While it might not be absolutely perfect, it has proven to be a convenient and effective solution for us.
woman with cat outside on a harness and leash
Homemade Delectables Cat Food: A Simple Recipe (Churu Copycat)
IMPORTANT: This homemade delectable cat food recipe is intended as a treat only and should not replace a nutritionally complete and balanced meal.
| Ingredients: | Supplies Needed: |
|---|---|
| • 4 oz. Cooked Chicken Breast (or other cooked protein source like fish or turkey)• Water | • Digital Food Scale• Cutting Board• Knife• Measuring Spoons• Small Food Processor or Blender• Reusable Squeeze Bottles (4 oz) with Caps OR Popsicle Molds for Freezing |
Prep Time: Approximately 8-10 minutes
Note: This recipe is easily scalable. Maintain a ratio of 1 tablespoon of water for every 1 ounce of cooked protein.
Lickable Cat Treat Recipe – the supplies needed
Printable Delectables Cat Food Recipe
Instructions:
Step 1: Weigh out 4oz. of cooked chicken breast (or your chosen protein). Ensure it is plain and unseasoned for your cat’s health.
Step 2: Place the cooked chicken in your food processor or blender.
Step 3: Add 4 tablespoons of water to the chicken in the processor. The water helps achieve the smooth, lickable consistency characteristic of delectable cat food.
Step 4: Blend the chicken and water until completely smooth, ensuring there are no chunks of chicken remaining. The mixture should be a paste-like consistency, perfect for a lickable treat.
Step 5: Carefully pour the homemade delectable cat food into your reusable squeeze bottle. A funnel can be helpful for this step to minimize spillage.
Step 6: (Optional for squeeze bottles) Slightly enlarge the opening of the squeeze bottle tip by trimming it with scissors for easier dispensing.
Step 7: Offer your homemade delectable cat food to your feline companion and watch them enjoy!
Bonus Tip: For a refreshing summer treat, consider using popsicle tube molds to freeze this recipe. Frozen delectable cat food is a wonderful way to cool down your cat on a hot day.
cat enjoying homemade churu lickable cat treat
Congratulations! You’ve created a delicious and hydrating treat for your cat that is perfect for adventures, easy to reseal for later, and stored in a reusable container.
While these homemade delectable cat food treats can be a little messy, they are comparable to store-bought versions in that regard. With a little practice, your cat will become a pro at enjoying their lickable treat directly from the squeeze bottle.
Prefer convenience? You can always purchase a case of Inaba Churu treats!
Explore More Cat Treat Ideas:
6 Easy Frozen Cat Treat Recipes
woman with cat outside on a harness and leash
About the Author
Emily Hall, ABCCT is a certified cat trainer and passionate advocate for cat adventures. As a dedicated “cat mom” to five felines and a dog, Emily has contributed to the pet industry for over a decade, specializing in content about traveling and adventuring with cats.
Emily is driven by a desire to enrich the lives of cats through exploration and outdoor experiences, challenging conventional perceptions of what cats are capable of. She and her husband frequently enjoy hiking, road trips, camping, and canoeing with their three adventurous cats. Learn more about Emily here.
