You know those cat gogurt treats – the liquid cat treats that come in a tube? Not only are they tasty, they are great for keeping your cat hydrated when on-the-go (especially during the summer). Cats are notorious for not drinking enough water and usually won’t drink much from a water bottle or portable water bowl when they’re out on an adventure. One of the ways you can help keep your cat hydrated is by giving them treats that are high in water content – like a pureed, lickable cat treat.
The Inaba Churus and other similar brands are good examples of pureed cat food treats. While they are tasty and hydrating, they do have a couple of downsides though:
- There is no good way to close them up once opened! They are essentially like a cat gogurt, and once opened, there’s no going back. Unless your cat eats the entire tube at once, you are left to either throw out the rest and waste it or try to figure out a way to keep it from leaking and making a mess for the remainder of your adventure. Easier said than done.
- The packaging is made from single-use plastic. I do my best to be environmentally friendly whenever I can, and cutting down on single-use plastics is one of the easiest ways to do that.
In an effort to remedy these two issues with the cat paste treats, I decided to try my hand at making a homemade lickable cat food that 1) could be closed up and 2) comes in a reusable container.
I think I succeeded and am excited to share my recipe with you. While it’s not perfect, it has been a decent and easy solution for us!
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*Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps me to continue creating helpful content. Don’t worry – I would never recommend something I don’t like or use myself!
Homemade Puree Cat Treat Recipe: Churu Copycat
NOTE: This recipe is NOT meant to be used as a nutritionally complete and balanced meal. This is a treat only.
| Ingredients: | Supplies Needed: |
|---|---|
| • 4 oz. of Chicken (or any other protein source) • Water | • Food Scale • Cutting Board • Knife • Measuring Spoon • Ninja or Food Processor of some kind • 4 oz. Plastic Squeeze Bottle with top OR Popsicle Tube Molds |
Time Commitment: About 8-10 minutes
Note: The recipe can be decreased or increased depending on your needs. For every 1 ounce of chicken you start with, you will need 1 tablespoon of water.
Printable Cat Treat Recipe
Step 1: Measure out 4oz. of chicken (or whichever protein source you are using)
Step 2: Fill pot with enough water to cover the chicken. Bring water to a boil on the stove.
Step 3: Add chicken and let it cook for about 5-6 minutes, or until it is no longer pink in the center.
Step 4: Cut the chicken into small pieces to make things easier on your Ninja or food processor.
Step 5: Move chicken to your Ninja/food processor and add 4 tablespoons of water.
Step 6: Puree the chicken and water together until it reaches a pasty consistency. You don’t want there to be any chicken chunks.
Step 7: Pour the liquid cat treat into the plastic squeeze bottle. I didn’t have a funnel, but if you do, I recommend using it for this step!
(Since originally writing this post, I have discovered these popsicle tube molds that would work well for this treat recipe! You could even freeze the recipe in these tubes for a special treat during the summer months.)
Step 8: Cut the tip of the squeeze bottle just to make the hole a little bit bigger.
Step 9: Enjoy!
Tada! Now you have a tasty treat for your cat to enjoy on adventures that is hydrating, can be closed up and saved for later, and comes in a bottle that can be reused!
The treat can be a little messy, but so are store bought liquid cat treats… Once your cat gets the hang of eating out of the bottle, it won’t be quite so bad.
Too much trouble? Just buy a case of Inaba Churus!
Up Next:
6 Easy Frozen Cat Treat Recipes
Is your cat meant for a life of adventure?
Take the interactive cat personality quiz to find out!
About the Author
Emily Hall, ABCCT is a certified cat trainer and cat adventure enthusiast. As a “mom” to seven cats and one dog, she has been writing in the pet industry for 10 years, with a focus on traveling and adventuring with cats. Emily has a passion for getting out there and doing more with her cats – for pushing the bounds of cat expectations! She and her husband enjoy hiking, road-tripping, camping, and canoeing with their three cat adventurers. Read more about Emily here.
