Summer snacks for cats

Summer often means your cat will want to spend more time outside, but as cats don’t have a high thirst drive, they can easily become dehydrated in hot weather.

Rehydrate and cool down your feline friend with these six summer snacks for cats.

These tasty cat snacks help your cat to ingest more liquid on a warm summer day. Put one or two in a bowl and watch your cat have fun licking and chewing them.

Ingredients

• 145g tin of tuna chunks in spring water
• Water

Method

Empty the can of tuna, including the spring water, into a bowl or food processor. Add a small amount of water.

Blend until smooth, then transfer into an ice cube tray. Place in the freezer until fully frozen.

Cats are obligate carnivores so they don’t need to eat vegetables, but some cats enjoy the taste and texture of peas, especially when combined with a delicious fish stock.

Ingredients

• 200ml low-salt fish stock
• 50g frozen peas

Method

Pour the fish stock into an ice cube tray, then sprinkle a few peas into each cube. Place in the freezer until fully frozen.

The catnip in these treats makes them irresistible to most cats, while the parsley helps freshen their breath.

Ingredients

• 100g oat flour
• 5g catnip (fresh or dried)
• A handful of fresh parsley
• 60ml low-salt chicken stock
• 10g coconut oil

Method

Preheat your oven to 180°C.

Put the oat flour, catnip and chopped parsley into a bowl. Add the chicken stock and coconut oil, then mix until it forms a dough. Use your hands to press the dough into a ball, then place it in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Roll the dough out onto a floured surface, aiming for a thickness of around 5mm.

Cut into strips or use a cookie cutter.

Bake for 15-20 minutes.

Store in an airtight container in the fridge, and use within one week.

If your cat is on a diet, freezing some of their usual wet food is a great way to let them try something different, without any additional calories.

Ingredients

• Your cat’s normal wet food
• A few cat treats or a sprinkle of catnip

Method

Place small spoonfuls of wet food onto a parchment-covered baking tray or spread it onto a lick mat.

Put a few cat treats on the top, or a small sprinkle of catnip.

Place in the freezer for 30 minutes, or until it’s just starting to freeze but is still a bit soft. Feed to your cat in place of their usual meal.

Not all cats enjoy frozen treats – some prefer to eat their food at room temperature. If that sounds familiar, these no-bake, healthy snacks for cats are the perfect answer.

Ingredients

• 100g of tinned salmon
• 50g oat flour
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil

Method

Put all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well.

Roll into small balls, then place in the fridge for an hour to chill. Before feeding to your cat, remove the treats from the fridge and allow them to come to room temperature.

Store in an airtight container in the fridge, and use within three days.

This catnip tea is the perfect way to encourage your cat to drink more water on a hot day – just make sure to check the temperature of the tea before giving it to your cat.

Ingredients

• 50ml hot water
• 3 tablespoons catnip
• ¼ teaspoon of low-salt chicken stock powder

Method

Place the catnip and low-salt chicken stock powder in a bowl.

Pour over the hot water and leave to cool before giving it to your cat: aim for room temperature or a little warmer. Alternatively, pop it in the fridge and serve it to them chilled.

Offering your cat some homemade treats during a heatwave is a great way to keep them cool, but it’s important to keep them safe as well. Here’s a few things to bear in mind.

Cats can be sensitive to changes in their diet, so introduce new ingredients slowly and monitor your cat for any signs of gastrointestinal issues. If your cat has allergies, always check with your vet before offering them any new ingredients.

If you’ve got cat insurance with Petplan, you can also take advantage of our Pet Expert Chat to speak with a veterinary professional at any time of day. Log in to your My Petplan account and head to the My Support area to get started.

A lot of household ingredients are toxic to cats, so never use foods your cat shouldn’t eat such as onions or milk. Avoid anything with added salt or seasonings, too.

Treats should only make up a small portion of your cat’s daily ration; otherwise, your cat may put on weight. If you’re feeding treats containing tuna, do not offer these to your cat more than once a week – the high fat content can cause weight gain or upset your cat’s stomach.