Simple Freeze-Dried Cat Snacks (and Dog Snacks Too)

Cats are obligate carnivores — they don't need grains or fillers in a treat, just real meat. That makes freeze-dried cat snacks about as simple as pet treats get: a single ingredient, nothing added.

A One-Ingredient Cat Snack

Freeze-dry cooked chicken, turkey, or salmon, then chop it into tiny, cat-treat-sized bites. That's the whole recipe. A light dusting of nutritional yeast — which has a strong, cheesy flavor some cats find genuinely appealing — can help win over a pickier cat. And while cats don't need vegetables, some do enjoy them; a bit of cooked butternut squash mixed in isn't unusual as an occasional addition if your cat happens to like it.

A Cost-Saving Trick

Buying a whole chicken instead of pre-cut breasts stretches further than most people expect: serve the breast meat to your own family, and freeze-dry the dark meat for your cat's snacks. It's a simple way to use the whole bird and keep treat costs down at the same time, with no preservatives added anywhere in the process.

A Simple Dog Snack Too

Dog treats work the same basic way, just sized up — about the size of a dog biscuit instead of a cat-treat-sized bite. Beef liver, thoroughly cooked, diced, and freeze-dried, is a straightforward, well-regarded option if you want a single-ingredient treat for a dog as well.

More Homemade Pet Treats

Freeze-dried dog and cat snacks and freeze-dried dog and cat food both build on this same idea if you want more variety, and what are you feeding your dog is worth a look if you're thinking more broadly about your dog's diet.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the simplest freeze-dried cat snack to make?
Freeze-dried, cooked chicken, turkey, or salmon, chopped into small, treat-sized pieces — no other ingredients needed.

Can I add anything to make a freeze-dried cat snack more appealing?
A light dusting of nutritional yeast, which has a strong cheesy flavor, can help make a snack more appealing to a picky cat.

How can I save money making cat treats from a whole chicken?
Serve the breast meat to your family and freeze-dry the dark meat for your cat's snacks — it's a simple way to use the whole bird without waste.

What's a good freeze-dried treat for dogs?
Beef liver, thoroughly cooked, diced, and freeze-dried into dog-biscuit-sized pieces, makes a simple, well-regarded single-ingredient treat.