Skip to main content

3 adorable Halloween treats you can make for your cat

If you’re looking for Halloween treats for cats, you’ll find that there aren’t many store-bought options. That’s OK, though — homemade cat treats are just as good, and you can make cat treats with fun Halloween themes. The following three recipes are all tasty and feature common ingredients you can find in grocery stores. The recipes are easy to prepare, and they all give you a chance to make festive Halloween shapes. If you have a little extra time, consider making these fun (and yummy) Halloween-themed treats for your cat for a special holiday celebration that the two of you can enjoy together.

White cat eating a treat off of the floor
Dusica Paripovic/Alamy

Carrot-and-pumpkin treats

You may have carved jack-o’-lanterns and maybe even made baked pumpkin seeds, but now your cat can enjoy some tasty pumpkin flavor, too. These treats combine delicious carrot and pumpkin, making them perfect for the Halloween season.

Recommended Videos

In addition to grated carrot and canned pumpkin, you’ll need tuna, an egg, olive oil, a little dried catnip, and oat flour. The ingredients are common, and you probably have most of them in your kitchen already.

It’s easy to make the treats. You need to combine all the ingredients to create a dough, then roll it out and cut it with a cookie cutter. Consider looking for a Halloween-themed mini cookie cutter to make the treats extra special for the holiday. Then, pop them in the oven to bake and your cat will be able to give them the taste test.

Easy kitty treats

These easy kitty treats are super simple to make. They’re full of quality ingredients like tuna, pumpkin, and even catnip for extra taste. You can blend all the ingredients together in a blender or food processor, saving you time.

Once the dough is ready, you can roll it out and cut out shapes with a cookie cutter. Alternatively, you can roll the treats into small balls or press them into a silicone mold. Consider looking for a Halloween-themed mold to make the treats even more fun for your cat.

After you’ve prepared the treats, you’ll need to bake them. The finished treats will keep for a week in a sealed container.

Chewy cat treats

Each Halloween, you get to enjoy all sorts of chewy, delicious candies. Now, your cat can feast on special chewy cat treats of his own.

This recipe features common ingredients that you probably already have in your house. In addition to ingredients like cooked white rice and an egg, you’ll need a jar of meaty baby food (such as chicken and brown rice) or canned wet cat food. Look for a flavor, like chicken or turkey, that’s your cat really likes.

You’ll mix the ingredients together, spread them onto a prepared baking sheet, and bake them until the treats are almost cooked through. Once they’re cool enough to handle, you can slice the dough into smaller pieces before putting them back in the oven to cook a little more. Think about fun Halloween shapes that you can cut out, like ghosts or bats.

Woman feeding a longhaired cat a treat
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Tips for successful homemade cat treats

When you make cat treats at home, you can give your cat goodies that feature his favorite ingredients. You can substitute many of the meats in these recipes with your cat’s favorite meat. You can even mix in a little extra catnip to make the treats super tasty and appealing to your cat. That’s the beauty of homemade treats — you can make them to appeal to your cat’s taste buds and food preferences.

When making homemade treats, be sure you’re using the right ingredients that are safe for your cat. Many recipes include canned pumpkin, and it’s important to double-check that you’re using only canned pumpkin, and not pumpkin pie filling, which has extra spices and sugar or other sweeteners. Feed only a few treats to your cat each day. Sudden diet changes can upset your cat’s digestive system, and it’s important that he doesn’t fill up on treats so he still gets the nutrition he needs out of his cat food. Cooking for your cat at home is a wonderful and caring way to do something special for your kitty, and it makes a great way to celebrate Halloween together, too.

Paige Cerulli
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Paige's work has appeared in American Veterinarian, Business Insider, Healthline, and more. When she's not writing, Paige…
Why do cats hate closed doors? What science says
Your cat has a few reasons for following you into the bathroom
Cat sits in the bathroom looking out

Every cat owner knows that living with a feline means never having privacy. They follow you into the bathroom, the bedroom, and of course, the kitchen. Any door you're behind, in particular, becomes a cat nemesis. But why do cats hate closed doors? It turns out that the answer, like so much of pet behavior, comes from a complex place of modern living and ancestral instincts. Here's what you need to know about why your kitty detests you shutting them out and what you can do to keep your paint intact.
Why do cats hate closed doors?

When you go to the bathroom and shut the door, you might instantly hear the sounds of a cat positively shredding the outside (see also velcro dogs). It's not just that they want desperately to be near you, though. Cats have a unique perspective on their own space and a need to control it. After all, your house is theirs, too.

Read more
Your ultimate guide to celebrating Halloween with pets
Halloween isn't just for kids: Here's how to involve your furry friends
A West Highland white terrier dressed as a vampire sits beside a little girl dressed as a witch

The sudden arrival of pumpkin-flavored drinks and snacks can only mean one thing — spooky season is here and the perfect time to start planning your family's Halloween festivities. But what about Fido and Fluffy? Don't worry: We're here to share a few of the best ways to spend Halloween with pets. From finding the perfect costume for your fur baby to baking your own dog treats, we've got ideas that will make celebrating All Hallows' Eve fun (and, most importantly, safe) for the entire family. 
How to keep your pets safe during Halloween?

There are a few things you need to think about when planning a pet-friendly Halloween.
Candy
You already know about chocolate, but other ingredients in candy might pose a threat as well. This includes xylitol, a sugar alternative that hurts dogs even in very small quantities. Some healthy festive snacks might go into the no pile as well, like grapes. But remember that pumpkin is great for pets in moderation. So if you want a fall treat for your buddy, stick to plain jack-o'-lantern.
Decorations
We've written extensively about the dangers of Christmas trees and other accoutrements, so it won't surprise you to learn that some Halloween decor can have the same issues. Ornaments, lights, and tinsel all can do damage to pets if digested or broken, especially cats or dogs who love to chew.
Noise
While this certainly won't end with your pooch or mouser in the emergency vet, you do want to keep things calm enough that your animals don't freak out every October 31. Some dogs might prefer to spend the evening in a crate, and some cats may prefer to hide in their favorite room. Others will love the thick of things and greet every eager kid. Knowing your pet's personality helps.
Wear matching costumes

Read more
How to help your new cat settle in
Here are the steps you should take to help your cat feel at home with you
Tiger cat lying on a rug

Bringing home a new cat can be stressful for both you and your new furry family member. Fortunately, there are many ways you can help reduce your cat's stress and make the transition period easier. As your new cat settles in, he'll need some support from you, but he'll also need you to be patient with him. He's undergoing a big life change, and as excited as you are for him to be around, the best thing you can do is to give your kitty some time and space while he adjusts. He'll be roaming the house and hanging out with you soon enough if you follow these tips.
What is the 3-3-3 rule for cats?

If you have ever adopted a cat before, you may have heard this often-cited rule for settling in. The rule says that cats take three days to adjust to being in a new place at all and may seem especially hesitant and skittish.

Read more