DIY Cat Treats: Mini Kitty Pumpkin Spice Doughnut Holes

Hello cat lovers! Kayleigh from Crafts and a Cat here. There’s nothing I love more than spoiling my cat, Bisou, and one of my favorite ways of pampering her is with gourmet homemade cat treats. Since autumn calls for all things pumpkin, I came up with these tasty morsels, which Bisou wolfed down in a frenzy (could be the catnip)! They’re lean and grain-free too, so you can feel good about feeding them to your kitty. Enjoy!

These cat treats are a cinch to whip up, with just a few ingredients mixed together in a single bowl. They’re healthy, and free of fillers, additives, and preservatives. Plus, they’re low fat, grain-free and high in protein. Just as importantly, they’re full of delicious, seasonal flavor I hope your kitty will love as much as Bisou does. Bisou is a very picky eater, so her paw print of approval means a lot, but I’d love to hear what you and your cat think of this autumn treat, too!

*Kitty treats enlarged to show texture

Mini Kitty Pumpkin Spice Doughnut Holes
Makes about 7 dozen tiny doughnuts

 Ingredients

1/2 cup pumpkin purée, homemade or canned (without additives or spices)*
1/2 cup boneless, skinless cooked chicken
2 tsp. catnip (we used Tabby James catnip – not sponsored, we are just big fans!)
6-8 Tbs. corn starch

*Make your own pumpkin purée by slicing a pumpkin in half and scraping out the seeds. Pierce several times with a fork or knife. Roast sides face down at 400º until soft enough that a fork can easily pierce the flesh. Baking time will vary according to size of the pumpkin; start checking around 20 minutes. Peel the skin off and process in a blender until smooth.

Method

Preheat oven to 250º Fahrenheit.

Cut the chicken into small pieces and pulse in a blender or food processor until shredded. Stir in the pumpkin purée and catnip. Stir in the potato starch one tablespoon at a time, until you’re able to handle the dough without it sticking to your hands too much. You might not need the full amount.

Pinch off half mini marshmallow-sized pieces (make sure they are small enough for your cat to safely eat), roll into a ball, and roll in catnip if desired. Bake the doughnut holes for five minutes. Let cool before feeding to your kitty. Try cutting them into a few pieces if they are too big for her to eat. Store in the refrigerator for up to a week, or freeze until you’re ready to feed them to your cat.

Hope you’re enjoying the season and all its flavors!