Category Archives: All Things Cats

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Cleaning Stainless Steel Pet Food Dishes

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There is nothing more frustrating that trying to clean hot water and calcium buildup off any stainless steel products. It is even more annoying when that item is something your pet uses every and you try your best to keep it in drink-worthy condition!

Fear not pet lovers! I have found a safe and effective solution that is guaranteed to clean all stainless steel pet dishes safely and effectively. Not only does this ‘magic solution’ get rid of the hot water buildup, it also makes it shiny and beautiful šŸ™‚

What is this magic solution you may ask?

……………………………….. IT

……………………………. IS

……………………….

…………………..

………….VINEGAR!!!

Yes! Good ol’ white vinegar is all you need to keep those pesky buildups away for good.

As a pet blogger, I get asked numerous times about the best type of materials to use as pet food and water dishes. My first choice is always ceramic however if you can find a good quality stainless steel product and can commit to keeping it clean, it is also a good option. Plastic is a BIG NO NO!

You don’t necessarily have to go to the pet store to buy food bowls. I have found wonderful dishes at stores like Home Sense and Marshalls.

I would like to use those post to share with readers that it is not hard to keep your pet’s food dishes clean and safe. One of the first things you should do before you open that can of cat food is to give the dish a good scrub with hot water. You will be surprised as to how quickly bacteria can build up on dishes with old, leftover food sitting on it. Would you eat out of a plate that had yesterday’s food still stuck on it?

It is not just enough to feed your pet good quality food but it is even more important to pay attention to how you store that food and what you use to feed it on.

Ok, back to the stainless steel water bowl…… This particular bowl is the Pioneer Pet Stainless Steel Fountain Raindrop Design , 60oz. You can purchase it on Amazon (links below).

Here you can see the buildup that has already formed on top of this water fountain (the white stuff!!) One time, I had really crusty white buildup which required a lot of soaking in vinegar!

First you remove the filter and take apart the fountain (minus the wall plug in! – DO NOT PUT THAT IN WATER!). Next, fill the sink with hot water, add about 2 cups on plain white vinegar and soak all the pieces in it,Ā including the plastic insert which holds the motor).

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Ideally, you would let this soak for a few hours. The more you let is soak, the easier it is to scrub away the buildup. Once the soaking is done, take a scrubbie or washcloth and give it all the good scrub down. Use an old toothbrush and a Q-Tip to get into those hard to reach corners!

Once you have gotten all the gunk out and rinsed everything, drain out the vinegar water and fill up the sink again with cold water. Add everything back in and let it soak again. This is to ensure there is no left over vinegar lurking around. While household vinegar is not harmful to animals, they are not overly fond of the taste of it in their water!

Voila! Now you have a extra clean water fountain with no buildup, ready to be used! (extra bonus is that your sink gets a good clean too!)

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PS: We are big fans of this water fountain as it circulatesĀ the water really well and Kitty Mojito drinks so much water now than before when she just had a water bowl.

How to you keep your pet’s food bowls clean? Share your thoughts in the comments!

To purchase in Canada, click below:

Pioneer Pet Stainless Steel Fountain Raindrop Design , 60oz

To purchase in the US, click below:

Pioneer Pet Stainless Steel Fountain Raindrop Design , 60oz

 

(This is a personal review and is in no way sponsored by the above mentioned company)
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Review – Katsville Kats Catnip Cat Toys

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I had the pleasure of learning about Katsville Kats a few weeks ago via Instagram.

This is a Canadian company based in Maple Ridge, British Columbia and they focus on making catnip toys from upcycled denim, filled with organic and locally grown catnip.

Here is a bit about how Katsville Kats’ came to be from the owner, Cathy Chambers.

My family and I have always loved animals. We have a special affinity for cats. I have 3 cats who love to play. The cat kicker toys are especially popular amongst them. However, the toys from the store would be shredded in a day. An idea manifested in my head in wanting to combine my cats’ need for play and my desire to do something good for the environment.

I really love upcycling, recycling and looking after the environment. So I designed cat toys made with sturdy upcycled denim and filled with organically and locally grown dried catnip. My designs have been cat tested and cat approved!

Cathy was kind enough to send over some toys to be tested by our resident product tester, Kitty Mojito.

This is the Cat Kicker Toy. Immediately, I was very impressed by the size and the sturdiness of it. Kitty was able to bunny kick the life out of it and it held it’s shape really well. Of course, we had hours of play with the “danglies” at the end.

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The next toy we tried out is called the ‘Bermuda Flannel Triangle’. It is definitely a good size for a triangle toy and is softer than the kicker toy. While it is too small for bunny kicks, it is great for throwing around and I think smaller cats will really enjoy kicking it about.

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What I found most impressive about these toys is the fact that they are very well made. As you know, cats can be quite aggressive in their playtime and most store bought toys don’t survive the clawing, kicking and ripping that the toys are put through. The fact that it is made with upcycled denim (hooray for reusing products and saving them from heading to the landfills!) is a huge plus.Ā I am all for supporting small businesses that go the extra mile by making sure their products are eco- friendly and/or use their platforms to make the world a better place in some way.

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Of course, the most important feedback comes from the tester herself! As you can see, she wasted no time attacking the toy and ended up playing with it for a long time. She enjoys a lot of bunny kicking so this was perfect for her.

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She was more drawn to the kicker toy than the triangle which I assume was due to the size of it.

I would definitely recommend these toys for anyone looking for quality catnip kickers for their feline friends. Don’t forget to leave me a comment and let me know what your cats favourite toys are!

If you would like to get your paws on your very own Katsville Kats Catnip Cat Toys, head over to their Facebook page and order one today!

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(These toys were sent to us free of charge in exchange for our honest review)Ā 
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When Your Cat Gets Sick – Are You Ever Ready For It?

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Several months ago, Kitty started throwing up her food. It started out as an occasional thing but soon progressed to a daily occurrence. I was very worried! Eventually, once a day turned into several times a day. A vet appointment was quickly made. Upon taking a closer look at her throw up, I could see that it was mostly undigested food. She would start to hack, then throw up the food and continue to puke until there is just bile and sometimes blood. I tried everything to help her little tummy, from feeding her small portions to making her dry food moist. I gave her chicken broth, pumpkin puree and limited ingredient food but nothing helped.

off to the vet!
Waiting for the doc!

Once I got her to the vet, it helped that I had kept track of when and how much she had thrown up and any behavioral changes so I was able to provide the vet with details of what had happened. We talked about the reasons why cats throw up such eating too fastĀ  and food intolerance to more serious conditions such as kidney issues and infections. After further discussion and a physical examination, it was evident that Kitty was physically in good health. There were no visible issues nor has she displayed any behavioural changes. I was given the option to do further testing to which I gladly agreed. I wanted to get to the bottom of this so Kitty was taken away for blood work and x-rays.

I was eager to know the results.Ā  The x-rays turned out to be normal (such a relief!) and I was told that I will be informed of the blood results the next day. They also sent in for additional set of blood work to test her pancreas. It was a long 24 hour wait but it was worth it as the news was good! ALL her blood work was normal! Hurray! Even though it cost over $425 for all the testing, it was worth the peace of mind.

In the meantime, the vet had suggested looking into switching her food into a gastro – friendly vet food. I was not too thrilled about pursuing that path so I did a bit of research to find something that could provide some relief for sensitive stomachs. I found that Halo pet food had a blend for sensitive stomach (Halo Food). The kibble was much smaller than usual kibble so it could help Kitty chew it better. I also found a food tree from Catit (Food Tree) which I figured would help slow down her eating.Ā  As I slowly transitioned her to her new food and food tree (it took her a good week or so to get used to it!), I was fortunate enough to connect with a company calledĀ NHV Natural Products. They helped me figure out what I could add to Kitty’s diet to help her get more nutrients. I purchased theirĀ Multi Essentials For Cats.Ā I also stopped giving her assorted treats and only give her a couple of freeze dried salmon or Greenies occasionally.

Fast forward several weeks, I am so happy to say that she hasn’t thrown up since the end of October. She has been enjoying the Halo food. To keep things consistent, I have also gotten her on the Halo wet food. She takes 0.5ml of the multi vitamin drops twice a day which has helped her greatly.

Having to deal with this situation only reiterated the fact that it is so important to know your pets. Paying attention to their habits and routine will really help you in times like this. Also, please get pet insurance! Even though the vet visit and testingĀ  was only $425, insurance covered 90% of the testing (THANK YOU, TRUPANION!). I had to pay a little over $200 (the deductible of $100 and the examination fee).

 

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Hooray For Halloween!

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Halloween is just around the corner! And this year, I had Kitty’s costumes ready to go since July! Since I kind of dropped the ball on it last year, this time around I started looking on swap pages and garage sales for some fun costumes for her a few months ago (I refuse to pay full price at the pet store!).

Luckily, I went to a yard sale hosted by a local rescue organization awhile back and managed to find some super adorable costumes for a few dollars.

So let me start by introducing ‘Wonder Kitty Mojito Woman’ !

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POWER.Ā  Ā  Ā GRACE.Ā  Ā  Ā  WISDOM.Ā  Ā  Ā  WONDER.

Like the original Wonder Woman, Wonder Kitty Mojito Woman oozes style and grace. She is strong and powerful (like when she battles with the evil mousie), wise beyond her years and is full of love and wonder (why else would she let me dress her up?) Yes, I know Wonder Woman wasn’t blonde but hey! why blend in when you can stand out?

 


Next, we move on to the Mad Hatter! Not sure what’s with the bunny ears but it is adorable!

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One of my favourite costumes this year is the Little Witch. She looks absolutely adorable in this costume and with a little coaxing, I was able to get her to sit long enough for these super cute photos!

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We also had a little fun with Batty Mojito and a simple pumpkin scarf that can also be worn as a skirt!

 


And what Halloween without a good ol’ pirate lass!

Arrr, so ye be wantin’ t’ go to sea an’ ye don’t be wantin’ t’ end up in Davy Jones’ Locker. Then ye best be learnin’ t’ be talkin’ like a buccaneer.

 

I’m sure Kitty would love to hear your thoughts on her outfits! Please leave a comment and let her know!

Have a super scary and fun Halloween!

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Fighting Feline Dental Issues!

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A few weeks ago, Miss. Kitty had a vet appointment for her yearly vaccines! She was a great little patient and didn’t even flinch when she got her shots. Her weight was perfect (same as last year! Vet said I am a great cat mommy! Yay!), her coat is exceptional and her overall health is great! EXCEPT………. for some plaque on her back teeth!

Visiting Dr. Foster, dressed in her best bandana!
Off to the vet in the stroller!
Enjoying the stroll!

OK, OK, it’s not as bad as I am making it out to be! During last year’s check up, Kitty had some plaque. I was advised to try brushing and use some dental treats to keep it from getting worse or look into getting her teeth professionally cleaned. This year, it is still the same. Luckily, it has not gotten worse, thank goodness! However, now I am being a bit more proactive in getting her used to the brush!

At the vet clinic dressed in her best!
Visiting Dr. Foster, dressed in her best bandana!

So, in this post, I am going to give a few tips to anyone who is interested in trying to brush their felines teeth!

First thing is to find a toothbrush that your cat will tolerate. I have tried the ones that you put on your finger but I found that those are not as effective as an actual toothbrush. No cat wants your finger in their mouth!

I got this toothbrush and toothpaste at the vet office. The brush has soft bristles and the toothpaste is poultry flavoured. Both got two paws up from Kitty! DO NOT USE HUMAN TOOTHPASTE! Please check with your vet or local pet store to get a toothbrush and paste made especially for cats!

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Before you actually attempt to brush, let the cat get accustomed to the toothbrush. I would let Kitty just bite on it and get used to it being close to her mouth. Then, I would put a bit of paste on the brush and have her lick it and taste it. She will try to chew on it which is great because she is slowly getting used to the toothbrush!

The problem area for Kitty is her back teeth. You can probably see the plaque! This is not an easy place to try to brush. She is more comfortable having her fangs brushed than me trying to get to that pesky back teeth!

It is very important to keep the cat in a comfortable position. For Kitty, it is sitting on my lap. I would Ā hold her very gently and lift up her lip to reveal the teeth that needs to be cleaned. With a very calm and gentle hand, slowly rub the brush on the teeth. You can massage the gums gently as well.

Do not put pressure on the neck or hold on too tight. You know your kitty the best so as soon as you feel that they are getting stressed, stop what you are doing. Leave it for another day!

In the photos above, you will see that I am holding her neck VERY gently. It is just enough to support her head while I get those teeth cleaned.

You will soon learn that you can’t brush it all in one go. So take your time and focus on the problem areas first. Kitty tries to bite on the brush and I let her do that as much as she wants. Then, I brush a bit more. It is never more than a minute or two at a time.

Patience is key! Try to brush a bit everyday, even if it’s just one small spot. Use slow, gentle rotations. Kitty is a very patient cat so I have had better luck with her. If your kitty is not too enthusiastic at first, give them a dental treat and let them go on their way. Try again tomorrow!

It is important that you keep trying. Not many pet parents pay much attention to the health and condition of their pets’ teeth until something serious happens. Be proactive and pay attention to their dental health. Watch for bad breath and bleeding gums! Talk to your vet about it at your next appointment. Dental issues will cost you thousands of dollars so best catch things before it gets to that point.

As always, make sure your kitty is on a healthy diet and has access to lots of fresh water. Avoid food and treats that have artificial flavours and colours. Look for all natural, crunchy treats and use them in moderation. Dental treats are not a substitution for a good cleaning routine!

If you have any tips, experiences with your own pets’ dental health, please share them in the comments!

Hope you enjoyed this post! Don’t forget to follow the blog and share about it on social media! Tag @kittymojito on Instagram!

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Pet Insurance – Yay or Nay?

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I have been wanting to write about this for a while now…

Since I am on social media quite often on a daily basis, I can’t help but notice all the requests for help for pets who are ill or injured. It breaks my heart to see that money is sometimes the only thing keeping some people from getting the life saving treatments needed for their pets. They try their best but who has thousands of dollars laying around on a whim? Some treatments costs several thousands over a long period of time and this cost is not bearable for many people.

This got me thinking about insurance. I am a big believer in the preparing for emergencies. And since both myself and my husband have life insurance and critical illness insurance, why would I not look into the same thing for Kitty?

As soon as we adopted Kitty 4 years ago, the first thing we did was get insurance. She was a year old and the premium cost was around $30 a month. Sure, that was affordable and it covered a lot of ailments and injuries with the exception of any pre-existing conditions. We decided to pick Trupanion due to the previous mentioned reasons and also for the fact that they didn’t put a limit on how many times you can make a claim for the same condition and covered 90%.

Fast forward a few years……

Kitty is 5 years old now and although we never had to use insurance (knock on wood!), her premiums are now at $63 a month. Many people have asked me why I am paying so much for pet insurance. They ask me why I don’t just save that monthly $63 in a savings account for Kitty.

I will tell you why ….

  1. If I saved $63 a month for a year, I will have $756. If you know how much vet’s charge, this will certainly not be enough to cover tests, xrays, medication, vet fees.
  2. If, god forbid, Kitty has an accident and requires surgery or any extensive treatments, I will not have enough cash to cover things upfront if I didn’t have insurance.
  3. The $63 is a price I will gladly pay for my peace of mind knowing that if something were to happen, I will not have to compromise on getting her the treatments she needs. Her well-being is worth far more to me.

To anyone who is still not sure about getting insurance, I say please do some research and get the coverage that works for your pet. Here are a few tips to keep in mind.

  • Take time to do some comparisons of insurance companies. Don’t always go for the cheapest option. See what is and what is not covered.
  • Try to get insurance when the pet is young. Like human insurance policies, the earlier you purchase it, the most affordable the premiums are.
  • Don’t be put off by the premium cost. If your pet is 8 years old and the online insurance quote is $80, give them a call. They will be able to work with you to get the best coverage needed.

So, in conclusion, I would like to say that I am all for pet insurance. You can make it work for you. Even though it might seem a lot and you may not think it’s worth it, I say it is TOTALLY worth it! I have never had to use it and if I had to do it all over again, I would still pick having insurance over having none!

(This is just my opinion and have no way been influenced by any pet insurance companies)

The Importance of Pet Insurance

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Sleepy Time Routines!

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We all have some sort of routine before bed right? Sometimes itā€™s a soothing cup of tea or a cookie or maybe itā€™s a beauty routine. Either way, we all spend a few minutes before bed doing something to get us relaxed and ease into a blissful night of sleep.

Have you even know for a cat to have a sleep routine? Well, let me tell you about Kitty Mojito and her daily night-time routine. She has two routines, one for when Daddy works night shifts and itā€™s just me and her. And the other for when both of us are at home.

Let me start with the one where we are both home at night.

When we sit down for dinner, Kitty joins us. No matter how early I put out her food, she will not eat until she sees us eating. I find this just adorable. When dinner is done and everything is cleaned up, we get ready for bed. For Kitty, this means dragging out her noisiest toy and positioning it just outside our bedroom door.

Fast forward, we are both in bed, lights are off, time for sleepā€¦ā€¦ And right on cueā€¦. here come Kitty with her noisy toyā€¦. she throws it around a few timesā€¦she waits for a response. If we say anything, the thrashing about continues. If we stay quiet, she starts her nightly singingā€¦ Mew, meow…..meoooooooooow…..

It goes on for a good ten minutes or so. If she canā€™t get our attention with the singing, she proceeds to jumping on the bed and doing a walkabout. Usually this includes walking on the pillows andĀ all over us. She will also try knocking things over in order to get our attention. If neither of us wakes up and shoos her out, she will eventually curl up by the edge of the bed and go to sleep.

Ā Scenario 2 – Daddy is not home ……

Ā During the nights that Daddy is working, things are a bit more quiet. Kitty loves to play with Daddy so she is always excited when he is at home. When he is at work, she is a bit more subdued. So the nightly routine gets taken down a notch.

It goes like this ā€¦..

Ā Once I get ready for bed. I announce ā€˜ Kitty! Bedtime!ā€™

She will usually follow meā€¦She jumps around on the bed. Yay! Itā€™s playtime! She attacks my feet ā€¦ Jump, jump, jumpā€¦.. Letā€™s play Mama!

I turn off the night light. Ok , now she knows that itā€™s quiet time. She does try to get my attention but eventually she will just curl up on Daddyā€™s side and sleep. Fast forward a few hours, usually between 4-5am, she will wake up and run around a bit, she will try to bite my feet by crawling under the covers. I have to calm her down and then encourage her to go back to sleep. This is the ONLY time she will sleep UNDER the covers. And she will stay under the covers until I wake up in the morning.

Having read this, you may think ā€˜ Hey that’s not a routine, itā€™s just something cats do!ā€™ And I say to you, this IS a routine because she does this like clockwork, everything in the same order, at the same time, day in and day out šŸ™‚ It’s just so amazing!

Animals are very intuitive and are smarter than we give them credit!

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Happy International Cat Day!

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Today is International Cat Day!!

It’s a day to show your kitty babies how much you love them…. but who are we kidding…. everything is cat day for most of us:)

In honor of this very special day, I will be sending out postcards to anyone who would want it!!

You heard me right! If you would like some postcards that I designed (hint: you can check them out in the SHOP section of the blog), send me an email with your mailing address and I will send them out to you for FREE!!

Don’t delay, this offer is only good for TODAY August 8th 2016.

 

 

 

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Disaster Strikes – Be Prepared!

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As I write this, there is a northern oil town called Fort McMurray here in Alberta (Canada) that is burning from a massive wildfire that is out of control.

Over 100,000 people have been evacuated. Not only have these folks lost their homes, their possessions and livelihoods, some have lost their precious pets :_( ButĀ we, as a province and country, have all come together to make sure that these folks and their furry friends are taken care in this time of need.The outpouring of support for everyone affected is amazing and it makes me so proud to be a Canadian!

Even thought the worst isn’t over yet (the fires are still burning!), it is time to focus on rebuilding. … My thoughts and prayers are definitely with those affected!

All this just reiterated the fact that we all need to have an evacuation kit and an emergency plan, especially if you have pets. I wrote a previous post about putting together a pet emergency kit which I hope you will read again (if you haven’t already!)

It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, even if it is just a backpack with a change of clothes and copies of any important documents along with a small first aid kit would be sufficient.

For your pet, a few cans of food, an extra leash, some bedding added to a small pack is vital in case you have to leave your home in a hurry.

Also chat with your family and come up with a meeting point …. somewhere you can all gather … make sure your kids know what to do in a situation like this, have a list of emergency contacts visible at home…. there is so many things we can do … all you have to do is Google it and get started!

 

I think there are two scenarios we need to be ready for and here is my own plans for them. I hope this inspires you to have a plan for your family.

  1. An emergency evacuation when I amĀ at home
  2. A emergency evacuation when I amĀ NOT at home

 

Scenario 1 :

If (god forbid) something happens while I am at home that require me to evacuate, leaving my cat behind is not an option,, not matter what. I already have a plan in mind, I know exactly what I need to grab and get out.

The first thing I would do it grab Kitty’s harness and leash and secure her in the stroller. Next I would grab her emergency kit (which has some food, supplies to keep her calm) while also grabbing our ownĀ emergency backpacks (one each for my husband and myself), filled with a change of clothes, some toiletries and copiesĀ and originalsĀ of important documents).

That’s it!Ā Everything else can be replaced….. !

I will then run to my friend’s place and grab her two kitties if she is not home.

 

Scenario 2:

If (again god forbid!) there is an evacuation happening when I am not at home, I have emergency stickers on my Ā front door indicating that I have a cat inside.Ā This lets the emergency personnel know there is a pet that needs to be saved. These stickers can be found at pet stores everywhere! Please grab one today!

I also have contact numbers of a couple of neighbours that I could reach out to, one of whom will grab Kitty and keep her safe until I can be reached. We have an agreement that in case of emergency, I will grab her two kitties and vice versa! This way I knowĀ KittyĀ is safe!

 

Having some sort of plan will really help ease some of the stress….. I know we don’t want to think about anything awful happening to us, but sometimes bad things happen so we need to be prepared.

disaster

 

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Homemade Cat Treats Part 2

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Today Ā I put my baking skills to good use and made these awesome treats for Kitty.

I call it Tuna-tato Bites….It is super simple !

Ingredients :

1 can of tuna ( I used white flaked tuna)
1 egg
4 tbsp of rice flour (I used gluten free rice flour – it’s what I had!)
a few tsps of water
1/2 russet potato

Step 1

Peel and cut the potato into chunks and add it to boiling water. Let it boil for a good 8-10 mins. Ā Then, mash it up, making sure it is not too dry (add a few tsp of water to make it more pliable)

 

Step 2

Beat the egg in a separate bowl. Add them to the tuna and mix it well. Next add the rice flour.

 

Step 3

Spoon the mixture in a small muffin tin and bake in a preheated oven at 350C for 15 mins.

Note: if you are using muffin liners, the tuna will stick to it (as I later found out)… I would suggest leaving out the liners and bake directly in the pan.

 

Step 4

Spoon the mashed potatoes into a piping bag and add it on top of the baked treats once they have cooled. You can leave this part outĀ if you prefer.

 

Finally, just to top it off, I added a piece of Kitty’s dry food to each of the treats:)

 

And now .. drumroll please…. The Taste Test…..

 

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She LOVED it!!…. She wasn’t too crazy about the potato part so I may leave that out next time…

You will have to break the ‘muffin’ into smaller pieces for your cat …. It is a dry treat so make sureĀ it is broken upĀ to avoid any choking!!!… you can add some pumpkin puree to the tuna mixture if you want a more moist muffin.

No more than one muffin a day per cat…. And please store it in the fridge! It should last 3 to 5 days.

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I would love to hear your thoughts on this recipe and if you end up making it for your furbaby, please send me some photos so I can share them here:)