Homemade cat food
Mackerel & Parsley Fresh-Breath Bites
Omega-rich mackerel flecked with a little fresh parsley — a savoury treat that cats adore and that may leave their breath a touch fresher.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- 25 min
- Makes
- About 20 small bites
🧺 Ingredients
- 80 g cooked mackerel, skin and all bones removed
- 1 tsp very finely chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tbsp oat flour, to bind
- 1 small egg, beaten
👩🍳 Method
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (fan 160°C) and line a baking tray with parchment.
- Flake the cooked mackerel finely, checking carefully for any bones.
- Mix the mackerel with the finely chopped parsley, oat flour and beaten egg to form a soft, mouldable paste.
- Roll into small pea-sized bites and flatten each slightly on the tray.
- Bake for 12–15 minutes until firm and lightly golden, then cool completely before serving.
Nutrition: Oily fish like mackerel is packed with omega-3 fatty acids that support a glossy coat and healthy joints, while a whisper of parsley adds a mild, natural breath-freshening touch cats tolerate well in tiny amounts.
📝 Notes
Use only a pinch of parsley — a little is a safe, breath-freshening herb, but large amounts are not needed and should be avoided. Make sure every bone is removed from the mackerel and serve these as an occasional treat rather than a meal. Store in the fridge for up to three days.
⚕️ Before you cook for your cat
- Homemade food must be balanced. Cats need taurine, and deficiency causes heart and eye disease.
- Treat recipes are supplements to a complete diet, not a replacement for it.
- Check any new ingredient against the toxic-foods list, and ask your vet before switching diets.