Make Your Own Cat Treats

I was taking our own advice, and cutting my household clutter over the holiday weekend, when I unearthed a cat-themed memory book my sister-in-law gave me many Christmases ago. Since it contained a couple of recipes for homemade feline fancies-and because my own cats would never forgive me if dogs got the upper paw on Planet Green-here are some juicy omnivorous nibbles, shaped into the form of mice, that you can whip up for your fusspot puss. (I doubt your cat will care whether they're in the shape of mice or fire hydrants, but humans need to get their jollies somewhere.)

Nice Mice Bites

1 egg 2 tbs oats 3 oz. ground organic sausage meat/minced beef Sprinkling of organic catnip (optional)

1. Mix the ingredients together well in a bowl.

2. Take teaspoons of the mixture, one at a time and knead into tiny mice shapes. Broil under medium heat for 5-7 minutes, turning them regularly, until the outsides are crisp.

3. Allow them to cool. If the mice bites are still too big for your cat to eat, slice them into more-manageable chunks.

From A Cat's Life: Celebrate the Life of Your Pet by Alisa Greenhalgh (2004, Barnes & Noble)

Difficulty level: Easy