SEASON 2
by: Susan Gast / Author, Blogger at Beesville Books, Bored Boomers, and a Food Dehydrating Fanatic!
Podcast Created With Google's AI NotebookLMThanks for checking out this Podcast Podcast Episode 2: Kitty Cravings, Secrets of Cat Treats
Head on over to our Podcast Host to see a list of all our Easy Food Dehydrating episodes... or go to our hub page on this site. Please note that for your convenience, the episodes on our site contain the Podcast transcripts, too!
00:04
Hello, and welcome to Easy Food Dehydrating, the show that
teaches you how to safely dehydrate and store fresh or frozen fruits and
vegetables along with cooked meats. Let's get going!
00:21
Okay. So you're ready to, ditch those mystery meat cat treats. Right?
Yeah.
Those ones from the store. Right. And we're gonna whip up some homemade goodness instead.
Absolutely.
I'm so there. Yeah. Today, we are diving into a new book I found.
Okay.
00:35
How to make cat treats. Oh. It's from Susan Gast. Mhmm. And it's on her website, Easy Food Dehydrating.
Cool. We're gonna uncover the secrets of DIY cat snacks. Love it.
So get ready. Okay.
For some serious culinary inspiration. Alright. For your cat. Yes.
It's really amazing how much we're learning about pet nutrition these days.
It is. I mean, think about it. Even, like, five, ten years ago, people weren't really thinking about, you know... Right.
Homemade pet food as much. And now. Yeah.
01:04
It's really taken off.
Yeah. It's like a whole new world. It is. And the best part is, you know, making these homemade treats. Yeah.
You're giving your feline friend. Right.
Healthy food with ingredients that you can actually pronounce.
Exactly. And you know what goes into it. Yes.
Which is a big deal for a lot of pet owners these days.
Huge. Right? No more squinting at that ingredient list. Right. Trying to decipher what, like, meat byproducts - oh my gosh, yes - actually means.
Exactly.
01:33
But before we, like, fire up the old dehydrator. Okay. Let's talk about what we can actually feed. Yeah. These furry little carnivores.
Sure.
Susan's website. Mhmm. Has some surprisingly delicious options on there.
Oh, yeah.
You can get really creative. Okay.
With this stuff. Okay.
01:50
Of course, we've got our staples. Yeah. You know, lean meats.
Like cooked chicken.
Chicken too.
Fresh fish?
Mhmm. Always cooked, though. Never raw.
Okay. So cooked chicken, cooked fish.
Right. Got it. Those are always a hit.
Yeah.
02:03
But here's a fun one that really surprised me. Okay. Did you know that you can actually dehydrate cheese. What?
Into crunchy Cheese?
I know. Serious, dairy? Cheese. I always thought cats and dairy were a big no no.
Yeah. So you are right to be cautious.
A lot of cats are lactose intolerant.
Okay.
You gotta be careful with that. But...
Small amounts of certain cheeses, like a cheddar. Okay.
Or a mozzarella Mhmm. Generally fine.
Okay.
And dehydrating them actually removes even more of the lactose. Oh, okay.
Making them even easier to digest. Okay.
So that's a good way to go if your cat's, like, a little bit sensitive.
02:40
That's a game changer.
Right.
My cat. Yeah. She goes bonkers for cheese. Oh, really?
So knowing I can give her a little taste safely. Right.
That's amazing. Exactly. But what about fruits and veggies?
Yeah. Good question.
Because I've heard some could be dangerous for cats.
02:55
Absolutely. You always wanna do your research.
Okay. Susan's got a great list. Okay. On her website of cat-safe options. Okay.
Things like apples... Apples.
Okay. Blueberries. Okay.
Even watermelon in moderation.
You know what?
Yeah.
Right.
Watermelon.
Watermelon.
Okay. Crazy.
Right?
I would never thought Yeah. So Okay.
03:15
The key is to avoid anything citrusy.
Like, it can be toxic to cats.
Okay.
And always always remove any seeds, rinds, or pits Okay.
Before dehydrating because those can also be harmful.
Got it. No citrus. Right. Triple check for seeds and pits.
Exactly. It's like I'm prepping food for a tiny furry king.
Yes.
03:38
What about grapes?
Oh, yeah. I've always heard those were bad news. Yeah. You heard right.
Grapes and raisins. Okay. Are a definite no go. Okay.
For cats.
Okay.
They can actually cause some pretty serious health problems. Oh, no. Yeah. So it's best to just avoid them altogether. Okay. Good to know. Yeah.
03:58
So let's say I've got my ingredients all prepped. Okay.
And ready to go. Mhmm. How do I actually dehydrate them?
Okay.
Is it, like, some complicated process?
Do I need some fancy expensive machine? Right. Yeah. Is this, like, something I need, like, a culinary degree for. Yeah. To figure out? No. Not at all.
Okay.
You'd be surprised. Okay.
How straightforward it is.
That's right.
04:21
It's really easy. A food dehydrator. Okay. Is definitely the way to go for best results. Okay.
But they're not as intimidating as they might seem.
Okay. You know, Susan actually has a whole section on her website. Okay.
Dedicated to, like... Okay. Demystifying. Sure. Different types of dehydrators.
Oh, that's so smart. Yeah. Because. Right. Let's be real. Like, there are a million different kitchen gadgets out there. Right. It's so easy to get overwhelmed.
It is.
So she helps you, like, pick the right one.
Exactly. She breaks down. Yep. Like, pros and cons of different models and features and stuff.
Okay.
04:54
Sponsor Message
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05:40
But the basic process. Okay.
Is incredibly simple.
Okay.
You thinly slice. Mhmm.
Your chosen ingredients.
K. You arrange them. Mhmm. On these little dehydrator trays. Yeah.
And you just let the machine work its magic.
Oh.
Right?
It gently removes the moisture. Yeah.
And it leaves you with these, like, shelf stable treats. So cool.
That can last for months.
Okay. That's way easier than I thought it would be. Great. It is. So much better than, like. Oh, yeah.
06:09
Those mystery meat sticks from the store. Yeah. Plus knowing exactly what your cat is eating. Exactly. It's so reassuring.
You can even, like, customize the treats. Absolutely. Based on your cat's preferences.
Yes.
Speaking of which, did you see. Yeah. The recipe? Which one? For lettuce. Yeah.
Pea. Yeah.
And green bean sponges? I did. Okay. Yeah. It sounds like something. It does. Right? My veggie living niece would eat.
Totally. I know. That one's great.
Yeah.
06:39
That one was actually submitted. Oh, really?
By a reader. Cool.
Yeah. That's awesome.
Which I love. Yeah. Because she really encourages people. K.
To get creative and, like, share their own cat treat concoction.
That is so cool.
I know. It's great.
It's like a whole, like, feline foodie community. Sweet. Right.
Yeah. It's awesome.
06:59
Who knows what your cat will, like, go crazy for? Right. Maybe kale chips. Yeah. Are gonna be the next. The next big thing. Big thing.
Right.
For cats.
Although, I'm not sure.
Yeah. My cat would be as enthusiastic about those as, like, salmon jerky. Right. You bring up a good point.
Okay.
07:21
Customization is key. Okay. You know? Yeah. She even talks about dehydrating cat grass on her website. Cat grass.
Is that even really a treat?
Yeah. I know.
Like, my cat grazes on the stuff. Right. In my windowsill. Sure.
But I always thought it was more... It is more for digestion.
For, like, digestion than flavor.
Than flavor. Yeah.
Right. You're exactly right. Okay.
It's more of a supplement. Okay.
Than a treat.
Cats eat it for the fiber.
Okay.
Which aids digestion. It can help prevent hairballs and all that.
Okay. Okay. So maybe not a stand-alone snack.
Right.
But definitely something you could experiment with. Oh, yeah. Maybe you could, like, sprinkle Yeah. Some dried cat grass on top of other treats. Yeah.
For, like, an extra Like a little nutritional boost.
Yeah.
It's like adding a little green smoothie powder. Right.
To their food.
Oh, okay. Hopefully, less mess. Right.
08:07
Speaking of mess... Yes. Did you see anything about... Yeah. She has some great tips on storing the treats.
Okay. Because we gotta keep those things fresh. Yeah. Because nobody wants, like, a stale crumbly... Right. Cat treat situation.
Exactly.
Or even worse, like mold. Oh, yeah. No. That's no good. Okay.
So she recommends. Ok.
Using airtight containers. Like, Mason jars are really popular for this.
Yeah.
You know? OK.
And then storing the treats. Mhmm. In a cool, dark place. Ok.
To keep them nice and fresh and crunchy. That makes sense.
Yeah.
Like It's the same way. It's the same way you store, like, homemade cookies or crackers.
Exactly.
But, I mean, really, these are, like, gourmet cookies. Right. For cats. They are. Like, we're talking human grade ingredients.
08:52
Yeah. Careful preparation. Yeah. This whole process just shows how much. It does.
We care. Yes.
About these furry little creatures in our lives.
It really does. And you know what?
Yeah. You're providing your cat. Mhmm.
With, like nutritious and delicious snacks. Yeah.
That you made with your own two hands.
I know.
Like, that's pretty cool.
It is pretty cool.
You know?
And you're avoiding all those, like, mystery ingredients and preservatives. Nice.
That you find in the store bought treats.
Right.
So It's a win win. It's a win win. For everybody.
For everybody. Exactly.
And who knows? Okay.
Maybe you'll even discover your cat's new favorite food. That's true.
In the process.
Yeah. You never know.
Until you try it.
My cat is a little bit of a picky eater.
So I'm always up for trying new things.
09:36
Exactly. And that's the beauty of all of this. Yeah. It's a culinary adventure. It is.
For you and your cat. I love that. Right. This whole deep dive. Yeah. Has been so eye opening.
It's been fun. Who knew that making your own cat treats... I know.
Could be so easy and fun.
Right.
Not to mention, rewarding. Exactly.
A huge thank you. Yes.
To Susan Gast. Absolutely. And Easy Food Dehydrating. What a great resource. For all the info and the inspiration. Totally.
And for you listening. Yes.
We have a little challenge for you.
Alright.
Think about your cat's personality.
Okay.
10:15
What kind of custom treat would they go bonkers for?
Oh, that's a good one. Alright. Maybe a savory salmon and blueberry jerky.
Oh, interesting.
Or how about a surprising chicken and cheese medley? Oh, I love it. Right. Yeah. Let us know your ideas.
Yes.
You never know.
We might just feature them. That's right.
On our next deep dive.
Exactly.
Until then Yes. Happy snacking.
10:39
Closing:
Thanks for listening to the Easy Food Dehydrating podcast.
Visit Easy-Food-Dehydrating.com for much more information on how to dehydrate food and the best way to safely store it.
Head on over to our Podcast Host to see a list of all our Easy Food Dehydrating episodes... or go to our hub page on this site. Please note that for your convenience, the episodes on our site contain the Podcast transcripts, too!
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easy FOOD DEHYDRATING: Making food preservation simple since 2010.
I show you how to keep your food pantry full, whatever the reason or season!
AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: I am an Affiliate for Amazon, and other sellers of quality merchandise.
Should you purchase an item through their links, I may receive compensation. The price you pay does not increase.
THANKS for your support! Read full disclosure here.
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