5 steps to a healthy snack for cats
Have you always wanted to make your own treats that are inexpensive, healthy, natural and good for your cat's teeth? Then you must try these dehydrated snacks, which are even suitable for people with food allergies. It's easy to make yourself and you know what's in them!
Chicken hearts are a popular delicacy with cats when raw, cooked or dried. They also contain important nutrients, vitamins and minerals. When dried, they are a much sought-after snack. Drying gently preserves the chicken hearts for longer and intensifies the flavour.
You can find out what you need and how to prepare them in this post by @littlerredtigers (Instagram account of Tanja, Lucky and Speedy).
Ingredients and equipment
Step 1: Remove any fat from the chicken hearts, because fat becomes rancid after drying and affects the shelf life! Then cut into slices about 0.5 cm thick. This works best with scissors.
Step 2: Spread the slices on the dehydrator grids / baking tray so that they do not touch each other.
Step 3: In the dehydrator: dehydrate at 70° degrees for about 5-6 hours until they are hard and dry. In the oven: dehydrate at 70° degrees (convection) for about 5-6 hours, leaving the door slightly open with a cooking spoon handle/cork/towel wedged in. Now the moisture can escape from the meat and the hearts can be preserved. In between, the slices can be turned over.
Step 4: After drying, allow the snacks to cool and air dry to avoid residual moisture. Then store in a cool, dry place, e.g. in a storage jar or paper bag. The shelf life is about one month.
Step 5: Now the healthiest treats are ready and want to be tasted.
Tip: Dried chicken hearts are perfect for clicker training or the activity board. Soaked in water, they also provide additional moisture.
Enjoy your meal and have fun baking!
