Homemade Pet Treats for Your Quilt-Hogging Sidekick
Megan Fowler
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If you’ve ever tried to lay out quilt blocks while your dog flops directly in the middle, or attempted to press seams while your cat supervises from the ironing board, you already know.
Quilting with pets is a whole experience.
They steal our chairs. They nap on freshly folded fabric. They somehow know the exact quilt block we are trying to photograph and decide, yes, that is the perfect place to sit.
And honestly? They’re part of the charm.
Since December’s Quiltbound badge is the Creature Comforts Badge, we’re leaning all the way into celebrating the furry little chaos goblins who keep us company while we sew. This month is all about making something cozy for them, documenting our favorite quilting-with-pets moments, and giving our quilt-hogging companions a little handmade love.
So naturally, we need treats.
This post includes homemade dog treat recipes, cat-friendly treat ideas, simple ingredient notes, safety reminders, and a few cute extras if you want to make treat baking feel like a tiny holiday side quest.
A Quick Note Before You Start
I am a quilter, not a veterinarian. A quilter with a soft spot for pets and a suspicious number of fabric scraps, yes. A medical professional for animals, no.
These recipes are intended as occasional treats, not meal replacements. Always check with your veterinarian if your pet has allergies, kidney issues, diabetes, digestive concerns, food sensitivities, or any special diet needs.
Also, always introduce new treats slowly. Pets love to act like they have never eaten a single meal in their entire lives, but their stomachs may have opinions.
The ASPCA recommends contacting your veterinarian or animal poison control if you think your pet has eaten something unsafe, and their list of people foods to avoid includes ingredients like chocolate, xylitol, caffeine, grapes, raisins, onion, garlic, and alcohol.
Dog Treat Recipes
Dogs tend to be pretty enthusiastic taste testers. Very helpful. Very humble. Absolutely not subtle.
These dog treat recipes use simple ingredients like oats, pumpkin, banana, apple, and peanut butter. When using peanut butter, check the label carefully. The FDA warns that xylitol is dangerous for dogs, and it can show up in some nut butters and other sugar-free products.
Why Use Oats?
Oats are easy to keep on hand, and they work well in homemade dog treats because they help bind the dough together. You can use rolled oats as-is for a chunkier texture, or pulse them in a blender to make oat flour.
Why Use Pumpkin?
Plain pumpkin purée is a popular ingredient in dog treats because it adds moisture and fiber. Just make sure you’re using plain, unsweetened pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling. Pumpkin pie filling can contain added sugar and spices that are not meant for pets. Hill’s Pet notes that plain pumpkin can be a beneficial food for dogs when prepared appropriately.
Pumpkin Oat Bites
Soft, cozy, and perfect for December treat baking.
Ingredients
1 cup plain pumpkin purée
1 ½ cups rolled oats
1 egg
Optional: 1 tablespoon natural peanut butter with no xylitol
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a bowl, stir together the pumpkin, egg, and peanut butter, if using.
Add the oats and mix until a thick dough forms. If you want a smoother treat, pulse the oats in a blender first.
Scoop teaspoon-sized portions and roll them into small balls, or flatten them into little coins.
Place on the baking sheet and bake for 15 to 18 minutes, until firm around the edges.
Cool completely before serving.
Storage
Store in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
Apple Oat Breakfast Cookies
Crunchy, lightly sweet, and easy to make in a small batch.
Ingredients
1 cup rolled oats
1 egg
¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
¼ cup finely diced peeled apple
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 325°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Combine the oats, egg, applesauce, and diced apple in a bowl.
Mix until everything is evenly coated and slightly sticky.
Drop tablespoon-sized mounds onto the baking sheet and flatten slightly.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until golden and firm.
Cool completely before serving.
Storage
Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or freeze for up to 3 months.
No-Bake Peanut Butter Oat Balls
Soft, quick, and nice for senior pups who prefer a softer treat.
Ingredients
1 cup rolled oats
⅓ cup natural peanut butter with no xylitol
2 to 3 tablespoons plain pumpkin purée or mashed banana
Instructions
Stir the peanut butter and pumpkin or banana together in a bowl.
Add the oats and mix until a thick dough forms.
Roll into tiny bite-sized balls, about ¼ to ½ teaspoon each.
Place on a plate or tray and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to firm up.
Serve chilled.
Storage
Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Soft Pumpkin Pupcakes
Perfect for dog birthdays, cozy December treats, or the kind of day where your dog has been extra emotionally supportive while you seam-ripped something for the third time.
Ingredients
1 cup plain pumpkin purée
¼ cup natural peanut butter with no xylitol
¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
2 eggs
1 ½ cups oat flour
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a mini muffin tin or use liners.
In a bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, peanut butter, applesauce, and eggs.
Add the oat flour and mix until smooth and thick.
Spoon the batter into mini muffin cups, filling each about ¾ full.
Bake for 12 to 14 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Cool completely before serving.
Optional topping: mix a small spoonful of peanut butter with plain Greek yogurt, but skip the dairy if your dog does not tolerate it well.
Storage
Store in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.
Banana Oat Chewies
Two ingredients. Very little fuss. We love a low-drama treat.
Ingredients
1 ripe banana
1 cup rolled oats
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 325°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Mash the banana until smooth.
Stir in the oats.
Press the mixture into a thin layer, about ¼ inch thick, on the baking sheet.
Score lightly with a knife into small squares.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until firm and lightly golden.
Cool completely, then break apart along the score lines.
Storage
Store in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
Dog Treat Safety Notes
Keep homemade treats small and occasional. Treats should not replace your dog’s normal food.
Avoid xylitol completely. It is dangerous for dogs, and the FDA specifically recommends checking nut butter labels before giving them to your dog.
Skip nutmeg, chocolate, grapes, raisins, onion, garlic, and caffeine. These appear on pet safety lists from the ASPCA as foods to avoid.
Use plain, unsweetened pumpkin. Do not use pumpkin pie filling.
Introduce new treats slowly and watch for stomach upset.
Cat-Friendly Treat Recipes
Cats are a little more particular.
And by “a little,” I mean they may sniff your lovingly prepared homemade treat, stare directly into your soul, and walk away like you have personally insulted their ancestors.
Still, when you find a recipe they like? Worth it.
These cat treat recipes lean into simple proteins, small portions, and just enough oat flour to help bind things together. Cats are obligate carnivores, so protein is the star here. Cornell Feline Health Center notes that cats require proper nutrition to support long-term health, so homemade treats should stay in the “occasional snack” category.
Tuna Catnip Crunchies
A tiny, crunchy treat for tuna-loving cats.
Ingredients
1 can tuna in water, drained well
1 egg
¾ to 1 cup oat flour
1 teaspoon dried catnip
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 325°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Mash the tuna thoroughly with a fork.
Add the egg and catnip, then mix well.
Add oat flour gradually until the mixture becomes a sticky dough.
Pinch off pea-sized pieces and roll into balls or flatten slightly.
Bake for 12 to 14 minutes, until set and lightly browned.
Cool completely before serving.
Storage
Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.
Salmon Jerky Bites
One ingredient, low and slow.
Ingredients
1 salmon filet, skin removed
Optional: a tiny pinch of catnip
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 200°F.
Cut the salmon into tiny ½ inch cubes.
Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle lightly with catnip, if using.
Bake for 2 to 2 ½ hours, flipping halfway through, until chewy but not hard.
Cool completely before serving.
Storage
Store in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days, or freeze for up to 2 months. Since these are chewy and not fully dehydrated, refrigerate them promptly.
Chicken Catnip Bites
Soft, savory, and good for cats who prefer chicken over fish.
Ingredients
1 cup shredded cooked chicken, plain and unseasoned
1 egg
¼ cup low-sodium chicken broth with no garlic or onion
1 tablespoon oat flour, plus more if needed
½ teaspoon catnip
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 325°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Mix the shredded chicken, egg, broth, and catnip in a bowl.
Add oat flour to help bind the mixture.
Drop tiny ½ teaspoon mounds onto the baking sheet.
Bake for 10 to 13 minutes, until set and lightly golden.
Cool completely before serving.
Storage
Store in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days, or freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before serving.
Chicken Blueberry Bites
A slightly unexpected treat for cats who enjoy a little variety.
Ingredients
½ cup cooked shredded chicken, plain and unseasoned
¼ cup mashed blueberries
1 egg
2 to 4 tablespoons oat flour
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 325°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Combine the chicken, blueberries, and egg.
Add oat flour gradually until the mixture can be shaped.
Scoop tiny portions onto the lined baking sheet.
Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until firm.
Cool completely before serving.
Storage
Store in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days, or freeze for up to 2 months. These may soften a little as they thaw.
Sardine Snack Squares
These are smelly in exactly the way cats appreciate. Humans may need emotional support.
Ingredients
1 can sardines in water, drained
1 egg
½ cup oat flour
Optional: a pinch of catnip
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 325°F.
Mash the sardines well.
Mix with the egg, oat flour, and catnip, if using.
Spread the mixture thinly, about ¼ inch thick, on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Score into tiny squares with a knife.
Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, until firm around the edges.
Cool completely, then break apart.
Storage
Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 2 months. Sardines are oily and strong-smelling, so use a well-sealed container unless you want your fridge to have Opinions.
Cat Treat Safety Notes
Use only plain, unseasoned meat.
Avoid garlic, onion, seasoned broth, and seasoned meats. The ASPCA lists onion and garlic among people foods to avoid feeding pets.
Keep fish-based treats occasional, especially for cats with kidney, urinary, or other health concerns. Check with your veterinarian if you are unsure.
Avoid dairy-heavy recipes unless you already know your cat tolerates dairy well.
Cool all treats completely before serving.
Keep treats small. Cats do not need a full cookie situation, no matter what they claim.
Creature Comforts and Quilting With Pets
Inside the Quiltbound Badge Club, December’s Creature Comforts Badge is all about celebrating the pets who keep us company while we sew.
Members are earning the badge by making cozy pet-inspired projects, sharing photos of their quilt-hogging companions, and documenting those funny little moments that happen when animals decide quilting is actually a group project.
You know the ones.
A paw on the cutting mat.
A cat asleep on the block you needed.
A dog sitting on the quilt as if they personally pieced it.
Pets bring so much heart to our creative lives. They make sewing a little messier, a little slower, and a lot sweeter.
So make the treats. Sew the cozy thing. Take the picture.
And if your pet immediately lays on the quilt instead of the thing you made for them?
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