So, cat lover, you’re reconsidering the quality of kitty’s store-bought diet, or at least her special treats?

Whether you’re looking for something healthier than commercial products or trying to save some money, you’re not alone.

There is a growing interest among pet owners in homemade food and treats, both as the price of pet food has increased in recent years and as consumers become more aware of their own dietary needs and those of their furry loved ones.

Increasingly, owners have put their cats on commercially available “all-natural” or “evo” diets, which are grain-free, low in carbohydrates and high in protein, and are meant to more accurately reflect the diet of cats in the wild. And some owners have even started to make homemade food and treats for their special feline friends.

One kitty owner who has been making his own treats for five years is Scott Cayouette of Winslow. After losing four cats to kidney failure and related illnesses, which Cayouette says may have been caused by the grains used as fillers in commercial pet foods, he and his wife, Debra Carter, switched their pets to an evo diet. And they began making catnip and chicken treats at home.

Cayouette said the couple didn’t want to lose any more cats “to the commercial stuff. Cat foods from the ’50s,” he said, “were made with beef, chicken or pork, and their byproducts. These days, you get that plus you also get a lot of filler in it. Rice, wheat, grain and especially corn . . . and that’s not natural to a cat’s diet.”

The food they use now is a commercial brand made of “primarily chicken or turkey,” but which also includes some vegetables for added nutrients.

The treats they make at home are all meat and are meant to satisfy the natural appetites of their domesticated carnivores. Their diners – Sterling, Missy and Princess – appear to enjoy them. “They go absolutely crazy,” Cayouette said. “They come charging” when they hear the call for treats.

The secret? Well, there really isn’t one. For the treats, the Cayouettes feed their cats unseasoned chicken breast, cooked thoroughly in the oven and cut into bite-sized pieces (about the size of an almond). And as an added treat, the cats seem to like the juices that get baked out of the chicken while cooking.

Whether you’re trying to save some money or want to better know what your cat is eating, making food or treats at home may be a good option. And there are many recipes out there for making homemade kitty treats. (Check out the recipe for Mouse Bites with this story.)

But research indicates owners should be careful when it comes to altering their pet’s diet. Some common people foods can be toxic for cats, and it is easy when making cat food at home to neglect nutrients essential to a domesticated cat’s diet. A good rule of thumb when making food or treats at home is to employ ingredients found in a cat’s diet in the wild and avoid ingredients unnatural to it. Take a look at our tips for making homemade kitty treats and check with your vet if you’re concerned about your cat’s nutrition.

It’s anecdotal, but the diet change and homemade treats seem to have made for a healthier environment for the Cayouettes’ cats. After losing four cats to disease, they’ve had “no problems whatsoever” regarding the health of their current cats, brought up on the evo diet. The cats “have had no problems with their teeth,” Cayouette added, noting that overall the cats are “very healthy, very strong.”

Mouse Bites

Ingredients:

1 egg

2 tablespoons oats

3 ounces ground organic sausage meat/minced

Sprinkling of organic catnip (optional)

Process:

Mix the ingredients together well in a bowl.

Take teaspoons of the mixture, one at a time and knead into tiny mice shapes. Broil under medium heat for 4-6 minutes, turning them regularly.

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

Some tips for making homemade kitty treats

— Keep it natural and give your cat what it craves.

— If it conforms to a natural feline diet, it’s probably good. If it’s processed human food, chocolate for instance, it’s probably bad. Some common human foods can be damaging to cats’ health. Some are even toxic. New research has indicated that chocolate, long known to be harmful to dogs, can be toxic to cats. Other foods to avoid: anything corn or corn based, onions, garlic and related vegetables, green tomatoes, raw potatoes, grapes and raisins.

— Cats need a lot of protein and few carbohydrates. Meat is the best thing. “Well, birds and rodents are the best thing,” says cat lover Scott Cayouette of Winslow. But, in lieu of that, you can make do. A “treat” can be as simple as some unseasoned, semi-cooked turkey thigh.

— Buy a wheatgrass plant. Cats like to nibble at the grass, which supports a healthy coat and keeps down hairballs. Keep the plant in a sunny window away from the cat until the grass gets a little too long, then let the cat do some mowing.

— For more info, try going to catnutrition.org. The website has been around for nearly 10 years and is run by Anne Jablonski. She offers information about diet and nutrition, recipes, photos and video for making homemade food, and links to other resources.