8 Vet-Approved Homemade Cat Ice Cream Recipes
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Ice cream is a tasty treat enjoyed worldwide in every possible combination of flavors. It’s a delightful treat when the weather is hot since it can help cool you down. For cats, ice cream can be an equally enjoyable treat. However, human ice cream is not ideal for cats due to its high sugar content and the content of non-cat-friendly ingredients, like chocolate.
The good news is that you have multiple recipes to pick from to make your cat a yummy ice cream treat that is safe for kitties. None of these recipes are overly complicated or time-consuming, and all of them are customizable to your cat’s preferences.
The 8 Vet-Approved Homemade Cat Ice Cream Recipes
1. Blueberry Ice Cream
Blueberry Ice Cream
Equipment
- Blender
- Ice cube tray
- Freezer
- Parchment paper (optional)
Ingredients
- ¼ cup dry cat food
- 1/3 cup blueberries
- 3/4 cup water
Instructions
- Wash the blueberries.
- Blend the blueberries and water until smooth.
- Stir the dry cat food into the blueberry puree. Alternatively, you can soak the cat food in water until soft and then blend it with the blueberries.
- Spoon or pour the mixture into the ice cube tray. You can also line a shallow dish or small cookie sheet with parchment paper and pour an even layer of the mixture onto it.
- Freeze for 3 hours or until frozen.
Notes
Nutrition
2. Cat Milk Ice Cream
This recipe uses a lactose-free product made specifically for cats called Cat Milk. This is not the same as dairy milk, sweetened condensed milk, or kitten milk replacer. Cat Milk is rich and calorie-dense, so this treat should be fed only in moderation.
| Calories: | 25 kcal/serving |
| Number of Servings: | 7–10 |
| Difficulty Level: | Medium |
- Cat Milk
- Wet cat food (optional)
- Salt – kosher, rock, or table salt
- Ice
- 1 freezer-size Ziploc bag
- 2 sandwich-size Ziploc bags
- Add the Cat Milk to one of the sandwich-size Ziploc bags. If desired, add ½ of a can of wet cat food.
- Seal the bag tightly, leaving some air space inside. Then seal the first bag inside of the second sandwich-size Ziploc bag.
- Add approximately 3 cups of ice and ½ cup of salt to the freezer-size Ziploc bag.
- Add the smaller bags to the large bag and seal it tightly.
- Roll, squish, or shake the bags for approximately 15 minutes. Stay vigilant to prevent leaks, and wrap the bags in a dish towel or wear oven mitts to keep your hands from getting too cold.
- Remove the ice cream from the bags and add it to a container with a tight-fitting lid for storage.
3. Cucumber Ice Cream
For the kitty who prefers something for a more refined palate, try this cucumber ice cream for cats. This flavorful recipe is safe for kitties and features the unique taste of cucumbers. This is the perfect treat for a hot summer day! It also has Cat Milk as an ingredient.
| Calories: | 20 kcal/serving |
| Number of Servings: | 4–8 |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
- Cat Milk
- 1–2 cucumbers, washed or peeled
- Ice
- Blender
- Ice cube tray or popsicle mold
- Popsicle sticks (optional)
- Freezer
- Wash or peel and then chop the cucumbers.
- Add the cucumbers and approximately three ice cubes to the blender and blend until smooth.
- Add the Cat Milk to the cucumber and ice mixture, mixing well.
- Pour the mixture into the ice cube tray or popsicle molds. Adding popsicle sticks will make these treats easier to handle once frozen.
- Freeze for 6 hours or until frozen.
4. Broth Ice Cream Cubes
Chicken is a favorite protein among cats, but this recipe can also be made with beef or fish. It’s important to ensure the broth you choose is free of added sodium and flavors, like garlic and onions. There are broths that are made specifically for pets if you are unsure.
| Calories: | 20 kcal/ serving |
| Number of Servings: | 5 servings |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
- 1 ¼ cups broth (chicken, beef, or fish)
- ½ cup cooked meat (chicken, beef, or fish)
- Mixing bowl or pitcher
- Ice cube tray or popsicle mold
- Popsicle sticks (optional)
- Freezer
- Shred or chop the meat into bite-sized pieces.
- Combine the meat and broth in the mixing bowl or pitcher, stirring until combined.
- Pour the mixture into the ice cube tray or popsicle molds, adding popsicle sticks if desired.
- Freeze for 6 hours or until frozen.
5. Tuna-cicles
For the cat that comes running every time you open a can of tuna or salmon in the kitchen, this is the perfect special treat. Make sure to choose low-sodium or no-salt-added tuna or salmon that has been packed in water for this recipe. Oil-packed fish and fish with added salts can be extremely unhealthy for cats and may cause stomach upset.
| Calories: | 90 kcal/serving |
| Number of Servings:33 | 3 servings |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
- 1 can of water-packed tuna or salmon (low sodium and without bones)
- ½ cup water
- Blender
- Ice cube tray
- Freezer
- Add the tuna with its liquid to your blender. Blend until smooth, adding up to ½ cup of water as needed for a smooth consistency.
- Add the mixture to the ice cube tray. The less water you add, the thicker the mixture will be. If you make it watery, you may need to add popsicle sticks to make handling the finished product easier.
- Freeze for 3–6 hours, depending on consistency, or until frozen.
6. Goat Milk Ice Cream
Goat’s milk is often touted for its nutrient density and probiotic content, which helps support digestive health. It is high in calories, though, so it should be fed sparingly. This tasty treat is easier on a cat’s stomach than most dairy products are, but it does still hold the potential to cause stomach upset if fed in large quantities. While goat’s milk can have many benefits to your cat’s gut health, some adult cats are very intolerant to lactose, a sugar that is present in milk. Goat milk has less lactose than cow’s milk. First, offer no more than 1/2 spoon of goat’s milk to your cat and increase the amount gradually if no signs of intestinal distress are noted.
| Calories: | 20 kcal/ serving |
| Number of Servings: | 6–10 |
| Difficulty Level: | Medium |
- 3 ounces of wet cat food
- ¼ cup goat’s milk
- 1/4 cup of drinking water
- Cat treats (optional)
- Ice cube tray
- Mixing bowl
- Freezer
- Add the wet cat food to your mixing bowl, then add an equal amount of goat’s milk and drinking water. This will be approximately ¼ cup of goat’s milk.
- Mix well, smoothing out any clumps as you go.
- Add your cat’s favorite treats to the mixture and stir until evenly distributed.
- Spoon the mixture into the ice cube tray.
- Freeze for 3 hours or until frozen.
7. Catnip Surprise
For the catnip-loving kitty in your life, this treat will take the cake. On top of it being highly customizable, this is possibly the easiest recipe on the list, requiring few ingredients and supplies.
| Calories: | 32 kcal/serving |
| Number of Servings: | 4 |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
- 3 ounces wet cat food
- Dried catnip
- Dry cat food (optional)
- Mixing bowl
- A shallow dish or cookie sheet
- Parchment paper
- Freezer
- Empty a can of your cat’s favorite food into the mixing bowl, then add a few pinches of dried catnip. This can be used as a meal for your cat, so if you’d like to add your cat’s dry food to the recipe, that would work perfectly.
- Combine all ingredients well.
- Place a layer of parchment paper into a shallow dish or small cookie sheet and spread the mixture evenly along the bottom. Alternatively, if your cat likes to eat from a Lickimat or other similar product, you can spread the mixture onto that.
- Freeze until frozen through. Time will vary based on the depth of the mixture and the container you freeze it in.
8. Layered Ice Cream
This recipe takes a little more patience than most of the others because it requires two separate sets of freezing times. However, the treat is worth the wait! This is a yummy and unique treat to keep your cat cool. Make sure to choose a broth with no sodium and no added flavors and seasonings.
| Calories: | 20 kcal/serving |
| Number of Servings: | 4 |
| Difficulty Level: | Medium |
- 1 cup broth (chicken, beef, or fish)
- Cat Milk
- Ice cube tray or popsicle mold
- Freezer
- Pour the broth or the Cat Milk into the mold or ice cube tray. Distribute the liquid evenly in each compartment. Do not add both liquids! Choose one to start with and save the other for later.
- Freeze for 4 hours or until frozen.
- Once fully frozen, add the other remaining liquid on top of the frozen liquid. This will work best if you are using cold or room-temperature liquids. Hot or warm liquid may melt the frozen liquid, ruining the two-tone effect.
- Once the second liquid is layered on the first, freeze for 4 hours or until frozen.
Now that you know what you can safely feed your cat, it’s just as important to find a bowl that supports their health and well-being. With whisker-friendly bowls and a wide tray to catch any spills, our Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl is our favorite option.
Conclusion
The best part about making ice cream for your cat is that you can tweak any of these recipes to fit your cat’s needs. If your cat has dietary restrictions or strong flavor preferences, you can adjust accordingly.
While these treats are a great way to cool down on a hot day, they should not be used to cool down a cat that you believe is overheating or having a heat stroke. Ice and other frozen items can lead to shock when fed to or applied to the body of a cat that is experiencing heat stress. These treats should not replace your cat’s normal food and should be fed in moderation as part of a healthy and varied diet.
Featured Image Credit: Nils Jacobi, Shutterstock
