First thing’s first—get your ingredients in front of you. You’ll want a nice little mix of protein (like tuna or chicken) and a starchy binder (sweet potato, pumpkin, or mashed potato). If you’re using tuna, make sure to drain it well—don’t want any watery mess in there. If you’ve gone the turkey or chicken route, make sure it’s plain, cooked, and shredded. No spices, no seasoning—your cat won’t appreciate it, and it’s just not safe.

Once you’ve got everything ready, it’s time to mix it all up! Grab a small bowl and start with your protein base. Whether it’s tuna, chicken, or wet cat food, add it to the bowl. Then, mix in your binder of choice—sweet potato or mashed potato works really well. The goal here is to get a thick, dough-like consistency that will hold its shape. It should feel moist, but not too wet. If it’s too dry, just add a little unsweetened yogurt or some chicken broth. If it’s too mushy, toss in a bit more protein.

Now for the fun part—shaping the cake! You can get as creative as you want. You’ve got a few fun options for how to shape your cake:

Use a small ramekin or muffin tin if you want a nice, neat little round cake. Just press the mixture in, and when it’s ready, pop it out.

If you’re feeling fancy, use a cookie cutter—a heart, paw, or fish shape is always a winner. Just press the mixture in and lift the cutter away gently.

Or, keep it super simple and shape it by hand into a small patty or round disk. Cats don’t mind the shape as long as it smells good!

Once it’s shaped, pop it onto a little plate or dish.

Now, I know it’s not technically frosting, but who doesn’t love the idea of a frosted birthday cake—even for a cat? For this, use mashed potato (it’s soft, cat-safe, and just looks so cute). You can spread it on top with a spoon or, for a bit of flair, use a piping bag. If you don’t have a piping bag, no worries—just grab a plastic sandwich bag, cut the tip off, and squeeze it on! You’ll get cute little swirls or a smooth top, depending on your mood.

Want to make the cake really special? Try adding a sprinkle of catnip or a few crushed cat treats on top. You can even drizzle a little gravy or use a few shredded carrots as decoration. It’s like you’re decorating a cake, but with stuff your cat actually loves. And honestly, it’s just cute to see how much effort goes into something that will be gobbled down in seconds.

The moment you’ve been waiting for—presenting the cake to your cat. Set it down and watch their little eyes light up (or give them a moment to sniff it suspiciously first). Some cats go crazy right away, others are a little more cautious. If they’re hesitant, maybe crumble a few treats on top to get their attention.