Tuna cakes. Liver brownies. Sardine fudge.
If you're wondering what the appropriate reaction is, it not yum... it's Aarrf! "That's how we know all our treats are paw-approved," laughs Uthra Ravikanth. Collaborating with friend and fellow home baker Sanjuktha M to launch PAWtastic, a company that creates gourmet treats exclusively for cats and dogs, these ladies have been getting rave reviews ever since they began taking orders in April.
With eight dogs and 17 cats between their two households — one doesn't have to wonder where the inspiration came from. Although Sanjuktha does clarify that when her baking experiments began four years ago, it wasn't just for the tailwags that came at the end of it. "One of my dogs, Jack, has persistent skin issues related to obesity and hypersensitivity. We had modified his diet, but I wasn't sure of the ingredients in the treats we would give him. So as an alternative, i started baking grain-free, healthy treats."
To rule out common allergies, this meant — maida was replaced with oat flour, milk was substituted with yoghurt and of course sugar which is an absolute no-no for any four legged pet was discarded for a spoonful of all natural honey.
And the result is a selection that will have any pet eating out of your hands, literally. Think meaty coconut rolls, carrot and oat cookies and even peanut butter and banana ice cream! "Our ice creams especially, are doing really well now that it's summer," adds Uthra. "The ingredients are fresh, there are no preservatives and you can keep a tub of it in your fridge for up to a week," she smiles. Did we mention these ladies have an exclusive recipe for doggie peanut butter?
Of course, given that PAWtastic treats are not off the shelf and need to be ordered a minimum of a day prior, an added advantage is that your request can also be customised for your pet. "The first thing we ask when we get is call is 'does your dog or cat have an allergy?' Any treat or cake is baked only after a careful understanding of the pet's food habits, physical ailment if any and likes!" Sanjuktha explains.
With ever evolving bow wow feedback, these ladies tell us that in the future they hope to work out meal plans that will cover fresh and balanced nutrition for dogs. "We're already doing quite a bit of research on this. For instance, our hottest selling ice cream right now is blueberry and most pet owners are quite surprised. But if you look deeper, blueberries are extremely good for dogs with anti-oxidant properties that serve as preventives for a host of illnesses, including cancer," Uthra surprises us.
Do we hear a woof Amen?
The PAWtastic menu is priced between Rs 150 and Rs 1,000. Orders need to be placed a day in advance. Home delivery is available, but will be charged separately. Contact 8939254425