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Everyone knows that cats love the occasional helping of fresh fish or tasty chicken breast – but how many of us actually go that bit further and prepare something really special for our feline friends?

Well now there’s no excuse, with these healthy recipes I’ve created for you and your cat to enjoy! From everyday meals that your cat can eat along with her Joe & Jill’s, to special treats for those one-off occasions such as cat birthdays there are all sorts of different meals to try – and there are even some recipes designed for elderly cats and cats with health problems such as kidney failure.

If you and your cat enjoy trying out some of these recipes, don’t forget to look out at our complete book range

 

Recipe Book

 

Meals for older cats

Rabbit Risotto

Just because your cat is getting older doesn’t mean she doesn’t still deserve the occasional real gourmet treat. This Italian-based rice recipe is an ideal meal for her tenth birthday perhaps, or for a celebration of an all-clear from the vets after her old age blood tests.

The combination of tender rabbit – another great low-fat protein source – with soft rice and a vegetable-rich broth makes this both irresistibly tasty and healthy.

For several servings you will need:

  • 100g rice
  • ½ rabbit (?g), divided into pieces
  • A little olive oil
  • 1 small carrot
  • 1 small parsnip
  • 1 stick celery

Firstly you’re going to cook the rabbit and make up a tasty broth at the same time. In a large saucepan, fry the rabbit for five minute in a little olive oil, until browned all over. Then pour in enough water to comfortably cover the rabbit, and add in the chopped up veg. Bring to the boil and simmer for 30 minutes, before removing the rabbit and setting aside to cool. Mash up the veg – removing any stubborn piece of celery – to make a rich broth.

Remove all the bones from the rabbit and discard them (somewhere where the cat can’t get to them!), and break up the meat into small pieces.

Now, fry the rice gently for a few minutes in a little more oil, until it is well coated with oil. Then pour in about 100ml of the rabbit and veg broth, which should soak the rice without completely covering it. Turn down the heat so the liquid is just simmering, and stir as it cooks. As soon as the liquid had been absorbed, add another 100ml of broth – and keep doing this, stirring as you go – until the rice is almost cooked. Then add in the rabbit meat and keep cooking until the rice is done – it doesn’t matter if it’s a little sloppier than you’d like, as this is fine for cats.

Serve once cooled and store in the fridge for a few days – or freeze if you have lots left over.

Fish Gravy

If your elderly cat has started turning his nose up at his dinner it could be because his sense of smell is fading. Without strong signals from his nose that something smells nice, he won’t be stimulated to eat, and this could lead to a worrying loss of condition.

This gravy recipe is an ideal way of adding some extra taste to his normal dried biscuits. The strong fishy flavours are ideal for getting him interested in food again – and the recipe also adds in healthy protein and vitamins which will help him stay in good shape.

You will need:

  • 450g or thereabouts of fishy remains – ask your fishmonger for leftover head, tails or bones
  • 50g butter
  • 2 tablespoons plain flour

Place the fishy leftovers in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to the boil and simmer for about 40 minutes. Remove any bones and set the broth to one side.

Next, gently melt the butter in a pan and add the flour, cooking gently for a few minutes. Then gradually add about a pint (450ml) of the fish broth, stirring continually until it thickens. Cook for a further five minutes and then take off the heat and allow to cool.

Keep it in the fridge, and pour a little over his dinner every day. You can also pour it into an ice-cube tray to freeze it, and then defrost one at a time (just don’t forget and put one of these ice cubes in your drink – fishy G & T is not to be recommended!)

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