Cat Info - Food Tips

Cat recipies

Just one point to make clear to start with - these are not, as some wit suggested, recipes which include cats. OK?

To be honest, I haven't tried any of these out. I feed my cats on dried food. As they're indoor cats, it helps keep the litter tray less offensive if they eat dried food, and it's carefully balanced. It does also mean that they're easily pleased by any form of treat - they go nuts over turkey slices.

Cats are often lactose intolerant, so take care when giving them anything with lactose-containing dairy products. If they get the runs afterwards, then you're probably better off either avoiding dairy products or finding lactose-free ones.

Aromatic Fish

Place fillets of whiting or coley in a foil parcel. Pour over a little milk, season, and sprinkle with finely chopped coriander. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes on a medium heat. When cooked, flake, removing bones, and serve with the cooking liquid poured over. Garnish with coriander.

Canadian Cat Relish

Simmer 500g (1lb) liver and 500g (1lb) white fish gently in water until cooked. Soak one cup of dry cat-food in half a cup of tomato juice. Drain the liver and fish, remove the bones, but save the liquid. Place all ingredients, plus one teaspoon of cod liver oil, in a food processor, using the metal blade. Use the saved liquid to adjust the consistency of the mixture to the cat's liking.

Chicken Liver Risotto

Cooked chopped chicken liver for about ten minutes in a well-flavoured stock. Stir into plain boiled rice and serve sprinkled with chopped mint or parsley.

Chicken Stir Fry

Dice raw chicken breast. Heat oil in a wok or frying pan, and cook the meat quickly over a high flame, stirring all of the time. When the chicken is almost cooked, stir in a few flaked almonds for added crunch. Allow to cool and serve with a little plain boiled rice.

Crunchies

Cut some crusts from wholemeal bread into cubes. Dissolve some Marmite in hot water to provide an amount suitable for moistening the cubed crusts, without making them too soggy. Space out the cubes on a baking tray and cook on the bottom shelf of a low oven until dried. Allow to cool, then store in an airtight container.

Gruel

(This is useful for introducing kittens to something more solid than milk, or for feeding to a convalescing cat.) Mix one tablespoon of oatmeal to a fine paste with a little milk. Bring half a litre (one pint) of milk nearly to the boil and stir in the oatmeal. Cook for about ten minutes, without boiling, stirring from time to time.

Oeuf Royale

Lightly scramble an egg beaten with a tablespoon of milk, and stir in slivers of smoked salmon.

Prawn Temptation

Mix cooked prawns with plain yogurt and pile onto squares of toasted wholemeal bread.

Salmon Delight

Remove the bones from canned salmon and mix with cooked pasta. Sprinkle cheese on the top and melt under the grill. Cool before serving.

Steak Tartare

Finely chop some fresh steak or mince, and serve raw. Raw meat should only be given as an occasional treat.

Tinned Delight

Buy one tin of cat food (varieties vary from salmon-flavoured to chicken). Open tin, and delicately empty contents into a cat bowl, using a spoon. Ta da!