Cats Need Recipes Too – Chicken Soup

Over the years, I have had many pets, cats and ferrets.  They have all at some points in their lives needed special care when sick and old.  One thing that has really prolonged their lives is feeding them nutritious homemade chicken soup.   Sometimes I would have to initiate feeding with a syringe, but overall, they love their soup.  Now they want soup every day so I always have a good amount available for then,  I free it in ice trays, which is easy to defrost.

Do you ever roast a chicken or turkey for dinner and then throw the bones in the garbage? I used to – all the time! Now you don’t have to – because you can truly use the entire animal and leave nothing to waste. Here is a fun and easy recipe for chicken stock for cats that will make you and your cats really happy!

• Bones from chicken or turkey

• Carrot

• 1 Stalk of Celery

• Water

• Soup Pot with Lid

• Mesh strainer

It couldn’t be simpler to make fresh homemade chicken or turkey stock that is healthy for your cats! Here’s what you do:

1. Put the bones in the pot – if there’s some meat on them, that’s perfectly fine. Add the carrot and celery to the pot – no need to cut them up.
2. Fill the pot with water (filtered if preferred). Use just enough water to cover the bones – important to get the right consistency.
3. Cover the pot and slowly simmer the chicken/turkey stock for about 6 hours on low heat.

Once you’ve finished cooking these simple ingredients use a mesh strainer to pour the stock through into a bowl. Don’t skip this step as the bones can fracture off and you don’t want to give your cat any bone shards. In the bowl that you strained the stock into, you’ll be left with clear golden chicken stock.

Many recipes say that it’s important to cool this soup down quickly for best results. Doing so yields a congealed consistency – which is rich and silky.  I like to freeze the chicken stock in silicon molds and make chicken stock ice cubes out of them. Once frozen, they make a quick, healthy and easy treat for your cat!

I usually take one or two out every day and let them melt in a dish. My cat, Booger, has kidney disease and he really enjoys drinking up the chicken soup. The best part is that it’s a healthy treat that helps him stay hydrated!

Don’t feed your cat chicken stock out of a carton, can or box that’s made for humans. Most of these store-bought varieties contain onions, garlic and other spices that are not good for your cat and can be toxic. The recipe above is so easy – there’s really no reason that you shouldn’t make your own. If you’re not up to making your own – there are lots of new choices at your local pet store! See below for some ideas…

So you’re not much a cook, eh? Not to worry. Pet companies are finally catching on that cats love gravy and broth. Having a senior cat with kidney disease, we’re always looking for great ways to hydrate beyond water (and subcutaneous fluids). Broths are a great way to supplement your cat’s diet with a hydrating treat. Here are a few that you should definitely try out!