How to Cook Chicken for Cats
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Cats are what is known as obligate carnivores. This means their digestive system is adapted in a way which requires animal protein to get all of the nutrients their body needs. They may be able to benefit from a small amount of certain fruits and vegetables in their diet, but their body is not designed to process a low-protein diet. Some cat owners wish to share their dietary habits with their cats, perhaps giving them a vegetarian or vegan diet. It is not impossible to provide an animal free diet for cats, but it involves adding supplemented vitamins and minerals.
These vitamins and minerals are found in various types of meat including beef, pork, turkey or chicken. Chicken in particular can be good for cats as it helps cats who are overweight or suffer some illnesses such as kidney disease or diabetes. Knowing how to cook chicken for cats properly means knowing how to incorporate it into a healthy diet. These recipes from AnimalWised work great either as meals in themselves or healthy and tasty treats. Both help your cat have the positive eating experiences they deserve.
Chicken liver paté for cats
The texture, flavor, smell and, of course, taste of paté greatly appeals to cats. If you are a cat guardian who gives their pet a mixture of dry and wet food, you will know which one is likely to excite them more. Perhaps it is because it is similar to the fresh meat on which their ancestors fed, but most cats seem to prefer paté to the dry cat food alternatives. This is not to say dry food is bad, especially as it is economically very helpful. But wet cat food like paté tends to be produced in better quality and there has been come concern over correlation between dry food and disease in cats[1].
For the above reasons we bring you this homemade cooked cat food recipe. While this one is made with chicken liver, you could make a similar version with beef offal or even fish like tuna and salmon.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken livers
- 1 tbsp of potato or sweet potato
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 tsp fresh parsley
Method
- Boil a small saucepan of water and cook the chicken livers for 3 minutes.
- Mash the potato or sweet potato either with a fork or in a food processor. Once you have a good consistency, add the chicken livers and blend again. Don't process too fine.
- Mix in the olive oil and parsley before serving to your cat. Ensure it is at room temperature so it does not burn the cat.
2. Chicken and pumpkin meatballs for cats
There are some foods which are not beneficial for cats to eat. Generally diary products are one of them, thanks to the feline inability to break down lactose. However, this does not mean that cats do not enjoy small portions of them. The cottage cheese in this recipe should not be used in abundance as it can lead to gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea. Used in the portions of this recipe, the food will be tasty, meet their nutritional needs and shouldn't cause them any major upset. However, it is advised that you monitor their toilet habits after feeding this dish in case the individual cat has a problem with it.
Ingredients
- 1 cup chicken
- 1/2 cup pumpkin purée
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup cottage cheese
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1/3 cup rice flour
- 1/2 cup organic oats
Method
- To start making these meatballs for cats, we will cut the chicken into very small pieces.
- Mix all ingredients, ensuring solids are well combined with liquids.
- When we have the right consistency of dough, shape the meatballs with your hands.
- Roll meatballs in the oats. If you don't have organic oats, barley, flax or wholemeal flour will work.
- Grease a baking tray with oil and set the meatballs onto it. Place the meatballs in an oven preheated to 160 ºC/320 ºF ad bake for 12 - 15 minutes.
- When cooked and golden brown on the outside, let cool to room temperature and feed to your friend. You can even have one yourself if cooked hygienically.
- The meatballs can be stored in the refrigerator for 5 to 6 days or up to 3 months in the freezer.
3. Chicken treats for cats
When cooking for your cat, it doesn't hurt to get a little creative. Unless you have a lot of time on your hands, you will likely not cook every meal for your cat. Some of the chicken recipes for cats will be for special occasions. But making treats for your cat means you can feed them their regular diet, but use this delicious homemade treats to help with education and training.
We profess the importance of positive reinforcement in cats here at AnimalWised. Not only is it the most humane way to train, it will help keep the bond between you and your cat strong. Not only this, but it has proven to be one of the most effective methods of making training work[2]. These chicken snack treats are great to help encourage good behavior, but are also healthy enough to not cause any dietary health problems in the cat.
Ingredients
- 1 chicken breast
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Fresh parsley
- Organic oats
Method
- The first step to making these delicious homemade snacks for your cat is to cut the chicken breast into thin slices or strips.
- Dry the chicken breast strips with some kitchen paper.
- Brush them with olive oil and season them with the fresh parsley.
- Preheat the oven to 180 ºC/350 ºF. Grease a baking tray with oil and set the chicken pieces on them. Bake for approximately 15 minutes or until they turn golden brown.
- Turn the slices and bake for a further 10 to 15 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and let cool to room temperature before serving to your cat.
- You can freeze for up to three months or keep them wrapped in the fridge for about a week.
4. Homemade ice cream for cats
You may be wondering whether cats can eat ice cream. As we said above, feline intolerance to lactose means they cannot properly digest regular ice cream, especially in large portions. However, if you replace the ingredients with lactose free yogurt, as we do in this homemade cat ice cream recipe, there shouldn't be any problem. The other ingredients provide the nutritional benefit, including the chicken. It should still only be used as a treat, but is particularly good for hotter weather as it has cooling properties for your pet.
Some of the savory treats in this recipe might even sound tasty to humans, but this one won't be the most tantalizing to human taste buds. For your cat, it is a different story. As long as you are using good protein like chicken, you will be providing the best for your cat. Tuna or salmon will also work as great alternatives.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup chicken
- 1 finely grated medium carrot
- 1/2 cup rice milk or lactose free yogurt
- 1 pinch turmeric
Method
- Begin by bringing water to the boil and cooking the chicken. Once cooked, let cool to room temperature and shred with two forks or by hand.
- Put the other ingredients in a food processor and process until creamy. Mix in the shredded chicken (as long as the pieces are not too large).
- Poor the mixture into ice pop containers or into an empty ice cream tub. Cover it with a lid or, if making popsicle style ice cream, cover with paper and pierce with the sticks.
- Once the ice cream is at the right consistency, you can remove from the molds or serve in a dish.
5. Cat cookie recipe
The last of our chicken recipes is for some homemade cat cookies which are also great for treats for your cat. If your cat gets bored of one, you can make these. They are particularly good for a special occasion. You may have notice that even our treats for ice cream and cookies do not have any sugar in them. This is because cats do not need sugar and it can be very bad for them. While humans may be able to eat these recipes, human food isn't always going to be good for your cat. It is often very bad for them.
Ingredients
- 1 cup chicken breast
- 1 tbsp cooked peas
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup wholewheat flour
- 1/2 cup organic oats
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp turmeric
Method
- First, boil the chicken in water until cooked and let cool.
- Put the chicken with the peas, egg and oil into a food processor. Blend until you get a homogeneous micture.
- Add the flour, oats and turmeric and mix until you get a dough. You will need to start with a spoon, but can eventually use your hands.
- Once kneaded, place in the refrigerator to proof for an hour.
- Sprinkle flour over a clean countertop and roll out the dough until you have a flat surface. Cook with a cookie cutter or knife into individual cookies.
- Preheat the oven to 180 ºC/350 ºF. Grease a baking tray and place the cookies on top with enough distance between to avoid baking together. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
- Cool to room temperature and serve to your cat for a positive treat.
Discover more cat recipes
If these dishes are not enough to satisfy your cat, maybe because they are a fussy eater, don't worry. We also have some other tasty homemade treats and dishes for you cats to enjoy. They include:
Just remember, if you are going to change your cat's diet, you need to ensure all of their nutritional needs are met. You will also need to know the difference between a treat and a meal, so please don't overfeed your pet.
If you want to read similar articles to How to Cook Chicken for Cats, we recommend you visit our Homemade diets category.