Cats are carnivores, and daily servings of the same old kibble may not exactly motivate your feline’s appetite and, in some cases, do not provide appropriate nutrition to your cat. Enriching their food with cat gravy can be the difference in encouraging your cat to maintain interest in their otherwise bland food and adding moisture to your cat’s diet.
In addition, homemade gravy toppers can add to the protein content in your cat’s food, making it a better option for a little carnivore. As you can see, toppers can be beneficial, and these cat gravy recipes will have your cat meowing for more.
To start, here is a simple and healthy broth recipe that any feline would enjoy:
Easy Homemade Cat Gravy
Equipment
- Large pot with lid or a slow cooker
- Strainer
- Storage container
Ingredients
- Plain meat or carcass example: chicken, duck, pork, beef, lamb, turkey
Instructions
- Throw all excess portions of chicken, pork, beef etc. into a large pot - it is safe to incorporate the skin, fat, and bones of the cuts you’re using. The meat or carcass you use for this purpose should not be seasoned, and should be human-grade (in other words, it should be safe for human consumption once cooked).
- Fill the pot with enough water to cover all the meat you have placed in the pot.
- Bring to a boil and turn down to medium or a soft boil. Place the lid of the pot on and let simmer for 2–3 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Let cool. Strain so there is nothing left but the liquid. Portion out and freeze for a great yet simple gravy to place on top of your dry cat food.
Notes
Image Credit: victoria., Unsplash
Once you’ve mastered our base recipe, you can start experimenting! If you want something more delectable for your sweet kitty, learn how to make cat gravy with these 6 nutritional recipes!
Once you have prepared the base recipe, please resist the temptation of giving the cat any bones. Please never give your cat a cooked bone!
The 6 Homemade Cat Gravy Recipes
Cats may have food intolerances and allergies to specific ingredients. If your cat is allergic to a specific protein (such as fish), then they shouldn’t be offered gravy made from the protein. It’s always best to consult your veterinarian if you aren’t sure about your cat’s nutritional needs, especially if they have a diagnosed medical condition.
The images of these gravies are for illustrative purposes only and not an actual representation of the end product you may notice.
1. Pork Rib Gravy
Start this cat gravy with a simple stock, as we noted above, and gradually transform it into an irresistible sauce that will have your cat purring!
2. Chicken Liver, Gizzard & Heart Gravy
Some of the most nutritious aspects of animal meat come from the organs! Create a simple yet healthy gravy with hearts, gizzards, and chicken livers! For recipes involving organ meat (particularly liver), please be careful about portions—liver is exceptionally high in Vitamin A!
This recipe shouldn’t be offered on a daily basis but is a fantastic way to add flair to your cat’s diet.
3. Cat Jelly
Now, this one may not be gravy, so to speak, but it does have the same effect when it comes to adding a bit of a punch to your cat’s meal. Leave it as it is and top it with dry food, or chop it up and mix it with the kibble, and voila! However, always ensure the jelly isn’t frozen!
In this instance, you would take the jelly from the refrigerator (as described above) and not bring it to room temperature.
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4. Chicken Broth Gravy
What came first—the chicken or the egg? Well, in this recipe, you get the best of both worlds. An irresistible gravy that combines hearty chicken pieces with hard-boiled or poached eggs!
5. Mackerel Gravy
This gravy is solely based on a fish stock (see what we did there!). As mackerel is the fundamental ingredient, your cat will naturally crave this at each meal!
6. Chicken & Fish Gravy
Surf and turf is definitely something you can offer your cat as well. For this gravy recipe, you can mix and match seafood (such as the aforementioned mackerel) with something like chicken. This may take some practice and understanding of your cat’s palate and preferences, but is definitely worth a try!
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Wrapping Up
As you might have noticed, each recipe yields much more than one cat should have in a single serving. Thankfully each is freezer-friendly, so remember to portion them appropriately before freezing. This trick will be a game-changer when you want to surprise your cat with a saucy treat!
We hope you enjoyed these quick instructions on how to make cat gravy—so much so that you’ll share them with your fellow cat enthusiasts!
Looking for more great recipes for your feline? Check these out!
Feature Image Credit: Elizabett, Shutterstock