The adult cat is an obligate carnivore: it needs high-quality animal protein and taurine, an amino acid found primarily in lean meats. This recipe combines chicken breast and thigh, cooked in water, cut into small bite-sized pieces and served warm in their own broth. It is a simple dish, yet highly effective for stimulating the appetite of fussy cats and boosting daily hydration, since cats tend to drink very little.
Ingredients
- 150 g boneless chicken breast
- 100 g skinless, boneless chicken thigh (richer in taurine)
- 600 ml water
- 1 tablespoon very finely chopped fresh parsley (optional, see notes)
Method
- Rinse the chicken under running water and pat it dry with paper towels.
- Place the meat in a pot with the 600 ml of water. Do not add salt, stock cubes, onion or garlic.
- Bring to a gentle boil, skim off any foam that rises to the surface, then lower the heat and simmer for 20 minutes, until fully cooked.
- Drain the chicken, reserving all the broth. Allow both to cool until lukewarm.
- Cut the chicken into small bite-sized pieces of 0.5–1 cm, suitable for a cat's mouth.
- In each bowl, arrange a portion of the pieces and cover with 2–3 tablespoons of warm broth.
- If you are using the parsley, sprinkle it on only at the last moment and in the smallest amount.
Notes
Chicken thigh is richer in taurine than breast, so always keep a portion of dark meat in the recipe. The broth serves both for flavour and to increase fluid intake, which is essential for your cat's kidney health. Parsley is tolerated in very small quantities, but if you prefer to leave it out, you can safely omit it. This recipe is intended as a supplement or occasional meal: it does not replace a complete and balanced long-term diet without guidance from your veterinarian.
Storage
Store the pieces with the broth in a sealed glass container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. When ready to serve, warm gently in a bain-marie: the ideal temperature is that of fresh prey — warm, never hot. You can also freeze the pieces and broth in single-portion ice-cube trays so they are always ready to use.