The cat, heir to desert felines, instinctively drinks little and is prone to dehydration — a serious concern for its kidneys. These chicken broth cubes are a simple, clever way to boost fluid intake without any forcing. You can melt one, slightly warmed, over dry kibble to make it more appealing, or offer them partially melted as a cool snack on hot days.
Ingredients
- 2 bone-in chicken thighs (more flavourful and rich in natural gelatin)
- 800 ml of water
Method
- Rinse the chicken thighs and place them in a pot with the water, with no salt, onion, garlic or stock cubes.
- Bring to a gentle boil, skim the surface, then cook covered over low heat for 60 minutes.
- Turn off the heat, strain the broth through a fine-mesh sieve and leave to cool. Pick the meat off the bone for other recipes (carefully remove all small bones).
- Once the broth is cold, remove the layer of fat that has formed on the surface.
- Pour the broth into an ice-cube tray and freeze.
Notes
This is essential: never give your cat cooked bones of any kind, as they can splinter. The broth must be kept very simple — just chicken and water, with no salt or toxic flavourings such as onion and garlic. Skimming the fat makes it lighter and easier to digest. These cubes are a hydrating supplement, not a meal: your cat's primary source of hydration should always be fresh water available at all times and, where possible, wet food.
Storage
The cubes keep in the freezer in a sealed bag for up to 3 months. Thaw one cube as needed and serve it lukewarm or just melted — never heat it to high temperatures before giving it to your cat.