Cooking for Your Cat? Test for Better Results

[Heidi Sue Roth]

Purr-fect Recipes for a Healthy Cat: 101 Natural Cat Food & Treat Recipes to Make Your Cat Happy

Lisa Shiroff, Atlantic Publishing (Ocala, FL)

ISBN: 978-1601383983

List: $24.95

 

I tried this book in order to improve my relationship with the cat who shares my home. At best, I’m her step-aunt. Ms. Kat with her patchwork-coat has been with my husband for nearly 17 years. I’m definitely the Johnny-come lately. Our relationship has been tolerable with a number of shorts ups and longer down turns.

 

I grew up in an environment where animals were business so even the idea of cooking for a pet was odd. Although I’d fixed special meals for pregnancy and nursing animals, it simply wasn’t part of the daily routine. So Ms. Kat and I started our cookbook adventure.

 

The book covers a lot of educational ground regarding cats, nutrition, commercial products and the advantages of providing fresh food for your local feline(s). One of the things I found most intriguing is that other than a couple of nutritional additives, like kitty vitamins, all the ingredients could go on my regular shopping list.

 

The background information, recipes, and instructions were easy to understand. Many of the recipes seem like casseroles, soups or similar techniques you already use in your kitchen. A good food processor or blender is definitely recommended. You might even want one just for the cat depending on how you feel about the ingredients involved.

 

I learned a lot about my cat while working with this book. One of the things I learned may benefit you as well. I found out that Ms. Kat, who has always been opinionated and expressive, doesn’t really like casserole and soup-style food. The individual ingredients that did or did not meet her approval where clearly communicated. She’d rather her have sardines plain, liver is definitely good raw, but when it comes to rice her interest is sparing and definitely hold the parsley.

 

Perhaps this is due to a lifetime of eating commercial kibble and her tastes would change over time. Still, it could be helpful when considering individual recipes to do a small test run with each ingredient to check the rating with your cat or cats. If you have a finicky eater this information is beneficial before completing an entire recipe.

 

My cat will continue getting daily treats from different ingredients that met her approval. Since she likes salmon skin but not the fish itself, perhaps her choices shouldn’t have surprised me. But then, I like cooked blueberries and avoid them raw…so maybe she’s not as picky as she seems!

 

Originally created for ReviewTheBook.com