Kitsch is a unique cat.  He dances along to the music in his head most days, not really paying attention to the things going on around him.  He never learned to jump, and so he just be-bops along on the ground until someone lifts him up.  He likes to be under the blankets rather than on them.  He’d rather bat at a hair-tie than play with a catnip-mouse.  And he’s bald.  His uniqueness extends into his eating habits.  Kitsch is a voracious eater, who wolfs his food down so fast he makes himself sick.  And he would eat anything put in front of him (I’ve witnessed him nibbling lettuce that had fallen to the ground).  Unfortunately, Kitch’s uniqueness doesn’t allow him to be the “foodie” he’d like to be.  Kitsch suffers from a terribly sensitive stomach.  He can’t eat any beef.  Some grains disturb him.  And the dyes in many hard cat foods are too harsh on his system.  He will drop into a horrible, sometimes weeks long, stage of sickness where he loses weight and lays around the house in a stupor.  Thankfully, we’ve found ways to cope with this problem.  Firstly, we changed his normal, cat food, diet to a “sensitive systems” brand of hard food.  But, he is not satisfied with hard food alone, so every other day he receives turkey or chicken.  It’s true that cats, like dogs, enjoy table scraps every now and then, and who can blame them – some of us humans enjoy some really great food.  Since Kitsch is not allowed a variety of foods, we’ve developed some recipes for his sensitive tummy that allow him to enjoy “fine” kitty dining.  What follows is a recipe that will allow a pet with a sore tummy some time to heal and get his system more regular.  This is usually best served after kitty has fasted for a few hours.

 

 

1            boneless chicken breast tender (They usually come in 1 lb packs.  I like to use the leftover chicken to make myself a grilled chicken salad)

½ cup    chicken broth (home brewed or canned is fine)

¼ cup    cooked white rice

 

Boil the chicken breast tender for 10-15 minutes.  Once cooked, remove chicken from water and allow to cool.  Dice cooled chicken to a reasonable size for chewing.  Add cooled chicken to warm chicken broth (slightly more than room temperature, but no warmer or you’ll burn kitty’s mouth).  Add cooked white rice to mixture.  Stir, and serve.

 

If you’re feeling really generous, or your cat is very hungry, you can scramble up one egg and add it to the soup (make sure it’s cooked.  Raw eggs are dangerous for kitty).  A cooked egg is a great source of protein and should not cause any digestive distress to a kitty with a sour stomach.

 

Kitty will feel like he’s getting a treat, but really, this blander diet will allow him time to heal.  It’s bland enough, while still being flavorful, that his digestive system will not be bothered and he will chow down and replenish any fluids he’s lost through sickness.  Bon Appétit from our unique kitschy cat to yours!