Although cats are not particularly picky eaters, they can still lose interest in their same-old kibble and wet cat food. One way to reintroduce their desire for eating is gravy. You must have noticed your kitty licking the sauce off wet cat food, so why not make your own?
For anyone concerned about whether gravy is safe for cats, you need to know that gravy is safe for cats when made with proper ingredients (without the use of garlic, spices, a lot of salt, and other ingredients that are not safe for cats to consume).
Let’s dive into 12 amazing gravy for cats recipes, which are healthy, delicious, easy to make, and can be stored away for later use!
Dos And Don’ts Of Making Gravy For Cats
Before we get to the recipes, let me give you some pointers first.
When making gravy for your feline friend, remember that all felines need a diet rich in meat-derived proteins, a small amount of fats, a minimal amount of carbohydrates, and vitamins and minerals.
Therefore, cat gravy needs to be kept as simple as possible. Most recipes given below are only made with water or broth, meat and a little bit of veggies.
Note that no garlic, onions, spices, or seasoning (apart from an occasional pinch of salt) are used, as they’re not good for felines.
How Is Homemade Gravy For Cats Served?
Cat gravy cat be served in multiple ways, such as:
• As a main meal
• As a cat treat
• Alongside wet cat food
• Alongside dry cat food
When serving gravy as a main meal, ensure it has meat as its main ingredient (and not eggs or vegetables, for example), as it will keep your cat energized throughout the day! Our little carnivores love (and need) their meat!
What You Will Need
As I’ve mentioned, cat gravy is usually made of very simple ingredients, such as:
1. Meat: chicken, pork, beef, mackerel, tuna, salmon, shrimp, sardines
2. Water or broth (chicken broth, bone broth)
3. Small amounts of thickener, such as flour
4. Vegetables: broccoli, carrots, peas, etc.
As you’ll see, almost every recipe you’re about to read contains these four basic ingredients. Without any further ado, let’s get started!
1. Chicken Gravy
This is my go-to homemade chicken gravy recipe as it only needs four ingredients, and it’s very simple to make. My cat enjoys it every time I make it, so I’m sure your cat will also enjoy it!
Ingredients
• 1 cup chicken meat
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups water
• 1/2 tbsp salt
Instructions
• Mix chicken parts and 2 cups of water in a saucepan and cook it.
• Add 2 cups of chicken broth to the saucepan with boiled chicken.
• Add salt and cook it for about an hour. Make sure to stir it occasionally.
• Let the gravy cool down.
• If the meat pieces were not chopped, blend the sauce to make it smooth.
• Divide the gravy into portions and serve it to your cat.
2. Chicken & Rice Gravy
This is another delicious recipe that your cat is bound to love. However, it’s calorie dense, so make sure not to give it to your cat too often, as we want to avoid unnecessary weight gain!
Ingredients
• 1/2 cup chicken meat
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 1/4 cup white rice
• 1/2 tbsp salt
• 2 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
• Boil chicken meat in water, then add salt.
• Add 3 cups of warm water and rice into the saucepan with the boiled chicken.
• Cook until the rice becomes soft (about 10 minutes)
• Add olive oil and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
• Let the gravy cool down, divide it into portions, and serve it to your cat.
• Store the leftover gravy in the fridge for two days.
3. Chicken & Carrot Gravy
This is a straightforward, 3-ingredient recipe many cat owners gravitate to. Every cat loves chicken and carrots, so your cat will surely enjoy it!
Ingredients
• 1/2 cup chicken meat
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 2 lbs of carrot
Instructions
• Boil the chicken meat.
• Separate the chicken from the broth (but save the broth)
• Mix chicken and carrots in a blender until you get a smooth puree
• Add the chicken broth to the chicken and carrot puree and mix
• Serve the gravy to your cat, and store/freeze the leftovers
4. Chicken Heart & Liver Gravy
This recipe might not be the most convenient one, as you probably don’t have chicken liver, heart, or gizzard meat in your freezer. However, your cat will be thrilled about it when you make it, trust me!
Ingredients
• 1/4 cup chicken liver
• 1/2 cup chicken heart
• 1/2 cup chicken gizzard
• 2 tbsp flour
• 2 cups of water
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
• Boil the chicken in water until tender.
• Chop the chicken into tiny pieces and mix them with the broth.
• Add flour and salt to the chopped chicken and broth mixture and cook on low heat.
• You can mix the cooked mixture in a blender, but it’s not necessary.
• Pour the stock along with the meat, flour, and salt. You should stir the mixture from time to time and cook over a low heat until you get a nice, thick gravy.
5. Chicken & Fish Gravy
This recipe is one of my favourites, and I make it quite often, especially when I need to stimulate my cat’s appetite (for example, if my cat has been a bit sick for a day or two and has experienced a slight loss of appetite).
Ingredients
• 20 grams of canned fish (such as tuna or salmon)
• 2 cups of chicken broth (homemade or store-bought)
• 2 tbsp of flour
• One small carrot (15 grams)
Instructions
• Mix the chicken broth with flour in a stockpot. Boil and stir constantly.
• Cut the carrot into small pieces and put them into the stockpot.
• Cook until the desired consistency is reached.
• Let the gravy cool down, then add fish
• Store the leftovers in the fridge for two days maximum, or freeze them later.
6. Fish Gravy
This recipe is one that all cats enjoy equally, as every cat loves fish. It’s convenient to make it, as it does not require any fish in particular – whichever one you have will be perfect!
Ingredients
• 2 filets of fresh fish (any fish of your choice)
• 4 cups water
• 1/2 tbsp salt
Instructions
• Boil the fish filets in water until it’s completely cooked
• Break apart the filet into smaller chunks
• Add salt and stir for about 10 minutes
• If you want, you can mix the gravy in a blender.
• Let the gravy cool down and serve to your cat.
• Store the leftovers in a fridge for no more than two days, or freeze them for later use
7. Tuna Gravy
If your cat is a tuna lover, trust me, this is the perfect recipe. It’s incredibly easy and quick to make, and it does not require any meat cooking, as you’ll be using canned tuna.
Ingredients
• Canned tuna
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 1 tbsp coconut oil
• 1 tbsp sugar-free gelatin
Instructions
• Mix the tuna, vegetable broth, and coconut oil in a pot and bring to boil
• Once the mixture has started boiling, add gelatin and stir
• Reduce the heat and cook until the gravy has reached the desired texture
• Allow it to cool down and serve it to your cat
• Store the leftovers in the fridge for no more than two days, or freeze them for later use
8. Mackerel & Rice Gravy
This recipe is my favorite when I want to make my cat gravy and serve it as a whole meal. As you’ll see, it is nutrient- and calorie-dense, enough to satisfy your cat until its next meal.
Ingredients
• 1 cup canned mackerel
• 1 tablespoon brown rice
• 1-2 tablespoons chicken of beef broth
• 1 tablespoon sunflower oil
Instructions
• Cook the brown rice
• Mix the rice, mackerel, broth, and sunflower oil
• Place the mixture in a food processor or a blender
• Blend until the desired consistency is reached
• Store the leftovers in the fridge for no more than two days, or freeze for later use
9. Salmon, Bacon & Rice Gravy
This salmon, bacon, and rice gravy recipe is my friend’s cats’ favorite. Her cat Bear is the biggest fan of this gravy, and no other recipe comes close to this one, in his opinion! Try it and see if your cat will like it as much as Bear does!
Ingredients
• 2 cans of salmon
• 1/2 cup of bacon
• 1 cup dry rice
• 2 cans of carrots
• 3 cups water (or broth)
• 1 tbsp salt
Instructions
• Cook the rice in water.
• Add bacon and salt to the rice while it’s still cooking
• Separate the salmon from the liquid in the can, then pour the liquid with the rice and bacon
• Boil the mixture briefly and stir until sticky
• Bring to a low heat, then add salmon and carrots and mix it all together
• Let the gray cool down and serve it to your cat
• Store the leftovers in the fridge for no more than two days, or freeze for later use
10. Pork Gravy
This pork gravy recipe is not a 10-minute one, but it’s still straightforward to make without much effort. Cooking the pork takes a bit of time, but trust me, it will be worth it, as your kitty will love it!
Ingredients
• 1/2 lb of boneless pork ribs
• 1/4 tbsp of salt
• 4 cups of water
Instructions
• Cook the pork in a saucepan with water and salt
• When the pork is thoroughly cooked, you can blend the mixture in a blender or remove the pork and use the gravy without meat
• If you decide to remove the meat, pour the gravy over your cat’s wet or dry cat food after it has cooled down
• Freeze the leftover gravy for later use
11. Egg Gravy
This egg gravy recipe is easy to do. Making it should not take more than 10 or 15 minutes. It’s one of my go-to recipes when I’m tired or don’t have much free time but I still want to treat my kitty with some gravy.
Ingredients
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp of flour
• 1/4 tbsp of salt
• 1 cup of chicken broth
Instructions
• Prepare a hard-boiled egg and break it up into small pieces
• Place chicken stock, flour, and salt into a saucepan; cook and stir until it reaches a thick consistency
• Add the egg to the gravy and mix for a short while
• Allow the mixture to cool down and serve it to your cat as a main meal or alongside dry cat food
12. “Little Bit Of Everything” Gravy
If you have leftover meat in your fridge and don’t know what to do with it, this is the perfect recipe for you! I hate wasting food, and any time I have pieces of leftover meat, I make my cat this gravy.
Ingredients
• All extra meat you have in your fridge (chicken, beef, pork, lamb, etc.)
• 1/2 tbsp of salt
• Water (the amount depends on the amount of meat you’re using)
Instructions
• Place all meat pieces together in a saucepan
• Add water and salt and boil for a few minutes
• Bring to low heat and simmer for about 3 hours
• Separate the meat and the gravy
• Serve the cool gravy over your cat’s dry or wet cat food
• Freeze the rest of the gravy for later use
3 Reasons Homemade Cat Gravy Is Healthy For Our Felines
If you’re on the fence about whether or not to include gravy in your cat’s diet, I’ve listed three reasons why gravy is a good addition to your furry friend’s meals.
1. It Is A Great Source Of Hydration
Every homemade cat food gravy in this article has water as one of its main components, whether it’s regular water or water in the form of chicken, beef, or vegetable broth. As you already know, pet food is the main source of hydration for most cats, not water from a water bowl.
Therefore, your cat should eat a decent amount of wet cat food, and one way to do so is to introduce cat gravies to your cat’s meals. You can pour gravy over your cat’s dry cat food or wet canned food.
Either way, your kitty will have gravy as a source of hydration, which is very beneficial to your cat!
2. It Encourages A Cat’s Appetite
You can use gravies to stimulate a cat’s appetite. Perhaps your kitty is not feeling its best and has not been eating well for a day or two. One way to encourage your feline friend to eat more is to pour gravy over its food.
Gravy will add a smell to your cat’s food, making the food more appealing. Warming up the food is another way to encourage the cat’s appetite, and combining warm gravy with kibble will make your cat drool in no time!
3. It Is Delicious
Meat and meat juices are the main components of any gravy, including cat gravy.
Cats go crazy over the smell and taste of meat, so you can bet your cats will love the smooth gravy you make. Apart from the gravy itself tasting great, it also makes the other food taste even better.
Whichever homemade cat gravy you make, I’m sure your cats will love the flavor!
Homemade Cat Gravy Vs. Store-Bought Cat Gravy
You might wonder about the differences between homemade cat gravy and store-bought cat gravy. Why choose to make your own gravy when you can most likely buy it at your local pet shop?!
Well, there are benefits and drawbacks to making homemade cat food gravy, so let’s briefly mention some of them.
Benefits Of Homemade Cat Gravy
One of the main benefits of making your cat gravy is the fact that you know exactly what your cat is eating. Considering you’re choosing the ingredients, I’m sure your gravy will not have artificial flavors, colors, fillers, additives, and preservatives that store-bought gravy will most likely contain.
Preparing gravy using homemade cat gravy recipes gives your cats nutrients and hydration without giving them unnecessary chemicals that might be found in commercially available gravies.
Apart from this, it’s cheaper to make homemade cat gravy than to buy it in a pet store. Cat gravies can be a bit pricey, especially considering you don’t get a lot of it. You can make a lot of gravy at home, without spending a lot of money doing it!
Drawbacks Of Homemade Cat Gravy
Of course, making homemade gravy does have its drawbacks. The main disadvantage is the lengthy preparation time.
A few recipes I’ve given take hours to make, due to the meat having to be cooked and simmered for a few hours. Although you let it cook itself and stir only occasionally, it’s still something you need to pay attention to for a few hours.
Another drawback is that you cannot leave it out in the open or keep it in the fridge for a long time. The total time spent in the fridge should be at most two days. Even though there is always the option of freezing the gravy, some cat owners might find this inconvenient.
Benefits Of Store-Bought Cat Gravy
On the other hand, cat owners swear that premade cat gravy is the best thing ever. Without a doubt, premade cat gravy has its benefits over homemade cat gravy.
The main one is that you simply need to buy it, open the can and serve it in your cat’s meal. You don’t need to prepare the ingredients, cook them, and ensure the right consistency.
You can store canned cat gravy for a long time; longer than your homemade cat gravy. The longer shelf life of store-bought cat gravy is a benefit; you can simply open it whenever you want!
Drawbacks Of Store-Bought Cat Gravy
The drawback of commercially available cat gravy is that not many pet stores have it. Cat gravy is not necessarily a must-have for many cat owners; therefore, it’s not considered vital for a pet store to have it. If you lack well-supplied pet stores in your area, you might have a harder time finding cat gravy.
Apart from this, store-bought cat gravies tend to be on the pricier side and are more expensive when compared to the same amount of homemade cat gravy. This is a big drawback for many cat owners, so they make their homemade cat gravies instead!
Final Thoughts
As you can see, cat owners who have never prepared food for their cats can easily make these cat gravy recipes. When you don’t feel like putting in a lot of effort or time to care for your cat, you can utilize the simple recipes or go all out and spend hours creating a fancy feast that your cat is sure to enjoy.
Homemade cat gravies contain no artificial coloring, flavoring, preservatives, or similar additives, so you’re providing your cat with a healthy source of hydration. Cats obtain most of their water needs through their food, and gravies are a way to ensure this, especially if your cat is not a massive fan of water!
Additionally, each of these recipes is freezer-friendly, allowing you to save any extra gravy in the freezer in the form of ice cubes. Gravies are safe for both kittens and senior cats, so the only thing you need to worry about when making homemade gravy for cats is not letting it burn!
I hope you’ve enjoyed learning these cat food gravy recipes and found them interesting enough that you’ll try making at least one of these. Trust me, your cat will love you for it!
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