Dear Kitten,
It’s time to celebrate two years together.
Two years of purring and tenderness. Two years of crying for food at five in the morning. Two years of sleeping in what you know is my spot on the couch. Two years of lint rolling all of my clothes. Two years of also keeping a lint roller in my car.
Two years of tricking my friends with your cuteness and leg rubs. Two years of attacking my shins. Two years of belly rubs turned forearm attacks. Two years of trying to get outside. Two years of climbing the walls… literally. Two years of sneaking into my food shots.
Two years of sitting in and on everything I need. Two years of sleeping at the foot of my bed… and attacking my feet at the slightest sign of movement. Two years of keeping me company. Two years of scaring my catsitters. Two years of making me laugh. Two years of making my boyfriends run screaming. Two years of eating exactly everything I make… including that pancake you snuck off the pan while I was photographing.
Two years of trying to convince me that you don’t love me… when I know you do… because I love you back. And I made you treats so quit your yappin’, and no you can’t go outside.
xo.
ps. We’ll always have Cat Land.
I made cat treats. Admittedly this is slightly ridiculous.
Yes, I realize that I can easily pop into any grocery and buy the kitten a package of treats without making my house smell like weird, warm, wet cat food.
Aaahhh, the things we do for love: make cat treats.
Aaahhh, the things we do because we’re ridiculous: watch the entire season of Bachelor Pad 3 with rapt attention. (Cry for help!)
I let the little guy (he’s totally not little, but he hates when I call him big-boned) get some sniffs and licks in. Happy Birthday, Kitten. I’m teaching you bad habits.
He was so sweet and tender as a youth.
I always knew he’d grow into his nose.
I didn’t know that he’d lose all sense of decency.
Can you teach a cat manners? Seriously.
I let him lick the cat treat dough bowl . Just this once… and just to see if he’d like it.
He did… but he would have licked the bowl if it had mushrooms and onions in it too. He’s a go-getter.
Note: Cats aren’t supposed to eat onions (or garlic). I know this. Don’t yell at me cat evangelists.
He used to sleep in bowls of the punch variety.
I always thought it was cute.
And then he got really big.
… which kinda makes me feel like I let a bengal tiger live in my house. (Unwise).
Kitten knows that this is my spot on the couch. He knows darn well…
(He doesn’t care.)
He really likes when the mail lady comes. If he could bark, I’m sure he would.
Your cat sleeps like this too, right?
Tell me this is normal.
All things considered (and I have considered all things), he’s a good helper… or at least consistent, and fluffy.
He let me get him a humiliating haircut… because he has the self-confidence to rock it.
Extreme closeup involving tiny tiny teeth.
It’s because of the tiny teeth, the shaved belly, and the constant companionship that I made these chewy cat treats.
I need to be clear. My cat eats absolutely everything. If I roasted an eggplant, this kitten would be all over it. He sneaks onto the counter to steal waffles, red peppers, and scallions. I have to keep the avocados away from him . For this reason… it’s hard for me to say with full certainty that these are the cat treats for your cat. Is your cat a normal finicky cat? Yea… it’s hard to say how these might go down. You might consider the addition of such treats as catnip or extra wet cat food in the dough. Cats have a very protein-centric diet. These treats are just meant to be a small addition to their diet, and not meant to replace their normal diets in any way. Cool?
Happy Birthday, Kitten!
Chewy Cat Treats for Cats
makes about 50 small treats
1 large egg
1 4-oz jar chicken and brown rice baby food (or something meaty which may include canned wet cat food)
1/4 cup parsley, coarsely chopped
2 teaspoons olive oil
2 tablespoons water
1 cup brown rice flour
1/2 cup cooked white (or brown) rice
other things you might add other treats like : 1 tablespoon of catnip or a hearty tablespoon of extra wet cat food.
Place a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together egg, baby food (or wet cat food), parsley, olive oil, and water. Add brown rice flour and cooked rice. Stir to incorporate. The mixture will be thick but spreadable.
Spread mixture onto prepared baking sheet creating a rectangle that is about 1/3 of an inch thick. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes.
Remove from the oven. Let rest until cool enough to handle, then slice soft dough into bite-sized pieces. Return pieces to the oven to bake for another 8 minutes. Remove from the oven. Allow to cool completely. Store in an airtight container in the fridge. I store my treats in the fridge just to be safe.
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes
I love me some kitties!! Yours is just precious!
Megan
loving all the kitty love!
my kitty sleeps like that too!! and like a previous commenter said… i totally think he know’s it’s cute. he works it!
https://thelifeofmegananne.blogspot.com/2011/09/but-i-promise-i-will-not-kill-you-until.html
https://thelifeofmegananne.blogspot.com/2010/08/hot-august-nights-and-days.html
and as for the food… my kitty thinks the only things worthy of try are dry kibbles and a rare like of homemade whipped cream. he is of the strong opinion that all other things {salmon, chicken, etc.} are not food. oh and he does love to munch on a good dusty bunny, but really i think that’s more about killing things and it just happens to get stuck on his tounge. poor silly kitty!
Anne
Yes, my kitty sleeps exactly like that. He has a total disregard for normal cat sitting/sleeping posture just like yours, but I think they ham it up because they look so dang cute.
I think if I made these treats I’d have to add yogurt to them- its one of the few foods that my cat will attack a person for. He’s such a little weirdo. <3
Amanda Paa
You and your cat are the bomb! I am so making these treats for my cat Grace… it may also be the only time I ever by baby food as well since cats are the only type of babies that will be my dependents!
Reem
I love this soooo Sooo SOOOO Much!!!
The letters size is proof of my love for this post….
That kitty is adorable, I have one back at my mom home.. And yes I miss those shin scratches and cat hair all over my dark cloths (they shine more on them)
Beautiful Post!!
Karis' Kitchen
Our two boys also love it when the mail lady comes, although I never knew this until one day when I heard a loud knock on the living room window followed by “Hello Gorgeous!” Turns out she stops and chats with my cats through the window every day…at least that’s what she told me later (I pretended not to be home the day I heard her knocking on the window).
Katherine Ross
I love this so so so much.
Ruchita
Long time reader, first time commenter. Being a cat lady, I just had to thank you for posting this recipe! I have 3 kitties (and am fostering a kitten) and they would be very happy if I tried this recipe.
I have some fresh catnip planted in the back yard and I might have use some of that in the recipe.
Thanks for sharing some great pix of your adorable kitty!
Rachel
I think it’s an orange boy kitty thing. They are the best! Mine is 14 now and has all the same tricks in his bag. Happy birthday kitten!
Kris
Love this! I’m a food blogging cat mama, so I completely understand your relationship. Happy kitty-versary!
Stephie @ Eat Your Heart Out
holy crap. i am fairly certain that our cats might be twins separated at birth. seriously. same age, same bad habits, same shin (or ankle) attacks, same penchant for trying to eat things they should not (onions…avocado…). It’s like you wrote about Cora here.
And I’d totally make these for her. She’d love them.
Beth
My kitten, Leo, and I would like to wish Jules the happiest of birthdays! Leo is so grateful you’re awesome enough to post cat-centric recipes, even though he’s the pickiest eater EVER and has yet to enjoy them.
Chris
I have a husband who is allergic to cats. When I found out that marrying him meant divorcing cats, I almost didn’t go through with it. This cat post is awesome, as are you. I wish I had a cat.
Ashley @ Any Lovely Thing
Cats are the BEST! I love my little guys so much. Also, as someone who works so hard on the Bach shows, I love that you’re addicted to Bachelor Pad!
Have a great Wednesday,
Ashley
Sue from Pleasanton
Dear Joy, while I love all your posts about Jules, I love this one especially for showing his growth from kittyhood to adulthood. I am allergic to cats, but love them. Thank you for a gorgeous post!