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Original poster

Can I make ice cream from shrews?

287 replies

Bwix · 08/08/2022 18:39

The cats need a treat on a day like this. My boy cat looks very hot and bothered. Girl cat has brought us 4 shrews already and I found a mouse corpse behind the bin, which smells relatively fresh.

Do you think the cats would like it if I froze them, perhaps mixed with a bit of cream? I know they can't taste sugar, so I was thinking of boiling cream and leaving the shrews to infuse at that stage, then making a sugar-free traditional custard (albeit shrew flavoured) and putting that in the ice cream maker.

The shrews are already dead so I'm assuming IANBU.

OP posts:
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mintlimerum · 08/08/2022 19:00

Hi OP

Tour cats are busy! We only get about one live grass snake a year.

The pilchard sorbet could be a winner? But make sure there's no actual bits of ice in it, as I don't think cats like actual ice. I would suggest just slightly chilled, with a hint of tuna perhaps?

You are mad cat woman extraordinaire with the shrew ice-cream recipe. I think you need a cauldron to do these experimental recipes justice.

But try the lick-e-licks tubes chilled as a starter to establish if they like cold things before you break out with the wildlife recipes.

Laiste · 08/08/2022 18:59

I feel like i'm dreaming this thread ....

MarsupiIami · 08/08/2022 18:59

Now considering freezing milk cups 🤔

CorvusPurpureus · 08/08/2022 18:59

Shrews are a bit toxic, I believe. As in cats usually don't eat much of them, & puke if they do, rather than deadly poisonous, but blending them might be asking for trouble...

IcakethereforeIam · 08/08/2022 18:58

I think shrews have glands that make them distasteful and possibly toxic. That said, I think a sorbet would be better because cats are lactose intolerant so can't eat mice cream.

woq · 08/08/2022 18:58

Bwix · 08/08/2022 18:47

Oooh - I could do a sorbet-style thing with pilchards. That's a really good idea. I'd worried with the shrews that freezing would make them less appetising as the smell doesn't dissipate so well in the cold, but really smelly fish would work well. I could pop the mouse in with them.

On the lactose point: isn't it denatured when you boil the cream? I will check to see if cats tummies are sensitive to cooked milk products. It'd be a shame if I had to get that whiskas milk as I thought I had all the ingredients for shrew ice cream in the house already

Lactose is a sugar, so doesn't get denatured at high temperatures like proteins do.

But the more important point is that if your cats are leaving the shrews for you and not eating them, that they perhaps don't like the taste of shrew? And therefore might not appreciate a food they weren't keen on that was boiled, blended, frozen and served up as a summer treat?

WorstBJever · 08/08/2022 18:58

I just opened this thread to see what the op meant cos surely shrew was a typo? But no, I am actually reading a thread about freezing shrews fml

Yddraigoldragon · 08/08/2022 18:58

I would just chuck some frozen prawns at them if they are hot.. surely they are the original cat ice pops?

YanTanTetheraPetheraPimp · 08/08/2022 18:57

My cats never ate shrews, only mice or rabbits 🤢

MarsupiIami · 08/08/2022 18:57

😒 Stop making the rest of us cat butlers look bad. My tapas cat dinner for 2 now looks poor in comparison. The dessert was just milk cups.

edwinbear · 08/08/2022 18:57

But you’re going to put it in your ice cream maker? That you use for human ice cream as well?! You have a stronger stomach than me OP!

Laiste · 08/08/2022 18:56

FangsForTheMemory · 08/08/2022 18:52

The cats haven't eaten the shrews because, being insectivores, they taste bad.

Is that true?

lancsgirl85 · 08/08/2022 18:56

Omg I feel unwell 🤢

Drinkingpop · 08/08/2022 18:54

I thought I had all the ingredients for shrew ice cream in the house already
**
😂😂😂
**

Original poster
Bwix · 08/08/2022 18:54

edwinbear · 08/08/2022 18:51

I don’t think I could use my entire kitchen again after boiling shrew and mouse corpses in it. I’d have to move.

I wasn't planning to cook the mouse - the sorbet can be done with it raw, and I think the flavour would probably be better for the cats.

OP posts:
FangsForTheMemory · 08/08/2022 18:52

The cats haven't eaten the shrews because, being insectivores, they taste bad.

GrowlingManchego · 08/08/2022 18:52

Jubaju · 08/08/2022 18:41

Like micepops 😂

🤣🤣🤣🤣 Yes!

edwinbear · 08/08/2022 18:51

I don’t think I could use my entire kitchen again after boiling shrew and mouse corpses in it. I’d have to move.

megletthesecond · 08/08/2022 18:48

Shrews wasn't a typo then.

Jollygreen · 08/08/2022 18:48

We've previously just put wet food into lolly moulds and frozen them!

Original poster
Bwix · 08/08/2022 18:47

Oooh - I could do a sorbet-style thing with pilchards. That's a really good idea. I'd worried with the shrews that freezing would make them less appetising as the smell doesn't dissipate so well in the cold, but really smelly fish would work well. I could pop the mouse in with them.

On the lactose point: isn't it denatured when you boil the cream? I will check to see if cats tummies are sensitive to cooked milk products. It'd be a shame if I had to get that whiskas milk as I thought I had all the ingredients for shrew ice cream in the house already

OP posts:
Lollypop701 · 08/08/2022 18:47

Would this be in a special pan ? Because I’m not sure I’d ever be able to use it again for human food 😳

Haus1234 · 08/08/2022 18:46

I don’t think I could use a pan again after boiling shrews in it Envy

You can freeze lick e lix or similar yoghurt cat treats!

IncompleteSenten · 08/08/2022 18:45

QueSyrahSyrah · 08/08/2022 18:42

Erm... you can freeze lick-e-lix.

I give my cat those from the fridge on hot days. Never thought of freezing them. I'll give it a go see if she likes it.
She does like ice cubes in her water when it's hot.

lisavanderpumpscloset · 08/08/2022 18:44

Jubaju · 08/08/2022 18:41

Like micepops 😂

Pahahahahahaha love it 😂