The Birthday Boy with No Cake – How Our Sous Chef Kitten Taught Us a Sweet Life Lesson (and Inspired a Safer Home!)
- Yukari Bianchi
- Apr 28
- 7 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
Two years ago, our dear friend Cindi sent me a cute photo of a newborn ginger kitten with the message, "Thought I'd just put this on your radar," but I wasn't totally sold on it.
She continued her message with all the details of the kitten, its mom, other siblings, and the foster mom, Patti, who volunteers at a local animal shelter. So, I went and asked Aric about it.
I expected him to say his usual phrases when I asked about adopting animals, such as "if you want" or "that's what you want," but when I told him about it, he just looked at me and surprisingly asked, "When can we meet him?" which he'd never done before.
Recently (4/20/25), we celebrated Ka-En's two-year birthday! Well, actually, it was our "Gotcha Day!" the day we adopted him. Ka-En was born at his foster mom's home on 2/20/23, and we adopted him two months later, on 4/20/23 —so we get to celebrate twice!
A tiny, mischievous red tabby kitten waltzed into our lives and became our home kitchen's honorary Sous Chef Kitten. From the start, Ka-En was different. He wasn't just a cat—he was a supervisor, an inspector, a critic, and occasionally, well, primarily, a saboteur of our cooking process.
We celebrated many treats last year on his birthday (2/20/24) and the first "Gotcha Day" with many treats and toys. But his birthday was different this year.
No treats.... No extra nibbles of chicken.
No celebratory Churu, which was his favorite treat.
Because Ka-En, our feisty little firecracker, had been battling an autoimmune disease.
The Battle We Never Expected
When Aric and I first noticed Ka-En's symptoms last September, our hearts sank. He developed an ulcer on his upper lip, and his outer ears were inflamed and had rashes. It's terrifying when your fur baby, your family member, is sick, and you feel powerless.
Luckily, we have a trusted veterinarian nearby. We followed every protocol and advice the vet gave us, and I took Ka-En for his treatment every ten days.
The vet tech had to deal with this spicy orange kitty because he is a fighter. I even gave him a calming medication called "Gabapentin," which is known as a saving grace for feisty cats like ours. (Please discuss this medication with your veterinarian if you have a spicy cat!)
After several months of treatment, slowly but surely, his condition improved. (Thanks to our devoted veterinarian staff and their team at Parkside Animal Health Center)
Creating a Safer Space for Ka-En (and Why We're Careful About What We Use)
As we've been navigating this autoimmune journey with Ka-En, I've started looking at every part of his world, including the cleaning products we use in our kitchen and around the house.
Since we don't yet know what triggers his flare-ups—whether it's food, seasonal allergies, or something environmental—I chose to err on the side of caution. (Well, also, I'm known to be a hyper-helicopter mom.)
That means using non-toxic, pet-safe cleaning products as much as possible whenever I can. Harsh chemicals, strong fragrances, or certain ingredients might be invisible threats. If there's even a slight chance they could worsen Ka-En's condition, I'd rather avoid them. (I also have asthma, and I know firsthand that strong fragrances and chemicals definitely aggravate my symptoms)
If you're a pet parent, especially with sensitivities, please consider safer, environment-friendly products for this spring cleaning. Check out this list of safe and effective products I've switched to and love using. (*I've included affiliate links below at no extra cost to you. They help support our tiny family business and, well, Ka-En's growing toy collection. )
Here are a few of our favorite finds so far:
All-Purpose Cleaning Spray (I became a huge fan of this company because most of their products are refillable!)
Dish Soap (I had to be very careful when choosing kitchen cleaning products because I wash Ka-En's food and water bowls every day.)
Dish Washer Detergent (This is the only detergent I found without plastic filming!)
Laundry Detergent (Where does Ka-En sleep the most? On our bed!)
Dryer Balls (They're eco-friendly, reusable, and free of fragrance and chemicals. It's a win-win for us and Ka-En!).
Multi-Surface Cleaner for Wet/Dry Vacuum Cleaner (I open all the windows and keep Ka-En in a different room when I use it.)
Air Purifier (It's super quiet and covers a big space in this compact size, great for a small house like ours!).
We're still learning as we go, but making small changes in our home gives me a sense of relief, like I can do something to support Ka-En's health beyond the medicine. I am not a professional ingredient expert, but I was fortunate to have a dear friend, Elizabeth, at "The Ingredient Insider," who is an expert in the field and passionate about educating the public about ingredients and environmentally friendly, safe products.
I'm hoping she'll agree to guest blog on this blog someday because I learned so many things before we even faced Ka-En's autoimmune disease.
The Crazy Lady with the Syringe
I admit. There was one major hurdle: daily oral medication.
Now, if you've ever tried giving a cat medicine, you know.
They know.
When they see the syringe, the pill, and the dropper, they suddenly become elite-level escape artists.
Ka-En was no exception. The moment he caught sight of that tiny syringe in my hand, he ran like his tail was on fire.
And so began the daily high-speed chase.
Can you imagine? Me, a fully grown adult (and not a twenty-year-old anymore), sprint through our tiny house, dodging furniture and maneuvering around corners. (at least I'm trying...)
Meanwhile, Ka-En, our 12-pound ginger tabby, parkours off walls and launches himself under beds at lightning speed.
Every day, I thought, This is it.
This is how he'll remember me... "The Crazy Lady with the Syringe."
It broke my heart. I feared that soon, he wouldn't just run from the medicine—he'd start running from me.
A Lightbulb Moment (Courtesy of a Sloth, a Stick, and String made by Aric)
Then, one day, something changed.
After another exhausting round of Cat vs. Human, I slumped onto the couch and watched Ka-En play with his old, worn-out sloth toy. His tiny paws batted at it, spinning it around, grabbing it, and kicking it with pure joy.
It made me smile, a little peaceful break from the medicine war.
And that's when it hit me.
Maybe the medicine didn't have to be the last thing he remembered.
Maybe I could rewrite the ending.
So, the next time I had to give him his medication, I didn't just bring the syringe. I got his ultimate favorite toy—a simple butcher's twine tied to a wooden stick that Aric had made for him as a kitten.
As expected, Ka-En saw the syringe and bolted it. I caught him (after another short-lived Olympic sprint), gave him his medicine, and watched as he shook his face and made his signature "Blech! I am betrayed!" face.
But instead of letting him stew in betrayal, I immediately dangled his favorite toy in front of him.
For a second, he hesitated, eyes narrowing.
"Was this a trick? Was I to be fooled again?"
Then, as if someone had flipped a switch, he pounced.
He forgot the medicine and the chase.
He just played with me as if nothing had happened!
The Real Gift Ka-En Gave Me
This wasn't just about getting him to forgive me. It was about realizing trust isn't so easily broken when love is stronger.
Ka-En had every reason to hold a grudge, to hide from me, and to associate me with discomfort. But he didn't.
He came back.
Again and again.
Because we had already built something more powerful than fear.
I thought celebrating our second 'Gotcha Day' with Ka-En would feel bittersweet after everything he'd been through this year.
No treats or special meals for him to indulge in...
But in the end, he gave me the best gift—a reminder that love, patience, and a little creativity can turn even the bitterest moments into something sweet.
So, happy second "Gotcha Day!" to our dearest Sous Chef Kitten, Ka-En the firecracker.
Here's to many more years of high-speed chases, wooden-stick games, and a love that not even bad-tasting medicine can erase.
While Ka-En got birthday toys instead of treats, Aric and I celebrated with something special.
Honoring his "Red Tabby"-known more as "Orange Cat" or "Ginger Cat," Aric made "Pan-Seared Chicken Thigh with Orange Ginger Butter Sauce with Basil."
He filled our house with a sweet and spicy aroma, just like Ka-En, and it was out-of-this-world deliciousness!
Want the Full Recipe for Aric's mouthwatering Orange Ginger Chicken? Plus, you'll get more of our personal stories, budget-friendly cooking tips, and exclusive recipes from our kitchen table to yours—Sign up for our Email Newsletter!
Do you have a pet who keeps life interesting, whether in the kitchen or through their mischievous antics? I'd love to hear about them in the comments below!
I so love your use of positive reinforcement for your baby. Makes life so much easier. I'd also love this recipe.
I'm so happy you found a way to make medication time less challenging and a little more "happy." It's really hard when treats aren't an option. Good job! My Sugar dog is diabetic and has insulin twice a day. In the morning she gets a dental treat after and in the evening she gets a little bit of Churu food topper for dogs. Sugar also has eye drops twice a day. She gets a couple of peanuts after that. My Kukki ginger cat has to have oral meds twice a day. He gets his breakfast and dinner right after and not surprisingly he devours it. 😉 My Kobie cat gets cream in his ears twice daily for his Hyperthyroidism. He is a Temptatio…