The British Fold cat is becoming an increasingly popular breed, as this animal is beautiful, calm, and becomes a real decoration of the home. But owners of British cats must know exactly how to properly feed and care for their pet.
With an irresponsible attitude on the part of the owner, the British quickly begin to get sick, causing a lot of problems. The cat will lose its attractive appearance, shine and thickness of fur, become lethargic or become obese, and these are the most harmless consequences of illiterate care.
The best advice on the topic “British Fold kittens, care and nutrition” is provided by experienced breeders of this breed, as well as veterinarians with sufficient experience in their profession.
You can’t just admire the beauty of the British dog, his elegant and sweet appearance, without being interested in the characteristics of the breed. What to feed a British cat so that he looks luxurious and has excellent health and a great mood?
Basic feeding rules
First of all, it’s worth understanding the basic rules of catering:
- The most common mistake made by owners is mixing natural and dry food. There is a misconception that adding meat, fish or vegetables to your cat's favorite bag will have a beneficial effect. In reality, this approach can be fraught with problems with the gastrointestinal tract and urinary system.
- Some owners follow the above rule, but sometimes allow exceptions. For example, when choosing mostly natural food, sometimes they treat their pets to purchased food as a reward for something. Such feeding is also extremely undesirable, because different types of food are digested differently.
- The cat should not remain hungry for more than 2-3 days. This is extremely important to consider when planning to be away from home for a long time.
- Cats and dogs should have different diets. The fact is that the latter synthesize some amino acids independently. But the heroes of this article cannot do this, so the owner of both animals must take into account. Therefore, you will have to abandon the same nutrition plan.
- If the cat is fed natural food, you should think about an additional dose of vitamins. Dry food is balanced in advance, but fans of natural food will have to balance it themselves.
- Whatever type of food is chosen, it must be served warm. Of course, the meal should be stored in the refrigerator, but it should be reheated before serving to your pet.
- Cat rations should not be given “while the pet is eating,” but based on the following proportions: kittens - 10% of their weight, adults - 5%.
Fish day
Have you thought about what to feed British kittens and bought some fish? In fact, the fact that cats need fish to survive is nothing more than a myth. In their natural habitat, cats do not eat fish, and their bodies are not initially adapted to digest it. Fish contains a lot of magnesium and phosphorus salts, and excessive consumption of this product can lead to urolithiasis. However, if you still decide to treat your pet to fish, choose sea fish, such as perch. And don’t forget to remove all the seeds from the treat, otherwise your baby may choke!
What a British cat shouldn't eat
It is also important to understand what you absolutely cannot feed an animal:
- Low quality dry food like Whiskas, Friskas, Kitiket. They, of course, are not as expensive as premium products, but such savings will not bring benefits. The composition speaks for itself - horns, hooves, feathers, aromatic additives.
- Food from the master's table. By the way, this is a common mistake of many owners who lovingly feed furry beggars borscht, cutlets, canned food, and sausages.
- Although meat is very good to include in the diet, not all types are equally healthy. Thus, fatty varieties are strictly contraindicated. For example, lamb.
- Under no circumstances should you feed Spices are also not welcome.
- Vegetables and fruits are recommended for furry pets, but not all. Eggplants, for example, are even recognized by veterinarians as dangerous to cat health. Just like onions, garlic, potatoes, citrus fruits.
- It is theoretically possible to eat river fish, but in reality there is a high risk of small bones getting into your pet’s body.
Getting to know each other better
And now a fluffy little ball has settled in your house. Remember that a little kitten is the same stupid child: it requires increased attention, because it was taken away from its mother, brothers and sisters, it found itself in an unfamiliar environment, and the baby needs help to get used to it.
Most likely, you have already purchased everything you need for your kitten: a scratching post, toys, a bed for sleeping and a tray with litter for the toilet. There is only one question left to solve, but perhaps the most important one. What to feed British kittens? And it’s even more difficult for the happy owners of a kitten with funny folded ears - of course, it’s so “exotic”! And they are faced with a task: what to feed a British fold kitten?
About dry food
And what kind of ready-made food do experienced cat owners feed their pets? As mentioned above, the food must be of high quality. We can safely name the following three brands:
- "Earthborn Holistic" - this dry product contains approximately 44% protein and is quite low in carbohydrates. Consists of eggs, brown rice, rolled oats, flaxseed. Herring, chicken, and turkey flour are available. There are also vegetables and fruits, thanks to which the British favorite receives powerful immune protection. As for vitamins, manufacturers have added vitamins C and E in sufficient quantities. Calcium and phosphorus will perfectly strengthen bones and teeth. The granules are very small - even a small pet can handle them. The absence of gluten and grains will be appreciated by owners of animals with stomach problems.
- "Go!" - food containing about 32% protein. Chicken meat, rice bran, brown rice, apples, alfalfa, rolled oats and flaxseed oil usually do not cause allergies. But a cat can still experience such trouble, so a preliminary consultation with a veterinarian will not hurt. But the developed formula is suitable for all ages! Including the fact that it contains taurine, which strengthens the heart.
- "Bosch Sanabelle Grande" - contains a low percentage of carbohydrates and about 31% protein. There are few minerals, which is clearly for the better - urolithiasis is less likely to form. The developers can boast of using mussel meat, which strengthens joints. It even contains yucca extract, which significantly reduces the harshness of fecal odor!
The meat is all cat meat!
If you have chosen only natural products for your cat child, then meat is the best way to feed your British kitten. The meat contains everything necessary for the proper growth of a furry pet. In addition, kittens, like small children, are teething. And “sharpening” them on a piece of beef or lamb is a pleasure!
But not all meat is good for kittens: pork should not be given at all, as it is too fatty and may contain parasites, and chicken and turkey should be given with caution - this meat can cause allergic reactions in some kittens. For very young kittens (1-3 months), any meat should be boiled and then crumbled into small pieces. Older kittens can already eat raw meat, cut into large pieces.
There is an opinion that meat for feeding kittens and adult cats must first be frozen. This is not true: such meat leaves nothing useful for your pet.
How to feed a British kitten
How to properly feed an animal up to a year old?
- For the first 3 or even 4 months, milk should be mother's milk if possible. The minerals, proteins and vitamins included in its composition help build the pet’s immunity.
- You can start feeding your baby from about 2 months. But mother's milk should still make up the bulk of the diet. Complementary feeding, ideally provided 6-8 times a day, is recommended to be made up of the following products - porridge with milk, natural cottage cheese, cream, and a little scraped beef.
- Starting from 3 months, you can try adding some by-products, vegetables and fruits, yolk, and boiled sea fish.
- After 4 months, exposure to chicken, regular milk and fermented milk products is allowed. The frequency of meals is reduced to 4-6 times a day.
- Starting from 6-10 months, the kitten should eat 3 or 4 times a day. It is permissible to diversify its menu with rabbit meat. Some veterinarians recommend focusing more on fermented milk products rather than pure milk.
- Starting from 10 months, the animal eats twice a day. It is quite possible to draw a parallel between its menu and the diet of an adult feline.
Diet depending on age
The development of the digestive system in British kittens occurs gradually, so some types of foods can cause colic, bloating or indigestion.
1-2 month
A 1-2 month old kitten is fed liquid milk porridges, pureed soups with chicken broth, cottage cheese mashed with low-fat sour cream or milk.
3 months
From this period, babies are given meat, in addition to cereals and soups. It is frozen and scraped with a sharp knife or passed through a meat grinder.
6 months and older
Kittens of this age can already be given all of the above products, paying attention to temperature and freshness.
How to feed a pregnant cat
It's time to figure out how experts feed a cat in an interesting situation. By and large, no dramatic changes have been observed, but some nuances should be mentioned:
- As for beef, it is worth treating the expectant mother with it more often. And this means not only the meat itself, but also the liver and heart.
- pregnant cat should absolutely not eat a lot. The saying that you need to “eat for two” is one of the most dangerous myths. If there is an excess of food, especially high-calorie food, too large fetuses will form in the cat’s womb. As a result, childbirth may become more difficult than with a reasonable approach to diet planning.
- If the owner pampers his pet with dry food, it is important to take care of minor adjustments to the menu. Preference should be given to special foods for pregnant women. For example, “Royal Canin QUEEN” has earned good fame.
What about milk?
There is an opinion that as soon as a kitten appears in the house, it urgently needs milk. And as if it is exactly what you can feed a British kitten.
This is partly true. However, milk can only be given to kittens up to three months - it is very useful for growing bones. After three months, it is better to exclude milk from the cat’s diet, since the stomach of a growing pet may react to milk protein with an upset.
How to feed a cat when it is sick
The British, although known for their excellent health, have their Achilles heel. Even a few. These are their signature ailments that can be combated with a well-designed diet:
- If you have urolithiasis, you should consider reducing the composition of minerals. Pets who eat dry food often fall into the mineral risk zone. The food was probably chosen incorrectly. Therefore, it is imperative to ensure that there is no such harmful component in the composition. There must be clean, fresh water in the bowl - without this, you can forget about ridding your cat of kidney stones.
- With hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, it is advisable to take a closer look at the amount of salt absorbed by your pet. The less salt the better for the fluffy core. Previously, there was an opinion that such animals should consume less protein. This point of view can hardly be called correct, since as a result the animal lost a lot of muscle mass. As a result, they lived fewer years than they could have.
The British cat is extremely prone to obesity. We can say that she is the Achilles heel of furry companions. But well-chosen food will help avoid such troubles. Like many others.
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Nutrition rules
Like other breeds, the British Fold cat can be fed in the form of natural products or in the form of ready-made food. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages.
But if it is not possible to strictly follow the diet, constantly weigh portions and count calories, it is better to feed British cats high-quality premium or super-premium food .
Natural food is food prepared by the owner. But they must be specially selected for the cat’s diet, taking into account the breed, age, weight, and health status.
ATTENTION! It is forbidden to give representatives of the British breed leftover food from the human table; you can not only fatten the cat to become overweight, but also create many health problems for it.
Pet food should include many special elements, vitamins, minerals, but salt and spices are excluded from the food. You need to not only know what British breed cats eat and what foods are allowed, but also cook for them often and give them fresh portions.
You can feed your Britons food specially formulated for them by choosing reputable and safe types. The list of prepared foods includes dry and canned food. Manufacturers can produce food for British adults and kittens, for cats during pregnancy or for those who suffer from allergies or urolithiasis.
The owner chooses which feeding method is more convenient for him, but the food must be of high quality, fresh, and suitable for age and health.
Cat taboos
And finally, let’s summarize and clarify what you should not feed British kittens. We strongly do not recommend:
1. Chicken and other bones - the kitten can choke and suffocate! In addition, sharp bone fragments can injure the cat's delicate gums and stomach!
2. River fish and fish that have not been deboned.
3. Pork - this meat may contain parasites!
4. I eat “from the table” - there is nothing healthy for cats in smoked meats, sausages and other goodies!
5. Fatty dairy products - they are most likely to cause diarrhea in your pet.
6. Cheap dry food - read the ingredients carefully! Would you eat what the manufacturers included in budget food? Most likely no.
That's all the simple “ABC” of cat nutrition! Take care of your kitten and he will grow into a luxurious, well-groomed, healthy and affectionate animal.
