Choosing food for British cats

The British cat is an artificially bred breed. These are beautiful, graceful animals with a calm character and pleasant “plush” fur. Like any purebred pet, they require careful daily care. Although Britons are genetically programmed to have good health, they should only be fed high-quality British cat food. This is important for both the health and beauty of the coat. The right cat food contains all the essential minerals for your pet's well-being, activity and long life.

Features of feeding

Animals are demanding when it comes to nutrition. When choosing food for British cats, remember that they have a sensitive digestive system. A budget diet with a lack of meat components and high-quality protein will not suit them. It is necessary to select the best food for British cats, taking into account the individual characteristics of the pet. Weight, health, and age are important factors when creating a nutrition plan.

Due to its reserved nature, the British cat will never loudly complain about feeling unwell. Therefore, regular preventative examination by a veterinarian is important. It will identify health problems at an early stage and, if necessary, help adjust your nutrition plan.

Another feature that is worth considering when choosing food for a British cat is the tendency of representatives of the breed to be overweight. British owners should monitor the size of their pet's portions.

It is important to observe the prohibitions when feeding British cats. It is forbidden:

feed food from the table;
alternate dry food with natural food;
give sweets, smoked meats, butter, pork, chicken bones, raw fish with bones.

Requirements for natural feed

Choosing excellent dry food for a British kitten is not a problem, especially if you are not strapped for money. It is very difficult to balance natural foods, so experts recommend the use of vitamin-mineral complexes as recommended. The cat's menu must include: lean meats and offal, cooked without spices (preferably frozen raw), porridge, sprouted grains, boiled lean fish and yolks. To improve digestion and shine the coat, brewer's yeast and a little sunflower oil are sometimes added to the food.

For a castrated cat, the diet must be selected individually. To avoid the development of diseases of the genitourinary system, products containing phosphorus, calcium and magnesium in large quantities are excluded from the diet. Cheese and fish should not be on the menu, but meat and offal can be added. Also, we should not forget about the importance of fermented milk products. Be sure to provide your pet with access to clean, fresh water. The dishes from which your pet eats must always remain clean.

All natural food should be fresh and slightly warm. Fish products and meat should be served boiled to prevent the appearance of helminths. Do not forget to get rid of bones and other parts of food (paws, heads) that can injure the esophagus and stomach.

It is important to maintain portion sizes to prevent your kitten from overeating. It is also recommended to organize a certain feeding system so that the animal does not starve: excess gastric juice corrodes the walls of the stomach and is fraught with serious diseases.

Characteristics of food for British cats

High-quality food for British cats should help maintain the health of the animal in excellent condition, namely:

provide the necessary amount of vitamins and minerals;
contain the required dose of protein, fatty acids, L-carnitine;
have a positive effect on the health of teeth, gastrointestinal tract, and cardiovascular system.

It's important to understand how. Using this information, choose the right food for your British cat. When choosing, make sure it contains trace elements and amino acids from the list below:

fluorine;
iodine;
magnesium;
phosphorus;
cystine;
methionine;
taurine;
arginine

A lack of these substances in the body of a British cat can provoke the development of health problems.

Rules for feeding natural food

The basic requirements for natural products should be considered. Find out what the British can do and what is strictly prohibited. You will learn a description of the products that are introduced into the diet of cats older than one year and what treats you can pamper your pet with.

In their natural habitat, all cats are predators, so the basis of their diet is meat. Choose lean varieties, such as beef, rabbit, farm chicken. Do not use pork under any circumstances. Its excess fat and calorie content will quickly lead to obesity in your pet. The meat is supplied fresh. To avoid contamination by various parasites, this product must be frozen for 24 hours. After defrosting, it is best to make minced meat. For the little ones, pass the meat through a meat grinder 2 times to make its consistency more tender.

Before serving the treat to your pet, you need to pour boiling water over the meat. This will make the food look like industrially canned food, making it easier for Britons to eat. Meat should be present in a cat's diet every day. If you want to diversify your pet’s taste sensations, you can add offal: heart, liver, lungs.

Be sure to freeze them first and pour boiling water over them.

British cats are not averse to indulging in tasty fish. Choose sea and ocean representatives. You should not take river fish, as it contains many small bones that can harm your pet. Remove scales from the carcass and form fillets. Be sure to remove all bones. Place the pieces in boiling water for 10-15 minutes and cool them. Fish is given approximately 2-3 times a week.

Cereals contain the necessary complex carbohydrates, as well as B vitamins, so including them in the diet is considered mandatory. Cats readily eat buckwheat, oatmeal, rice, and barley cereals. They are pre-boiled in lightly salted water.

Porridges are used 3-4 times a week.

Vegetables and fruits

A varied menu for your pet is the key to a long and healthy life. Vegetables help restore the lack of vitamins and carbohydrates. You should know that the use of potatoes, onions, and herbs is strictly prohibited. Cats eat well various types of cabbage, cucumbers, zucchini, as well as carrots and beets. Vegetables should be included in the diet approximately 3-4 times a week.

Select fruits individually. Use unsweetened fruits no more than once a week.

Dairy

Whole cow's milk is given to kittens up to one year old. Older individuals do not need it, as it often causes diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. However, dairy products are an essential source of calcium and animal protein. Include kefir, cream, fermented baked milk, cottage cheese in your diet without additional ingredients in the form of sweeteners, pieces of fruit, or preservatives. All this should have a low fat content. On average, fermented milk products are needed 2-3 times a week. Additional products include the yolk of a chicken or quail egg, and greens in the form of fresh grass. You can grow it yourself or buy it at a veterinary pharmacy.

What you need to know when choosing food for British cats

All cat food is divided into 4 categories:

economy;
premium;
super premium;
holistic

Like all purebred cats, British cats are better suited to super premium and holistic food classes. They have a balanced composition and provide the cat with all the necessary nutrients.

When studying the composition of food for British cats, be sure to pay attention to these parameters:

Variety of meat components - the more types of meat in the composition, the more complete set of proteins, fats and amino acids the cat will receive. British cat food should contain at least two types of meat, the best are chicken, fish, rabbit, turkey, and beef.
Order of ingredients in the composition. The ingredients are listed in order from the largest content to the smallest. Accordingly, meat should be included at the beginning of the feed composition.
Soy - a good food for British cats should not contain it.
Cereals contain carbohydrates that are not beneficial for a cat’s body, unlike humans. It is advisable that there are no such ingredients in the food either. They are difficult to digest.
Other ingredients - vegetables, sprouts, seeds, complexes of vitamins and minerals - successfully complement a balanced cat food.
There should be no preservatives, flavors, or dyes in the composition.

You should also pay attention to the expiration date. Expired goods are dangerous for your cat's health. Don’t forget - food can spoil even after purchase if you choose too large a package. Absolutely refuse to purchase food in bulk: exposure to air affects the beneficial properties of the food.

Natural food

A change of environment can cause stress even in humans, let alone pets. If you decide to get a cat of this breed that is several months old, then you do not need to feed it in the first days with what you have at home. You should find out his diet, what he ate when he lived with his mother, and in the first few days he should be fed exclusively with such food.

If you don’t know what to feed a British kitten several months old, then we will help you figure out this issue. If you decide to properly feed your cat natural food, then keep in mind that it is better to exclude fatty foods from the cat’s diet. Otherwise, this will cause stress on the internal organs of the lop-eared pet (or straight-eared, it doesn’t matter), which can cause an upset stomach.

What should the diet be like? In any case, feeding British domestic cats should contain meat and poultry products, in particular chicken and poultry. Beef heart or kidneys are quite suitable. If you decide that feeding should be done with meat, then you can and even need to boil it before giving it to your pet, or simply treat it with boiling water. If you feed a cat meat, then it should not contain helminths or other parasitic carriers.

If you feed your fold cat chicken, it also needs to be boiled before eating. The skin must be removed as it is the cause of loose stools in British cats. The meat should be finely chopped and not contain bones. British cats love to eat boiled buckwheat and rice porridge with meat, but there should be twice as much meat as side dish.

In addition, cats love boiled eggs. The yolk can be mixed with meat or porridge and given to the cat separately. If you want your lop-eared to have good health, then add quail eggs to the meat. Such eggs are healthy and full of vitamins. As for vegetables, British cats easily digest carrots, cucumbers, and zucchini. It is better to give it boiled, but you can also give it raw.

Cats usually eat 2-3 times a day.

Kitten food

The diet of kittens at one month of age will differ from that of big cats. Such cats need to be weaned off breast milk from about three weeks of age. If the kitten is more than one month old, then it should already be eating on its own. From about one month onwards, kittens can be given baby puree or baby cottage cheese with the addition of cream and lactobacilli. It wouldn't hurt to add quail eggs.

After a few days, maybe a week, you can add boiled meat to the kitten’s feeding. At first it should be given no more than a teaspoon, and in the first days even less. Over time, portions of meat can be increased. And cats that are one and a half months old can already be switched to an adult diet. The main thing is that all products are of high quality and fresh.

Also, cats from one month of age can start feeding fermented milk products. It is better that all products are not fatty: cottage cheese, kefir, cream or yogurt, only unsweetened. It is correct to feed cats “sour milk” after meals and it is better to give it a little at a time.

As for how much food is best to give to a cat one to two months old, see for yourself depending on the situation. Usually at this age they eat little, leaving some of the food in the bowl. But you don’t have to worry about this topic. With age, your appetite also increases, so portions can be increased over time. It is better to underfeed your pet than to overfeed it. After all, if he is underfed, he will tell you about it himself.

British cats need to be fed 2-3 times a day.

Review of food for British cats

Choosing food for a British cat is a responsible task. Switching to a different diet becomes stressful for your pet. The choice must be justified. The foods listed below for British cats have been selected based on recommendations from veterinarians and experienced breeders. Thanks to the wide variety, it is not difficult to choose the one that your pet will like.

Food for cats and kittens Go! Solutions Holistic Carnivore Grain-Free Chicken, Turkey + Duck Recipe Grain-Free 4 Meats: Chicken, Turkey, Duck and Salmon

One of the UK's best cat foods. Represents the holistic class. This is a complete, balanced diet for everyday nutrition, created taking into account the needs of a healthy pet.

Pros:

does not contain grains or soy;
caloric content - specifically for maintaining a healthy weight;
without by-products and preservatives;
enriched with taurine for healthy vision and heart;
several meat ingredients;
excellent balance of vitamins and probiotics for the health of the British gastrointestinal tract.

Cons: none found.

Royal Canin British Shorthair Adult

The product is designed specifically for British cats. It fully satisfies the needs of British adults, supporting the health of joints, muscles, and the cardiovascular system. The form of dry food for British cats is designed taking into account the characteristics of their anatomy. Convex croquettes are easy for an animal with large jaws to grasp and chew.

Pros:

specially designed for the needs of the breed;
enriched with L-carnitine, taurine;
contains omega-3 fatty acids;
balanced in mineral content;
In addition to dry food, the line includes wet food for British cats with the appropriate characteristics.

Minuses:

preservatives in the composition;
contains soybean oil.

Dry food for adult cats over 1 year old Karmy British Shorthair

A special formula developed in accordance with the needs of adult purebred animals. Complete food for British cats supports the immune system with prebiotics and a complex of vitamins and minerals. Prebiotics help remove toxins from the cat’s body and reduce the unpleasant odor of stool. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, as well as salmon oil, help keep your pet's coat healthy and beautiful.

Pros:

adapted for a specific cat breed;
convenient form of granules;
a full range of substances necessary for health;
healthy additional ingredients: Yucca Schidigera, apple, seaweed

Minuses:

cereals included;
only one type of meat.

Dry cat food Almo Nature Holistic with turkey

Super premium food with a high content of fresh meat. The line also includes diets with other meat flavors: chicken, rabbit, tuna, beef, white fish. Therefore, even the most picky pet will find an option to suit his taste. The food is produced in Italy and meets European quality standards.

Pros:

balanced content of proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and amino acids;
large selection of flavors;
hypoallergenic;
versatility: suitable for both adult and young cats;
Contains no preservatives or flavorings.

Cons: none found.

Canned food for cats Gina Tuna&Beef tender pieces of tuna and beef fillet in sauce

A good and economical option for wet food for British cats. Gina brand products are made in Thailand from natural, fresh ingredients that are not frozen. Highly digestible canned foods have a natural flavor. The line also includes other flavors of super premium delicacies, which allows you to diversify your pet’s diet.

Pros:

optimal combination of various meat and vegetable ingredients;
excellent taste that animals like;
does not contain preservatives, flavors, or flavor enhancers;
high nutritional value.

Cons: none found.

Nutrition of British kittens

Just as people choose products in the store to prepare their favorite dishes, cats need to be offered a special diet. The animal's nutrition should depend on its age, health and personality characteristics. Little Britons, for example, should not be fed the same food as adult cats.

British cats should be fed based on their age, health status and preferences.

British cats are usually taken away from their cats at a tender age. Some people follow the rules of breed clubs and buy a kitten after 3 months, while others can’t wait and take a very tiny baby. Nature has arranged everything so that the kittens are fed by the cat. It is the mother cat who instills immunity in her cub (antibodies enter the kitten’s body with her colostrum). In addition, the little Briton receives all the necessary microelements from mother's milk.

Even a person, if abruptly transferred from one diet to another, can get sick. What can we say about small and defenseless kittens? Babies, accustomed to the taste of their mother’s warm milk, risk serious harm when they find themselves in a new person’s home. From now on, responsibility for the life and health of the cat lies entirely with the new owner.

In order for your little Briton to grow up strong and healthy, you need to feed him properly.

Artificial feeding of British newborns

It is necessary to artificially feed a British kitten not only in cases where it has moved to a new home. There may be several reasons for this:

the mother cat died;
the kitten and its mother are incompatible by blood type;
the cat had a caesarean section;
she got sick and was treated with medications that are incompatible with breastfeeding;
the mother cat has no milk;
she pushed the kitten away herself.

Medical reasons - caesarean section, incompatibility of blood groups and illness of the mother cat - oblige a person to feed a kitten only for a while. If the cat’s milk has still not disappeared, then you just need to maintain lactation until the moment when she can feed her cubs herself. If lactation has stopped or the cat has died, you will need to feed the kittens until they reach 5 weeks of age.

Kittens up to 1 month old are considered newborns.

Newborn kittens need to be fed every 2 hours. In this case, you need to constantly monitor the presence of a heat source. Usually the mother cat acts as a warmer for babies, but if she is not nearby, then a heating pad will do. It is important to ensure that there are no drafts near the kittens. You also need to protect babies from viruses and infections. Experienced breeders usually arrange everything in such a way that it seems as if the cat is “raising” the kittens on her own. This has a beneficial effect both on the condition of the kittens and on the psyche of the giving birth cat.

In some cases, the cat continues to feed the kittens herself, but there may be little milk, or the sucking process itself does not occur correctly. The first sign of proper nutrition is a stable increase in the baby’s body weight. Kittens need to be weighed twice a day. The baby should gain from 5 to 15 grams per day. Another sign of good nutrition is sleep between feedings. A healthy kitten (especially if it is still blind), when waking up, does not squeak, but searches for the nipple, after which it falls asleep again. However, sometimes kittens do not squeak because they do not have the strength to do so. Therefore, a more important criterion is weight gain.

Baby cats can be fed or pipetted. Industrial mixtures for children (Nestogen, NAN, etc.) or special ones from cat food manufacturers are suitable for this. They must be diluted strictly according to the instructions. An overdose of such food can lead to constipation, so it is important to control the entire process from breeding to consumption by the kitten. He won’t eat too much, so the mixture can be given in any quantity, but every 2 hours. Leftovers should be thrown away after each feeding. Consult your veterinarian; your kitten may need a drug that makes it easier to digest. Usually in such cases Elvestin is used.

Some kitten formulas come with a pacifier and measuring spoon.

The body of very young kittens is not designed to digest and assimilate regular milk or cereal. There was a case in my family when the father had to take home several small kittens. They were still blind. We tried feeding them with a pipette. Since there was no baby formula, we bought goat’s milk and diluted it with boiled water. It was risky, but there was no other choice. Not all kittens survived.

It also happens that a kitten first gains weight, and then suddenly begins to lose weight sharply and eventually dies. Most often this happens when the cat tries to feed the cubs on her own. Around the fifth day, you can determine which of the babies are stronger, and they drive the weak kittens away from the sucked nipples. The kitten does not eat enough and may lose its sucking reflex. If at the weigh-in you determine that one of the little kittens is underweight, you can do it in two ways:

swap the kittens' places (let the weak baby eat from the best nipple today);
feed the kitten artificially.

It is necessary to control that the kitten eats approximately the same amount of time as his strong brothers eat. Do not let the kitten fall asleep until it is full. If the baby still falls asleep earlier than the others, then it is possible that he is simply weak and sleeps on the nipple. This is a signal that you need to feed the kitten with formula.

Sometimes, in addition to complementary foods, a kitten also needs vitamins

If artificial feeding with the mixture does not help, and the kitten is still losing weight, then you can consult a veterinarian about taking vitamins. Experienced breeders sometimes give weak kittens “vitamin bombs”: ascorbic acid (0.5 ml), glucose (5%, 1 ml) and saline (3.5 ml). The solution is drawn into a 5 ml syringe and injected strictly subcutaneously between the shoulder blades. No more than 1 ml can be administered at a time (a larger volume may adversely affect the functioning of the heart). You can give this injection up to 3 times a day, but usually 1 time is enough for the kitten to become more active and attach itself to the strong nipple.

Food for British cats with sensitive digestion

Canned grain-free food for cats GO! Sensitivities for sensitive digestion, with turkey

Holistic cat food in this line is designed specifically for animals with food allergies. The food contains a minimum of ingredients and does not contain gluten or grains. Thanks to the formula developed jointly with nutritionists, the product is among the top ten world-quality feeds. It contains only high-quality natural meat, without by-products and animal fat. GO! Sensitivities for sensitive digestion strengthens the immune system, normalizes stool, and reduces the unpleasant odor of cat urine and feces.

Now Fresh Grain Free Adult Cat Recipe - Grain-free food for Adult Cats with Turkey, Duck and vegetables

Holistic food from a Canadian manufacturer does not contain grains, by-products, dyes, beef, or hormones. This is a completely safe food for British cats with sensitive digestion. The protein and fat content is optimally balanced. Plant sources of fiber, such as pineapple, papaya, peas, enhance intestinal motility. The product also contains probiotics and prebiotics.

Hypoallergenic cat food 1st Choice NF with duck and potato flavor

Another food option for cats with food allergies and particularly sensitive digestion. The product, based on dietary duck meat, does not contain grains, supports healthy skin and coat, improves cat immunity, and improves digestion. Yucca Schidigera extract suppresses ammonia odor from cat litter. Does not contain chemical dyes, by-products, or preservatives. Suitable for long-term feeding of sensitive British cats.

How to calculate the optimal portion

The diet is calculated based on the norm of 70 kcal and 10 g of protein per 1 kg of animal weight. At the same time, food for British cats can be either natural or ready-made. Moreover, it is best if you accustom your kitten to a variety of foods from a very different age. In this case, you will not face the problem of a balanced diet.

So, as we have already said, first of all, the fluffy beauty needs protein. These are meat, fish and eggs, cottage cheese and soy flour, the total amount of which is 200 g per day. Carbohydrates are also useful as they are sources of energy. However, their amount should be much less, about 50 g per day. This could be rice, rolled oats and buckwheat. Cereals are practically not digestible and are ballast substances. Meat and fish are well digested raw; you just need to freeze them well, but cereals definitely need to be cooked.

Kitten food

Royal Canin Kitten British Shorthair for kittens of the British Shorthair breed

Royal Canin for British kittens is available in two forms: mousse and dry food. It provides kittens aged 4 to 12 months with all the necessary substances. At this age, active growth and replacement of baby teeth occurs in the kitten’s body. A lot of energy is spent interacting with the outside world. The product satisfies the special needs of kittens thanks to the required amount of proteins and fats in the composition.

Now Fresh Grain Free Kitten Recipe

Canadian Holistic is suitable for feeding British kittens aged 5 weeks to 1 year. Since the content of natural ingredients is well balanced in terms of proteins, fats, vitamins and microelements, the food is also suitable for kittens with sensitive skin and sensitive digestion. Probiotics and prebiotics ensure an easy digestion process, rosemary and alfalfa take care of the stomach microflora and have a positive effect on the animal’s well-being. Taurine strengthens the kitten's sharp vision and its cardiovascular system.

Almo Nature Holistic dry food for kittens with chicken and brown rice

Almo Nature is an Italian brand of high quality cat food. The super-premium line will suit even picky British kittens. Optimal protein content and nutrient balance is achieved due to the large amount of natural meat in the composition.

Dry

For adults

Royal Canin British Shorthair

pros

Makes fur silky
The best exercise for teeth
Weight gain from taking
Suitable for both British and Scots
Good price for large volume

Minuses

After opening the package, the food must be poured into a sealed container.

From 1389 ₽

A solid product for large jaws, makes it possible to sharpen the teeth of adult cats. The composition is designed to meet the needs of the British: the best food for British breed cats, but it is also suitable for other species. I'm pleased with the savings when purchasing the product. But since the volume is large, more than one time, you need to purchase sealed packaging separately. Otherwise, the food will lose value. The downside is the presence of vitamins and minerals in the composition.

Sanabelle for large breed cats

pros

Useful composition
Helps Digestion
Large volume
Does not cause an allergic reaction
Natural meat
Convenient size granules

Minuses

The smell is not for everyone

From 1690 ₽

Dry cat food from Germany is recommended by breeders for large animals. Rich composition of the product: mussel meat, source of chondroitin, protein, zinc. Everything you need for the development of large breeds. The pets are playful and well-fed. There are isolated reviews about the intrusive smell, but this may indicate individual intolerance.

Bozita Feline Sauce Salmon

pros

Suitable for picky pets
Restoration of fur growth after inclusion in the diet
Ideal kibble size for large breeds
Convenient packaging

Minuses

Individual intolerance

From 202 ₽

Dry food for British large cats: tidies up the skin of pets. They gain weight corresponding to the breed norm, and mobility does not disappear.

For kittens

Royal Canin British Shorthair kitten food

pros

Maintains kitten oral hygiene
Restores shine to coat
Useful composition

Minuses

Not suitable for purebred kittens of another species (Scottish)
Hard
Quickly in open package
Packaging without valve

From 272 ₽

The product in the form of kibble is designed to clean the teeth of kittens up to one year old. Not suitable for Scottish babies. But the product was developed for feeding a specific breed: this is dry food for the British. The British are great at nibbling on delicacies containing poultry meat from the age of 3 months. The baby will be provided with vitamins and minerals: the cat’s fur does not shed on this food and the skin does not dry out. When opened, the kibble dries out and the kitten food becomes hard.

Monge Natural Superpremium with chicken

pros

Shiny skin
Economical for large volume
Improves the functioning of the stomach and intestines
Nice smell

Minuses

Impractical packaging

From 1040 ₽

Dry food is well tolerated by kittens from 1 to 12 months. The composition is selected taking into account the age characteristics of pets: strengthens the bones of babies, provides vitamins and minerals. The packaging is inconvenient to carry: there are no handles. And if there is no valve in the open bag, the food quickly dries out and hardens.

Farmina Matisse

pros

Balanced composition
Protein source
No GMO components
Taurine content

Minuses

From 327 ₽

Dry food with poultry as the main ingredient is suitable for babies up to one year old and nursing cats. The fish oil in the composition will provide a balance of Omega 3-Omega 6 fats, taurine will help the heart function and support the quality of vision for the cubs.

Food for older British cats

Grain-free cat food Now Fresh Grain Free Senior Cat Recipe Weight Control, with Turkey, Duck and Vegetables

Completely balanced food for cats over 7 years of age is holistic. Also suitable for adult cats prone to obesity. Contains fresh meat of duck, turkey, salmon, natural coconut and rapeseed oil. Canadian pet food manufacturer NOW is considered one of the best in the world.

Food for older cats 1st Choice Mature or Less Active

The food is made taking into account the fact that older British cats are usually inactive. Glucosamine and chondroitin help your pet's joints stay healthy and mobile. The composition includes antioxidants that slow down aging.

If you choose a natural diet

Eliminate pork or lamb from your diet, this is too heavy food. Eliminate foods from your table completely, otherwise you will shorten your Brit's life.

It is very undesirable to give your pets chicken heads and legs, as after such food they may experience intestinal injuries. If you just want your pet to sharpen its teeth, then give it a large beef bone with veins. But fish, contrary to general opinion, should not be given often. Kittens can be given pre-frozen fish once a week, and adults once every two weeks. Be sure to lightly cook the fish and remove the bones. If your pet has urolithiasis, then fish is completely excluded.

A natural diet, no matter how balanced it may seem, requires the mandatory use of vitamin and mineral complexes. Otherwise, the development of vitamin deficiency is very likely. If you prepare food in advance, divide the food into equal portions and freeze. Before giving it to your cat, you need to not only defrost it, but also make sure that the food is warm. Cold food is contraindicated for the British.

Food for sterilized British cats

Dry food for sterilized cats 1st Choice Sterilized Chicken with potatoes

This is a dietary food specially prepared for cats and female cats after castration or sterilization. A decrease in the level of sex hormones is dangerous due to a decrease in activity and, as a result, excessive weight gain. A grain-free, chicken-based food with added tapioca helps support a high-protein, low-fat diet.

Basic principles of natural nutrition

In the wild, felines eat raw meat, and carbohydrates enter their bodies in a semi-digested form. Animals eat a variety of foods, but not all types of meat and vegetables are suitable for them. This knowledge forms the basic nutritional principles for creating the best food for British cats:

The diet includes both meat, vegetables, and grains, forming a balanced menu.
Poultry and beef are healthy meats; pork should be excluded.
Oatmeal, rice, and buckwheat are most beneficial for cats.
It is worth choosing non-starchy vegetables. For example, beets, cabbage, cucumbers, carrots.
Dairy products should not be fatty or sweet. The diet may include not only milk, but also kefir, fermented baked milk, and cottage cheese.

If the owner chooses natural food to feed the cat, then it should not be food from the human table. The animal must be cooked separately. Therefore, you should evaluate whether there is enough time for this.

How to properly handle products:

Meat and vegetables are given both raw and boiled. It often contains parasite larvae, so it is better to freeze it and then pour boiling water over it.
The fish must be boiled before the bones are removed. Lean ocean fish are best.
To make the coat shiny, animal bran, rich in B vitamins, is added to dairy products.

Fact! According to research, food from the human table is absorbed by the animal’s body only by 30%. If the cat is prepared separately, then the percentage increases to 55. Ready-made specialized food is absorbed much better: dry by 85%, and wet by 97%.

Prohibited Products

To avoid health problems for a British cat, it is important to know what should never go into his bowl:

pork;
sweet pastries and chocolate;
raw eggs;
Coffee and tea;
alcohol;
tomatoes, potatoes and citrus fruits;
nuts and spices.

Cheap food rich in plant components is also not the best choice. According to reviews from veterinarians, a combination of dry and wet food is optimal for a British cat.

Food for cats prone to obesity

Dry food for adult cats Meowing Heads Fat Cat Slim Losing weight for overweight cats, with chicken and salmon

Low in calories and reduced in fat, ideal for overweight Brits. It is grain-free, made with natural ingredients, and veterinarian recommended.

Is it possible to combine two types of diet?

A lot has already been said about mixing natural and ready-made food, but no one opinion has been reached. Many people believe that it is possible to feed an animal porridge and meat in the morning, and then provide a cup of dry food for the day, but veterinarians are categorically against such a decision. You cannot feed dry food in the form of treats, not once a day, not once a month.

It is strictly not recommended to feed your animal food from different manufacturers. The maximum that is permissible is to diversify the diet consisting of dry food with wet canned food from the same manufacturer. In this case, the share of canned food should not be more than 25% of the daily requirement.

Food for cats with urolithiasis

Dry food for adult cats Gemon Cat Urinary for the prevention of urolithiasis, with chicken and rice

Designed to prevent the formation of stones in the cat's bladder. This is facilitated by low magnesium content. The ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids prevents the development of inflammation. The food is rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals.

With any diet, the cat should have free access to clean drinking water throughout the day.

Feeding in case of problems

British breed cats, like all purebred animals, have their health weaknesses. Let's talk about what to feed a British cat so that he grows up healthy.

The main problems of the British:

tendency to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy . Old veterinary literature recommended limiting protein intake, but this led to a decrease in the Briton's muscle mass and shortened his lifespan. Today it is recommended to watch the amount of salt you consume - some foods contain salt in various forms;
tendency to be overweight . Britons are a large, stocky breed that can quickly become obese with age. This is especially true for sterilized cats and neutered cats. Animals can become obese because they consume more calories than they can expend. Owners should monitor the amount of calories consumed, offer lower-calorie foods and encourage the pet's physical activity. There are industrial foods that control weight: 1st Choice Weight Control (Light), Now Natural Fresh Grain Free Senior Cat Recipe 30/14; Royal Canin Light Weight Care. By consuming food from the “Weight Control” line, animals become full faster, and the low fat content helps bring weight back to normal or control it.
tendency to urolithiasis . Crystals and stones are formed by minerals in a cat's urine. A cat's diet affects their education. Cats fed only dry food are especially susceptible to this disease. At the first signs of illness, you should contact your veterinarian. He will determine the type of stones and tell you what food is best to feed the cat. To prevent the development of the disease, you need to ensure that your cat always has clean water and drinks more.

Earthborn Holistic, Primitive Feline Natural Cat Food

Earthborn Holistic, Primitive Feline Natural Cat Food is a grain-free food produced by Midwestern Pet Foods in the USA. This high-quality product is created for cats of all age categories. It meets all the special needs of an adult cat and provides them with decent, high-calorie nutrition. A healthy combination of high quality protein and vitamins E and C, which are found in vegetables and fruits, have a beneficial effect on the immune system and the functioning of the body as a whole.

Ingredients: egg, chicken and turkey flour, herring flour, rich in vitamins and Omega 3-6-9 acids, brown rice, flaxseed, rolled oats are used as a source of carbohydrates and do not cause allergies. The food is enriched with 30 mineral and vitamin supplements. The presence of calcium and phosphorus guarantees the strengthening of your pet’s bones and teeth.

Has a mild odor. Convenient granules, the food is suitable for feeding kittens and nursing cats.

Advantages: it contains quite a lot of proteins, this includes proteins of both animal and plant origin, which is very suitable for the lean muscle mass of a cat. No grains or gluten. The ideal high-protein, grain-free diet for cats.

Disadvantages: high cost.

Which one is better to choose?

For a kitten

A British kitten, 2-4 months old, has an undeveloped digestive system, weak immunity and a need for large amounts of vitamins, proteins, and animal fats. Therefore, for kittens, the manufacturer Royal Canin offers Kitten British Shorthair dry food, available in packages of 0.4, 2 and 10 kg. The finished dry product can be mixed with Babycat Instinctive or Kitten Instinctive in gravy canned food of the same brand. On the back of the package you can read the instructions for use and important tips.

For an adult pet

The grown animal can eat Royal Canin, which will help strengthen its body.
In order for a growing body to develop correctly, it is necessary to select food whose composition helps maintain muscle tone, the correct formation of bones and joints, and the normal functioning of the cardiovascular system. Royal Canin Adult British Shorthair cat food fully meets the needs of a developing organism. Dry kibble is made in a special shape, so that the animal will not swallow it immediately, but will gradually chew it. As a result, this will not only help avoid overeating and gaining excess weight, but also strengthen your teeth and clean them of plaque.

For sterilized Britons

For a castrated or sterilized cat, a special ready-made food has been created, which contains predominant microelements, vitamins, and also added L-carnitine and chondroprotectors. but less fat is added, which will reduce the risk of gaining excess weight. The product Royal Canin Neutered Young Male and Young Female has proven itself well. Most animals do well on brands such as Eukanuba, Purina Pro Plan.

For older cats

In old age, British cats, like other cat breeds, are susceptible to various age-related diseases. In addition, pets no longer lead their usual active lifestyle, preferring to rest more. It is recommended to completely switch an old cat or cat to dry food, even if the animal previously ate natural food. However, before changing the diet, you should consult a veterinarian, who will tell you which brand is best suited for your individual case. The Hills Science Plan brand has proven itself well.