What to feed and how to care for a Scottish Fold kitten

The Scottish Straight cat (also called Scottish Straight) looks like a British cat, but they deserve to be called Scottish. These creatures are very balanced and extremely loyal to their owners.

Babies of this breed will bring many pleasant surprises to those who decide to have them, since it has long been believed that these cats, with their unique character, become guarantors of peace and harmony at home. This is interesting - Scottish fold kittens, character and care.

How to care

Any owner of a straight-eared Scottish cat should not forget that they need not only food and care for good immunity, but also affection with tenderness. In this regard, it is so important to purchase such a baby only if you can give him a lot of attention every day.

However, taking care of these cats is not at all difficult, nor does it require spending a lot of time and money.

Initially, you should figure out what kind of food Scottish Straight babies need, since food largely determines the pet’s immunity and life expectancy. When caring for a kitten, you should follow the main points listed below and strive to maintain the temperature in the house at 19-23°C. Watch how to care for a kitten.

Scottish Straight cats are very clean dogs, so the owner can only brush them a couple of times a week and sometimes wash them. This breed has a short coat, but it is necessary to take care of it. It is good for the baby to get used to the process of combing at a very young age; it is more difficult to accustom an adult.

You should know that high-quality fur care can only be achieved with the use of special shampoos and at least a couple of combs.

Menu options

Feeding your Scottish Fold kitten tasty and healthy natural food will not be difficult if you prepare balanced meals for it in advance using simple recipes:

1. You need to take 75 grams of raw beef and 15 grams of lungs, pour boiling water over the products and chop them. To the meat mass you need to add 30 grams of water, 6 grams of vegetable oil, 0.6 grams of dry yeast and 12-15 grams of cooked oatmeal flakes. Mix all ingredients until smooth.
2. Finely chop 30 grams of low-fat liver and mix with 75 grams of low-fat finely chopped fish. Add 12-15 grams of boiled buckwheat, 20 grams of water, 0.3 grams of yeast to the products. Mix everything until smooth.

The ingredients in the above recipes are for one serving of food for a 3 kg cat (or three servings for a 1 kg kitten). In order not to waste time on cooking every day, the owner can prepare a large amount of food in advance, divide it into parts (portions) and freeze it in the freezer. When the pet gets hungry, all the person needs to do is defrost the food and put it in a bowl.

Caring for an old pet

The aging body of a Scottish cat is more susceptible to various diseases than young individuals. During this period of time, arthritis may develop, the pet’s behavior may change, and problems with the functioning of the stomach and intestines may arise.

To avoid problems, you should select food that is appropriate for the age of your pet. Conduct a preventive examination of the cat with a veterinarian and monitor the health and emotional state of the Scottish cat.

After a walk, the cat is checked for ticks and fleas. Often the Scots do not walk outside, they stay in the apartment, but if the pet is taken outside the house, a subsequent examination is necessary.

Bathing a fold cat

Like any other cats, Scottish Folds do not like water. But if you teach a kitten to bathe from childhood, in the future he will not resist the procedure much.

In order to minimize stress when a cat comes into contact with water, you need to adhere to the following rules:

1. Trimming the nails will protect the owner's skin if the Scotsie begins to resist bathing. In some cases, thick wristbands are additionally put on the hands, which protect the wrists from deep scratches.
2. A degreasing composition is applied to dry wool. These could be dry shampoos, gels or other similar hygiene products for cats.
3. Leave the composition on the surface of the cat's coat according to the manufacturer's recommendations, and then wash it off with plenty of running water.
4. Then apply the main shampoo to the wet coat and rub it all over the body until a thick foam forms. The operation, depending on the degree of contamination, can be repeated several times.
5. Rinse off the shampoo and apply conditioner. It covers the hair follicles, improves the hair structure and gives it a silky texture.

After bathing, the cat should be wrapped in a towel and the fur should be dried thoroughly. At this time, the pet should be in a warm room without drafts.

Caring for kittens' eyes, ears and claws

Of course, taking care of the Scottish Straight's fur is the most important task, but you should not lose sight of the fact that these cats need versatile care to feel well and have a neat appearance. So it is also necessary to trim the claws from time to time and clean the ears.

Nails should be trimmed as they grow, usually once a week. In order to carefully remove excess nails and not cause pain to the animal, you need to purchase a specialized nail clipper in advance.

It is now possible to choose the best model in almost any pet store in any city. We must not forget that only the transparent tip of the claw is cut off! And it is advisable to start introducing the kitten to this activity immediately.

In addition, cats are supposed to clean their ears from time to time using ear buds and cotton swabs and wash their eyes, since they sometimes water, using chlorhexidine for disinfection.

Food for Scottish (Scottish Straight)

You should study what diet a kitten of this breed is supposed to eat before bringing it home. Of course, these animals are rightly considered one of the least difficult to care for, however, there are a number of nuances in their nutrition (see Scottish Fold kittens - care and nutrition).

Any owner is free to decide for himself whether to feed his pet with specialized food or prefer natural food for him. Both of these ways of eating have both pros and cons, and both have their adherents and persecutors.

So it would be good to figure it out in advance and make a clear decision, since combining both options at once is impermissible. The owner should be aware of this and follow the chosen feeding strategy for the pet throughout its life.

With this approach, there is no doubt that the nutrition of the Scottish Straight is harmonized, and many serious diseases should be avoided.

It should be remembered that elite bagged food is certainly healthier for a cat than using food from your table. This fact is explained by the fact that the owner is not able to perfectly estimate the mass of useful components in certain products.

Food from a bag is a balanced food that contains the entire required amount of vitamins and microelements that a cat needs at one time or another in its life.

It’s just important not to buy budget food at the grocery store; they contain almost no useful ingredients. However, it is a mistake to believe that elite food will be much more expensive than ordinary food products. Packaged food saves time and effort on cooking and allows you to save some money.

In order to definitely know how to feed the Scottish Straight, you should ask the nursery about the feeding method. This must be done before bringing a kitten in order to be able to prepare and acquire good products or find good food for the baby.

Types of diets

For a kitten, you can choose one of the types of food:

1. “Natural” , but this is not food from a person’s table. These are properly selected products that undergo a certain heat treatment. The benefit of such nutrition is that it is as close as possible to natural and natural for animals. It is possible to make your pet’s diet tasty and varied. Disadvantages: wasting time on daily food preparation, insufficient amounts of vitamins and minerals supplied with food. On a natural diet, the kitten will have to be given additional vitamin complexes.
2. Industrial food . The best option for both the Scottish Fold and his owner. Dry industrial food contains all the useful substances necessary for the full and harmonious development of a pet. The disadvantage is that good, high-quality food, for example, holistic food, is expensive, but this is what is recommended to be given to the animal.
3. Mixed nutrition . As a rule, the combination of industrial food and natural products is not recommended by veterinarians, although many owners often use such a diet. A high concentration of vitamins in food and their presence in natural products can provoke the development of hypervitaminosis in a kitten.

What to feed should be decided immediately when a little Scotsman appears in the house and you should always adhere to the chosen type of diet. Changing the menu from natural to industrial or vice versa has a negative impact on the health of the animal.

How to feed

You need to know that feeding representatives of this breed with packaged food should be accompanied by their advance soaking with water, milk or curdled milk. In addition, for the first time after the baby is delivered from the nursery, he should be treated as he was fed there.

If there is a sudden change in feeding schedule, or if new food is immediately offered, the kitten may experience indigestion. It is better to avoid such troubles for your pet in every possible way.

Conscientious nurseries give the new owner a package of food and pellets for the tray. This allows the kitten to get used to a completely new environment more easily and in a shorter period of time.

Scottish Straight babies and adults require dairy products. So it would be good to treat them with milk, yogurt and cottage cheese from time to time. It is not recommended to offer cream with sour cream; it is hard on the cat’s liver.

Natural foods suitable for this breed:

• liver and heart;
• lean beef and chicken;
• dairy products;
• herbal ingredients;
• a little vegetable oil, they need to be seasoned with stewed and boiled vegetables before serving.

It should be remembered that Scottish Straights require moderate nutrition! In no case should you give too much, no matter how many months or years old they are, in order to avoid excess weight and poor health in your pets (see table of Scottish kitten weight by month). Thoroughbred animals should have medium size and smooth outlines.

What affects health

It is strictly forbidden to breed two fold-eared pets. As a result of such crossing, sick, weakened kittens are born. When purchasing, it is important to carefully study the cat’s pedigree and conduct an examination to identify possible defects and diseases.

At the first sign of illness, contact a veterinary clinic, where you must also obtain the animal’s vaccination schedule. We must not forget to monitor the condition of the ears: due to the peculiarities of their formation (ears are bent in half) and improper care, complications can arise. After bathing, you should not keep your baby in a draft.

Feeding

Choose the type of feeding:

• natural nutrition, this includes lean meats, fermented milk products, cereals and boiled vegetables;
• industrial food, for every age and specific situation (neutered cat, old cat, pregnant, lactating or kitten) there is its own option;
• mixed nutrition.

Many experts do not welcome a mixed diet. It is recommended to choose a natural or factory-made option for feeding Scottish Fold kittens.

Scottish Straight Longhair Highland Straight cat

Hygiene

Even small kittens that have not been taken from their mother have their eyes and muzzle washed and their ears cleaned. The eyes are wiped with a cotton pad soaked in ordinary warm water. Change the tampon and wipe your nose and mouth.

For the ear cleansing procedure, buy a special oil or use baby oil for the body. Dipping a cotton swab into the liquid (the bottle should be warm), carefully, without penetrating deep into the ear, treat the outside. The baby usually doesn’t like manipulation, but over time he will get used to it and sit quietly.

Diet by month

The easiest way is to choose industrial - dry and wet food for kittens. The product packaging indicates the age at which it is recommended to consume ready-made food. You need to create a natural diet yourself, taking into account the needs of a kitten at a certain age and the functioning of the digestive system.

1 month

The introduction of the first complementary foods begins. In addition to cat milk or a special formula for feeding a kitten, you can gradually introduce some products into the diet:

• boiled chicken, cut into small pieces;
• cereals cooked in milk diluted with water in equal proportions;
• boiled vegetables and fruits chopped through a grater: cabbage, carrots, apples;
• fermented milk products - the emphasis is on calcined curds.

Nutrition for Scottish Straight baby

There are many simple porridge recipes for these kittens on the Internet. Naturally, it is preferable to choose rice and buckwheat; porridges from them are most useful for cats. Oatmeal should be avoided, as it is harmful to both young cats and adult cats.

It is better to cook porridge using milk, or then mix in yogurt, kefir, acidophilus, fermented baked milk or cottage cheese. Porridge should be made very thin; this is extremely important for young, recently born Scottish Straights.

In addition, you need to remember that with a natural diet, an indispensable supplement of vitamins is required for this breed. Advice on selecting the necessary ones will be given at a veterinary clinic or at a pet store. There you can also purchase the most suitable set for your pet, taking into account its age, weight and personal characteristics.

Those who have chosen to feed their pet with elite packaged food and canned food do not need additional vitamin supplements.

General feeding rules

1. The basis of the menu should be meat. Natural food or ready-made food: pay close attention to the composition and quality of raw materials.
2. Artificial additives, dyes, spices, salt, stabilizers, flavors and sugar are prohibited. By excluding them, you will ensure the natural development and good health of your pet.
3. Provide the Scot with water. This is the most important feeding rule.
4. Make sure the food is at room temperature and the correct consistency. It is better to give crushed food to Scottish kittens up to 3 months old. Closer to 6 months, they switch to large pieces, which will ensure normal development of the jaw muscles.

The Scots, together with the British, have long dictated the rules of home etiquette. Not only its health depends on how carefully you pay attention to feeding a kitten, and then an adult cat. A satisfied pet who is satisfied with the contents of the bowl will become a source of peace and well-being in your family.

Brief information

When thinking about the question of what to feed a kitten, the future owner must understand that there are three main food options, from which you will need to choose the most suitable one. The owner can offer his pet:

• ready-made food (dry, wet, canned, etc.);
• natural food (ordinary products that are included in the person’s menu);
• mixed type of nutrition (alternating natural food and commercial feed).

When choosing possible options, a person must take into account at least two important factors: the size of his budget (high-quality food can be very expensive) and the availability of free time (preparing food from natural products can take several hours). In addition, it is necessary to take into account the taste preferences of the pet itself, because many animals can simply refuse ready-made canned food or ignore a bowl of cooked porridge

Diet for kittens and cats

It should be recognized that nutrition and care for a sexually mature individual differs from care for a young creature. Another number of meals per day - adult cats usually need three meals a day, while babies need four meals. Just for their own convenience, owners often feed their furry pets only twice a day.

Don't forget that the Scottish Straight's diet should be harmonized! These cats should not be overfed and put on diets on their own initiative; first, you should consult with a specialist.

Prohibited Products

Caring for fold-eared or straight-eared Scottish kittens involves a categorical ban on the consumption of the following products:

• food from the master's table;
• fatty and raw unprocessed meat;
• River fish;
• onions and potatoes.

You should not give sweet fruits often. This can cause the development of diabetes.

Feeding with bagged food

Those who have decided to feed their Scottish Straight exclusively with specialized food should be aware that most existing food can be classified into 3 main characteristics: cheap, average and elite, also known as premium or super-premium.

Cheap food has already been discussed here. It is these economy class packages that constantly appear in television and online advertising. They are cheap and their primary purpose is to satisfy the cat's hunger. For this purpose, a lot of by-products are placed there and, in addition to them, dyes and enticing fragrances.

Naturally, it is better to protect your pet from such food, since eating it threatens the occurrence of serious and long-term illnesses.

Those who purchase medium-priced packages should not assume that there is anything in there beyond by-products and slightly better quality dyes. Of course, these are somewhat better than economy class, and are valued higher, but it is not advisable to put too much stress on them.

Scottish Straight cats should be pampered with premium and super-premium food. They, of course, cost a lot, but they contain only meat and cereals, and there are almost no dyes or fragrances in them, so they can be used on a regular basis.

Good to know - the best premium food for Scottish Fold kittens.

One could see that taking care of Scottish Straights is not at all difficult. However, it is worth organizing everything necessary for your future pet in advance, by reading the necessary manuals and consulting with experts on various issues in order to prepare for various difficulties that may arise in the future.

Breed Features

The Scottish Fold, or Scottish Fold, is a naturally occurring breed. A cat with curled ears was born in Scotland and gave similar offspring. Then breeders began breeding the breed. Now folds can be found everywhere.

Adult Scottish Folds are medium sized, strong built, with thick, soft fur. It can be of different colors: plain, with a pattern or white splashes.

Scottish Folds are friendly, unpretentious in feeding and care, and very attractive in appearance. These qualities allowed the Scots to fall in love and spread along with British cats.

Features of the breed that determine the principles of feeding:

• Fold-eared Scots appeared naturally, in natural conditions. This influenced the preservation of predatory instincts among modern Scots. Therefore, the basis of the diet should be meat products.

• Formation of the jaw and replacement of teeth. This process occurs during the first 6 months of life. Oral hygiene comes to the fore. During this period, food should be soft so that the kitten can chew it comfortably. If feeding occurs incorrectly, the following symptoms will be detected: salivation, unpleasant odor, yellowing of the enamel, formation of tartar, swelling of the gums.

• Tendency to obesity. Scottish Folds can quickly gain weight if they are overfed. Therefore, it is important to follow the feeding regime and not exceed the daily calorie intake. At an early age, this is not a threat, since kittens are very active and playful, so calories will be spent on replenishing energy, growth and development.

• Susceptibility to diseases: constipation, bladder stones, heart pathologies. This leads to the fact that the diet must be balanced in nutrients and nutrients. It is important to pay attention to prohibited products.

• Late development. Scots, unlike wild breeds, develop more slowly, which affects the first feeding. The optimal period for introducing solid food is 1 month.

• The importance of diet choices. The psychological characteristics and health and appearance of an adult animal depend on the first feeding. Thus, with the introduction of meat products, kittens will learn hunting skills earlier and develop dexterity.

Nutrition is an important condition for the normal growth and development of Scottish Fold kittens. It must be balanced, designed for the needs of a growing organism. When feeding, it is important to take into account breed characteristics in order to avoid health problems for your pet.