How to properly care for a British kitten?

When purchasing a kitten, you need to understand that the animal is not a toy: the baby needs care and attention. British shorthair kittens have a plush, dense coat (due to the thick undercoat). Longhaired British kittens also have a thick coat, but the hairs are longer, so they need more grooming and frequent brushing. British kittens: care, education and feeding - how to do it all correctly? Read about this in our article.

British kittens: care, education and feeding

Where is the best place to get a kitten?

It is better to purchase a British kitten from nurseries; it is advisable to find reviews (they must be positive about this breeder). When the kitten turns 3 months old in the nursery, it will be ready to move to a new family, and the breeder will be able to prepare the necessary documents and give the baby vaccinations. This age is also favorable for the baby himself; his immunity will be more or less formed, which means the kitten will get sick less.

Before taking the baby to a new home, you need to examine him so that there is nothing suspicious in appearance and the kitten looks healthy and active. Ask the breeder about the maintenance of the kitten, its nutrition, and read the pedigree of the parents.

Before purchasing a kitten, it is important to study its pedigree and talk to the breeder.

British kittens are distinguished from others by their plush dense coat, round eyes, compact, muscular body with a wide chest. These kittens also have a thick tail and full, short legs. The head should be round, with a wide muzzle, dense nose pads and cheeks.

When purchasing a kitten from a specialized nursery, you can be sure that:

• kitten from purebred parents;
• the veterinary passport reflects all vaccinations performed, including treatment against helminths;
• the kitten will have the metric to participate in exhibition events.

Characteristics of the British cat

more about the standard, characteristics of a British cat , as well as caring for it on our website.

Start: moving

If the trip is a one-time trip, you shouldn’t worry about different types of containers – especially if we are talking about a baby. Caring for British kittens at 2 months of age does not require transportation, so purchasing a carrier can be a bit of a stretch. Be sure to show the kitten to the veterinarian - special attention should be paid to the eyes and ears. It is advisable to do this in an environment that is still familiar to a British cat.

Toilet training

As your baby enters an unfamiliar place, you may find surprises in the most unexpected places in the first few days. In this case, dip the paper into the “bomb” and anoint the cat’s litter box - this will let the kitten understand what this place is for. Another option is to pour filler, and when it removes the whole problem, pour the filler into the tray.

The right approach to raising a baby will allow you to avoid problems and quickly make friends with a British kitten.

Feeding a British kitten is quite specific and slightly different from the usual. Firstly, the amount and frequency of food depends on the age, mood, health of the Briton, and so on. Secondly, food is divided into two categories: industrial and natural. Since cats are almost omnivores, you can choose any option - and your pet will not suffer from it.

The industrial option is the use of various types of feed. It is not recommended to use cheap dry food such as Kitiket or Whiskas, since you will have problems with the gastrointestinal tract quite quickly.

When to adopt a kitten?

The ideal age for moving to a new family is 3 months (12 weeks). During this time, the kitten receives the necessary nutrition from the mother, breast milk actively builds immunity, and also allows the baby to develop properly. It is at this age that kittens already weigh about 2 kg. Also at this age, kittens learn from their mother the rules of behavior and caring for their appearance. A responsible breeder provides the necessary vaccinations up to 3 months and carries out preventive work, treating babies against helminths.

The ideal age for a kitten to move to a new family is 3 months.

What should you buy for a British kitten?

Before purchasing a baby, you should take care and buy a few necessary things that play an important role in the life of the future pet.

For a British kitten you need to purchase:

• tray. Pet stores offer a large selection of trays of different sizes and heights. You can start with a small litter box, but as your pet grows, you will need to replace the litter box with a larger one. There are also trays with adjustable side heights (consists of a tray and an additional extension); Their advantage is that while the kitten is small, it can go into a tray with low sides. as soon as it grows up, the height of the sides can be increased by attaching the second part;
  First purchases - a tray and a bowl for a kitten
• scratching post It is necessary so that the baby can wear down his claws and keep the furniture and wallpaper intact. You need to immediately show the kitten why this thing is at home by running the kitten’s paws over the scratching post a couple of times. British cat babies are very smart and quickly learn to use this item;
• toys. To develop dexterity and strength, kittens need a variety of toys; there are a huge number of them in pet stores (balls, teasers, mice, laser toys);
  Buy your kitten a variety of toys so he doesn't get bored.
• tools and supplies for pet care. Scissors for trimming nails, a comb for combing hair, the necessary shampoos for washing - all this can be picked up in specialized stores.

Table 1. Annual kitten care calendar

Video - British Shorthair cat

Preliminary list of items

To make your Briton’s life pleasant and comfortable in your apartment or house, you need to take care of creating a calm atmosphere and also buy a number of accessories. This will make it easier to care for.

• "Sleepy" place
• Special feeding bowls and food
• Toilet and litter
• Carrying house
• Combs or brushes for grooming
• scratching post
• Toys

Purchases do not depend on how you received the cat - it could be a gift, an informed purchase, or a choice from a shelter. Caring for and feeding a British kitten is very simple if you figure everything out before purchasing the animal.

British kittens weight

This breed is large and massive, so British kittens are heavy. The weight of a newborn British kitten is about 130 g, and within 7 days their weight reaches 150 g. During this period of time, kittens actively feed on their mother's milk. The nutrition of a nursing cat plays an important role in the nutritional value of milk: its diet must be additionally fortified, so the mother of the kittens is fed specialized food or natural food with added vitamins.

Table 2. Kitten weight at different age periods

British kittens have quite a large body weight

The first days of a kitten in the house

The new resident first needs to adapt: ​​find out where the toilet and food are. In addition, he will look for his mother and call her loudly. New smells and new family members frighten the pet, so it will be natural for the baby to hide in a dark place.

How a kitten gets used to a new home goes like this:

• In the first days, you need to leave the kitten alone and try not to forcefully hold it in your hands if it breaks free and avoids attention. It’s better to start getting acquainted with the kitten, communicating with it in a gentle tone, then the pet can overcome fear and meet you halfway. Also, do not make loud, sharp sounds, which can greatly frighten the new tenant;
• provide the opportunity for the baby to gradually master the territory of the new home. To begin with, let the kitten stay in one closed room for several days, where there will be bowls of water, food and a tray. However, the toilet and food should not be located close together; try to place them far away from each other, but not so that the baby cannot find them. After a few days, when the kitten gets used to it, you can let your pet explore other rooms;

  It is necessary to get acquainted with the new tenant gradually, without making loud sounds or making sudden movements

• Usually three-month-old kittens have already been trained by a cat to go to the litter box, but stress and new smells can confuse the baby. Therefore, be patient and be vigilant, as soon as the kitten wants to go to the toilet, immediately move it to a new tray and after all the work, do not wash it for a while so that the kitten can recognize the toilet by the smell. It is best to take a little litter from the tray where the kitten went with its mother, this will make getting used to the new toilet easier;
• Feeding your baby should not change dramatically. Ask the breeder what the kitten ate before moving and at first strictly feed the pet the same diet. The change of food should be smooth: you need to gradually mix the new food with the usual one, otherwise the gastrointestinal tract of a small pet may be disrupted.

In a house where there is a kitten there must be a scratching post

Description of the breed

The British Shorthair breed is considered quite common. The physical features and character of these cats have been shaped over centuries. The result was a harmoniously developed organism with an incredible variety of colors, an easy-going character and unpretentious maintenance. The breed standard often contains the word "round", and this perfectly describes the physical characteristics of the British. The animal has a high life expectancy - 12-17 years.

Lewis Carroll immortalized the image of the British cat in the Cheshire Cat, who smiled happily from the pages of the book about Alice.

Coat and colors

The coat of the British Shorthair cat is a source of pride and admiration. It feels plush, dense and is an indicator of the pet’s health. The presence of a healthy shine and smoothness indicates the absence of problems. The colors of the British are numerous and within each of them there are many shade options.

Solid coat color can be purple, black, white, red, blue. The chocolate shade is considered the rarest and therefore the most desirable. The more pronounced the “choco” color, the more expensive the individual is. White cats can have different colored eyes.

The rarest monochromatic colors are considered to be fawn and cinnamon (cinnamon).

The tortoiseshell color is found mainly in females, and if a male kitten with this color is born, he is usually infertile. The tortoiseshell color with red and white spots is highly prized.

The color of the chinchilla looks incredibly elegant: cats with shaded silver or golden fur are considered expensive. When paired with lilac, blue or green eyes, they look royal!

The bicolor color is characterized by the presence of spots of black, red, blue on a white background.

The Whiskas color is distinguished by clear gray stripes that clearly stand out against the light coat.

Color point is considered a Siamese color, which adds charm to the British cat. And the tabby color makes the animal look like a tiger due to spots or stripes on the body.

Constitution

The body of the British cat is strong and harmoniously developed. The head is rounded, the cheeks clearly stand out on the large muzzle. The forehead between the ears is not rounded, but smooth. The ears are small, widely spaced, and set low. It is their standing position that is an important indicator of thoroughbred. If the ears droop, then this is either another breed or a mixed-blooded Briton.

The body is dense, muscular, the chest is protruding and quite wide. The front and hind legs are medium-sized, dense. There are five toes on the front paws and four on the hind paws. The tail of a British cat is medium length, rounded at the end.

Males weigh impressively - from 5.5 to 9 kg, and females are much smaller - from 3.5 to 6.5 kg. Animals grow up to 5 years old; upon reaching this age, their growth ends.

Character

The British are independent and fully adapted to living with people. The animals are good-natured and appreciate contact with the owner, but only at their own request. Your impulse to take your pet in your arms or invite him to lie down with you for an afternoon nap will most likely end with the cat leaving for his favorite place. The British Shorthair cat is not one of those who prefers affection and tenderness with its owner.

The animal respects the people living in the apartment and can show interest in their affairs, following the person from room to room. This breed is not known for its playfulness. During adolescence and after sterilization, these cats are usually balanced, and only at the onset of adulthood do they become melancholic and inactive.

They prefer watching what is happening in the house and a pleasant nap to games. Don't be surprised if your Briton spends a lot of time sleeping - this is typical for them. By the way, you can learn more about how cats sleep in a separate article. There you will find interesting facts about cat rest.

Animals also treat children kindly: they do not bite or scratch, unless the baby really hurts the cat. The British also treat other animals calmly, but they prefer loneliness to any company.

You can rarely hear meows from representatives of this breed. They are usually quite silent, but purr eagerly.

The animals are very clean: they can often be found washing themselves. For the same reason, they will not go into an uncleaned tray, and sometimes owners have to put two trays. The British will not eat from a dirty bowl and, if they smell the smell of missing food, they will refuse it.

Toilet training a kitten

As soon as the kitten appears in the house, you need to immediately accustom it to the new tray. At first, the baby may be disoriented in a new room and needs help. You also need to consider the location and access to the toilet, because British cats, although clean, have their own opinions. Therefore, if a kitten refuses to go to the new litter box, then you should not think that he is stupid and does not understand anything. In fact, British cats are very smart, and therefore, most likely, the new tenant simply does not like something. Perhaps the tray needs to be moved a little, moved to another corner, or the filler changed.

Instincts tell the kitten that all waste needs to be buried, so choose the appropriate substance for the toilet, because the “British” are clean. If you do not pay attention to this, the kitten may begin to mischief and look for another place to relieve itself.

Training a kitten to use the litter box

If you suddenly find a puddle on the floor, you should not scold the kitten, much less beat it; with this method of education you can provoke the baby to do things secretly in the wrong place. It is better to show your pet in a dissatisfied tone that you are not happy with this situation, and, having collected the puddle with toilet paper, take it to the tray. This way the smell will attract the kitten to go to the right place. It is also worth watching the animal; usually after the baby has eaten, he runs to the toilet. Monitor the kitten's path to the toilet, and then the baby will remember that things need to be done in the litter box.

Don't lose your temper if the kitten doesn't go to the toilet the first time. Remove puddles with special odor-eliminating products that can be purchased at a pet store. Be persistent with your pet and show him where to go, but do not hit him or scream if he suddenly misses. The kitten will sooner or later understand what is required of him, the main thing is to be patient.

In the nursery, cats teach kittens to be clean, so babies come to their new home with toilet knowledge

Health

Newborn British kittens gain good immunity by being close to their mother for a long time. Within two weeks, their first teeth appear. You need to make sure that there is no inflammation of the gums.

Before vaccination, deworming must be carried out 10 days. Adult animals need to be given deworming medicine once every 3 months, especially if they go outside.

Although the British kitten is in good health, once you decide to have a baby, be prepared to pay attention to warning signs. If the cat constantly meows, is lethargic, and does not eat anything, then something is bothering her, but you should not make a diagnosis yourself

A veterinarian is qualified to identify diseases and treatments.

First moult and grooming

A kitten's first shedding occurs at seven or eight months of age. During the week, the kitten should be carefully combed every day with a special comb, running through the fur with massage movements. After this procedure, you can walk over the fur with your hand in a wet rubber glove, thus collecting the remaining fur. Subsequent molting occurs on an individual basis, depending on many factors - vitamin deficiency, allergic reactions, existing diseases, age-related and hormonal changes, and the use of inappropriate bathing products.

Regular grooming of the British dog's coat with special combs will preserve the beauty of the coat.

You need to groom your pet regularly:

• weekly brushing will bring many benefits to your pet. Firstly, this procedure will rid the cat of dead skin particles and fur hairs, which means that when licking, less of them will end up in the stomach. Secondly, regular brushing gives the animal a healthy and well-groomed appearance;
• if you accustom your kitten to water procedures from an early age, then bathing can become one of your pet’s favorite activities, which can be used both when soiled and for preventive measures;
• Careful trimming of the claws will rid the pet of the rough, keratinized part, which flakes off over time, causing the claws to begin to cling and cause discomfort to the cat. The procedure is short, only a couple of times a month. The haircut is carried out with special scissors, carefully so as not to damage the blood vessel;
• regular preventive examination of the auricle and organs of vision, when the cat’s ears are cleaned of wax accumulation, and the eyes are wiped with black tea infusion or eye drops.

From an early age, a kitten needs to be accustomed to the necessary procedures, then he will calmly endure them and even enjoy them

How to brush British cats?

Before purchasing a British kitten, you should buy special combs at a pet store. To care for your pet you will need:

• a comb with metal teeth with rounded ends so as not to injure the animal’s skin. Needed for primary combing of wool of any length in the direction from head to tail according to hair growth;
• comb with massage effect. Stimulates blood circulation, provides beautiful fur for your pet by combing out dead skin particles and dead hairs. You need to comb your pet with such a comb carefully so as not to damage the delicate undercoat;
• rubber brush or glove. Helps complete your pet's grooming routine. With the help of such a brush you can remove remaining hairs from the surface of the coat after active combing.

A variety of pet grooming products to choose from allows you to keep your cat's coat healthy and beautiful.

Bathing

The first bath of a kitten should be careful and not earlier than one month of age, so as not to scare the baby and not instill a negative impression of the procedure. It is better to teach the kitten to bathe in a playful way, touching the kitten with wet hands, and then gently moistening the baby’s fur with a few drops of warm water. This way, the kitten won’t get scared and won’t start to struggle, and the water, rolling off the fur, will attract attention and interest.

Gradually, with the help of play, the kitten will get used to the water and will allow its body to be completely wet, while you can also gradually begin to use special shampoos that do not have a strong odor. The only exception can be shampoos against parasites, the pungent smell of which can scare away the “British”. Bathing a pet kept in an apartment should not be done more than once every two months, unless treatment or severe contamination of the animal forces it to be done more often.

What do you need to know? The shampoo should be selected based on the length of your pet’s coat and its color, as some products are designed to enhance the color of the animal’s coat.

A kitten's first bath should be no earlier than one month of age.

Bathing stages:

1. fill the container with water, adjusting its temperature (about 30 °C);
2. pour a special shampoo into the water that suits your pet;
3. place the cat in a container with soapy water and gently, massaging the fur, wet the cat’s body;
4. rinse off the product with clean warm water, being careful not to get it into your ears, they are very sensitive;
5. After bathing, wrap the cat in a dry towel to thoroughly dry the wet fur;
6. Place your pet in a warm, draft-free room.

If you gradually accustom your kitten to water procedures, then over time he will enjoy the process and will not be capricious.

About vaccinations

Even if the cat rarely goes out on the boardwalk, it is necessary to protect her health. Vaccinations against the following diseases are highly recommended:

• Plague is an extremely contagious disease that is quite difficult for smaller brothers to bear. Fatalities are common.
• Feline herpes is a serious illness that affects the respiratory system and the eyes. Lethal outcomes occur in 5-20% of cases.
• Calicivirus – also affects the eyes and respiratory system. To top it off, the unfortunate animal may begin to limp.
• Chlamydia - if a cat is planned to be allowed for breeding, this disease must be excluded. Both the genitourinary system and the stomach and intestines are affected.
• Rabies is not that common, but in case of illness the mortality rate is 100%. It is especially advisable to vaccinate a cat that will take part in exhibitions abroad - without such a procedure, the animal simply will not be released.

The British cat is famous for its truly aristocratic manners. All cat lovers know this. However, without proper care, even this aristocracy is worth nothing - this should definitely be remembered!

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Upbringing

Before adopting a British breed kitten, it is worth considering that these are wayward animals. Therefore, education should begin from the first days of the kitten’s appearance in its new home. One of the main lessons of education is litter box training. If the kitten does not know that all tasks must be done in a specially designated place, then you need to show him how it is done. If the baby is already trained (usually in nurseries, kittens at the age of 3 months are toilet trained), then you just need to make sure that the pet gets used to the new tray. It is better to immediately show the animal what and how to do, because neglected training will be difficult to correct.

At first, carefully track the kitten’s path to the toilet, so you can teach him to do the necessary things in the right place

During education, force should never be used. British cats are smart, and therefore only a dissatisfied raised tone or clap of the hands can be applied to them, otherwise, when force is used, they can harbor anger or begin to be mischievous. For training, it is better to use repellents with a pungent odor or the smell of citrus fruits, a spray bottle with water, to wean the animal from sharpening its claws on furniture or doing dirty tricks in an inappropriate place.

If the kitten begins to shit, then try to find the reason in the location of the toilet or the composition of the litter

It is also worthwhile to immediately accustom the kitten to the scratching post so that it does not damage the furniture by grinding down its sharp claws. To do this, you need to show the baby several times, running your fingers along the post of the scratching post. You can also use catnip by rubbing dry grass on a post; the smell will attract the kitten’s attention, and he will involuntarily begin to touch the scratching post with his paws.

During games, try to make do with teasers and other toys; do not teach the kitten to play with your hands.

In general, training is not difficult, since the “British” cats are very smart cats, but you should immediately show who is boss in the house by establishing eye contact with the pet, while forbidding him to do nasty things so that he understands the boundaries of what is permitted.

Little “Britons” love to play, so pay more attention to games with your furry fidget

About mating

But now your plush pet grows up and, if you have not previously decided to sterilize it, you need to figure out how to knit it correctly:

• Despite the fact that puberty in the British begins at 8-10 months, professional breeders breed them no earlier than one and a half years. Before this period, the animal’s body is still at the stage of formation. Early mating and pregnancy can lead to difficult births and weak offspring.
• It is best to address the issue of matchmaking on the second or third days of estrus. According to breeders, these days are the most desirable for conception.
• As a rule, the cat is taken to the groom's territory. At the same time, you cannot rush - the animal must be given the opportunity to get used to it a little.
• The bride must also get used to her boyfriend. There is no need to rush the mating if the lady is wary of an unfamiliar cat.
• It is advisable to choose an adult and experienced gentleman. Especially if the lady is young. Another important feature of British women is their inaccessibility - this should definitely be taken into account when choosing a groom.
• It is preferable to leave the pet alone with the cat for several days - this decision will significantly increase the likelihood of offspring.

Feeding a kitten with natural products

List of foods not recommended for cats:

• fatty meats (pork, lamb);
• raw poultry meat and bones (chicken, turkey);
• any raw fish;
• sausages, sausages, smoked cheeses, chocolate, etc.;
• food that a person eats (salty, spicy, sweet).

A diet based on natural products includes the following items:

• lean meat (frozen beef, chicken, turkey, rabbit) - about 8-100 g/day. depending on the age of the kitten;
• offal (liver, heart, kidneys) - 10-100 g/day;
• boiled sea fish without bones no more than once a week gj 6-80 g/day;
• dairy products (cottage cheese - 3.5-20 g/day, kefir, low-fat sour cream no more than 10 g per day, cheese);
• chicken and quail eggs in the amount of 50-55 g per week;
• vegetables (cucumber, carrots, cauliflower, zucchini) - 10-40 g/day;
• cereals (buckwheat, wheat, rice) - 10-80 g/day;
• vitamin and mineral complex (according to instructions).

A balanced diet is the key to the correct and healthy development of the baby.

Table 3. Kitten consumption rate of natural food

What do you need to know? Choose wide, flat dishes for your pet to make it easier for him to eat.

Dry food for British kittens

If you decide to choose dry food for your pet, then it is important to consider that “Whiskas”, “Kiticat”, “Purina”, “Friskies”, “Felix” and similar low-quality foods are not suitable for a complete healthy diet. They contain a huge amount of flavors, dyes, taste enhancers and other harmful chemicals, which cause many diseases associated with urolithiasis and gastrointestinal tract disorders. It is better to use high-quality industrial feed, which is completely ready for consumption.

Each manufacturer has its own calculation table for feeding a kitten by month, so you just need to follow the recommendations and make sure that the kitten always has access to fresh water. The main thing is to choose high-quality food for your kitten from a good holistic, superpremium or premium manufacturer. Then you can be sure that the baby will grow up healthy and strong.

Brit food for kittens

Dry and wet food that can be fed to a British kitten:

• Among the good holistic foods for kittens you can buy: Eukanuba, Brit, PronatureHolistic, Primordial. The advantage of this class of food is that it is hypoallergenic. The diets have an optimal ratio of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, and also contain dietary supplements;
• super premium food: Hill's Science Plan, Orijen, Now Fresh, 1st Choice, Schesir;
• premium food: Pro Plan, Happy Cat, Leonardo, Brit Premium, Royal Canin.

What do you need to know? If the kitten ate industrial food in the nursery, then you should not immediately start feeding it natural food or other dry food, as this can disrupt the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and lead to complications. Therefore, find out what brand of dry food the kitten was eating, and feed it this particular food for the first time. The transition should be smooth: gradually mix in other food to avoid health problems for the baby.

Choose high-quality food from a well-known manufacturer for your pet