What to feed a Scottish Fold kitten at 2 months and how to care for him

With food, the cat receives many useful substances, including vitamins, minerals and amino acids necessary for health. But food alone is often not enough, be it ready-made food or natural food. With natural nutrition, improperly balanced, as well as when feeding non-vitaminized industrial food, additional intake of vitamins and minerals is required.

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Seals that do not eat fortified food or a balanced natural diet need to be fed additionally. This is done periodically - 1 month course 2-3 times a year. These are planned preventative measures. There are also unscheduled courses that are prescribed in case of illness, pregnancy, teenage kittens and other life situations.

Manufacturers from all over the world offer a huge range of vitamins for kittens and adult cats. As veterinarians admit, approximately half of these drugs are ineffective. Brands that you can trust include: 8 in 1, Beaphar, Canina, GimCat, Dr. Mercola and a number of others. The listed brands refer to manufacturers from Europe and the USA. This does not mean that domestic ones cannot be trusted. It’s just that the Murkotiki website cannot vouch for domestic drugs: there is too much of a gap in quality from manufacturer to manufacturer and even from product to product from the same manufacturer.

As a rule, the better the vitamins, the more expensive they are. Typically good supplements cost about 3 US cents per tablet. The price of a whole pack of vitamins will be about the same as the cost of a pack of good vitamins for people. But in some cases, a cat can be given regular brewer's yeast - it costs a penny, and brewer's yeast sometimes works no worse than expensive vitamin-mineral complexes. By the way, many expensive vitamins for animals are based on ordinary brewer’s yeast, so sometimes there is no point in overpaying.

Calorie norm

A sufficient amount of calories for a pet is considered to be one that provides the cat with high activity, maintains the required body temperature, and allows the digestive, respiratory and cardiovascular systems to function normally.
The average daily intake of an adult cat is 200-300 J per kilogram of weight. Thus, a pet weighing 3 kg needs about 1000 J daily, cats weighing 4 kg need 14 J, cats weighing 5 kg need 1500 J.

Option 1:

• 25 g beef or veal;
• 5 g lung;
• 10 g water;
• 2 g vegetable oil;
• 5 g yeast;
• 4 g cereal flakes.

Recipe 2:

• 10 g liver;
• 25 g lean fish;
• 4 g buckwheat;
• 7 g water;
• 0.2 g yeast;
• 5 g low-fat cottage cheese.

Choosing a vitamin complex

There is no need to rush when visiting a specialized store; vitamins for cat immunity are selected very carefully, taking into account the age, weight and health status of the pet.

Experts in this matter advise adhering to the following nuances when choosing a drug:

1. Purpose of the product. There are several types of dietary supplements to improve general condition, adaptation after pregnancy or healthier coat. Sterilized cats are often given medications that prevent the formation of urolithiasis, which can quickly develop in such individuals.
2. Release form. This factor is no less important; drugs are often supplied in tablets, but other types of transportation are not excluded; it is necessary to choose the most convenient option.
3. Compound. Of the main elements, it is worth highlighting taurine, biotin, a complex of trace elements, calcium and zinc, this is not the entire list, but experienced owners of four-legged friends look first for the presence of such components.
4. Price. This is an individual question; saving, of course, is not worth it, but too expensive products should be selected wisely so as not to interrupt the course of treatment due to lack of money.

It wouldn’t hurt to look through the available reviews about the vitamins for cats that you have chosen; pet owners rarely write false information, because most people consider their pets to be a full member of the family.

Advice! If at the time of purchase the drug is packaged in ampoules, then it is better to entrust the administration to specialists; if you try to inject yourself into the cat’s withers, you can harm his health. The process often requires certain skills.

Nutrition rules

Kitten

From birth to 2 months, kittens are fed mother's milk. Such feedings can be up to 7-8 times a day.

Special milk formulas are purchased at the veterinary pharmacy, which must be fed every 2.5-3 hours, including at night, until the kittens reach 14 days of age. Then once every 3 hours up to 1 month.

During this period, milk is the basis of the diet; there should be no complementary foods. During the second month, babies already need water, and they are also allowed to give food other than milk. Pieces of new food should be small in size, always soaked in milk or meat broth. At 2 months, Scottish cats continue to drink milk. The number of feedings is maintained up to 7 times a day.

At 3 months, the mother's lactation stops. The number of feedings is still high and reaches 6 times a day. The food should be semi-liquid, milk can be given. From 4 to 9 months, gradually reduce feedings to 4 times. Give more and more solid food, gradually increasing the density.

At this age, it is also important to follow the dosage specified by the manufacturer, as well as choose food according to age

Cottage cheese should not be given more than once a week, as it contains excessive amounts of calcium and is likely to straighten the ears of Scottish Folds. But give other fermented milk products more often, about 3 times a week. From the age of 10 months, you can switch your cat to an adult diet 2-3 times a day. On a natural diet, give milk, cottage cheese is allowed more often from now on.

The basis of the diet is meat, it is necessary to give porridge and vegetables. Be sure to give herbs fresh, in the form of a finely chopped supplement. When feeding dry food, choose the right manufacturer. This should not be a mass market; it is advisable to purchase premium feed. Divide the daily dose by 2-3 times, pour into a bowl before meals. Provide constant access to fresh water.

Adult cats

The rules for feeding cats older than one year on a natural diet include several points.

1. Meat should be present in the diet every day, at every meal. Choose low-fat varieties: chicken, rabbit, beef.
2. Fish is needed in the diet 2 times a week. Marine representatives with low fat content of meat are desirable.
3. Give porridge about 3-4 times a week. It can be buckwheat, barley, wheat.
4. Dairy products.
5. Vegetables should also be on your pet's menu. The multiplicity in the diet is the same as for cereals.
6. Fruits can be given in small quantities, preferably in the first half of the day. Choose unsweetened fruits: apples, pears. Very rarely allow your pet to indulge in grapes.
7. Provide fresh grass daily. To do this, you can germinate wheat and green buckwheat yourself. You can also purchase special herbs in pharmacies.
8. Cats on natural food need supplements in the form of vitamins and minerals once every 6-12 months.
9. It is forbidden to give cats food from your table, as well as pamper them with baked goods and confectionery.

You will not have any difficulties when feeding dry food. Manufacturers have fully taken into account the pet’s needs for nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and herbal supplements. You will only need to follow the dosage indicated on the pack.

The most important thing on artificial food is constant access to fresh water. Since there must be a lot of it to digest crackers

Sterilization

After a year, you need to decide whether you will castrate the kitten or not. If you have decided to sterilize, you first need to switch the cat to special food and only then send the animal for surgery. With natural feeding, you will simply need to reduce the portion size and the overall fat content of the diet for a sterilized cat.

Rules for caring for kittens

Basic care for Scottish Fold kittens for 2 months includes the following activities:

• Grooming. Depending on the thickness, use a comb with rare or frequent teeth. If the fur is tangled, use a special lotion and trim the tangles with scissors.
• Examination and cleaning of eyes. They are cleaned with a cotton swab dipped in water. Special drops are used after washing the eyes.
• Bathing. They teach it gradually from an early age, washing the cat once every three months.
• Ear cleaning. The procedure is done monthly two to three times. Using a cotton swab dipped in a special liquid, gently wipe the auricle.
• Nail trimming. Perform, if necessary, on the front paws, cutting off the very tip, no more than 2 mm.
• Teeth cleaning. For this purpose, special toothpastes and brushes are used. Regular brushing helps prevent dental plaque.

In addition, the kitten must undergo preventive treatment against helminths and be vaccinated against dangerous diseases.

Feeding spayed and neutered animals

The nutrition of sterilized cats and neutered cats has its own specifics. So, for the first 12 hours the cat recovers from anesthesia - at this moment there is no need to offer food, as soon as the animal begins to feel better, you should give it something to drink through a syringe, making sure that the pet does not choke.

Usually, on the first day, Scots refuse to eat; you should not force them to eat.

On the second day, the animal is offered about a third of the usual portion; this is important so that the animal does not strain during defecation.

After 3 days, the Scots regain their appetite and begin to show interest in food - from this moment you can begin to gradually increase the amount of food, bringing it up to 150 g per day.

From time to time, give your furry a check: once a month, run your hands along his sides - if you feel the ribs, then you have nothing to worry about, and if the cat has gained too much weight, then you should temporarily exclude cereals from his diet, focusing on meat, vegetable and fish products.

If you feed your pet with ready-made formulas, then it is worth purchasing specialized formulations “for castrated and sterilized animals.”

How does vitamin deficiency manifest in a kitten?

If you notice that your kitten is less playful, has a disrupted daily routine, sleeps too much, is unsteady and clumsy - these are clear signs that he needs vitamins. Also signs of vitamin deficiency are loss of confidence in movements, hair loss and dullness, rapid weight loss, frequent illnesses, protruding ribs. In this case, you must definitely go to the veterinarian so that he can prescribe the necessary complex of vitamins. You can understand exactly what substances are missing in your cat’s body only after receiving test results.

If your kitten becomes lethargic and sleepy, contact your veterinarian

But we can guess what exactly the animal needs based on the following signs:

• in vitamins of group A - the kitten cannot digest food, it breathes heavily, and there is tearing in the eyes;
• group B – the animal is weakened, food is poorly digested, weight decreases, and problems with the musculoskeletal system appear;
• vitamin C – the pet gets sick more and more often, scurvy appears, teeth begin to fall out;
• when there is a deficiency of D, the kitten grows poorly, its spine and bones are curved, and rickets appears;
• if K - the animal becomes aggressive, eats poorly, and blood clotting worsens.

How to feed pregnant and lactating cats?

Compiling an optimal diet for expectant and nursing mothers deserves special attention. During this period, animals need much more food and the proteins, vitamins and minerals that come with it.

That is why the quality of feeding at such a moment is extremely important. However, increased portion sizes should be avoided, since a pregnant cat’s stomach does not enlarge and, therefore, does not acquire the ability to digest large volumes of food.

When organizing the diet of a pregnant Scottish cat, you should follow several rules.

It is forbidden to give fish

It is better to include liver (chicken or beef) in the menu. It is important to provide your cat with food containing calcium. This is cheese, low-fat cottage cheese or fermented baked milk

The drug “Kaltsex” should be added to the feed, as well as meat and bone meal. It is very important to provide your pregnant cat with constant access to clean water, especially if she is fed dry food mixtures. You can’t suddenly change the animal’s diet. If before pregnancy the cat was fed ready-made food, then you should not change it to “natural” food - a sudden change in the type of food will not benefit the pet.

However, you can transfer your Scottish cat to a specialized composition for pregnant and lactating cats from the same manufacturer to which she is accustomed. It usually contains more calories, vitamins and other nutrients to ensure kittens develop fully in the womb and keep the mother healthy and alert. Thus, while receiving the same amount of food, the animal will have much more strength and energy to bear healthy kittens.

A couple of weeks before giving birth, the amount of food is reduced by about a quarter - this is important so that the kittens do not gain too much weight. Otherwise, there is a risk of complications during childbirth

A few days before giving birth, the cat begins to refuse food offered. There is no need to worry - this is a completely normal phenomenon, do not force her to eat, just provide peace and prepare everything necessary for the birth of the babies.

After childbirth, a young mother also often lacks appetite. Usually the reason for this is that she eats her placenta - don't let her eat more than three as this can cause diarrhea.

During lactation, the animal's appetite increases sharply, since it needs to provide vital energy not only for itself, but also for its children. When forming a cat’s diet at this moment, you need to take into account the weight of the kittens and their number in the litter.

As the kittens transition to solid food, the cat will often eat the same foods that are offered to her kittens - this happens on an instinctive level, since consuming the same food makes the milk more easily digestible for the kittens.

As a rule, during breastfeeding, a Scottish woman loses a lot of weight and quickly returns to the shape she had before pregnancy. Be sure to make sure she doesn't become exhausted. If you notice that the weight of a young mother is below normal, then you should offer more high-calorie food or use ready-made food for kittens.

Vitamin injection for cats

In some cases, cats are not given vitamins orally (that is, through the mouth), but are injected. Injected vitamins enter the bloodstream immediately and are more effective than vitamins that have passed through the gastrointestinal tract. This is usually not so important if you are giving your cat a preventive course. But sometimes you need quick action. This is recommended for some cats after giving birth or for individuals who cannot eat (after poisoning, falls from a height, etc.).

In particular, the quite effective drug “Gamavit” is used, which, in addition to vitamins, includes amino acids and minerals. It quickly normalizes the blood formula, removes toxins and has a general strengthening effect. Also, its invaluable effect is the restoration of tissue after injury. Note that this drug is also injected into the blood before the cat is exposed to stress, for example, before moving, and to stimulate the immune system.

The disadvantage of injectable vitamins is the need to have certain injection skills, which can be difficult. You will also most likely need a partner.

Prices for injectable vitamins are comparable to prices for tablets.

General feeding rules

• Breed name: Scottish Fold cat (Scottish Fold).
• Country of origin: Scotland / UK.
• Weight: 4–5 kg.
• Height at withers: up to 30 cm.
• Average life expectancy: up to 15 years.
• Average price: 5–20 thousand rubles.

At the very beginning of their lives, Scottish cat babies feed exclusively on their mother's milk, so feeding such a pet does not cause problems. This period lasts several weeks, after which any breed of cat, including the Scottish Fold, can be fed one of three main types of food:

• exclusively natural and fresh food products;
• dry or jelly-like ready-made food;
• proper mixed diet.

As a replacement for mother's cat's milk, special adapted formulations can be used, as well as some self-prepared mixtures based on:

• 250 ml of concentrated milk, half an egg yolk and a couple of teaspoons of fructose;
• 100 ml cow's whole milk, 30 g whole milk powder and 5.0 g dry yeast;
• 100-110 ml of whole milk, 100-110 g of boiled milk, raw egg yolk and a couple of teaspoons of corn oil.

When choosing a feeding method, it is necessary to take into account the taste preferences of your pet, and also focus on the availability of a sufficient amount of free time required for independent cooking. A kitten aged one and a half to two months should be fed five times a day.

It is also permissible to provide such a pet with free access to food. By about six months, the number of feedings is gradually reduced to three times a day, and starting from eight months, the kitten is transferred to two meals a day. The food given to your pet must be fresh and at a comfortable room temperature. Among other things, the kitten should have access to clean drinking water at all times.

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.

Scottish straight kittens

Scottish Straight kittens (Scottish Straight) are essentially “babies” of the Scottish Fold, but when they reach the age of one month, the babies have straight ears. Recently, this breed has become independent, since in order to avoid gene mutations that are typical when crossing two fold-eared individuals, fold-eared cats are crossed with straight-eared cats.

Scottish Straights have an easy-going, modest character and good-natured disposition. They treat their family members well, but are very attached to the one they consider their master. Representatives of this breed are smart, quick-witted, inquisitive, obedient, and rarely play dirty tricks or take revenge.

They adapt well to new living conditions, get along with other pets, and are not particularly demanding in care and maintenance. Unlike Scottish Folds, Scottish Straights are not as susceptible to joint diseases.

Advantages of ready-made feeds

Why are more and more owners of kittens switching to ready-made food? Perhaps the secret is that everyone wants to have a kitten, but there is simply no one to care for and feed it. Constantly being busy at work means that owners have no time to boil meat, fish, or grind food to remove bones.

Ready-made food has many advantages. Premium mixtures are designed for feeding cats, taking into account their age, body type, belonging to a specific breed, and are even available for neutered and lactating pets.

Popular foods that are suitable for Scottish babies:

1. Wahre Liebe "Junge", produced in Germany. The food contains colostrum, so the product is well absorbed and can be used for feeding from the earliest months. In addition, the food contains chicken and turkey meat, as well as rice, egg and beet pieces. The manufacturer assures that the food can be used to prevent urolithiasis.
2. Fans of the fish menu will appreciate Hill's Science Plan Kitten Tuna - dry food, made in the USA. It contains: floured tuna meat, chicken, animal fat, flaxseed, corn, beets, fish oil, Omega-3 and Omega-6 acids. Kittens really like the food. Long-term use helps strengthen the immune system.
3. Canadian manufacturers offer high protein dry food 1st Choice Kitten. It contains, in addition to chicken and herring meat, rice, barley, oatmeal, egg powder, tomato and beets. The food is hypoallergenic, therefore suitable for pets suffering from food allergies.
4. Another dry food from French manufacturers is Royal Canin British Shorthair Kitten, containing dried poultry meat, extract from cartilage and crustacean shells, fish oil, corn, and chopped beets. According to the annotation, the food is a preventative against joint pathologies.
5. For lovers of wet food, the French offer Royal Canin Kitten Instinctive. In addition to meat and meat products, it contains cereals, yeast and milk.
6. The manufacturer Purina Pro offers Plan Dental Plus food for small kittens. The unique composition allows you to maintain your pet’s oral cavity in excellent condition. The food prevents the formation of dental plaque.
7. Hills high carbohydrate food is designed for active kittens. It contains calcium and magnesium, which the baby needs for full development. The food is not suitable for overweight kittens.

The calorie content and consumption rate must be indicated on food packages, so you must follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. The average norm for a Scottish kitten is 200 kcal.

Ready-made food is divided into the following types:

• dry;
• wet;
• semi-moist.

When choosing dry food, you need to remember about constant access to a drinking bowl, otherwise the cat will have problems with bowel movements.

Dry and wet formulations from the same manufacturer are allowed to be used for mixed feeding. At the same time, they are not combined into one feeding, but distributed alternately:

• one feeding – dry portion;
• second feeding - wet canned food.

Dry food must be stored properly

Before purchasing a package of food, you should pay attention to the following points:

expiration date and storage conditions; manufacturer's brand and type of food (it is best to choose a premium and holistic line); the age of the pet indicated on the packaging and actual age; special additives. The food may contain increased amounts of certain microelements and vitamins. Feeds are not only balanced, but also medicinal

Not all kittens need special food, so you should pay close attention to the instructions on the food.

What to feed a Scottish kitten

Scots, regardless of age, should receive a complete, balanced diet, enriched with vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. It is also important to adhere to the regime and daily routine. Feed the kitten at the same time so as not to provoke problems with digestion and metabolism.

Important! The Scots are not picky eaters, but are prone to obesity, heart pathologies, and diseases of the genitourinary tract. Therefore, from an early age it is very important to properly organize your pet’s nutritional system. Once you choose a diet, you should stick to it.

Scots, regardless of breed variety, can be kept on:

• Natural nutrition.
• Ready-made diets (jelly-like, dry, canned food, pates).
• Mixed diet. With this type of feeding, both ready-made food and fresh natural products are given, but at different meals.

In general, focus on the needs and tastes of your pet, as well as the availability of free time, since keeping cats outdoors requires a lot of time. Cats should receive only fresh, high-quality and properly prepared food, and not food from our table.

Natural diet

Feeding a Scottish kitten with fresh, pre-selected foods (natural diet) is more balanced and correct, according to veterinarians and experienced breeders. Despite the time spent on cooking, you can be sure that your pet is receiving high-quality and healthy food.

Products for a natural diet:

• Beef, veal, turkey, chicken, rabbit. Meat products are a source of protein, iron and other nutrients. The meat is boiled or served raw, having previously been doused with boiling water. Poultry meat is cleaned of bones.

• Ocean fish, low-fat sea fish (salmon, tuna). Contains phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, amino acids. It is given in boiled, stewed form without seeds.

• Offal. Unlike meat, they have less nutritional value, so boiled veal, chicken liver, chicken stomachs, and hearts should be given to a Scot once a week. For kittens, by-products are introduced into the diet in small quantities after 5 months of age.

• Dairy and fermented milk products - calcined cottage cheese, skim milk, kefir, natural yoghurts, fermented baked milk. They improve digestion and metabolism, replenish calcium deficiency, and contain microorganisms beneficial to the gastrointestinal tract. If the kitten is not allergic to lactose after weaning from its mother, milk, previously boiled or pasteurized, is given for up to 4-5 months. Adult cats do not digest whole milk well.

• Cereals, cereals. Cats are carnivores, so grains and grains only supplement their basic nutrition. Porridge is cooked in broth and water. They can be mixed with minced meat, pieces of meat, and fish.

• Vegetables, herbs, fruits. They contain a large number of organic compounds, pectins, vitamins, and minerals. Improve metabolism, digestion, and replenish the deficiency of nutrients. Vegetables (green beans, pumpkin, zucchini, carrots, cauliflower, beets) are boiled, steamed, and stewed. Can also be given raw. For better development, they are seasoned with a small amount of vegetable oil. Can be mixed in grated form with porridge, meat, minced meat. When it comes to fruits, cats choose what they like. The Scots are not averse to eating grapes, watermelon, melon, and apples. To cleanse the stomach of fur, it is useful to give kittens sprouted oats, a grass that is grown at home in a container.

• Eggs. Once a week, kittens can be given one boiled or raw egg. It can be added to porridge, meat products, and cottage cheese.

Important! You can feed kittens and adult Scots only with high-quality products, freshly prepared food at room temperature.

With a natural diet, the pet receives a varied menu, but for normal development it is supplemented with vitamin supplements.

Ready-made feed

If you plan to keep your kitten on a ready-made diet, introduce it to dry granules gradually, starting from 3 months of age. At first, the drying is soaked in boiled water, kefir, broth and given in small portions. You can feed your kitten only dry, wet food, canned food, and pates marked “For kittens.”

When choosing food, carefully study its composition and the manufacturer’s recommendations indicated on the packaging. Give preference only to trusted brands and manufacturers. Before purchasing, look at the expiration date.

The best ready-made food for Scottish kittens:

• Akana;
• Hills;
• Royal Canin;
• ORIJEN CAT and KITTEN.
• Purina Pro Plan Dental Plus.
• Matisse;
• Advance
• Innova EVO.

For nutrition, choose products from the “exta”, premium, and super-premium categories. Economy food contains dyes, harmful chemical compounds, preservatives, has low nutritional value, low calorie content and can harm the kitten’s health. Take into account the age, individual, breed, physiological characteristics of the pet, activity level, and taste preferences of the fluffy.

The advantage of this type of nutrition is that the pet receives all the nutrients necessary for health, growth, and activity.

The line of many brands includes fortified food, food for cats with a sensitive digestive tract, and therapeutic and prophylactic food.

Why are they needed?

Vitamins have a beneficial effect:

1. Increases the immunity of animals.
2. Improve physiological processes.
3. Help your pet cope with problems with illness.

The intake of retinol is necessary for the pet for normal growth. Of particular importance for the development of a kitten is calciferol, which is involved in the formation of the skeleton and has a positive effect on the metabolism of phosphorus and calcium in the animal.

The intake of tocopherol into the pet’s body ensures the correct formation of the reproductive system.

Ascorbic acid is needed by a growing animal for the absorption of sugar from the intestinal tract, cellular respiration, and the prevention of pathologies in the walls of the capillary vessels of the kitten. Kittens need additional vitamins during illness to support a weakened body.

What vitamins do pets need?

All the most important processes occurring in the body occur with the participation of vitamins and minerals. With a lack of vitamins (hypovitaminosis) or their excess content (hypervitaminosis), the health and appearance of animals can significantly deteriorate. This rule applies to growing animals, adult cats, and those who are elderly. And in severe cases, the consequences can be irreversible, including death.

Table: main vitamins that affect the health of pets

It must be taken into account that an overdose of any vitamin leads to an increased need for another (this is called secondary vitamin deficiency) and harms the body. Vitamins belonging to the fat-soluble class - A, D, E - are necessary in the diet of a pet, but in optimal quantities. Vitamins C and K, as already mentioned, are produced by bacteria present within the body itself. If you provide your pet with the correct diet, and its appearance and behavior do not give cause for concern, then you should not introduce additional vitamins. Excessive amounts of fat-soluble vitamins are stored in reserve rather than excreted from the body, so excess of these vitamins (especially A and D) in pets is more common than their deficiency.

Video: vitamins for cats

In addition to vitamins, pets need to consume a substance such as taurine.

Taurine is a sulfur-containing amino acid found in many mammals, but not cats. Although her body urgently needs this substance:

• taurine is involved in the formation of bile and if it is deficient, problems arise with the absorption and breakdown of fats and fat-soluble vitamins, which can affect both the functioning of the digestive tract and the condition of the pet’s skin and coat;
• it has anticonvulsant activity, affects the functioning of the brain and heart;
• taurine stimulates healing processes, improves immunity;
• affects sugar levels, its deficiency can lead to diabetes;
• lack of taurine causes retinal dystrophy;
• taurine has a positive effect on the ability of females to bear kittens.

While the main source of food for small predators was hunting mice and rats, they did not lack taurine. Now that pets have completely shifted the problem of getting food to their owners, the presence of this amino acid in the animal’s diet must be mandatory. In ready-made feeds of at least premium class, the amount of taurine is quite sufficient. When using a natural diet or economy class feed, it is necessary to additionally introduce this food additive into the food.

Dry food review

Dry food is recognized as one of the most popular and in demand food products for cats. The granules of such food remain fresh for a long time; they do not need to be pre-cooked before serving to the cat. Dry foods are very convenient for owners. True, they are not suitable for animals of all ages.

Some cats prefer not to chew dry food, but to eat the whole granules. As a result, this behavior can lead to not the best consequences:

• overeating - until the granules have time to gain volume and moisture, the cat will not feel full with food, even if the portion for him is chosen correctly;
• bloating of the cat's abdomen;
• constipation, which often occurs due to dehydration.

When choosing dry cat food, you must take into account a number of features.

Dry food for cats and kittens must be chosen based on the class. It is not recommended to buy budget options in the economy category. They can be given to fluffies, but very rarely, as an exception. Often animals should not eat them - this can negatively affect their health. Premium and super-premium food is more suitable.

Thus, one of the highest quality dry food is Canadian-made products from the 1st Choice brand. This food is ideal for the Scots. It is balanced and has an optimal ratio of fats and proteins. The main advantages of this food are the following:

• economical consumption;
• cats feel full even from small portions;
• can be used for a regular diet;
• contains all the necessary minerals and vitamins;
• does not cause allergies;
• It's not too expensive.

NOW Natural Holistic is another high-quality, well-formulated dry food. This food should be given to Scottish breed kittens as it is designed specifically for them. To produce feed, we use natural meat from birds and other animals raised on Canadian farms. The main advantages of good food from this manufacturer are:

• ideal ratio of fats and proteins;
• no soy, gluten, growth hormones or meat flour in the composition;
• Can be eaten even by pregnant or lactating cats.

There are no serious disadvantages to such foods, but you need to be prepared for the fact that they are not very cheap.

High-quality dry food from Acana is very popular among owners. They do not contain vegetable protein, but have a large percentage of natural ingredients. If you give your Scottish cat this food, you will not have to additionally feed it with various vitamin supplements. As in the other cases mentioned above, the ratio of fats and proteins in this diet is optimal.

The main advantages of these feeds are:

• the presence of a large number of natural ingredients, for example, fish or poultry meat;
• use of fresh and whole fillets in production;
• can be used as a staple diet.

Acana food is of excellent quality, but is a bit expensive.

Almo Nature offers consumers a choice of high-quality Italian food for cats and kittens. They include a large percentage of meat and fish. Due to this, the Scottish cat will receive all the components it needs. At the same time, excess weight will not be a problem for your pet if he eats such dry food. That is why very often such products are purchased for neutered cats.

Here are the advantages of this product:

• composition rich in vitamins and minerals;
• absence of dyes, preservatives, flavors and various additives;
• does not cause allergic reactions;
• has a balanced composition;
• has a reasonable price.

No serious deficiencies have been identified in these feeds.

There are also simpler dry food that are several times cheaper. For example, Whiskas products are well known to everyone due to advertising. This food belongs to the economy category. It is not recommended to give it to cats on a regular basis - such food is completely unsuitable for the daily diet. Of course, these foods are cheap and are sold in many stores, but their composition leaves much to be desired. There are dyes of unknown origin, as well as preservatives and antioxidants, information about which cannot be found either.

Dry food from another well-known brand, Kitekat, has similar features. Their composition also cannot be called good, suitable for representatives of the Scottish breed. You shouldn’t skimp on your pets’ health by offering them such cheap food.

What not to feed a Scotsman

Some products, especially from our table, as well as low-quality food, can harm the health of a Scottish breed kitten. An unbalanced diet causes developmental disorders, nutritional allergies, disruptions in the gastrointestinal tract, and other systemic disorders.

Foods that should not be given to a Scot:

• smoked meats, marinades;
• fatty meats;
• fresh meat without heat treatment;
• tubular, fish bones;
• raw milk;
• spicy, salty foods;
• tubular, fish bones;
• raw river and sea fish;
• sweets, baked goods.

Do not feed the Scotsman from our table with economy-class food, frozen meat, or expired products.

Before giving your kitten raw meat, pour boiling water over it or boil it for several minutes. Food and water should always be fresh.

Nutritional features of small kittens

Until the kitten reaches the age of 1 month, it is fed by its mother, usually for the first 2 weeks the number of feedings reaches 10 times a day, and by the month there are already 8 of them, including at night.

If for some reason there is no mother, or she cannot feed the cubs, then the owner must take all care of the newborn.

In the first 2 weeks, feeding should be done every 2 hours at the rate of 30 ml per 100 g of the baby’s body weight, from 2 to 4 weeks the feeding volume should be 50 ml per 100 g of body weight and after a month - about 55 g.

The product is administered using a syringe or a special pipette

The mixture is poured very carefully so that the baby does not choke. Cow's milk is not suitable for kittens

The fact is that cat milk consists of 70% water, it contains 11% proteins and 3% lactose, and the fat content does not exceed 11%.

Cow's milk contains about 89% water, 3.2% protein, 3.2% fat and 5.3% lactose. Despite the similarity of composition, the volume of proteins in cow's milk is much lower, but the amount of lactose, on the contrary, much exceeds the proportion of the component in cat's milk. And any veterinarian will confirm that a small kitten’s body digests large amounts of lactose with great difficulty.

A one-month-old kitten begins to introduce solid food into its diet. However, the concept of “solid” in this case is relative. At first, it is crushed and diluted to a mushy state, and the more liquid the mash, the better for the young Scot.

Sometimes breeders are forced to introduce complementary foods up to 1 month - this happens if the cat is exhausted and has very little milk - then the kittens begin to squeak frequently and try to cling to the cat's chest and fingers of their owners.

They start complementary feeding with one type of food, and only after the kitten has digested it, they offer the next one. It is best if fermented milk products are used as the first food additive - for example, low-fat cottage cheese or fermented baked milk.

At 2 months, the Scot’s body is already ready for weaning, but not abruptly - the transition to solid food should come slowly, which is why breeders rarely sell kittens under three months. At this time, the kitten eats approximately 6 times a day, and the total amount of food consumed is about 180 g per day.

By the end of the second month, you can offer your pet small pieces of meat - by this time his teeth have already formed. It will be better if you mix the meat with grated vegetables or soaked bran.

At 2 months he is vaccinated against distemper and rhinotracheitis, and at 3 months he is revaccinated.

At 3-4 months, the kitten begins to actively grow, and its gastrointestinal tract is finally formed. During this period, it would be useful to introduce vitamin and mineral complexes into the diet, which must contain calcium.

From 4.5 months, the kitten is already considered a teenager and continues to grow, so it requires protein-rich food. Meat best meets his protein needs. In this case, there is no longer any need to grind the product; it can be served cut into medium-sized pieces; the animal at this stage of its life must certainly train its jaws.

From 5 months, you can introduce low-fat fish into the diet, it is advisable to take sea fish - this product is offered to cats exclusively in boiled form and no more than once a week.

From 9 months, a kitten is already considered an adult, although the Scots form until two years old, nevertheless, the animal’s need for proteins and calories is already the same as that of older pets - 2-3 feedings per day are enough for him, the total amount of food is usually 180 -200 g.

The little Scotsman should have his own bowls and constant access to water. The water should be changed daily and the drinking bowl should be kept perfectly clean. By the way, cats really love running water, so they like all kinds of “fountains”.

Breeders all over the world have been arguing for many years about what is healthier for a small pet – natural or factory-made food. It is impossible to give a definite answer to this question, since much depends on the owner’s ability to create a balanced menu for his pet at home, because nothing better than natural food has yet been invented.

But if you do not have the necessary time, then it is better to opt for food that contains all the necessary micro- and macroelements, but keep in mind that preference should be given to premium and super-premium formulations, always marked “for kittens”.

Types of vitamins by dosage form - tablets, injections, pastes, drops

Manufacturers of vitamin and mineral products for cats try to satisfy all the needs of consumers and develop preparations of various structures and methods of application. The market for veterinary products widely includes both conventional vitamins in the form of tablets and enteric capsules, as well as all kinds of injectable preparations, pastes, crackers and powders.

Vitamins in tablets (crackers)

Complex tablets are often released in the form of crackers, reminiscent of commercial food pellets, to attract the attention of cats. And to reduce problems with taking vitamins, manufacturers make tablets with meat, fish, cheese or milk taste and aroma. Vitamin tablets are convenient to give to adult animals that can chew them. These fortified feed additives are given to kittens in crumbled form, mixed with food. The shape of the tablets can be either round or in the shape of hearts, fish, mice. The color range of the drugs is also extensive. Many manufacturers produce vitamins in tablets (crackers) of different colors, so that you can distinguish them by composition and taste, as well as for convenient division into morning and evening doses.

The best vitamins for cats in tablets:

1. 8 in 1 Excel Brewer's Yeast (brewer's yeast);
2. Beaphar Kitty's Mix;
3. AniVital FeliDerm;
4. Polidex Immunity up;
5. Agrovetzaschita Radostin.

Vitamin injections (shots)

Vitamins in the form of injection solutions (injections) are indicated for those cats that, for some reason, cannot take medications orally. It should be borne in mind that the prescription of such vitamin-mineral complexes must be made by a veterinarian. Only he can determine what vitamins an animal needs and in what dosage. It is prohibited to inject cats with vitamins and other medications on your own.

TOP vitamins in injections:

1. Vittri-1 (Agrovetzaschita);
2. Vittri-3 (Agrovetzaschita);
3. Gamavit (GamaVetFarm);
4. Multivitamin (Norbrook);
5. Cyanocobalamin B12 (Mosagrogen).

At the pet store

Vitamins for kittens are divided into two groups:

• natural (made from natural raw materials) – Gimpet, Canina, Hartz;
• synthetic (made from artificial substitutes) - Nutri Vet, 8in1, Vitakraft, Sanal, Biofactory.

If kittens do not feed on mother's milk or there are developmental abnormalities in the animal, it is necessary to give vitamins that are selected according to age. The best products can be purchased at a pet store.

After reaching 1.5 months, it is necessary to give animals vitamins for kittens with calcium and phosphorus. Doctor Zoo vitamins intended for kittens from 3 months will be useful. Doctor Zoo is compatible with any diet - dry food, natural products. Taking the Doctor Zoo multivitamin complex improves metabolism, normalizes the activity of all organs and systems, increases the animal’s immunity and coordination of movements.

A popular product is Beafar, produced in the form of tasty treats for animals from 1.5 months of life and containing all the useful substances necessary for proper development. Beophar contains sodium, biotin, calcium, phosphorus and potassium. It is recommended to take Beafar daily, 1-4 tablets per 1 kg of animal weight. Your veterinarian will help determine the exact dosage of the product.

Phytomines

Against the background of classic vitamin-mineral complexes, there are special phytomines on the market. They are produced with the active participation of medicinal herbs, the composition and concentration of which is selected to solve specific problems.

At the moment, the most famous phytomins on the market are TM VEDA and Gematoket. The completely natural composition guarantees no side effects, but requires long-term use to obtain a therapeutic result.

Gematoket produces a complex drug “Fitomins” for kittens, as well as weakened animals. Helps strengthen the immune system and increase resistance.

TM VEDA produces complexes:

1. For teeth and bones.
2. Against allergies.
3. For wool.
4. With urological phytocomplex.
5. For castrated cats.
6. For removing hair (for constipation caused by hairballs).

Rating of the best food for Scottish cats