Top 10 best food for Scottish cats

Animal sources of protein

No fresh and/or raw meat or fish ingredients were used in the production of Royal Canin Kitten food.
In total, there are two sources of animal protein in the food: dehydrated animal proteins (poultry) - ingredient No. 2, and hydrolyzed animal proteins. Both of them are added to the feed in processed (dried) form. The manufacturer does not indicate the percentage of main ingredients.

Hydrolyzed animal proteins occupy only the 7th place in the composition of the feed - rather, it is a protein component that improves the taste and smell of the feed, rather than a source of animal protein. In general, the animal protein content of the feed is very low.

The best wet food for Scottish cats

Purina Pro Plan Nutrisavour Housecat

This wet food will be the best option for Scottish Folds and Scottish Straights, since it is intended for cats that live indoors. "Purina Pro Plan Nutrisavour Housecat" contains a large amount of protein, thanks to which the pet will maintain normal body weight. The fiber content is also increased here, thanks to this hairballs will not accumulate in the stomach. To improve the animal’s digestion, the manufacturer included prebiotics in the product; this will also reduce the unpleasant odor from the litter box.

"Purina Pro Plan Nutrisavour Housecat" is available in a pouch package. Once opened, the package can be stored in the refrigerator for 24 hours.

Monge Monoprotein

This product is canned meat flakes. Monge Monoprotein is a mono-protein food because it contains only one source of animal protein. Thanks to this, your pet cannot develop an allergy to such food.

It should not be ignored that Monge Monoprotein is rich in nutrients and vitamins, and also contains taurine. But this product does not contain dyes, flavors, GMOs or other harmful additives. Thanks to this, it becomes possible not only to improve the health of the little friend, but also to extend his life. Since chicken meat is easily digestible, the cat will not have digestive problems.

One can contains 80 grams of food. It is recommended to give about 2-2.5 cans per day. But you should take into account the lifestyle, weight and age of the animal.

Hill's Prescription Diet

If an animal has a disease of its renal system, such food will help speed up the recovery process and prolong the life of the animal. A distinctive feature of Hill's Prescription Diet is the reduced amount of sodium and phosphorus, which will reduce the load on the renal system. And to improve blood flow in the kidneys, the manufacturer added Omega-3 fatty acids. A large amount of antioxidants will help neutralize the effects of free radicals. These components will also be useful in concentrating attention and increasing activity.

Hill's Prescription Diet is available in an 85 gram pouch. The manufacturer recommends introducing this food gradually.

Plant based protein sources

Ingredient No. 1 – plant protein isolate (labeled). This is a very dubious product made from unknown raw materials.

In addition, Royal Canin Kitten contains two cereal protein components (cereals and rice) - both in the top five ingredients. The manufacturer did not indicate what “cereals” he used, so it is impossible to assess their quality. In any case, the content of vegetable protein and carbohydrates in the feed is very high.

Cereals are not included in the natural diet of carnivores and are not recommended for them in large quantities, much less as the basis of food.

The best food for adult Scottish cats

Flatazor Crocktail Adulte Poissons

The food is ideal for feeding adult Scots. The basis of the composition is poultry and fish. Instead of chicken fat (a common option), duck fat was used. Sources of carbohydrates are corn fiber and wheat. Fiber – apples and beet pulp. The food is enriched with flaxseed, a balanced vitamin supplement. To reduce the likelihood of stone formation, the amount of minerals has been reduced.

Total protein content – 31%, fat – 15%. To reduce the smell of feces, Yucca Schidegera extract is used. Veterinarians consider the high digestibility of proteins to be an advantage, while the presence of corn and wheat is a disadvantage. The cat owners are happy with everything - the pets eat food well, look active and healthy.

Royal Canin British Shorthair

A quality food designed for British and Scottish cats, taking into account their digestive system and needs. The food is made in the form of large curved croquettes - the cat cannot swallow them whole; while chewing, the teeth and oral cavity are cleaned. The composition is saturated - 34% protein obtained from poultry meat, rice, combined fats, chicory pulp. Hydrolyzate of cartilage and crustacean shell has a good effect on the condition of the joints. A rich mineral and vitamin complex is used.

The food is quite popular both among breeders and owners of Scottish cats. They note that pets eat it with pleasure, they do not have digestive problems, maintain a stable weight, and their coat looks healthy and shiny. But veterinarians point out one drawback: it contains corn, which is an allergenic product.

1st Choice Adult Cat Chicken Formula

High-quality super premium food with a high concentration of protein - 30% and fat - 17%. High-quality proteins are obtained from poultry, chicken, and eggs. Instead of common grain crops, rice bran and brown rice were used. The composition includes vegetable and animal fats. The pet gets fiber and vitamins from beets, tomatoes and flaxseed. Pineapple has a good effect on the condition of the pancreas and intestines.

Among the advantages, cat owners indicate good taste (pets eat it willingly), relatively low cost compared to similar foods. The consumption is economical - the cat eats a small amount. The only significant drawback is that the composition inexplicably contains cellulose, which is usually used in feeds that are not of the best quality.

Earthborn Holistic, Primitive Feline Natural Cat Food

Not the most common food, but well known among breeders. It is distinguished by a high content of high-quality protein - up to 44% and fat - up to 20%. This is a complete high-calorie diet for Scottish cats of all ages without grains. It is based on chicken and turkey flour, herring, and egg powder - all these are sources of highly digestible animal protein. Carbohydrate ingredients include brown rice and potatoes. The composition includes both animal and vegetable fats. Sources of fiber include carrots, spinach, cranberries, and apples.

Among the advantages, veterinarians cite a well-balanced diet, a very complete vitamin and mineral supplement (more than 30 components), and the absence of unnatural ingredients and grain crops. The food has small croquettes, so even a kitten can eat it. It is holistic, suitable for constant feeding, and has a positive effect on the health of pets. The only drawback is that it is not sold in all pet stores.

Acana Pacifica for Cats

High-quality dry high-protein food - about 35% protein. The percentage of fat is 19%, which is also a good indicator. The basis of the food is herring, salmon and meal from these fish. There are no grain crops; peas and alfalfa are used instead. Pets get fiber and some vitamins from carrots, pumpkins, and apples. To regulate the acidity of urine, it contains cranberry. Dry food is completely natural, enriched with good vitamin and mineral supplements.

According to veterinarians, it is often used in Scottish catteries as the main diet for pets. It provides them with everything they need - the cats look good and do not experience health problems. The presence of fish oil has a positive effect on the condition of the coat. The only drawback of the feed is its high cost.

Cellulose

Royal Canin Kitten diet (for kittens up to 12 months) contains so-called “plant fiber” (No. 6 in the list of ingredients) and psyllium husks and seeds. Plant fiber was probably called cellulose - a cheap ballast filler of unknown origin. It is not nutritious for cats and should be avoided in the diet.

The shell and seeds of plantain consist of 70% soluble fiber, which is beneficial for intestinal microflora and normalization of stool. Unfortunately, there is very little of this ingredient in the food - how much it can help animals remains open.

Plant products are difficult for predators to digest, and a large amount of fiber in the food increases the volume of the food bolus and gives cats a deceptive feeling of fullness.

What to feed a Scottish kitten

Scottish cat kittens are not recommended to be separated from their mother earlier than 2 months. If you deprive a kitten of its mother's milk at an earlier age, this will definitely affect its well-being.

A straight-eared or fold-eared baby should receive its first complementary food at the age of 8-10 weeks. From this time on, kittens are fed every 3 hours - 6 times a day. At the age of 3 months, the portion size can be increased by reducing the feeding frequency to 5 times a day. After 1 month, the frequency of feeding is reduced again, to 4 times a day. Gradually reducing the frequency of feeding, by the age of one year the kitten is transferred to two meals a day.

Read more about the diet of kittens here.

Feeding Scottish kittens with ready-made food is convenient for owners and beneficial for growing Scots. High-quality feed contains a balanced composition and vitamin-mineral complexes. With this feeding, there is no need for vitamin supplements. Manufacturers of premium food and higher offer lines designed specifically for kittens.

TOP 5 ready-made foods for Scottish kittens:

Wahre Liebe “Junge” (Germany) – dry food for kittens with colostrum. Ingredients: chicken, turkey, colostrum, eggs, rice, beet pulp. Prevention of urolithiasis and the formation of hairballs.
Hill's Science Plan Kitten Tuna (USA) – dry food with tuna. Ingredients: tuna meal, chicken, animal fat, flax seed, corn, beet pulp, fish oil, Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. Strengthens the immune system.
1st Choice Kitten (Canada) – dry food with a high protein content (30%). Ingredients: chicken, brown rice, herring flour, egg powder, beet and tomato pulp, barley, oatmeal. Does not cause allergic reactions.
Royal Canin Kitten Instinctive (USA, France) – wet food with cereals. Ingredients: meat and meat by-products, milk, cereals, yeast.
Royal Canin British Shorthair Kitten (France) – dry food for kittens of the British breed. Ingredients: dried poultry meat, rice, fish oil, beet pulp, corn, animal fats, hydrolyzed cartilage, hydrolyzed crustacean shell. Prevention of joint diseases.

Important: after feeding, the little Scotsman’s bowl must be removed and washed, leaving only a container with fresh fresh water.

Healthy Ingredients

Yeast and fermentation by-products (of unknown origin) were probably added to the diet as a source of B vitamins. Their quality cannot be assessed. Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are beneficial prebiotics that normalize the balance of beneficial and harmful intestinal bacteria.

Marigold erecta extract (source of lutein) – includes lutein (plant pigment beneficial for vision) and bioflavonoids (powerful natural antioxidants).

This food contains, among other things, a variety of vitamin and mineral supplements. They are necessary partly due to the lack of minerals and vitamins in the raw materials, partly due to the peculiarities of the technological process for the production of dry food (this is the industry norm, and therefore is not a direct indicator of high or low quality of the diet).

The diet also contains preservatives - antioxidants, but it is not known whether they are natural or artificial.

Basic rules for feeding kittens

You bought a Scottish kitten, and the question arose of what to feed it.
If you adhere to the principles of a natural diet, a lot will depend on the age of the pet. You can read more in our articles:

Feeding a kitten aged 1 month;
Feeding a kitten at the age of 2 months;
Feeding 3 month old kittens;
Feeding a kitten at six months.

If you have made a choice in favor of dry food, we have compiled a rating of the “10 best foods for Scottish kittens.” The best price/quality ratio is Earthborn Holistic, Primitive Feline Natural Cat Food. Among inexpensive foods, 1st Choice Kitten will optimally satisfy the needs of a kitten. A good option would be Wahre Liebe “Junge” food.

Cons of Royal Canin Kitten cat food

No fresh and/or raw meat or fish ingredients were used in the production of this food. Moreover, the main ingredient in the composition (No. 1) is a certain isolate of plant proteins of dubious quality and origin.

It is unknown what raw materials were used to prepare a number of products (cereals, dehydrated animal proteins, animal fats, plant fiber, etc.). Because of this, the feed may have an inconsistent composition, depending on the cost of the original components.

Types of feed

Given the wide choice, when creating the right diet for your little pet, you can organize not only healthy, but also tasty food. Royal Canin food has a varied composition and many flavors. Therefore, even if your pet is a picky eater, the line includes products whose taste parameters and properties will please your pet.

Among dry food, Royal Canin Kitten Second Age meets almost all requirements. Designed for feeding kittens older than 1 month. The recipe includes vegetable proteins, which are absorbed by the body of small pets by 80–95%. Contains fiber, components that promote the removal of fur from the gastrointestinal tract, as well as B vitamins (B1, B3, B6, B9, B12). The composition is enriched with mythionine, taurine, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus.

Royal Canin Babycat Milk, a natural milk substitute, has been developed for newborn kittens. Can be used for daily feeding, as well as as food for first complementary foods. Lactose and fructooligosaccharides normalize the functioning of the fragile digestive tract of small pets. EPA and DHA fatty acids bring the finished mixture as close as possible to cat milk, and special aromatic additives make its taste attractive to kittens.

Royal Canin Mother&Babycat for kittens up to 4 months, pregnant and lactating cats

This food is used as the first complementary food for kittens from 1 month, as well as for pregnant and lactating cats. The composition includes antioxidants, lutein, vitamin C, E, A, essential amino acids. The size of the kibble is adapted to the jaws and milk teeth of the kitten in the first growth phase, which facilitates the capture process.

The food granules are easily soaked in water and broth, which ensures an easier transition for babies from mother's milk to solid food. The formula and composition fully contribute to the healthy development of the immature digestive tract of kittens, as well as healthy digestion thanks to easily digestible proteins and prebiotics.

Food for kittens and nursing cats from Royal Canin

This diet is suitable not only for small kittens, but also for lactating and pregnant cats, since this food provides the animal’s body with additional amino acids, fats, and proteins.

conclusions

The basis of Royal Canin Kitten food (for kittens up to 12 months) is a mixture of plant protein isolate, one processed (dried) animal protein source, two plant protein grain components and animal fat.

The food contains few sources of animal protein. In fact, it is created on the basis of plant protein sources, and this is harmful to the health of animals. The manufacturer Royal Canin has several products for kittens, but now we are looking at the basic Royal Canin Kitten.

If you look at the analysis of the feed - the balance of protein, carbohydrates and fat, it looks quite standard, similar to many other feeds. But when we studied the composition, we were somewhat surprised. The very first ingredient is a plant protein isolate, and the base of the food, which makes up the first five ingredients, also contains cereals and rice. That is, the basis of the diet is plant proteins and carbohydrates, and not complete animal products from meat, fish, poultry, as required by the physiology of kittens. The small amount of animal protein that is added to the composition is highly processed.

It is not clear why kittens need, for example, “by-products of yeast fermentation.” Other manufacturers usually have inactivated yeast in their feed - but here they also ferment? Or did they ferment before getting into the food?

“Preservatives-antioxidants” - at the very end of the composition, the manufacturer chose not to say exactly what was added to the food to protect against rancidity. Why would we, if we were owners of kittens, not like this - yes, because different brands use different substances to preserve diets. Someone chooses a purely natural path, using, for example, rosemary extract or a mixture of tocopherols. Others do not hide the fact that their food is protected by artificial chemical compounds, which are cheaper and at the same time very powerful, but, alas, cannot boast of safety. Still others choose a combination of natural and chemical preservation. One can only guess what this manufacturer chose.

How to choose good food

When entering a pet store, the buyer is faced with shelves with a variety of food from various manufacturers. They all have attractive packaging, but differ in price. An ignorant person will easily get confused in the choice. Therefore, to begin with, it is better to decide on the class of food. Economy or middle class products are not suitable for Scottish folds and Scottish straights. From them, cats will develop diseases of the digestive or urinary system. Therefore, it is better to take holistic or premium food. Typically, breeders make recommendations for a specific brand of food.

But still, buyers often note that many manufacturers' product quality decreases over time. Therefore, it is better to carefully study the composition. A high-quality food will have meat in the first place. If instead of “meat” it says corn or meat flour or rice, then it is better not to buy such a product. After this, you need to look at the amount of vitamins and minerals in a particular product. This parameter should be controlled depending on the characteristics of the animal and the presence of diseases.