How to feed Scottish cats?

Among breeders there is an opinion that a fold Scottish cat needs to be fed with special food, unlike its straight-mate cousin - otherwise it will get ears.

But this is not so - representatives of both varieties require the same diet. Moreover, the list of recommended products differs from that which is suitable for representatives of other breeds.

Before the kitten reaches the age of 1 month, his mother feeds him, usually the first 2 weeks the number of feeds reaches 10 times a day, and by the month they are already 8, including night time.

If for some reason mother is not, or she cannot feed her cubs, then the owner should take care of the newborn.

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

Enter the product 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% protein and 3% lactose, 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 similarities in composition, the volume of proteins in cow's milk is much lower, but the amount of lactose, on the contrary, far exceeds the proportion of the component in cat's. And any veterinarian will confirm that a large amount of lactose is absorbed by the body of a small kitten with great difficulty.

A monthly kitten begins to introduce solid food into the diet. However, the concept of "solid" in this case is relative. At first it is crushed and diluted to a porridge-like state, and the more fluid the mash is, the better for the young Scots.

Sometimes breeders are forced to feed up to 1 month - this happens if the cat is exhausted and she has very little milk - then the kittens often squeak, trying to stick to the cat’s chest and fingers of their owners.

Start feeding from one type of product, and only after the kitten has learned it, they offer the next. It is best if dairy products, for example, low-fat cottage cheese or fermented baked milk, appear as the first food supplement.

At 2 months old, the Scottish body is already ready for weaning, but not drastic - switching to solid food should come slowly, which is why breeders rarely sell kittens under three months of age. At this time, the kitten eats about 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 the pet small pieces of meat - by this time his teeth are already formed. It will be better if you mix the meat with grated vegetables or soaked bran.

. At 2 months, he is given vaccinations against plague and rhinotracheitis, and at 3 months, vaccinations are given.

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

From the age of 4.5 months, the kitten is considered to be a teenager, continues to grow, so it needs protein-rich food. Meat is best suited to his protein needs. Moreover, there is no need to grind the product, it can be served with cut pieces of medium size, the animal at this stage of its life must certainly train the jaws.

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

From 9 months, the kitten is already considered an adult, although Scots are formed up to two years, nevertheless, the animal’s need for protein and calories is already the same as that of older pets - it takes only 2-3 feedings per day, the total amount of food is usually 180 -200 g

The little Scots must have their own bowls and constant access to water. Water should be changed daily, and the drinker should be kept in perfect cleanliness. By the way, cats are very fond of running water, so they like all kinds of "fountains."

For many years now, breeders all over the world have been arguing about what is more beneficial for a small pet - natural or factory feed.A definite answer to this question cannot be given, since much depends on the owner's ability to make a balanced menu for his pet at home, because nothing better has been invented than natural nutrition.

But if you do not have the necessary time, then it is better to stay on feeds that contain all the necessary micro and macro elements, however, keep in mind that preference should be given to the composition of the premium and superpremium classes necessarily marked “for kittens”.

When the kitten reaches one year old, the breeder no longer needs to feed him, but the pet still needs proteins as the main building material of organs and tissues, carbohydrates as an energy source, fats, vitamins and minerals.

Feeding a natural cow is very beneficial for the cat, but the diet should be made correctly. About 80% of the menu should be protein foods - meat products and fish.

• Meat. Scots are usually given beef, veal, rabbit and chicken. The product must be non-greasy and fresh, it can be given boiled or raw. In the latter case, it must be pre-frozen for several days in order to exclude infection with helminths.
• From offal It is recommended to include a liver in the kitten's diet, which contains vitamins useful for wool and bone, as well as the heart - it contains taurine, which has a beneficial effect on the state of the digestive system and eyes.
• Fish give once every 7-10 days, it is best to stop on hake or cod, it is strictly forbidden to give the product raw - only boiled or in the form of fish soup, do not forget to separate the meat from the bones.
• Cottage cheese. Non-acidic and non-greasy varieties of the product are suitable for Scotch nutrition. Cottage cheese is a rich source of potassium, which is required to maintain a healthy skeletal system. In addition, it contains proteins, which are the universal building material of the body.
• Cheeses Scots can occasionally be offered unsalted and mild cheese. The product is rich in proteins and calcium that are good for your pet's health.
• Sour milk. Other lactic acid products recommended for inclusion in a cat's diet include whey or fermented baked milk. But feeding a representative of the cat's milk is not recommended. The fact is that after two months in the body of the kitten the enzyme responsible for the assimilation of this product ceases to be synthesized, which is why milk in the body of an adult cat is not processed, but creates only an additional burden on the digestive system. Milk is allowed to be given only to small kittens and cats immediately after birth.
• The eggs. Cats can be given a yolk of chicken eggs once a week. The product contains vitamins, it is rich in amino acids and minerals, but you should not give proteins to your pet - they contain substances that impede the absorption of taurine. If you feed the animal quail eggs, then you can use proteins and yolks, preferably raw.
• Despite the fact that cats are predators, they need vitamins, and vegetables are their best source.. The daily menu of the cat must certainly include chopped carrots, zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower and beets. In addition, vegetables are rich in fiber - it prevents constipation in the animal.
• Porridge is useful not only for children, but also for animals, so they must be present in the diet of the animal. For Scots, oats, barley, buckwheat and rice are useful. Thanks to the inclusion of cereals in the nutrition system, a more efficient liquefaction of feces occurs, peristalsis improves and digestion is generally normalized. In addition, cereals are a good source of energy for an adult animal, so they are offered to a pet at least 3-4 times a week, always boiled without salt and oil.It is advisable to mix cereals with meat and vegetables.
• Greens. It will be useful to introduce chopped dill, parsley, and also germinated grains of millet and oats into the Scottish diet - these products are rich in vitamins and have the most beneficial effect on the health of the Scottish cat.
• Butter. In small quantities, the cat's menu includes unrefined oil of flax, sunflower, grapes and sea buckthorn. It is given in limited quantities - not more than one spoon a couple of times a week.

Ready-made cat foods are usually presented in canned food, pieces of jelly and dry pads. As a rule, they include the same products as with natural feeding, only specially processed so that they are stored longer.

Keep in mind that not every feed is equally beneficial for the pet.

Well-publicized Whiskas, Kitekat, Sheba or Friskies are cheap and sold at any store. However, the percentage of meat in them does not always correspond to the recommended one, and the composition itself does not differ in “transparency”.

As a result, Scottish consumption of feed from the mass market often causes serious health problems for pets.

Mixed nutrition involves the inclusion in the diet of both natural products and ready-made groceries. Immediately, we note that in this case it is better to combine a natural with wet food, dry ones require more water consumption, and it is more difficult for cats to “switch”.

Ready-made feeds also contain all the useful amino acids and probiotics, which contribute to better digestion of pets and serve as a prevention of many dangerous diseases of cats and cats.

Keep in mind that combining both types of products in one feeding is not worth it. It will be optimal if at one meal you offer a natural animal to the animal, and in the next - ready-made composition. Thus, all useful micro and macro elements will enter the Scottish body gradually.

The nutrition of sterilized cats and neutered cats has its own specifics. So, for the first time for 12 hours, the cat departs from anesthesia - at this moment you do not need to offer food, as soon as the animal begins to feel better, you should drink it through a syringe, making sure that the pet does not choke.

Usually, on the first day the Scots refuse food, forcing them to eat by force is not worth it. 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 bowel movements.

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

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

If you feed your pet with ready-made mixtures, then you should purchase specialized formulations "for castrated and sterilized animals."

In conclusion, let’s talk about which products do not have a place on the Scottish cat's menu.

• Sweet. Sweets, cakes, cakes and chocolate are strictly prohibited - they lead to the development of diabetes in the animal.
• Salty. Canned pickles are becoming a common cause of kidney disease, including urolithiasis, which Scots are prone to by nature.
• Spicy. Dishes with spices cause indigestion in adult cats, and in kittens can lead to serious illnesses.
• Greasy. Allowed in minimal quantities and only for adult cats. This applies to both sour cream and pork - in case of abuse of these products, the pancreas pet simply can not withstand the load.
• Canned food. Any canned foods contain a large amount of salt, vinegar, all kinds of synthetic additives that are harmful to the kidneys of a pet.
• Citrus. Able to permanently disable the sense of smell of the Scottish cat.
• Fruits. Unlike some other cat breeds, Scots cannot digest fruit, so their abuse causes digestive problems.
• Mushrooms and legumes. Considered too heavy food for animals.

On how to make the first lure for monthly kittens, see the next video.