Scots kitten nutrition. Nutrition for a fold-eared and straight-eared Scottish kitten or cat. Ready-made dry food as a kitten's main diet
The Scottish Fold kitten (also called the Scottish Fold) can become the favorite of every family, bringing comfort to the home. If you want to bring a little pet into your home, you need to think about what to feed your Scottish Fold kitten so that over time it turns into a healthy and happy cat. You need to decide on the diet right away, because then it will be difficult to wean your pet off the food and switch it to natural food.
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Nutritional features of kittens
Fold-eared and straight-eared kittens should not be taken away from their mother earlier than 1.5-2 months from birth. If you wean your baby off from mother's milk earlier, this may negatively affect his future health. Since kittens are still developing, they should be fed small portions 6-10 times a day.
Kittens can drink boiled milk, but after the 5th month it is better to exclude it from the diet. After six months, the baby can be switched to three meals a day, and after 8 months it will be enough to feed him twice a day.
Chocolate Briton - photo, description and character
Types of food for Scottish Fold kittens
There are two types of kitten feeding: measured and continuous.
In the first case, the kitten eats small portions throughout the day, when the owners feed it. This is the best way to ensure that your baby gets enough food without overeating. The disadvantage of this method is that it is necessary to give the kitten food a large number of times throughout the day, adhering to a schedule. This may cause problems if the owners are at work during the day.
With continuous feeding, the kitten's bowl is always full. It is necessary to add food in small portions as the bowl is emptied. It is necessary to periodically refresh the food if it has remained untouched for a long time. The pet will be able to eat when it gets hungry. The main disadvantage of this method is possible overeating. The baby is not yet able to control the amount of food he needs and may overeat. This is fraught with vomiting if the kitten’s body cannot cope with so much food. Also, in the future, uneven nutrition can easily lead to obesity, so this method is not recommended for use on an ongoing basis.
Next to the food, a fold-eared kitten should always have another bowl filled with clean water. Access to water should be constant, and it should be changed twice a day, even if the baby has not touched it.
Plastic or metal bowls are suitable for kittens' food and water. It is important to select it in a specialized store so as not to purchase a fake. Poor quality bowls may contain harmful substances that will later end up in your baby’s food.
What foods should I feed my Scottish Fold or Straight-eared kitten?
Eating natural may seem like a great solution. But it is important to remember that many products are not suitable for a small body. This means that you will need to choose a special diet for the baby, which differs from what the owners are used to eating.
The baby's main food should be meat or meat products, as they contain protein, which is necessary for the normal development of the small organism.
List of approved products
There are basic foods that you can feed your baby without harming his health. It is important to consider the amount of food and not to overfeed the animal:
- raw beef (up to 30 g per day);
- boiled chicken breast (unsalted);
- boiled hake, perch or carp (but not more than once a week);
- low-fat cottage cheese or kefir, sour cream (several times a week);
- boiled liver (once a week);
- boiled milk;
- a small amount of cereals and vegetables;
- boiled or steamed vegetables - cauliflower, carrots, green beans - which are pureed and mixed with meat.
This is useful! It is forbidden mix fermented milk products with porridge, vegetables or meat products. In addition to fermented milk products, eggs or bran are allowed.
Prohibited foods for the Scots diet
When feeding at home, it is important not only to maintain a balanced diet, but also not to follow the wishes of the kittens. Despite the animal’s interest in many products, there are those that are strictly prohibited:
- foods with significant fat content;
- pork;
- any smoked, salted, peppered and dried food;
- sweets;
- flour.
Vitamins, microelements and supplements to basic nutrition
Not all beneficial substances are absorbed by kittens with food. In addition to basic products, babies need those elements that their body does not fully absorb with regular food. Kittens under 6 months of age require vitamins D and A.. In order for a pet to grow up healthy, it is vital for him to receive all the vitamins and microelements.
Veterinary pharmacies offer a wide range of multivitamin preparations, which contain a balanced complex of useful elements specifically for kittens, necessary from 1 month of their life.
Ready-made feed options
When a small creature appears in the house and needs fairly long-term care, the British owner will come to the rescue with ready-made food. They are perfect for kids when there is no time to provide their complex nutrition at home. The main thing is to select high-quality food taking into account the age of your little friend.
There are two types of ready-made food - dry or canned.
Dry food is stored for a long time, so it retains its properties in a bowl, and it will be fresh enough to feed the baby for one or two days. Canned food has a certain shelf life - up to a day in the refrigerator after opening, and every 2-3 hours they should be replaced in the bowl. Both types of food will be well accepted by your pet, so your choice should be based on personal preference. The main thing is not to mix these foods during the same pet meal.
What should the finished feed be like?
In order for the baby to feel good, it is important to select food depending on the needs of his body. You should not purchase cheap products, as they can cause harm. You shouldn’t blindly trust expensive brands, as counterfeits are quite common on the feed market.
It is better to buy food for your baby in specialized stores, where the risk of purchasing a fake is minimal. In addition to food, you can purchase special grass for cats, which they can enjoy with pleasure.
If there is a need to switch your pet from homemade food to ready-made food, this should be done gradually. To begin with, you should buy new food in small portions and check whether the kitten has any allergic reactions to it.
What to feed a Scottish Fold kitten with a mixed diet?
The third, less common type of nutrition is mixing feed with natural products. In this case, it is extremely important that the basis of nutrition is dry food. You need to give natural products, but no more than 2 times a day.
Natural products become an addition to ready-made food, but there are certain rules for selecting such food:
- The kitten should not be given large pieces or with bones;
- It is better to give boiled unsalted meat. Any boiled meat must be frozen before cooking;
- salty food should not be given in any form;
- Pork or lamb is contraindicated for babies;
- raw meat is prohibited, as it can cause indigestion or the appearance of worms.
Important! What the owners usually have on their table should not be given to the kitten, as this is fraught with negative consequences.
NATURAL NUTRITION
1. Raw frozen beef – (at least 30 grams for a kitten, 100-120 grams for an adult cat). Every day (from about 3.5 to 8 months) eating beef can be 500-1500 grams (per day).
2. Boiled chicken without bones - you can have it every day. Chicken breasts for kittens. From about 3.5 months you can give chicken legs.
3. Chicken or beef by-products (heart, lungs, liver, kidneys) (frozen) in boiled form. Heart no more than once a week (boiled). Boiled liver (since the liver is a filter for any organism, including ungulates) - do not get carried away with light-colored kittens, the fur may turn brown or yellow. Lungs and kidneys are optional; few cats eat them at all. All frozen meat products must be scalded with boiling water.
4. Fish - it’s better not to give it at all.
5. Chicken egg yolk (whites should not be given) - raw or boiled in pure form or can be ground with cottage cheese. 1-2 times a week. Quail eggs can be given whole raw.
6. Fresh, raw or boiled milk (only for kittens under 3 months of age, since an adult cat cannot digest milk and causes an upset stomach, but a kitten needs it).
7. Liquid milk porridge (kittens under 3 months of age): sometimes they give oatmeal, a small amount with the natural method of feeding, but you don’t have to do this, it’s better to replace it with vegetables.
8. Fermented milk products: kefir (it’s good for kittens to add gluconate and glycerophosphate, ground into powder), bio-yogurt, cream (a little) - all of medium fat content, as well as cheese. You can do it every day. Cheese is given to older kittens (4-5 months), often as a reward or treat during training.
9. Fresh non-acidic cottage cheese (also with the addition of gluconate and glycerophosphate, ground into powder) - can be mixed with sour cream or raw egg yolk. Kittens – 3-4 times a week, adult cats – 1-2 times a week.
10. Cereals: oatmeal (steamed), rice, buckwheat – mixed in a 1:2 ratio with boiled meat (1 cereal: 2 meat). Few times a week.
11. Raw or boiled vegetables: carrots, cauliflower, dried seaweed, pumpkin, tomatoes, cucumbers (a little), fruits, etc. - mixed in a 1:2 ratio with meat (1 vegetables: 2 meat). Several times a week (alternate with cereals).
12. Greens – sprouted wheat grains. You can grow grass on the windowsill (from wheat or oats). NO grass from the street!
There is no need to add it to food, because the cat regurgitates grass. Older kittens are given a hair removal paste (for example 8in1).
13. Dry brewer's yeast - found in all complex supplements (B vitamins). A daily kit + microelements + supplements is provided.
14. Cats are not given vegetable oil, only Vaseline, if there are problems such as constipation. You can take a drop of ADE oil vitamins into your mouth daily. With normal nutrition, kittens should not be constipated.
15. Mineral and vitamin supplements (for example, Canine vitamins, 8in1). Every day, dosage depends on the age of the kitten. The rest is a delicacy. Real vitamins are packaged in powders and injections.
16. Fresh water, purified through a filter or boiled, should ALWAYS be standing. Do not accustom cats to boiled water, then if they drink raw water from the tap, they will have stomach problems. No need to raise a hothouse frail animal!
Cat food is not salted, sweetened, or seasoned.
Meat and meat by-products that are given raw must first be frozen in the freezer and then scalded before feeding. You cannot feed your kitten only meat and fish, or only cereals. You shouldn’t get carried away with fish at all; its excessive consumption leads to inflammatory kidney diseases and urolithiasis. Castrated animals should not be given fish at all.
Food should be slightly warm or at room temperature. Do not give food that is too hot or cold (from the refrigerator). All food for the kitten is ground very finely, large and small bones are carefully removed. For an adult cat, food is cut into small pieces. Don't give large pieces! It is better to immediately teach the cat to eat in only one place (this should be a quiet, calm place, not in a draft, where no one walks constantly, not near the door, as you can accidentally hit the kitten).
Raw meat is given in its pure form (you can also add raw carrots with a drop of clarified oil), boiled meat should be mixed with vegetables to avoid constipation.
Kitten 1.5-2 months. fed approximately 5 times a day (or given free access to food). By six months, gradually reduce the number of feedings to 3 times a day. From 8 months Feed like an adult cat 2 times a day. In general, it is difficult to reduce feeding a cat to one meal at a time, since cats eat several times. If you want a well-fed, growing animal, there is no need to restrict food: cats do not overeat if they do not have health problems.
Remember: a cat is a carnivore, and it does not have to eat borscht, pasta or coleslaw. A cat has its own special diet, and you should take this into account when feeding your pet, and not try to accustom it to what you and I eat - this is HARMFUL for cats and leads to various diseases.
NO CATS! (any age)
1. Chicken and fish bones - A kitten or cat can choke, and bones damage the esophagus and stomach and clog the intestines.
2. Pork. Poultry meat (except chicken and turkey): goose, duck. In its raw form it leads to infection with worms, in some cases to dangerous infectious diseases, which leads to the death of the animal. This meat is very fatty and is poorly absorbed by the cat’s body.
3. Fatty, spicy, salty, smoked foods, including sausages and canned food for people. Fried foods. They cause gastrointestinal upset and disrupt metabolism. As a result, the animal looks bad and chronic diseases appear.
4. Sugar, chocolate, sweets, cakes and everything sweet. Disturbs metabolism, weak immunity, dull coat, dental diseases. CHOCOLATE contains theobromine, which is a POISON for cats and causes severe poisoning and death of the animal.
5. Potatoes. Starch is not digested by the cat's intestines; potatoes are absolutely useless for her and can cause upset.
6. Legumes (soybeans, peas, beans). It is not absorbed by the body and causes bloating and fermentation in the intestines.
7. Salt, spices. Food for cats is not salted or spices are used, because this does not bring any benefit to the cat’s body, only harm.
8. Medicines, including vitamins, intended for humans. Cats have their own special balance of substances in their body; vitamins for humans are not suitable for them. In addition, many medications for humans cause severe poisoning; the kidneys may fail, which leads to death. For example, a weakened cat can be killed with a no-shpa tablet.
READY (INDUSTRIAL) FEED
Feeding ready-made food is more convenient because it saves time on food preparation, it is balanced, and the cat receives all the necessary nutrients.
You can feed dry and canned (canned) food (adult animals only!).
You need to choose high-quality dry food from good manufacturers: Eukanuba, Hills, Nutro, Eagle Pack, Purina Pro Plan, Iams, Royal Canin Royal Canin). Good foods are usually labeled "Premium" or "Superpremium".
Cheap food such as Kitty Kat, Katinka, Whiskas, Darling, Vaska, Friskas, etc. cannot be given! They are of poor quality, contain too many mineral salts, and do not use meat and high-quality offal as protein, but bones, skins, and feathers. Their consumption leads to various diseases and does not satisfy the cat's needs. There is also a high risk of developing urolithiasis.
From canned food, good food is from the dry food manufacturers recommended above, as well as Gourmet (Gourmet Gold, Pearl), Petrit treats ("canned natural food"), Bozita, Four-legged Gourmand, Sheba.
A kitten up to 8-10 months, sometimes up to a year, is fed with special food for kittens, both dry and canned.
This is very important for proper development. Then they are transferred to adult food. Kitten food is also given to pregnant and lactating cats. When feeding dry food to a male cat (especially a neutered one), the packaging should be marked “prevention of urolithiasis” (this food has a special formula with a low content of ash, phosphorus and magnesium).
For a cat this is not so important, just high-quality food is enough. Dry food can be poured throughout the day, it does not spoil. Canned food provides as much as the animal can eat at one time. The following diet is recommended (based on the daily dose): 75% canned 25% dry food - for show animals, for others - 50x50.
IT IS NOT RECOMMENDED TO MIX READY-MADE FEED FROM DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS, SINCE EACH COMPANY DEVELOPS ITS OWN DIET (SET OF PRODUCTS, VITAMINS, MINERALS). IF THE FOOD IS MIXED, THEN THERE IS NO NEED TO TALK ABOUT BALANCED NUTRITION.
At 3 months old, a Scottish Fold kitten is quite independent and adapts perfectly to a new place of residence. Therefore, it is at this age that it is recommended to buy a small pet and accustom it to a new home. The nutrition of such a kitten, as a rule, has already been established by the breeders and the new owners will not have any problems in selecting food or preparing a diet.
There will also be no problems in teaching your baby to use the toilet, his own place; At this age, the main character traits are clearly visible, thanks to which you can choose the one who will fully meet your expectations. Choosing a Brit with an easy-going character will always be a pleasure. Before choosing a three-month-old Scottish kitten, it is worth studying several sections of information:
- at what interval and what to feed him;
- when is it necessary to vaccinate and what kind of vaccinations are needed;
- what conditions are necessary for a comfortable location;
- how much does a Scottish kitten weigh at 3 months and what should it look like.
Nutritional rules for a Scot at 3 months
The most common first question that arises for owners of a Scottish kitten at 3 months is: what to feed a Scottish kitten at 3 months?
After all, at this age he can chew even solid food on his own, but at the same time, without knowing the basic rules of nutrition, it can lead to indigestion in a Scottish kitten at 3 months and completely disable the digestive tract, which is unacceptable for such small kittens.
To prevent this from happening, several rules must be taken into account:
The diet of a three-month-old Fold kitten also includes a small amount of fermented milk products and milk, but their fat content should be strictly limited, since Eating very fatty foods can lead to intestinal upset. Proper feeding of a kitten at the age of 3 months should begin 4 times a day, and it is necessary to constantly ensure the availability of fresh, boiled water.
If you choose dry food, you must also give it in strictly dosage, as they are addictive and cause satiety disorders.
At any age, Scottish cats love to enjoy tasty additives to their main diet, but they should not be abused; vitamins and additional supplements should be given only after consultation with a veterinarian.
Required vaccinations for Scots at 3 months
After you have adopted your little cat from the cattery, one of the main questions that arises is the need for vaccination. A three-month-old Scottish kitten should only be vaccinated by a veterinarian.
Considering that vaccination is carried out within a period of 8 to 12 weeks, special attention should be paid to ensuring that the doctor correctly enters vaccination data into the veterinary passport. After all, regardless of whether the cat takes part in competitions and exhibitions or not, it must be vaccinated annually.
It is also of great importance whether the mother of the Scottish kitten was vaccinated at 3 months, since if vaccination was not given, vaccination must be given from 8 weeks, and if the mother has a veterinary passport and all necessary vaccinations have been carried out, she can be taken to a veterinarian at the age of 12 weeks.
If for some reason you missed the deadline for vaccinations, then every veterinarian will recommend not to carry out any medical manipulations with the Scottish cat from 4 to 7 months, since during this period his teeth change. Immediately before the injection, the doctor will definitely examine your pet, since the presence of any disease is a strict contraindication. In addition, do not forget about mandatory digilmintalization before vaccination.
Weight and appearance of a Scottish kitten at 3 months
At 3 months old, a Scottish kitten looks quite strong and tall, and the features of its physique are already clearly visible. At this age, you can easily understand what an adult cat will look like; you can clearly see the color of the coat, and sometimes the color of the eyes. The weight of a 3-month-old Scottish kitten can vary from 900 to 1600 grams.
At this age, the difference between boys and girls is already quite clearly visible, both in the structure of the body and in the expression of the face. Character formation is also completely completed, and such a Scottish kitten adapts perfectly to a new place.
Before taking your baby from the nursery, you need to get his veterinary passport and find out exactly:
- how much does a Scottish kitten weigh at 3 months;
- what diet was followed;
- whether all necessary vaccinations have been completed;
- what features were there in the organization of his life;
- what kind of litter was used for the toilet.
All this is very important in order to ensure a smooth adaptation to the new home and minimal trauma to the baby’s psyche.
note
You should not focus solely on the baby’s appearance when meeting you; you must take into account the habits, character traits and sociability of a particular Scottish kitten at 3 months.
At this age, he should clearly know where the tray is, easily make contact, respond with purrs to various caresses and strokes, and also have a healthy appetite.
If the baby shows aggression, it is necessary to pay attention to the conditions of his detention in order to determine whether this is an innate character trait, or whether it is simply the presence of irritating factors, such as: too small an area for habitat, a large number of small kittens, insufficient care. If you carefully choose your new pet, he will delight you for many years or months and will become an excellent friend in a cozy home.
Scottish fold or Scottish straight is the embodiment of aristocracy, which is combined with calmness and gentleness. The appearance of this cat in a family is truly an event. Having prepared everything required for him, it’s time to decide on the daily routine and menu. When and what to feed a fold-eared kitten are probably the most pressing questions of its happy owner.
Pedigree fold-eared cats, as a rule, are under the care of their mother for at least 2 months. Breastfeeding ensures the development of the immune system in adorable fluffies. Moreover, complementary feeding must be introduced long before the animal is weaned from mother's milk.
If for certain reasons the cat cannot feed the offspring, then the kitten’s nutritional balance literally goes on by the clock.
It is advisable to follow a clear schedule:
- once every 2-3 hours you need to feed kittens under 14 days old with milk formula;
- until one month is completed - once every 3 hours. A one-month-old flop-eared kitten on artificial feeding will already need water. Complementary foods can be introduced at the same time;
- what to feed a Scottish kitten for 2 months? At the age of 2 months, kittens should eat 7 times daily, and at night they usually sleep. At this age, they ideally still receive milk from their mother, but they can also eat complementary foods with pleasure. At this time, the kitten needs approximately 150 grams. food a day. If you decide to feed with ready-made food, then this should be done starting from this age. Why do you need to buy special products for kittens, taking into account age? When it is dry food, it is imperative to soak it first, since the small cat is not yet able to digest this solid food;
- 3 months becomes a turning point for kittens. The mother no longer has milk, but needs to be fed at least 6 times daily;
- at 5 months the amount of food consumed is reduced to 5;
- at 9 – 4 meals a day is enough;
- By one year, a fold-eared cat must already get used to the “adult” daily routine: 2-3 times a day.
What is forbidden to feed?
Whatever the fate of the baby - breastfeeding or with his mother, there are certain prohibitions on the use of certain categories of products in his daily menu. Since the formation of all organs in the body and the immune system continues for almost a year. This fact dictates that we carefully weigh what to feed a Scottish cat.
In this list prohibited feeds are:
When the owner loves mushrooms, this does not mean that the animal can eat them: the body may not be able to cope with this source of protein; cats do not produce enzymes to digest them.
Determining your cat's nutritional type
Most often, nurseries or Scottish Fold breeders kittens are given to a new family at the age of approximately three months.
New pets already have their own eating habits, have good manners and are fully socialized. You just need to ask about them. Moving to a new place of residence can be stressful, and it is advisable to feed Scottish kittens as before. It is necessary to change your usual diet to a new one slowly, and choose it wisely.
Naturally, natural nutrition has certain advantages:
- Diet variety.
- Full confidence in the quality of food.
But it’s quite difficult to feed the Scottish Fold with a diet compiled by yourself:
- Several times every 7-14 months, during natural feeding, the lop-eared kitten will need a course of minerals and vitamins.
- It takes a lot of time to cook.
Natural nutrition means presence in the daily diet of a Scottish kitten:
You need to carefully measure portions and feed only fresh food daily. Cannot be left in a bowl. You also need to take care of water, it must always be available.
Industrial feed
When there is no time to search delicacies and using them to prepare the next meal for a fold-eared cat, you can take a closer look at ready-made food.
They can be wet or dry, designed specifically for kittens. The pack must describe in detail the frequency of feeding and consumption rates per kilogram of weight, as well as the composition.
Please note that canned food is not always balanced and can only act as a treat for daily feeding.
Wet food eliminates the problem of saturating the body with moisture, since some Scots hardly drink. But this is a more expensive way of eating. You cannot leave food in the bowl; only a fresh portion is always required.
Wet food is best used to feed lop-eared kittens during the transition from breastfeeding to regular feeding. After the owners As a rule, they are transferred to dry food. Any change must be gradual and smooth.
The most important thing is that the food is of original production and professional quality. No need to purchase economy options. There is nothing in them except raw materials of dubious origin and ballast substances.
Dry quality food has undoubted advantages:
- ease of use for the owner: it is easy to measure the daily requirement, the food is economical, and has a long shelf life;
- prevention of tartar formation;
- guarantees your pet a balance of minerals, vitamins, amino acids and nutrients. No additives required.
The most important thing in feeding dry food to a Scottish kitten is the availability of water. Always accessible and clean.
Mixed feeding
Owners often combine natural products and ready-made food. If we look at it in terms of diversity, then this is quite justified.
Further difficulties are likely– it is difficult to establish the daily intake rate. A very low calorie content leads to dystrophy, and a high calorie content leads to obesity. Therefore, you need to carefully monitor the Scotsman’s condition: the kitten must be cheerful, agile and active. Anything else is a sign of imbalance.
During mixed meals Certain rules must be followed:
- When combining different foods based on their origin, a Scottish kitten additionally requires fortification. The rules should be discussed with your veterinarian.
- It is forbidden for a Scottish kitten to be fed a portion of natural food and ready-made food at the same time. This is due to differences in the process of digesting food, which has undergone completely different processing.
Features of feeding during adolescence
For Scottish Fold cats up to 8-10 months, a special food is selected, indicating “for kittens”. Then you can gradually switch to “adult” feeding.
By this period, you need to decide on the time of castration or include it in the breeding program for your Scottish fold or Scottish straight.
When a kitten does not take part in breeding, castration is the only way for a purebred pet to live a happy and long life. But before the operation, he needs to be switched to food for castrated animals. Gradually and gently so as not to cause stress. In the future, feed only special diets that take into account the characteristics of mature cats, but lacking the main instinct.
During natural feeding, the transition period is characterized by the opportunity to feed the animal more fermented milk food. After 10 months, the exterior has already stabilized and the ears have formed. Therefore, calcium will only be beneficial.
General principles of feeding
General rules, how to feed a Scottish fold kitten or any other animal are actually the same. Cats are carnivores and require animal protein. Even the touching and affectionate Scots.
The basis of the daily menu must be meat. Ready-made food or natural food: you need to pay close attention to the quality and composition of the raw materials.
Dyes, spices, artificial additives, stabilizers, salt, sugar and flavorings are prohibited. By excluding these products, you will ensure good animal health and natural development. The Scotsman must be provided with water. This is the basic rule during feeding.
Make sure the food is the right consistency and at room temperature. Up to 3 months Scottish kittens It is advisable to give crushed food. Closer to six months, pets are switched to large pieces that ensure normal development of the jaw muscles.
The Scots, along with the British, have long dictated the rules of home etiquette. Not only its health will depend on how carefully you pay attention to feeding your kitten, and then the adult cat. Satisfied animal A person who is satisfied with the contents of the bowl will be a source of well-being and peace in your family.
What to feed a Scottish Fold cat? Unfortunately, not all owners of these cats think about this, believing that such an unpretentious animal can be fed whatever is necessary. And such confidence ends sadly - with health problems and visits to the veterinarian.
Scottish Folds are famous for their good health, but maintaining it requires proper, balanced nutrition tailored specifically for this breed.
How should you feed your Scottish Fold cat?
There are three main feeding methods:
- Natural food.
- Natural raw food. They consist of pieces of natural raw meat, as well as vegetables, offal, egg yolks, omega-3, taurine and vitamins and are healthy food for an active and long life of cats. These feeds are not heat-treated and are stored and supplied frozen. This type of feed is represented on the Russian market by the company.
- Dry or canned food.
You should not mix natural food and ready-made food: the stomach of these cats has difficulty adapting to a constant change of food. Choose one option and stick to it, changing your diet or manufacturer as little as possible.
The breed is quite unpretentious in feeding; it does not require pickles.
The debate about what food is best to feed a Scottish fold cat has been going on for decades, but veterinarians have not been able to come to a consensus. Many experts advise choosing exclusively ready-made food for purebred cats, since they include all the substances necessary for the animal. And a balanced branded food, of course, will contain much more of the substances the cat needs than scraps from the owners’ table. Indeed, there are many arguments in favor of bagged food:
- Their use does not require additional feeding with vitamins.
- A jar of canned food or a bag of food can reduce the time it takes to prepare food for your pet several times.
- Reduces to zero the risk that the animal, due to the inattention or negligence of the owner, will receive something tasty, but harmful.
You can buy ready-made food for your cat at the best price in the following online stores:
Despite all the advantages of ready-made food, natural products effectively supply the cat with the necessary microelements and vitamins. After all, genetically any cat is a predator, and its digestive system is ideally suited for processing natural food - primarily meat.
You should not feed your Scottish Fold cat human food (prepared for people). Some of the foods that are perfectly digestible by us can be harmful to the health of the animal. And, more importantly, animals need a completely different combination of proteins, fats and carbohydrates than humans to live a healthy life.
If you decide to feed your pet natural products, then make sure that the diet is composed taking into account the physiology of the animal, and is not formed from food that is left after your hearty lunch or dinner.
Feeding with natural food
It is better to consult an experienced veterinarian about how to properly feed your Scottish Fold cat. The health of animals largely depends on the amount of nutrients they receive through food.
- At least half of all food should be meat.
- Vegetables are a must - an average of 20 - 25%.
- And a third of the entire diet should be filled with cereals.
For a full life, a Scottish fold cat should receive per 1 kg of weight per day:
- 4 grams of protein.
- 2 grams of fat.
- 12 – 15 grams of carbohydrates.
It is also better to calculate the volume of a single serving depending on the weight of the animal. This breed is prone to obesity, so owners will have to ensure that their pet does not overeat. That is, a cat weighing 5 kg should eat about 100 grams of food in one sitting, no more. And the daily portion for him will be about 200 - 250 grams.
What foods can be given to Scots?
The food you can feed your Scottish Fold cat should not contain added salt or any spices. Any seasonings are contraindicated for cats.
- One of the most important components of the diet is meat. The main requirement for it: not too high fat content. Ideal for this breed are chicken, turkey, beef and veal. But under no circumstances should you give pork and lamb.
- Twice a month you can pamper your pet with boiled (but not raw or fried) fish. More often it is not worth it: this product creates excessive stress on the cat’s liver. Please note that only sea fish, and exclusively low-fat varieties, are suitable for feeding the Scottish Fold.
Important! Before feeding your Scottish Fold fish, make sure that there are no bones, even small ones, in its flesh: otherwise the cat may choke or scratch the delicate tissues of the mouth with the sharp end.
- Porridge is vital for cats: rice, buckwheat or barley. It is best to mix cereals with meat and vegetables: add 1 share of other products to 2 shares of porridge.
- These cats digest oatmeal quite poorly, and it is better to give it only during stomach upsets: at these moments it really brings benefits and helps speed up recovery. Please also note that rice in large quantities can cause constipation.
- Under no circumstances should you feed cereals high in protein: peas, beans, lentils. Many cats love these foods, but the consequences are bloating and painful colic.
- All cats love dairy products. But Scottish Folds are contraindicated from pure cow's milk, as well as fermented milk products with high fat content (for example, cream). It is best to give kefir, fermented baked milk and low-fat sour cream.
- But you can give any vegetables, except tomatoes, eggplants, garlic and onions.
- Add a little boiled, finely chopped egg to your pet's food (no more than 1 piece per day). Quail is best, as it helps maintain immunity, but in a pinch, chicken can also be given.
Scottish Folds should not be fed cold or too hot food. All food should be slightly warmer than room temperature.
Food for pregnant and lactating cats
But what to feed a nursing Scottish Fold cat? In general, the diet for newly born lop-eared beauties does not change much. However, you should add a spoonful of bone meal to a single serving, and sprinkle your food with a few drops of fish oil once a week. Don’t forget about vitamins: animals need additional support with microelements during this period.
It is imperative to increase the share of dairy products. And, of course, the volume: for a mother cat it grows 3 or even 4 times, because she has to feed not only herself, but also her kittens. To avoid mistakes, give your pet food on demand.
However, there is an easier way to provide your Scottish Fold with adequate nutrition: temporarily switch the cat to high-quality ready-made food for pregnant and lactating cats.
