The British cat is an artificially bred breed. These are beautiful, graceful animals with a calm character and pleasant “plush” fur. Like any purebred pet, they require careful daily care. Although Britons are genetically programmed to have good health, they should only be fed high-quality British cat food. This is important for both the health and beauty of the coat. The right cat food contains all the essential minerals for your pet's well-being, activity and long life.
Features of feeding
Animals are demanding when it comes to nutrition. When choosing food for British cats, remember that they have a sensitive digestive system. A budget diet with a lack of meat components and high-quality protein will not suit them. It is necessary to select the best food for British cats, taking into account the individual characteristics of the pet. Weight, health, and age are important factors when creating a nutrition plan.
Due to its reserved nature, the British cat will never loudly complain about feeling unwell. Therefore, regular preventative examination by a veterinarian is important. It will identify health problems at an early stage and, if necessary, help adjust your nutrition plan.
Another feature that is worth considering when choosing food for a British cat is the tendency of representatives of the breed to be overweight. British owners should monitor the size of their pet's portions.
It is important to observe the prohibitions when feeding British cats. It is forbidden:
- feed food from the table;
- alternate dry food with natural food;
- give sweets, smoked meats, butter, pork, chicken bones, raw fish with bones.
Menu for the week: what to feed your cat
1. Meat (pork is not recommended). If raw, then only after freezing. Do not share with chicken, because... Chicken protein causes allergies in the form of hair loss. Vary different types of meat.
2. Offal - after defrosting or stewed. No more than once a week.
3. Fish - without bones and only thermally processed. 1 time per week. More often it is not necessary, because it provokes urolithiasis.
4. Egg yolk - in any form, 1 time per week.
5. Fermented milk products - any that the cat likes
Give milk with caution from the 4th month of a kitten's life, because... As the body ages, it stops accepting lactose.
Milk can cause diarrhea.
6. Hard cheese - once a week.
7. Porridge - rice, semolina. Sugarless. If the cat eats buckwheat, you can eat it too. Any porridge that your pet eats. Can be mixed with egg or meat. 1 part porridge, 2 parts meat.
8. Baby food in the form of meat puree - once a week. Recommended up to 8 months.
9. Grass - purchased or grown. DO NOT bring grass from the street, because... it may contain infections from infected animals and worm eggs.
10. Brewer's yeast - add to food 3 times a week.
11. Vegetable oil - no more than 2 teaspoons per day.
12. Water is always fresh, only bottled, in sufficient quantity, at room temperature.
13. Vitamins for cats or kittens - depending on age.
1. Pork, lamb, duck.
2. Sweet fruits.
3. Vitamins intended for people - because. dosage is calculated by weight.
4. Sweets.
5. Potatoes.
6. Salty, seasoned and smoked foods.
7. Canned food for people.
Characteristics of food for British cats
High-quality food for British cats should help maintain the health of the animal in excellent condition, namely:
- provide the necessary amount of vitamins and minerals;
- contain the required dose of protein, fatty acids, L-carnitine;
- have a positive effect on the health of teeth, gastrointestinal tract, and cardiovascular system.
It's important to understand how. Using this information, choose the right food for your British cat. When choosing, make sure it contains trace elements and amino acids from the list below:
- fluorine;
- iodine;
- magnesium;
- phosphorus;
- cystine;
- methionine;
- taurine;
- arginine
A lack of these substances in the body of a British cat can provoke the development of health problems.
Predator instinct
Even though your kitten is still very young, do not forget that he is, first and foremost, a predator. And only then - an affectionate pet.
Representatives of the cat family living in the wild are nocturnal. That is, at night - hunting for "game", and during the day - sleep. Therefore, those cats that are lucky enough to live in comfortable home conditions retain their instincts and associated behavioral characteristics. Based on this, the kitten’s diet should be as close as possible to the food that feline predators eat. And since no one has ever seen a tiger cook buckwheat porridge for himself, and a lion decide to eat pasta, we conclude that it is preferable to feed both kittens and cats meat.
What you need to know when choosing food for British cats
All cat food is divided into 4 categories:
- economy;
- premium;
- super premium;
- holistic
Like all purebred cats, British cats are better suited to super premium and holistic food classes. They have a balanced composition and provide the cat with all the necessary nutrients.
When studying the composition of food for British cats, be sure to pay attention to these parameters:
- Variety of meat components - the more types of meat in the composition, the more complete set of proteins, fats and amino acids the cat will receive. British cat food should contain at least two types of meat, the best are chicken, fish, rabbit, turkey, and beef.
- Order of ingredients in the composition. The ingredients are listed in order from the largest content to the smallest. Accordingly, meat should be included at the beginning of the feed composition.
- Soy - a good food for British cats should not contain it.
- Cereals contain carbohydrates that are not beneficial for a cat’s body, unlike humans. It is advisable that there are no such ingredients in the food either. They are difficult to digest.
- Other ingredients - vegetables, sprouts, seeds, complexes of vitamins and minerals - successfully complement a balanced cat food.
- There should be no preservatives, flavors, or dyes in the composition.
You should also pay attention to the expiration date. Expired goods are dangerous for your cat's health. Don’t forget - food can spoil even after purchase if you choose too large a package. Absolutely refuse to purchase food in bulk: exposure to air affects the beneficial properties of the food.
Natural nutrition
Creating a suitable diet yourself is a labor-intensive process. Many veterinarians do not recommend feeding a purebred animal this way. But if you still don’t want to use ready-made diets, you should take into account the features of natural nutrition for the British.
The basis of nutrition should include meat. This is the main ingredient. Chicken and lean turkey are best. The meat should be boiled, boned and finely chopped. You can add cereals to it in a ratio of 2 to 1: buckwheat, rice, millet. Finely chopped vegetables are used to provide animals with vitamins.
You should be careful with dairy products in your diet. They are needed only when the kitten is small, up to six months. After this, the milk ceases to be absorbed by the body, causing harm to it. You also need to exclude smoked foods, flour, sweets, fatty foods, bread and sausages from the diet.
With natural nutrition, it is also important to supply the animal’s body with vitamins. A veterinarian can recommend suitable complexes.
Review of food for British cats
Choosing food for a British cat is a responsible task. Switching to a different diet becomes stressful for your pet. The choice must be justified. The foods listed below for British cats have been selected based on recommendations from veterinarians and experienced breeders. Thanks to the wide variety, it is not difficult to choose the one that your pet will like.
Food for cats and kittens Go! Solutions Holistic Carnivore Grain-Free Chicken, Turkey + Duck Recipe Grain-Free 4 Meats: Chicken, Turkey, Duck and Salmon
One of the UK's best cat foods. Represents the holistic class. This is a complete, balanced diet for everyday nutrition, created taking into account the needs of a healthy pet.
Pros:
- does not contain grains or soy;
- caloric content - specifically for maintaining a healthy weight;
- without by-products and preservatives;
- enriched with taurine for healthy vision and heart;
- several meat ingredients;
- excellent balance of vitamins and probiotics for the health of the British gastrointestinal tract.
Cons: none found.
Royal Canin British Shorthair Adult
The product is designed specifically for British cats. It fully satisfies the needs of British adults, supporting the health of joints, muscles, and the cardiovascular system. The form of dry food for British cats is designed taking into account the characteristics of their anatomy. Convex croquettes are easy for an animal with large jaws to grasp and chew.
Pros:
- specially designed for the needs of the breed;
- enriched with L-carnitine, taurine;
- contains omega-3 fatty acids;
- balanced in mineral content;
- In addition to dry food, the line includes wet food for British cats with the appropriate characteristics.
Minuses:
- preservatives in the composition;
- contains soybean oil.
Dry food for adult cats over 1 year old Karmy British Shorthair
A special formula developed in accordance with the needs of adult purebred animals. Complete food for British cats supports the immune system with prebiotics and a complex of vitamins and minerals. Prebiotics help remove toxins from the cat’s body and reduce the unpleasant odor of stool. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, as well as salmon oil, help keep your pet's coat healthy and beautiful.
Pros:
- adapted for a specific cat breed;
- convenient form of granules;
- a full range of substances necessary for health;
- healthy additional ingredients: Yucca Schidigera, apple, seaweed
Minuses:
- cereals included;
- only one type of meat.
Dry cat food Almo Nature Holistic with turkey
Super premium food with a high content of fresh meat. The line also includes diets with other meat flavors: chicken, rabbit, tuna, beef, white fish. Therefore, even the most picky pet will find an option to suit his taste. The food is produced in Italy and meets European quality standards.
Pros:
- balanced content of proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and amino acids;
- large selection of flavors;
- hypoallergenic;
- versatility: suitable for both adult and young cats;
- Contains no preservatives or flavorings.
Cons: none found.
Canned food for cats Gina Tuna&Beef tender pieces of tuna and beef fillet in sauce
A good and economical option for wet food for British cats. Gina brand products are made in Thailand from natural, fresh ingredients that are not frozen. Highly digestible canned foods have a natural flavor. The line also includes other flavors of super premium delicacies, which allows you to diversify your pet’s diet.
Pros:
- optimal combination of various meat and vegetable ingredients;
- excellent taste that animals like;
- does not contain preservatives, flavors, or flavor enhancers;
- high nutritional value.
Cons: none found.
Prohibited Products
British cats should not be fed the following foods:
- fatty meat;
- bones;
- river fish;
- fatty fermented milk products;
- egg white;
- sausages;
- conservation (for people);
- fried foods;
- spicy and salty foods;
- sweets, chocolate;
- baking, baked goods;
- food from your table.
The right approach to feeding a British breed cat is the key to good health and long life for a furry family member!
Food for British cats with sensitive digestion
Canned grain-free food for cats GO! Sensitivities for sensitive digestion, with turkey
Holistic cat food in this line is designed specifically for animals with food allergies. The food contains a minimum of ingredients and does not contain gluten or grains. Thanks to the formula developed jointly with nutritionists, the product is among the top ten world-quality feeds. It contains only high-quality natural meat, without by-products and animal fat. GO! Sensitivities for sensitive digestion strengthens the immune system, normalizes stool, and reduces the unpleasant odor of cat urine and feces.
Now Fresh Grain Free Adult Cat Recipe - Grain-free food for Adult Cats with Turkey, Duck and vegetables
Holistic food from a Canadian manufacturer does not contain grains, by-products, dyes, beef, or hormones. This is a completely safe food for British cats with sensitive digestion. The protein and fat content is optimally balanced. Plant sources of fiber, such as pineapple, papaya, peas, enhance intestinal motility. The product also contains probiotics and prebiotics.
Hypoallergenic cat food 1st Choice NF with duck and potato flavor
Another food option for cats with food allergies and particularly sensitive digestion. The product, based on dietary duck meat, does not contain grains, supports healthy skin and coat, improves cat immunity, and improves digestion. Yucca Schidigera extract suppresses ammonia odor from cat litter. Does not contain chemical dyes, by-products, or preservatives. Suitable for long-term feeding of sensitive British cats.
The meat is all cat meat!
If you have chosen only natural products for your cat child, then meat is the best way to feed your British kitten. The meat contains everything necessary for the proper growth of a furry pet. In addition, kittens, like small children, are teething. And “sharpening” them on a piece of beef or lamb is a pleasure!
But not all meat is good for kittens: pork should not be given at all, as it is too fatty and may contain parasites, and chicken and turkey should be given with caution - this meat can cause allergic reactions in some kittens. For very young kittens (1-3 months), any meat should be boiled and then crumbled into small pieces. Older kittens can already eat raw meat, cut into large pieces.
There is an opinion that meat for feeding kittens and adult cats must first be frozen. This is not true: such meat leaves nothing useful for your pet.
Kitten food
Royal Canin Kitten British Shorthair for kittens of the British Shorthair breed
Royal Canin for British kittens is available in two forms: mousse and dry food. It provides kittens aged 4 to 12 months with all the necessary substances. At this age, active growth and replacement of baby teeth occurs in the kitten’s body. A lot of energy is spent interacting with the outside world. The product satisfies the special needs of kittens thanks to the required amount of proteins and fats in the composition.
Now Fresh Grain Free Kitten Recipe
Canadian Holistic is suitable for feeding British kittens aged 5 weeks to 1 year. Since the content of natural ingredients is well balanced in terms of proteins, fats, vitamins and microelements, the food is also suitable for kittens with sensitive skin and sensitive digestion. Probiotics and prebiotics ensure an easy digestion process, rosemary and alfalfa take care of the stomach microflora and have a positive effect on the animal’s well-being. Taurine strengthens the kitten's sharp vision and its cardiovascular system.
Almo Nature Holistic dry food for kittens with chicken and brown rice
Almo Nature is an Italian brand of high quality cat food. The super-premium line will suit even picky British kittens. Optimal protein content and nutrient balance is achieved due to the large amount of natural meat in the composition.
Natural food
A change of environment can cause stress even in humans, let alone pets. If you decide to get a cat of this breed that is several months old, then you do not need to feed it in the first days with what you have at home. You should find out his diet, what he ate when he lived with his mother, and in the first few days he should be fed exclusively with such food.
If you don’t know what to feed a British kitten several months old, then we will help you figure out this issue. If you decide to properly feed your cat natural food, then keep in mind that it is better to exclude fatty foods from the cat’s diet. Otherwise, this will cause stress on the internal organs of the lop-eared pet (or straight-eared, it doesn’t matter), which can cause an upset stomach.
What should the diet be like? In any case, feeding British domestic cats should contain meat and poultry products, in particular chicken and poultry. Beef heart or kidneys are quite suitable. If you decide that feeding should be done with meat, then you can and even need to boil it before giving it to your pet, or simply treat it with boiling water. If you feed a cat meat, then it should not contain helminths or other parasitic carriers.
If you feed your fold cat chicken, it also needs to be boiled before eating. The skin must be removed as it is the cause of loose stools in British cats. The meat should be finely chopped and not contain bones. British cats love to eat boiled buckwheat and rice porridge with meat, but there should be twice as much meat as side dish.
In addition, cats love boiled eggs. The yolk can be mixed with meat or porridge and given to the cat separately. If you want your lop-eared to have good health, then add quail eggs to the meat. Such eggs are healthy and full of vitamins. As for vegetables, British cats easily digest carrots, cucumbers, and zucchini. It is better to give it boiled, but you can also give it raw.
Cats usually eat 2-3 times a day.
Kitten food
The diet of kittens at one month of age will differ from that of big cats. Such cats need to be weaned off breast milk from about three weeks of age. If the kitten is more than one month old, then it should already be eating on its own. From about one month onwards, kittens can be given baby puree or baby cottage cheese with the addition of cream and lactobacilli. It wouldn't hurt to add quail eggs.
After a few days, maybe a week, you can add boiled meat to the kitten’s feeding. At first it should be given no more than a teaspoon, and in the first days even less. Over time, portions of meat can be increased. And cats that are one and a half months old can already be switched to an adult diet. The main thing is that all products are of high quality and fresh.
Also, cats from one month of age can start feeding fermented milk products. It is better that all products are not fatty: cottage cheese, kefir, cream or yogurt, only unsweetened. It is correct to feed cats “sour milk” after meals and it is better to give it a little at a time.
As for how much food is best to give to a cat one to two months old, see for yourself depending on the situation. Usually at this age they eat little, leaving some of the food in the bowl. But you don’t have to worry about this topic. With age, your appetite also increases, so portions can be increased over time. It is better to underfeed your pet than to overfeed it. After all, if he is underfed, he will tell you about it himself.
British cats need to be fed 2-3 times a day.
Food for older British cats
Grain-free cat food Now Fresh Grain Free Senior Cat Recipe Weight Control, with Turkey, Duck and Vegetables
Completely balanced food for cats over 7 years of age is holistic. Also suitable for adult cats prone to obesity. Contains fresh meat of duck, turkey, salmon, natural coconut and rapeseed oil. Canadian pet food manufacturer NOW is considered one of the best in the world.
Food for older cats 1st Choice Mature or Less Active
The food is made taking into account the fact that older British cats are usually inactive. Glucosamine and chondroitin help your pet's joints stay healthy and mobile. The composition includes antioxidants that slow down aging.
Getting to know each other better
And now a fluffy little ball has settled in your house. Remember that a little kitten is the same stupid child: it requires increased attention, because it was taken away from its mother, brothers and sisters, it found itself in an unfamiliar environment, and the baby needs help to get used to it.
Most likely, you have already purchased everything you need for your kitten: a scratching post, toys, a bed for sleeping and a tray with litter for the toilet. There is only one question left to solve, but perhaps the most important one. What to feed British kittens? And it’s even more difficult for the happy owners of a kitten with funny folded ears - of course, it’s so “exotic”! And they are faced with a task: what to feed a British fold kitten?
Food for sterilized British cats
Dry food for sterilized cats 1st Choice Sterilized Chicken with potatoes
This is a dietary food specially prepared for cats and female cats after castration or sterilization. A decrease in the level of sex hormones is dangerous due to a decrease in activity and, as a result, excessive weight gain. A grain-free, chicken-based food with added tapioca helps support a high-protein, low-fat diet.
What about milk?
There is an opinion that as soon as a kitten appears in the house, it urgently needs milk. And as if it is exactly what you can feed a British kitten.
This is partly true. However, milk can only be given to kittens up to three months - it is very useful for growing bones. After three months, it is better to exclude milk from the cat’s diet, since the stomach of a growing pet may react to milk protein with an upset.
Food for cats prone to obesity
Dry food for adult cats Meowing Heads Fat Cat Slim Losing weight for overweight cats, with chicken and salmon
Low in calories and reduced in fat, ideal for overweight Brits. It is grain-free, made with natural ingredients, and veterinarian recommended.
Fish day
Have you thought about what to feed British kittens and bought some fish? In fact, the fact that cats need fish to survive is nothing more than a myth. In their natural habitat, cats do not eat fish, and their bodies are not initially adapted to digest it. Fish contains a lot of magnesium and phosphorus salts, and excessive consumption of this product can lead to urolithiasis. However, if you still decide to treat your pet to fish, choose sea fish, such as perch. And don’t forget to remove all the seeds from the treat, otherwise your baby may choke!
Food for cats with urolithiasis
Dry food for adult cats Gemon Cat Urinary for the prevention of urolithiasis, with chicken and rice
Designed to prevent the formation of stones in the cat's bladder. This is facilitated by low magnesium content. The ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids prevents the development of inflammation. The food is rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals.
With any diet, the cat should have free access to clean drinking water throughout the day.
By-products in a cat's diet
In addition to meat, offal is something that is not only possible, but also necessary to feed British kittens! The liver, kidneys, heart, lungs and ventricles can easily replace meat for a kitten. There is no need to boil them; the kitten will happily eat them raw. If you bought chicken or turkey stomachs for your purr, it is advisable to clean them of films.
Please note: if your British kitten is lilac in color, then it is better to refrain from by-products, as consuming them can darken the coat.
