What you need to know about caring for British kittens: advice from experienced breeders

When purchasing a kitten, you need to understand that the animal is not a toy: the baby needs care and attention. British shorthair kittens have a plush, dense coat (due to the thick undercoat). Longhaired British kittens also have a thick coat, but the hairs are longer, so they need more grooming and frequent brushing. British kittens: care, education and feeding - how to do it all correctly? Read about this in our article.

British kittens: care, education and feeding

Where is the best place to get a kitten?

It is better to purchase a British kitten from nurseries; it is advisable to find reviews (they must be positive about this breeder). When the kitten turns 3 months old in the nursery, it will be ready to move to a new family, and the breeder will be able to prepare the necessary documents and give the baby vaccinations. This age is also favorable for the baby himself; his immunity will be more or less formed, which means the kitten will get sick less.

Before taking the baby to a new home, you need to examine him so that there is nothing suspicious in appearance and the kitten looks healthy and active. Ask the breeder about the maintenance of the kitten, its nutrition, and read the pedigree of the parents.

Before purchasing a kitten, it is important to study its pedigree and talk to the breeder.

British kittens are distinguished from others by their plush dense coat, round eyes, compact, muscular body with a wide chest. These kittens also have a thick tail and full, short legs. The head should be round, with a wide muzzle, dense nose pads and cheeks.

When purchasing a kitten from a specialized nursery, you can be sure that:

• kitten from purebred parents;
• the veterinary passport reflects all vaccinations performed, including treatment against helminths;
• the kitten will have the metric to participate in exhibition events.

Characteristics of the British cat

more about the standard, characteristics of a British cat , as well as caring for it on our website.

When to adopt a kitten?

The ideal age for moving to a new family is 3 months (12 weeks). During this time, the kitten receives the necessary nutrition from the mother, breast milk actively builds immunity, and also allows the baby to develop properly. It is at this age that kittens already weigh about 2 kg. Also at this age, kittens learn from their mother the rules of behavior and caring for their appearance. A responsible breeder provides the necessary vaccinations up to 3 months and carries out preventive work, treating babies against helminths.

The ideal age for a kitten to move to a new family is 3 months.

Vaccination

An important point in caring for British cats is timely vaccination.

• The first vaccination for representatives of the British breed is given from 8 to 12 weeks of life. This vaccination is against calicivirus infection, viral rhinotracheitis, as well as panleukopenia.
• The same vaccinations are given again 3-4 weeks after the first. After which you need to repeat the vaccination every year.
• The rabies vaccination is given at the age of six months.
• If several animals live in the house, then British kittens are vaccinated immediately. simultaneously.

What should you buy for a British kitten?

Before purchasing a baby, you should take care and buy a few necessary things that play an important role in the life of the future pet.

For a British kitten you need to purchase:

• tray. Pet stores offer a large selection of trays of different sizes and heights. You can start with a small litter box, but as your pet grows, you will need to replace the litter box with a larger one. There are also trays with adjustable side heights (consists of a tray and an additional extension); Their advantage is that while the kitten is small, it can go into a tray with low sides. as soon as it grows up, the height of the sides can be increased by attaching the second part;
  First purchases - a tray and a bowl for a kitten
• scratching post It is necessary so that the baby can wear down his claws and keep the furniture and wallpaper intact. You need to immediately show the kitten why this thing is at home by running the kitten’s paws over the scratching post a couple of times. British cat babies are very smart and quickly learn to use this item;
• toys. To develop dexterity and strength, kittens need a variety of toys; there are a huge number of them in pet stores (balls, teasers, mice, laser toys);
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  Buy your kitten a variety of toys so he doesn't get bored.
• tools and supplies for pet care. Scissors for trimming nails, a comb for combing hair, the necessary shampoos for washing - all this can be picked up in specialized stores.

Table 1. Annual kitten care calendar

Video - British Shorthair cat

Preliminary efforts

In order for the baby to feel comfortable and calm from the first minutes in the house, you should take care of purchasing all the necessary little things in advance.

To immediately eliminate problems with the toilet in the wrong place, buy a convenient tray with low sides. Choose a suitable place for it in the house, which must satisfy two conditions: be secluded and accessible around the clock. At the same time, purchase the filler. Ask the breeder in advance what type of granules he uses, and choose exactly the same one so that the baby feels more familiar. And so that the kitten quickly understands where his toilet is, grab some used litter along with the crumbs and place it in the tray

A familiar smell will help the new resident find his way faster. The second most important cat equipment is bowls for food and water. They can be made of stainless steel or ceramics

There are also convenient Teflon-coated options. Determine a permanent feeding area that is away from the main routes of family members. To easily transport a kitten to a new home, you will need a carrier. Immediately choose a spacious and comfortable option with a durable handle and good ventilation for the future. Most likely, you will use it regularly for trips to the veterinarian or trips to the country. In every home, a cat always chooses its favorite corner, guided only by principles known to it. Let the new resident determine the place where he will sleep, play and just relax. This is where you will need to put your carefully chosen bed or put up a house. True, sometimes a wayward pet prefers your old sweater or a cardboard box of household appliances as a cozy nest, and a newfangled “palace” does not attract his attention at all. Now all you have to do is come to terms with it! When purchasing a basket or mattress for a new tenant, you should not forget about the scratching post. If you teach your kitten to sharpen its claws on a special board from the first days of its life, you will most likely protect your furniture and wallpaper from damage. If you buy a multi-tiered house, then most likely a place where the cat can sharpen its claws is already provided in its design. Kittens are the same as children, and all children love to play. Every child needs toys for their full development, knowledge of the world around them and the development of necessary life skills. Let your pet choose the objects that interest him. To prevent your slippers or favorite book from becoming them, fill the house with all kinds of plastic balls, fur mice, feather pendants and other entertainment. You can use any available means such as corks or candy wrappers as toys. The main requirement is their safety for the kitten, that is, the absence of sharp protrusions that could injure him, or parts that the pet could accidentally bite off and swallow.

British kittens weight

This breed is large and massive, so British kittens are heavy. The weight of a newborn British kitten is about 130 g, and within 7 days their weight reaches 150 g. During this period of time, kittens actively feed on their mother's milk. The nutrition of a nursing cat plays an important role in the nutritional value of milk: its diet must be additionally fortified, so the mother of the kittens is fed specialized food or natural food with added vitamins.

Table 2. Kitten weight at different age periods

British kittens have quite a large body weight

Description of the breed

The British Fold cat's description is not like other cats. This breed definitely cannot be confused with anyone else. Outwardly, they are somewhat similar to teddy bears. Fold cats are truly unique. Ears curved towards the head are their main feature. They are characterized by a round head with chubby cheeks and a short nose. The eyes are wide open and large. The paws are short and rounded.

The fur is soft and short, like that of a plush toy. This cat breed is medium in size with a strong body. The average weight of a British adult is about 8 kg. It is generally accepted that fold-eared cats have a traditional color of blue or gray, but few people know that the original representatives of this breed had white hair.

The unusual appearance of lop-eared animals is caused by a gene mutation. Another consequence of this mutation is less pleasant: often crossing two folds leads to the birth of kittens with sore joints. That is why it is recommended to cross representatives of this breed with other breeds (with straight ears).

The first days of a kitten in the house

The new resident first needs to adapt: ​​find out where the toilet and food are. In addition, he will look for his mother and call her loudly. New smells and new family members frighten the pet, so it will be natural for the baby to hide in a dark place.

How a kitten gets used to a new home goes like this:

• In the first days, you need to leave the kitten alone and try not to forcefully hold it in your hands if it breaks free and avoids attention. It’s better to start getting acquainted with the kitten, communicating with it in a gentle tone, then the pet can overcome fear and meet you halfway. Also, do not make loud, sharp sounds, which can greatly frighten the new tenant;
• provide the opportunity for the baby to gradually master the territory of the new home. To begin with, let the kitten stay in one closed room for several days, where there will be bowls of water, food and a tray. However, the toilet and food should not be located close together; try to place them far away from each other, but not so that the baby cannot find them. After a few days, when the kitten gets used to it, you can let your pet explore other rooms;
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  It is necessary to get acquainted with the new tenant gradually, without making loud sounds or making sudden movements

• Usually three-month-old kittens have already been trained by a cat to go to the litter box, but stress and new smells can confuse the baby. Therefore, be patient and be vigilant, as soon as the kitten wants to go to the toilet, immediately move it to a new tray and after all the work, do not wash it for a while so that the kitten can recognize the toilet by the smell. It is best to take a little litter from the tray where the kitten went with its mother, this will make getting used to the new toilet easier;
• Feeding your baby should not change dramatically. Ask the breeder what the kitten ate before moving and at first strictly feed the pet the same diet. The change of food should be smooth: you need to gradually mix the new food with the usual one, otherwise the gastrointestinal tract of a small pet may be disrupted.

In a house where there is a kitten there must be a scratching post

Let's take care of safety

Everyone understands that animals are extremely inquisitive natures, which is why, in fact, they not only often get into trouble and get injured, but also cause their owner a lot of trouble. In order not to be a regular client at the veterinarian, follow these rules in everyday life:

• Store all medications, household chemicals and other hazardous liquids in a locked place. Preferably with a key or a lock.
• Are you going to the bathroom? Be sure to close the bathroom so that the kitten does not accidentally get in there.
• Baby's toys should be locked. While playing with them on his own, he may accidentally swallow them, chew them, or hit some object while playing. Remember that grooming is not only about playing and feeding, but also about taking care of your Briton.
• Close doors to utility rooms or garages.

Toilet training a kitten

As soon as the kitten appears in the house, you need to immediately accustom it to the new tray. At first, the baby may be disoriented in a new room and needs help. You also need to consider the location and access to the toilet, because British cats, although clean, have their own opinions. Therefore, if a kitten refuses to go to the new litter box, then you should not think that he is stupid and does not understand anything. In fact, British cats are very smart, and therefore, most likely, the new tenant simply does not like something. Perhaps the tray needs to be moved a little, moved to another corner, or the filler changed.

Instincts tell the kitten that all waste needs to be buried, so choose the appropriate substance for the toilet, because the “British” are clean. If you do not pay attention to this, the kitten may begin to mischief and look for another place to relieve itself.

Training a kitten to use the litter box

If you suddenly find a puddle on the floor, you should not scold the kitten, much less beat it; with this method of education you can provoke the baby to do things secretly in the wrong place. It is better to show your pet in a dissatisfied tone that you are not happy with this situation, and, having collected the puddle with toilet paper, take it to the tray. This way the smell will attract the kitten to go to the right place. It is also worth watching the animal; usually after the baby has eaten, he runs to the toilet. Monitor the kitten's path to the toilet, and then the baby will remember that things need to be done in the litter box.

Don't lose your temper if the kitten doesn't go to the toilet the first time. Remove puddles with special odor-eliminating products that can be purchased at a pet store. Be persistent with your pet and show him where to go, but do not hit him or scream if he suddenly misses. The kitten will sooner or later understand what is required of him, the main thing is to be patient.

In the nursery, cats teach kittens to be clean, so babies come to their new home with toilet knowledge

First moult and grooming

A kitten's first shedding occurs at seven or eight months of age. During the week, the kitten should be carefully combed every day with a special comb, running through the fur with massage movements. After this procedure, you can walk over the fur with your hand in a wet rubber glove, thus collecting the remaining fur. Subsequent molting occurs on an individual basis, depending on many factors - vitamin deficiency, allergic reactions, existing diseases, age-related and hormonal changes, and the use of inappropriate bathing products.

Regular grooming of the British dog's coat with special combs will preserve the beauty of the coat.

You need to groom your pet regularly:

• weekly brushing will bring many benefits to your pet. Firstly, this procedure will rid the cat of dead skin particles and fur hairs, which means that when licking, less of them will end up in the stomach. Secondly, regular brushing gives the animal a healthy and well-groomed appearance;
• if you accustom your kitten to water procedures from an early age, then bathing can become one of your pet’s favorite activities, which can be used both when soiled and for preventive measures;
• Careful trimming of the claws will rid the pet of the rough, keratinized part, which flakes off over time, causing the claws to begin to cling and cause discomfort to the cat. The procedure is short, only a couple of times a month. The haircut is carried out with special scissors, carefully so as not to damage the blood vessel;
• regular preventive examination of the auricle and organs of vision, when the cat’s ears are cleaned of wax accumulation, and the eyes are wiped with black tea infusion or eye drops.

From an early age, a kitten needs to be accustomed to the necessary procedures, then he will calmly endure them and even enjoy them

How to brush British cats?

Before purchasing a British kitten, you should buy special combs at a pet store. To care for your pet you will need:

• a comb with metal teeth with rounded ends so as not to injure the animal’s skin. Needed for primary combing of wool of any length in the direction from head to tail according to hair growth;
• comb with massage effect. Stimulates blood circulation, provides beautiful fur for your pet by combing out dead skin particles and dead hairs. You need to comb your pet with such a comb carefully so as not to damage the delicate undercoat;
• rubber brush or glove. Helps complete your pet's grooming routine. With the help of such a brush you can remove remaining hairs from the surface of the coat after active combing.

A variety of pet grooming products to choose from allows you to keep your cat's coat healthy and beautiful.

Bathing

The first bath of a kitten should be careful and not earlier than one month of age, so as not to scare the baby and not instill a negative impression of the procedure. It is better to teach the kitten to bathe in a playful way, touching the kitten with wet hands, and then gently moistening the baby’s fur with a few drops of warm water. This way, the kitten won’t get scared and won’t start to struggle, and the water, rolling off the fur, will attract attention and interest.

Gradually, with the help of play, the kitten will get used to the water and will allow its body to be completely wet, while you can also gradually begin to use special shampoos that do not have a strong odor. The only exception can be shampoos against parasites, the pungent smell of which can scare away the “British”. Bathing a pet kept in an apartment should not be done more than once every two months, unless treatment or severe contamination of the animal forces it to be done more often.

What do you need to know? The shampoo should be selected based on the length of your pet’s coat and its color, as some products are designed to enhance the color of the animal’s coat.

A kitten's first bath should be no earlier than one month of age.

Bathing stages:

1. fill the container with water, adjusting its temperature (about 30 °C);
2. pour a special shampoo into the water that suits your pet;
3. place the cat in a container with soapy water and gently, massaging the fur, wet the cat’s body;
4. rinse off the product with clean warm water, being careful not to get it into your ears, they are very sensitive;
5. After bathing, wrap the cat in a dry towel to thoroughly dry the wet fur;
6. Place your pet in a warm, draft-free room.

If you gradually accustom your kitten to water procedures, then over time he will enjoy the process and will not be capricious.

Upbringing

Before adopting a British breed kitten, it is worth considering that these are wayward animals. Therefore, education should begin from the first days of the kitten’s appearance in its new home. One of the main lessons of education is litter box training. If the kitten does not know that all tasks must be done in a specially designated place, then you need to show him how it is done. If the baby is already trained (usually in nurseries, kittens at the age of 3 months are toilet trained), then you just need to make sure that the pet gets used to the new tray. It is better to immediately show the animal what and how to do, because neglected training will be difficult to correct.

At first, carefully track the kitten’s path to the toilet, so you can teach him to do the necessary things in the right place

During education, force should never be used. British cats are smart, and therefore only a dissatisfied raised tone or clap of the hands can be applied to them, otherwise, when force is used, they can harbor anger or begin to be mischievous. For training, it is better to use repellents with a pungent odor or the smell of citrus fruits, a spray bottle with water, to wean the animal from sharpening its claws on furniture or doing dirty tricks in an inappropriate place.

If the kitten begins to shit, then try to find the reason in the location of the toilet or the composition of the litter

It is also worthwhile to immediately accustom the kitten to the scratching post so that it does not damage the furniture by grinding down its sharp claws. To do this, you need to show the baby several times, running your fingers along the post of the scratching post. You can also use catnip by rubbing dry grass on a post; the smell will attract the kitten’s attention, and he will involuntarily begin to touch the scratching post with his paws.

During games, try to make do with teasers and other toys; do not teach the kitten to play with your hands.

In general, training is not difficult, since the “British” cats are very smart cats, but you should immediately show who is boss in the house by establishing eye contact with the pet, while forbidding him to do nasty things so that he understands the boundaries of what is permitted.

Little “Britons” love to play, so pay more attention to games with your furry fidget

Feeding a kitten with natural products

List of foods not recommended for cats:

• fatty meats (pork, lamb);
• raw poultry meat and bones (chicken, turkey);
• any raw fish;
• sausages, sausages, smoked cheeses, chocolate, etc.;
• food that a person eats (salty, spicy, sweet).

A diet based on natural products includes the following items:

• lean meat (frozen beef, chicken, turkey, rabbit) - about 8-100 g/day. depending on the age of the kitten;
• offal (liver, heart, kidneys) - 10-100 g/day;
• boiled sea fish without bones no more than once a week gj 6-80 g/day;
• dairy products (cottage cheese - 3.5-20 g/day, kefir, low-fat sour cream no more than 10 g per day, cheese);
• chicken and quail eggs in the amount of 50-55 g per week;
• vegetables (cucumber, carrots, cauliflower, zucchini) - 10-40 g/day;
• cereals (buckwheat, wheat, rice) - 10-80 g/day;
• vitamin and mineral complex (according to instructions).

A balanced diet is the key to the correct and healthy development of the baby.

Table 3. Kitten consumption rate of natural food

What do you need to know? Choose wide, flat dishes for your pet to make it easier for him to eat.

Nutritional Features

There are three types of pet feeding:

1. Natural.
2. Dry.
3. Combined.

Regardless of the choice, the animal’s diet must be complete.

When it comes to dry food, it is preferable to choose premium and higher class products. Such food is enriched with vitamin complexes necessary for the normal development of the body.

Fans of a natural diet should exclude cream and fatty meats like pork from their diet. In rare cases, deboned sea fish is given. It is mandatory to give milk to kittens under 3 months of age. Further - individually, since for the majority, as they grow older, the ability to normally digest dairy products decreases.

Dry food for British kittens

If you decide to choose dry food for your pet, then it is important to consider that “Whiskas”, “Kiticat”, “Purina”, “Friskies”, “Felix” and similar low-quality foods are not suitable for a complete healthy diet. They contain a huge amount of flavors, dyes, taste enhancers and other harmful chemicals, which cause many diseases associated with urolithiasis and gastrointestinal tract disorders. It is better to use high-quality industrial feed, which is completely ready for consumption.

Each manufacturer has its own calculation table for feeding a kitten by month, so you just need to follow the recommendations and make sure that the kitten always has access to fresh water. The main thing is to choose high-quality food for your kitten from a good holistic, superpremium or premium manufacturer. Then you can be sure that the baby will grow up healthy and strong.

Brit food for kittens

Dry and wet food that can be fed to a British kitten:

• Among the good holistic foods for kittens you can buy: Eukanuba, Brit, PronatureHolistic, Primordial. The advantage of this class of food is that it is hypoallergenic. The diets have an optimal ratio of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, and also contain dietary supplements;
• super premium food: Hill's Science Plan, Orijen, Now Fresh, 1st Choice, Schesir;
• premium food: Pro Plan, Happy Cat, Leonardo, Brit Premium, Royal Canin.

What do you need to know? If the kitten ate industrial food in the nursery, then you should not immediately start feeding it natural food or other dry food, as this can disrupt the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and lead to complications. Therefore, find out what brand of dry food the kitten was eating, and feed it this particular food for the first time. The transition should be smooth: gradually mix in other food to avoid health problems for the baby.

Choose high-quality food from a well-known manufacturer for your pet