Weigh the cat without a scale. Origin of the name Timothy and its meaning. Using a kitchen scale

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

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.

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.

You can read more about the standard, characteristics, and care of 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.

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:

Table 1. Annual kitten care calendar

Video - British Shorthair cat

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

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:

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.

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.

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 this 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

• 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.

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.

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

Estrus and mating features of British cats

British cats are fully mature at 7-9 months. Young animals should be bred no earlier than 10-12 months, having missed the cat’s first two heats. This is due to the fact that the body is not yet fully strengthened, and complications are possible during pregnancy and childbirth.

A two-year-old cat becomes hot-tempered and often shows aggression towards the cat. In general, during the period of estrus, cats exhibit specific behavior:

• she often chooses to communicate with the owner rather than with the mistress;
• becomes demanding of attention - caresses, rubs against legs, shoes;
• shows excessive affection, becomes intrusive;
• the back bends, the hind legs move, the tail moves to the side;
• the animal meows obsessively and licks the genital area.

The acquaintance of a cat and a cat may not always be ideal, and if the cat has a character, then you will have to look for another “groom”

The duration of estrus in British cats varies around 7-10 days. If the cat has not been fertilized, then the repetition of estrus occurs on the 15-20th day. Sex Barrier drugs and other contraceptives negatively affect the health of the animal, creating hormonal imbalance and developing tumors.

Read more about whether it is worth using drugs that reduce sexual desire in a cat on our website.

Acquaintance between a cat and a cat can take place in different ways, depending on the characters of both animals. At first, the cat may categorically not accept the cat, but when the acquaintance goes well, it can occur from 15 matings per day, and the cat’s temperament is already taken into account. Two days will be enough for mating cats; during this period, the cat can safely impregnate the cat.

What do you need to know? Mating a cat should not occur more than 3 times a year; pregnancy greatly depletes the body, so sick kittens may be born.

If estrus does not occur within three weeks, we can assume that everything turned out well and the cat is pregnant. It is better to breed experienced animals or at least one of the pets should have mating experience, otherwise the fertilization process will take a lot of time, and without the help of the owners the process will not be successful.

British cats are smart animals with character

The British cat is perhaps the most common and popular in our country. Luxurious, independent and full of self-esteem, these animals do not leave you indifferent and make you fall in love at first sight. But in addition to external characteristics, when choosing a pet, you need to take into account its temperament, care and nutrition requirements, as well as many other factors, because, like any other breed, the British cat is not suitable for everyone.

Appearance and character of the breed

Usually, when we mention a Briton, we imagine a medium-sized blue cat with a round muzzle and short, plush fur. At the everyday level, everything is true, but not all blue cats are British, just as not all British cats are blue. To distinguish a yard murka from a purebred Englishman, let’s turn to the breed standard, especially since the main felinological systems of the world (FIFe, WCF, CFA, TICA) are uniform in its description.

Description and photo

The British, according to the standard, are short-haired, stocky, compact, medium and large in size (cats are usually much larger), well-built, massive, with pronounced muscles and wide bones.

The coat is uniform in length, dense, “plush” (not adjacent to the body), very pleasant to the touch, with a thick undercoat, often different in color from the main coat.

Important! The division of the British into short-haired and long-haired is not recognized by most felinological organizations, although fans of cats with long hair do not lay down their arms. Thus, according to the dominant position, it was the “plush” short hair that for many years was the characteristic that breeders tried to preserve in the British, using long-haired Persian cats and exotics to give the breed massiveness. For this reason, by the way, a long-haired kitten can still be “accidentally” born from two purebred British. No matter how much the breeder praises such a baby, the animal is formally subject to disqualification and, in order to maintain the purity of the breed, is not allowed for further breeding.

The limbs are short and strong, the tail is also short, thick, with a rounded tip.
British cats have a characteristic round-fronted, large head with wide cheekbones, sitting tightly on a massive short neck. The eyes are huge, round, wide open, rich gold, blue or green (depending on coat color). The nose is straight, not flattened. The ears are short, giving the muzzle even greater roundness.

Did you know? According to generally accepted opinion, it was the British cat with its round and seemingly stretched muzzle that inspired Lewis Carroll to create the image of the famous Cheshire cat, capable of appearing and disappearing, leaving only a wide smile in its place.

Scissor or pincer bite. An undershot or overshot within two millimeters is not considered a defect.

Now about the colors. Contrary to popular belief, British cats do not have to be blue (however, it should be recognized that this color is the most popular, and therefore sometimes even a subspecies is distinguished - “British Blue”).
The breed standard allows for at least three dozen different colors of the British, and “one color” is not at all necessary. Moreover, even in animals of the same color, deviations from the uniform coloring of the hairs are allowed - various tints, shadedness, haze.

In addition to blue, single-color British cats come in black, white, chocolate, cream, red (red), and pink-blue (lilac), and each of these colors has its own variations, for example, lilac has three - light, medium and dark (coffee with milk).

The first of these variations is tortoiseshell. In such animals, spots of two colors are evenly distributed throughout the body, for example, black and red or blue and cream.

Did you know? It has been noted that the tortoiseshell color appears in the British only through the female line; cats are almost never tortoiseshell.

In addition, there are colors with the presence of silver - smoky, shaded and chinchilla. A variety of variations are possible in each type.

Another variety of colors is patterned (tabby), within which, in turn, there are marbled, brindle, or mackerel (this is the color of the British kitten depicted on all Whiskas products) and spotted.

In addition, there are colorpoint (like a Siamese cat) and bicolor (two-color) colors of British cats.

Important! According to the coding generally accepted by felinologists, each color and its shade, as well as eye color, corresponds to a certain symbol (for this, numbers, letters of the Latin alphabet or combinations thereof are used). Thus, any cat can be described by a certain formula, looking at which the expert clearly imagines the appearance of the animal down to every spot (for example, BRI ns12 62 is a British chinchilla cat with orange eyes).

The British are exceptionally harmonious animals. Any, even minor, deviation from the standard immediately spoils the overall impression. Of course, not all shortcomings are a reason for culling an animal and preventing it from breeding, but every breeder needs to know about them.

In this case, the correct selection of a pair can level out existing defects and result in offspring with excellent characteristics. But there are shortcomings that clearly mean disqualification (for example, the long hair mentioned above, a broken tail and some others).

Features of the British character

The breed in question is British not only in name, but also in temperament. These are true gentlemen (or ladies), self-respecting, intelligent, independent and reserved. With the right attitude towards itself, such an animal will not destroy the entire house when left to its own devices, but this does not mean at all that it does not need your attention.

Important! If the Abyssinian cat absolutely cannot stand loneliness, and the Persian cat, in essence, doesn’t care whether there is someone in the house or not, then the British cat is a harmonious “golden mean”. You can safely leave such a cat alone for the whole day, but when you return from work, take the time to communicate with your pet, and he will answer you with gratitude and love!

Many owners of plush aristocrats note their intelligence, good manners and willingness not only to perceive the owner’s wishes (and sometimes even satisfy them by carrying out this or that command), but also to adapt to the conditions offered to them and the temperament of family members. Of course, such a trait does honor to the noble animal and demonstrates its wisdom and ability to socially adapt.

At the same time, such a cat will not tolerate intrusive caresses and any manifestations of disrespect. The animal must have personal space and will actively defend it. The desire to play or cuddle must be mutual, otherwise you will face severe resistance. This feature of the British must be taken into account, especially if there is a small child in the family who does not understand that a domestic cat has not only fluffy fur, but also sharp teeth.
However, true British never show aggression, at least you can be sure of their adequacy. Such cats are not impulsive, but stubborn and vindictive. Given a choice, they prefer not to defend themselves, but to proudly and with dignity withdraw. And only if the unlucky two-legged creature does not understand that its attention is unwanted, the cat is forced to explain its position more clearly.

The British rarely choose one owner among their household, as dogs do. Their attitude is equally friendly and even towards all - two-legged and four-legged - members of the family, and yet you will always feel a certain distance that this animal builds between itself and those around it. But if someone gets sick or gets into trouble, the British woman instantly feels it and shows her support and sympathy in every possible way.

English cats are born leaders. They will easily become the leader of the pack if there are other animals in the house, and will also try to “pull the blanket over themselves” in communicating with humans. Here the owner needs to show patience and perseverance: any animal must unconditionally recognize the authority of a person, otherwise both will suffer (the owner from dissatisfaction with the animal, and the animal from the fact that the owner is dissatisfied with him).
So, a British cat is not suitable for you if:

• there are small children in the family who dream of cuddling a woolen animal;
• you want to have a devoted friend and companion who will come to your call at any moment and will adapt to your mood swings (a dog is generally better suited for these purposes);
• you need a cat as a purring addition to your home environment (Persians excel at this role);
• you think that by giving an animal shelter and food, you have the right to treat it as your property (with such thoughts, you should not have pets at all).

A little history

Britons are a native English breed. For at least several centuries, the ancestors of today's representatives of the breed inhabited the territory of Foggy Albion, adopting sedateness, dignity and equanimity from Her Majesty's subjects.

Did you know? There is a version that these strong and hardy cats came to England from Ancient Rome, brought on ships by the legionnaires of the warlike Emperor Claudius, who decided to “war on Britain” a little and impose tribute on it. As you know, although Britain submitted to the great Rome, it did not immediately, not resignedly and, on a historical scale, not for long. But the Roman cats, without firing a single shot, won the hearts of the proud English once and for all.

Methodical work on breeding the breed, of course, did not begin immediately; however, felinology as a science generally appeared relatively recently. The founder of the idea is considered to be animal artist Harrison Ware, the organizer and inspirer of the first cat exhibition in the world.
It took place, by the way, in England, at the Crystal Palace, on July 13, 1871. Even then, Sir Ware noted the beauty of local yard cats, although no one had yet spoken about the breed standard. It first appeared in 1889, and the first official representative of the British was a white cat.

The peak of selection work to form the modern appearance of the breed occurred in the 30s of the last century. The main task was to preserve the “plush” coat and strengthen the massive body with the characteristic round-faced muzzle and full cheeks.

Unfortunately, the Second World War not only prevented the continuation of breeding work, but almost led to the complete extinction of the breed (including physical extinction - a huge number of animals died from bombings, bullets and under rubble).
To restore the British, breeders (not only English ones) began to actively use a number of similar breeds, including Persians, Exotics, Russian Blues, European and American Shorthairs, and especially Chartreux. So today's British cat is very different from the one that was so admired by Harrison Weir.

However, at this stage the breeding work is generally considered complete and mixing of British blood with others is generally not permitted.

Choosing a kitten

So, you have decided to purchase a purebred Englishman. Where to begin?

Important! The first rule: in the market, in random places and from random people, kittens are bought by those who simply decided to have a “kitty” at home. Purebred animals are purchased from a nursery, through a club or from professional breeders.

Fortunately, the British cat is not uncommon today, and a purebred baby can usually be found nearby - in your city or even area. But even if you did not succeed, do not agree to receive the animal on “neutral territory” and, moreover, do not go through a transfer through an intermediary, a conductor on a train, a passing car, etc. The point is not even that you can be deceived , it’s just important to see with your own eyes the atmosphere in which the baby grows up, what kind of attitude he sees towards himself, what kind of care he is provided with.
Of course, a purebred animal is expensive, but pricing in this case should be determined by the high cost of raising a kitten, and not by the pursuit of profit. It is very easy to distinguish a true enthusiast from a grabber and a grabber, but to do this you need to cross the threshold of his house where the cats are kept.

Important! According to the rules of the most recognized international felinological organization in Europe, the World Cat Federation (WCF), to which most clubs in our country belong, the breeder does not have the right to separate a kitten from its mother before the baby reaches 12 weeks of age.

A three month old is already a small cat. She developed basic habits and attitudes towards the world around her, including people. If the animal was kept in isolation or in constant fear, underfed and unloved, you will definitely experience the consequences of such “upbringing”.

And the second conclusion from the same rule: if the breeder agrees to sell you a one and a half month old kitten without any problems, think about whether you are buying the animal from the right place.
Make sure the kitten is healthy. He should be moderately well-fed, his eyes should not be watery, there should be no dirt or even pus in his ears, the anus should be clean and not inflamed. The belly of a healthy animal is always soft (even after a heavy lunch).

Try to make sure that the animal meets the standard (described above). Looking at the child, this is not always easy to do, so carefully consider the parents, or at least the mother if the cat lives separately from the cat.

Talk to the kitten seller, ask him in detail about the breed, the peculiarities of caring for the animal, its character, etc. If what you hear is radically different from the preliminary information you have collected about British cats (for example, “mine eat everything, even borscht”), refuse the purchase!
Ideally, of course, when buying a purebred animal, you receive a properly documented pedigree confirming the purebredness of your pet. But if, in order to save money, you take a kitten “without documents,” this in no way relieves the breeder of the obligation to issue you a veterinary passport with vaccinations and information about deworming noted on it.

Important! By the age of three months, the kitten must have received two vaccinations - primary and revaccination. The animal is usually vaccinated against rabies at the same time as the second standard vaccination, but some breeders do not do this deliberately. In any case, a rabies vaccination is mandatory if the kitten is to cross the borders of the state in which it was born.

And one last thing. When choosing a baby, listen to the voice of your heart. Often one mutual glance is enough to understand: a person and a cat are made for each other.

The best conditions for a Briton

Any cat is a born hunter. She can sit on the windowsill for hours, at first with keen interest, and then with longing, watching the birds fly by. Therefore, if you are the happy owner of a country house, your pet is incredibly lucky. Give him the opportunity to walk in the garden to his heart's content, and the animal will fully realize its natural instincts of a predator.
Getting a Briton to walk outside in the city is not as simple a task as it seems, but if you have free time and desire, it is quite doable.

However, what makes keeping cats so attractive is that These animals do not require mandatory daily walking. They can feel quite comfortable in a city apartment, having never crossed its threshold in their entire lives. And yet, since we are talking about a fairly massive and quite active breed, the more spacious its habitat is, the better it will feel.

As for the optimal climate, the range is quite wide. If you believe the legend that British cats once lived in sunny Italy and then perfectly adapted to the foggy and damp English weather, there is no doubt: this breed will withstand both heat and frost equally well.

Important! When preparing to move your baby in, equip all windows with protective nets and remove objects that a curious animal could swallow, knock over or damage. Make sure that furniture and other large objects are pushed tightly against the walls or, conversely, have sufficient passages so that the animal does not get stuck in the gap and suffocate while you are at work.

And until your pet grows up and settles down, in order to avoid grief and injury, keep all cabinets and drawers closed, make sure that the kitten does not jump out when you open the doors, and in general, watch your step: up to six months it may seem to you that you have not one cat, but several, how active these little fidgets can be.

Home care

Caring for a British cat is not difficult, but how strictly you carry out the most important procedures will determine the health, appearance and well-being of your pet. Of course, a kitten requires special attention and care, but even in adulthood the animal cannot be completely left to its own devices.

Necessary "trinkets"

The main thing you need to purchase even before a little fluffy ball moves into your home is and. The first is so that the animal immediately learns to cope with its natural needs in the same place (take a large tray right away so as not to retrain the unfortunate animal later), the second is so that your furniture and wallpaper do not turn into miserable rags after meeting with sharp felines claws.

Important! British cats actively dig for litter in the tray, so it is better to choose a container with high sides.

Everything else is at your discretion and at will. To trim the claws, you will need special tweezers, but not all owners carry out this procedure on their own (before mating and before the exhibition, claws must be trimmed, but if you ask a specialist for help, he will use his own tool). To care for the coat, you will need a brush - rubber or bristle, but in no case hard, so as not to damage the undercoat and skin.

On sale today there is a huge selection of different houses, multi-tiered structures and various toys for domestic cats. Of course, your pet will appreciate such a gift, but much more he needs your love, not trinkets. You can't buy a cat's affection!
Rubber toys and balls will quickly get boring for a kitten left to its own devices. Instead of expensive colorful devices designed to satisfy your vanity rather than the needs of the cat, you can make your own “mouse” from a rope and rustling paper tied to it (but not from foil - it will ruin your pet’s teeth): while the thread is in your hands, the animal will be happy to hunt for elusive “prey”.

Features of care

The main hygiene procedure for the British is grooming (the thick undercoat dictates its own rules).

Important! One of the disadvantages of the breed is its tendency to shed. British cats shed at least twice a year, in the off-season, and during this period they create certain inconveniences for household members.

In normal times, you can comb your cat once a week, in winter a little more thoroughly, since the shaved hair becomes very overgrown during this period, but during shedding, it is better to do the procedure daily. Domestic cats do not like to bathe, but for the health of their skin and coat, they need to be washed a couple of times a year. During this process, you should protect the animal’s head and ears from water, use special shampoos for cats with soft fur, and never dry your pet with a hairdryer.
To prevent the hair that gets into the shaved stomach in large quantities during self-bathing from leading to digestive system upset, special hair-removing pastes are used; most cats eat them with pleasure.

You should take care of your ears and eyes by removing plaque and dirt with cotton pads, clean napkins or sanitary sticks. In addition, it is important to regularly examine your pet’s paws for the initial manifestations of fungal diseases on the claws. For the British this is a real problem.

Preventive vaccinations are given annually, and deworming is done every three months, one of them ten days before vaccination. Both procedures are performed only on completely healthy animals!

Pet diet

Contrary to popular belief, “human” food is overwhelmingly contraindicated for cats. Of course, if a street animal dying of hunger greedily destroys sour soup is, as they say, a lesser evil, then feeding a fatty pork cutlet to a thoroughbred domestic animal is a real crime.

There are two options for feeding a cat - natural or dry food. Both of them have the right to exist, but under one condition: when purchasing a British kitten, decide immediately what you will feed it, since, having become accustomed to one type of food, a grown-up animal is extremely reluctant to change its preferences. We won’t talk much about dry food; it contains in a balanced form all the substances necessary for an animal of a certain age, and the recommended daily intake, age and other characteristics are indicated on the packaging. For those who have chosen such a diet, you should only keep in mind that a cat eating dry food needs much more water than an animal eating natural food, so you need to monitor the fullness of the drinking bowl especially carefully.

And, of course, food for purebred animals should only be super-premium or premium; you can immediately notice the disastrous results of savings in the quality of your pet’s coat, his mood, stool and general well-being. If you don’t have the money for expensive food, it is better to use natural food.

Kitten

Until he reaches the age of six months, he should receive food often (at least four times a day), but little by little.
We include in the diet:

• meat: lean beef, chicken, offal (beef or chicken). Meat can be boiled or given raw (minced meat or finely chopped pieces), however, in order to avoid infection with helminths, previously raw meat is either frozen or doused with boiling water. By-products, especially chicken, must be cooked;
• fish: only sea fish, lean and boneless, exclusively boiled. Children should be given fish no more than once a week;
• raw quail eggs or boiled egg yolk (no more than once a week);
• fermented milk products (milk as such is contraindicated for cats!): low-fat sour cream or cream, cottage cheese, kefir, etc.;
• vegetables (carrots, cabbage, zucchini) - boiled or grated;
• Cereals (porridge): rice, oatmeal, buckwheat.

Important! If you want to get your baby to eat porridge, use this recipe: mix raw ground beef with rolled oats flakes steamed in boiling water (in a ratio of two parts meat to one part oatmeal), roll into small meatballs and freeze. Remove from the freezer some time before “serving.” Your pet will be simply happy!

Don't forget about clean water and vitamins. The latter are necessary for natural feeding; in order to choose the right composition, consult a veterinarian.

Adult cat

For an adult cat, the optimal feeding schedule is twice a day (from six to eight months we feed the animal three times a day so that its body gets used to less frequent meals, and then we remove one feeding). A single serving is 150–300 g, depending on how much your pet weighs.

Did you know? The owners of shaves often complain that their aristocratic pets refuse to drink purified water from the drinking bowl and greedily slurp the liquid from the most “indecent” places - from an open tap, a bucket in which they have just rinsed a floor rag, and even from the toilet. The fact is that cats are hunters. Unable to get food (receiving it “on a silver platter”), they try to at least hunt for water. To protect the animal from serious poisoning, it is recommended to use a trick: place containers with purified water in hard-to-reach containers (for example, in a watering can for watering flowers, where it is not so easy to stick the spout) and in unexpected places. Sometimes it works!

The formula is as follows: meat (fish once or twice a week) is the basis of the diet, as a supplement - vegetables and porridge (rice is best). Meat, in addition to the above types, can be varied with veal and turkey. Fermented milk products are also extremely healthy if they are not fatty or salty.

Brits love their greens, but not all houseplants are easy on their stomachs. Pamper your pet with lettuce, mint, dill, parsley and other aromatic herbs, or even better, plant your own “lawn” for your pet. You can buy special grass seed mixtures for cats at pet stores, but you can use regular oats - cats love them!

Possible diseases

In general, shaved cats are not too pampered and do not get sick often.

In addition to these painful conditions, to which, in general, all cats are susceptible, razors have their own “own” disease, which has a genetic basis. It's called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM for short.

7 once already
helped

If you decide to get a British breed kitten, you don’t need to take it from strangers. Otherwise, the kittens may turn out to be unpedigreed, sick and unvaccinated. It is better to buy a baby from a nursery that provides full care for mother and kittens. Moreover, a medical card is issued for each animal with notes on vaccinations and treatment against helminths. When purchasing a baby, the card passes into the hands of the owner.

Show all

What is good about a kitten from a nursery?

Only their mother can properly care for the British. Taking this into account, in the nursery the cat is not separated from the newborn kitten for 12 weeks. The advantage of such conditions is the ability for the kitten to gain the required weight of up to 1.5 kg or more by three months. The baby regularly receives breast milk and learns from his mother how to take care of himself. The first vaccination and anthelmintic treatment takes place here.

It is better to adopt a British breed kitten from a nursery at the age of three months. Until this time, the baby’s skeletal system will become stronger, basic vaccinations will be done, and the baby will switch to two meals a day. If a kitten came into the family earlier, it should be fed 4 times a day. Give a variety of freshly prepared food, and only natural food, with a high content of vitamins, dietary supplements, minerals and acids. It is not recommended to offer dry food during this period due to possible digestive problems.



Chocolate Briton - photo, description and character

Appearance in the house

So, the little kitten ended up in a new home. Finding himself in a new environment, the baby is frightened, does not understand where he is, there is no nurse or familiar aromas nearby. We need to try to create conditions for him to get used to it.

1. 1. It is not recommended to play with him in the first days, pick him up, or cuddle him. He will begin to wriggle out, may scratch and even bite. It’s better to address him affectionately, call him by his nickname. As soon as he gets used to it, he will approach the owner himself.
2. 2. At first, the pet needs to limit the territory by closing the doors to other rooms. Bowls with food and water should also be located here, as well as a litter tray a little further away. As soon as the British kitten gets used to it a little, you can gradually expand its domain.
3. 3. The food that was given in the nursery should be given at home for the first time. And then gradually add other foods, mixing them with the usual diet.
4. 4. The pupils are accustomed to using the toilet in the nursery. But the Brit needs to mark his new toilet by placing a cloth soaked in his urine in it.

Before you take a Briton into your home, you should make sure that the necessary accessories are ready for his arrival. These are two bowls for eating and drinking. They need to be placed where they will always be. A litter tray is a must if the owner does not want the kitten to relieve itself around the apartment. The baby must have toys. Their absence is fraught with damage to things. The scratching post will protect furniture and wallpaper, since it is nature’s nature to sharpen a kitten’s claws. A house or a lounger will accustom the baby to a permanent resting place, otherwise he will sleep anywhere, even in the owner’s bed. And there must be a carrier. A visit to the doctor or a trip to nature without this device will be difficult.

With the appearance of a kitten in the house, the owner must reconsider his habits. Namely:

• entrance doors must always be closed to prevent the animal from leaving the premises;
• windows should either be closed or protective nets installed;
• tightly cover cabinets, toilet lids, and washing machines;
• try not to pinch the baby in the door, sit on him, or step on his paw.



A little about the breed

The British Shorthair cat is an officially recognized breed. At the end of the 19th century, at the first cat salon held in London, the British breed was standardized.

These animals have a dense build with developed chest muscles, a short and massive tail, strong hind limbs and a large head. Amazing amber and round eyes and thick cheeks. There are more than 60 shades of colors, but mostly lilac or blue wool. Although you can often find white and black colors.



It is worth mentioning the cat breed that appeared in Great Britain, which was obtained by crossing a Persian cat and a British one. For its amazingly beautiful thick fur, the breed was named the British golden chinchilla. The cat is gentle and meek, a loyal friend and an aristocratic nature. The breed is becoming increasingly popular among breeders and ordinary British lovers.

When purchasing, many people are interested in the British Fold. The ears of this breed of kittens hang down. They are very calm, unpretentious in care and food, have a keen sense of smell, are attached to the home and adore children, who reciprocate their feelings.



Pet care

An adult British cat is an unpretentious animal. But babies need care, regular and good quality, they require attention and care. The nature of the kittens is soft and friendly. All family members are pleasant and desirable for them. They find a common language with dogs. Pets do not require special attention. They find fun for themselves. By leaving the kittens at home, you can be sure that everything will be fine with the babies.



Raising a kitten

Like any animal, a Briton needs to be educated. This is not difficult to do, the British are a highly trainable breed. Education will be considered successful if the kitten understands well what not to do.

When training, you need to look your pet straight in the eye. Then he will definitely remember simple truths:

• You cannot beg for food from the table or eat from someone else’s plate;
• you cannot attack the owner, bite or injure him;
• You can’t “crap” all over the house, peel off the wallpaper, scratch the furniture, ride on the curtains;
• You can’t sleep in someone else’s place and gnaw on house plants.

Owners of British dogs should adhere to the following rule when raising them: never hit or shout at the animal. By harboring a grudge, the kitten can take revenge. If the baby is mischievous, you can spray him with water, clap your hands, or scold him.

If, instead of using a potty, he used a secluded place behind the curtains, you need to clean up after him, but spray the problem area with a freshener with an unpleasant odor, for example, citrus peels. If the pet likes to bite the owner’s legs, then this effective method will help. Cover the favorite place with a plaster, and grease it with mustard on top. It is unlikely that after the next attempt to bite there will be another one.

Only endurance and resourcefulness will help in raising an animal.

What to feed a Briton

In order for your pet to grow up healthy and live a long time, you need to properly organize its nutrition. Natural food and ready-made dry food are suitable for this. If the owner chooses natural food, it should be remembered that only a rational choice of products will allow the pet to develop normally.



What can you give your baby depending on age:

1. 1. One month. Feeding is carried out 6 times a day. It can be pureed beef or chicken. Fermented milk products such as cheese, sour cream and kefir are allowed.
2. 2. One and a half months. You need to switch to five meals a day. Large porridges with meat or vegetables are added.
3. 3. Three months. The baby should already eat 4 times a day. You can give the products listed above. If desired, it is allowed to add dry food at this age. The kitten may not be able to cope with granulated food, so you need to soak the lumps in water.
4. 4. Six months. It is necessary to transfer the kitten to three meals a day. The British body is ready to accept any food except raw meat and fish, sausages, butter and tubular bones. You should not feed kittens chocolate. The result can be unpredictable, even poisoning.

Feeding your baby dry food is quite simple. No need to select the necessary ingredients. The cat's bowl will always be clean. Feeding will also provide the baby with a sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals. Babies should not be given food intended for adult cats.

There is no need to skimp when choosing cat food. Cheap food is not suitable for British babies due to the quality of the ingredients, preservatives and colourings. You should not feed your animal with economy food. They contain little meat and food additives, and use flavor enhancers and dyes.

Super premium food is a good choice for babies. There is a sufficient amount of meat. Vitamins and minerals needed for a young developing organism are in sufficient quantities. The best ones are holistic foods. They contain natural and high-quality vegetables, berries, fruits, a lot of meat and other healthy ingredients.

Taking care of your baby's health

In addition to the owner, the state of health must be monitored by a qualified veterinarian. In the first year of life, the kitten is required to undergo frequent examinations, vaccinations, and examinations. The owner should take care to choose a good clinic to which the baby will be assigned.

A British child is not required to be vaccinated until three months of age. Strengthening the immune system occurs through mother's milk. And upon reaching the age of three months, the first general vaccination against certain diseases is prescribed. Revaccination is done after three weeks. When the baby reaches one year of age, he will undergo a third similar vaccination. The rabies vaccine is also added here. It is important to remember that vaccinations should not be done when the kitten’s teeth change (at 4-8 months).

All kittens require affection, attention, care and, of course, love. When caring for and maintaining babies, there are some nuances and rules that you need to know about. We'll talk about this today.

Preparing the house for the arrival of a new tenant

Before you take a British kitten into your home, you need to carefully prepare and equip the space so that the pet is comfortable in it.

What will you need first?

The feeding area is equipped with bowls for food and water. It is best to purchase ceramic or metal cookware with a special coating. Plastic quickly scratches, dirt gets stuck in the cracks and is difficult to wash out, resulting in the formation of an excellent environment for the proliferation of microbes. In addition, low-quality polymer releases toxic substances into the feed, which will sooner or later lead to health problems.

Toilet tray. For the first time, a toilet with low sides is suitable - this will make it easier for the baby to climb into it. The tray is placed in a quiet, secluded corner, where no one will disturb the animal in dealing with its small and large affairs.

Filler. On this issue, consult with the breeder: he must tell you exactly what type the pet is accustomed to. If for some reason the filler is not suitable for the new owners, then you can gradually retrain the animal for any other. The contents of the pot should not be too fine and get wet quickly: cats are fastidious creatures and are unlikely to pick around in wet “sand,” which also sticks to their paws, preventing them from walking normally.

Carrying. Another important accessory. It will be useful for transporting the baby both from the nursery and for visiting the veterinarian or traveling to an exhibition.

Toys. Physical and psychological development is an important point in raising a pet. Items must have a quality certificate confirming their safety. You should not buy toys with a strong chemical smell or paint that peels off easily - all this indicates a low-quality product. You cannot use Christmas tree rain, small things, or foil as toys - if accidentally swallowed, they will cause digestive upset, blockage of the pharynx, esophagus or intestines, which is life-threatening.

Scratching post. Cats, even if they are very small, need their claws sharpened. If there is no room in the house for this process, then furniture and wallpaper will suffer. It is important not only to purchase a nail clipper, but also to accustom your pet to it. There are many methods for this that have already been covered. When choosing an accessory, they rely on the advice of the breeder, asking him which material is best suited for a particular kitten: wood, sesal, carpet.

Sleeping area. A small pet should know that there is a secluded corner in the house where he can hide from prying eyes, sleep or just relax. The bed is installed where the baby wants it. In the future, the sleeping bag can be rearranged where the owner needs it, moving it every day a few centimeters in the right direction.

Adaptation to a new home

It usually takes at least 3 days to acclimatize to an unfamiliar environment, sometimes more. At this time, the kitten behaves restlessly, constantly cries, and may refuse food.

In order for adaptation to be successful, the new resident is not disturbed and allowed to get comfortable. All that is needed from a person is to prepare the conditions for a full-fledged existence: put a bowl, a toilet, determine a place to sleep.

All hard-to-reach and potentially dangerous corners of the apartment are protected by any convenient method. If the baby is hiding, then there is no need to get him out by force, scaring him even more - sooner or later he will come out into the open world on his own.

Conduct a conversation with children, if there are any, that you cannot pester the kitten, squeeze it endlessly, and even more so drag it by the tail and torture it in every possible way.

After some time, the adapted tenant will begin a tour of the house, at which point it’s time to think about his safety.

Safety

Kids are young explorers who constantly stick their noses where they don’t belong. To minimize all kinds of injuries and force majeure circumstances, follow simple rules:

• All medications are hidden behind cabinet doors.
• The windows are covered with nets, the sashes are never left in the “window” position - there have been cases of suffocation.
• The entire population of the house is obliged to watch their step - at any moment you can step on a nimble baby.
• When closing the doors, monitor the location of the kitten so as not to get pinched.
• All storage rooms and especially cluttered rooms are kept closed.
• Trash cans are tightly closed with lids.
• Hide all small objects that could be accidentally swallowed out of sight.

Educational issues

Character and obedience depend on education. They approach the issue seriously and as responsibly as possible. The educational process is built depending on the individual characteristics of the kitten, but there are also general rules that must be followed.

• Under no circumstances should you play with your baby's hands. The animal will decide that biting and scratching is natural, and it will be problematic to prove otherwise in the future. There are toys for play.
• You can’t swing, much less hit, a new tenant. The pet will be afraid of the person and feel fear from an outstretched hand.
• Unwanted actions are stopped by clapping your hands or sternly shouting, but not in such a way that the animal pees in fear or hides in a corner for a long time.
• Any punishment must be timely, that is, carried out at the time of the crime, and not after a long period of time. In the latter case, the animal still will not understand why he received the kick and will harbor a grudge.

Feeding rules

• When choosing, firstly, they are based on the breeder’s recommendations and for the first time they feed according to the scheme to which the pet is accustomed. If there is a desire to switch to another type of feeding, then do this gradually and after consultation with specialists in this field.
• Secondly, they buy only high-quality, high-quality food labeled “for kittens.”
• Thirdly, the animal must eat at strictly defined hours. The regime should not be violated.
• Fourthly, you cannot buy food from a different manufacturer every time. In matters of feeding, stability is important - this is the basis of good digestion.
• Fifthly, don’t be lazy to read the etiquette. All ingredients must be natural and healthy, without unnecessary additives or unnecessary substances.

Always adhere to one type of feeding: with natural feeding, you should not introduce drying or pouching and vice versa. Adherents must maintain a gap of at least two hours between giving normal food and extruded food. Do not forget about constant access to fresh and clean water.

Two-month-old kittens are fed 4 times a day, not exceeding the norms indicated on the package. With a mixed diet, an approximate diet would be:

• in the morning, children's cottage cheese without sugar and additives;
• for second breakfast, boiled chicken or canned baby food;
• for lunch, dry food for kittens;
• for dinner minced meat or minced beef.

From four months of age, you can switch to three meals a day, and closer to 8-9 months, the number of meals is reduced to two times a day.

What not to do:

• Feed the kitten dog food.
• Use tubular bones in your diet.
• Give fish often. Too much phosphorus negatively affects kidney function, leading to the formation of stones.
• Drinking milk is a cause of intestinal upset.
• Feed the animal table scraps. Firstly, it is harmful, and secondly, you will develop a bad habit of begging for a tasty morsel and looking into the mouths of household members.

Kitten care

The first rule is the right food

British cats are large animals and require large amounts of protein to maintain a stable weight. In addition, biotin, B vitamins, vitamin A, and calcium must be included in the diet - they help maintain the rich color of the coat.

Seaweed supplements are ideal for improving tortoiseshell, red and chocolate coloration. But on lilac-colored pets it will lead to the appearance of a pinkish tint, and on blue and cream-colored pets, seafood will cause a noticeable darkening of the fur coat.

Rule two - grooming

They are accustomed to grooming procedures from childhood: cleaning ears, teeth, periodic combing. The developed habit of obeying and tolerating will eliminate the animal’s resistance at an appointment with a veterinarian.

The ears are examined once a week and cleaned if necessary. If there is a rash, redness, or unpleasant odor in the ear, seek qualified help.

As black plaque accumulates in the corners of the eyes, it is removed with a piece of cotton swab or a regular cloth napkin soaked in warm boiled water.

Nails are trimmed twice a month. Before the procedure, each claw is checked for damage.

Rule three - combing

Frequent brushing is not particularly necessary for the British, but most representatives of the breed love it, especially when you “sniff” them against the grain.

To care for your plush fur coat, purchase a comb with rubber teeth. Combing is carried out both in the direction of hair growth and against it. Such movements massage the skin, improve blood circulation, which means that the hairs receive additional nutrition and grow better.

British kittens should not be bathed often. It is better to dry clean it once a month using a special shampoo. The silicones included in the product clean the surface, making the coat soft, even more plush and voluminous.

Video from Animal Planet on how to care for kittens:

https://youtu.be/ytDPbT7JHTI

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