At mealtimes, cats eat little by little. What to do if your cat begins to eat poorly? The right time to feed

Country of origin: Great Britain
Known since: XIX century
Category: III (shorthair)

A British Shorthair cat cannot be confused with any other, even in the dark and by touch. These are massive, squat animals with a round head and plush fur. Muzzle with thick cheeks, a small nose and wide-set straight ears. A distinctive feature of appearance is a leather fold around the neck, giving the animal a lordly appearance.. Bright orange or dark honey round eyes are located on the midline of the muzzle.

British shorthair cat

Their character is also peculiar. Independent, intelligent and reserved, the British do not need constant human presence. They are characterized by innate aristocracy, love of freedom and dignity.

They will never allow themselves to do nasty things to their owner or misbehave in the house, but they will lose trust in a person if they are often shouted at or offended. British cats are friendly, balanced, clean, love to play at any age and really appreciate affectionate treatment, and when they don’t receive it, they become unsociable and withdrawn.

British cats are playful at any age

When their owner returns home, they sincerely rejoice at him and strive for communication, but they extremely rarely allow themselves to be picked up and even less often come on their own.

You need to raise your Briton diligently and diplomatically, and praise him more often for good deeds.

About the breed

The British are an exotic breed of cats, very loved by many in our country. The breed is especially popular in America and Europe.

The British cat is one of the most ancient breeds, its history goes back almost 2000 years, and, in all honesty, it’s probably worth calling it Roman, since its appearance in Foggy Albion was facilitated by the conquering legionnaires. But its character still speaks in favor of the fact that the British spirit turned out to be stronger, and the breed is even credited with being related to the fabulous Cheshire cat.

The homeland of these cats is considered to be Great Britain, however, there is no reliable historical data on the origin of this breed.

Some sources claim that The British are descended from crossing long-haired Persians with street mestizos, others report that these cats were brought to Britain as early as the 1st century AD. the ancient Romans during their conquests.

Appearance

The British Shorthair cat has an extremely impressive appearance, which is why it attracted attention at the end of the 19th century. At the exhibition in 1871, held in Great Britain, standards for various breeds of cats were first adopted and criteria for evaluating animals were defined.

The cat's head is round, with well-prominent cheeks, wide cheekbones, and a thick and short neck. The nose is straight, short, wide. The eyes are large, wide open, bright orange. Some have eye colors ranging from blue to emerald.

Appearance of a British shorthair cat

Size ears medium, wide at the base. The tips of the ears are rounded. The ears are set quite far back. Between the ears, approximately in the crown area, a plane is formed. The cat's body is squat and large. The chest is wide, the back is straight. The shoulders are massive and wide. Short, thick legs. The paws are dense and round. Thick tail of medium length, wide at the base and rounded at the end. The fur is dense and dense. She served as a reason to call this breed plush.

Color

Classic coat colors are considered to be uniform, solid gray-blue, as well as lilac. However, about sixty more options are acceptable. The main ones are listed below.

Smoky– contrasting color: the tips of the hair are black, and the undercoat is as light as possible. The darkest places are the back, head, paws. Lighter sides, neck, ears. Eyes orange or copper color.

British shorthair cat black smoke

Bicolor is a combination of primary and white colors in a 1/3 ratio. One ear must be painted, perhaps a large colored spot on the head. Colored spots on the back and legs are acceptable.

British shorthair bicolor cat

British shorthair cat, Siamese color

Tabby– a striped, marbled, clear pattern combining lines, rings and spots. There is a mark in the shape of the letter “M” on the forehead. There are three parallel lines on the back. The belly is spotted, there are circles on the hips, and clear patterns on the sides.

British shorthair tabby cat

Tortoiseshell– color combines black with red or blue with cream. These colors suggest a uniform combination of black (blue) and red (cream) colors. Tortoiseshell colors are not subject to such strict requirements as solid colors.

British Shorthair cat, tortoiseshell color

British cat character

The British Shorthair cat is a kind, intelligent and strong animal with a certain aristocratic behavior.

She is self-sufficient and independent. The animal calmly endures loneliness and finds something to do for itself. The British do not like to fawn on the owner and ask to be held. They show restraint and dignity inherent in high society. The cat will not scratch or bite, if the owner starts hugging or squeezing her. She will calmly free herself and leave if she doesn’t like it.

British cats don't like to be held

Despite their isolation, the British are attached to their owners, eagerly await their return home, joyfully greet them to tell about the past day, eat and purr on their knees. If your pet is not given attention, the animal may become withdrawn and unsociable. The British enjoy playing and running if they are in the mood. The cat does not allow itself to be stroked by strangers; it will stay away from strangers.

Contents and move

Although the breed is unpretentious, it requires attention from the owner.

The British have strong immunity and enjoy good health.

For a Briton you should equip a sleeping place

The cat likes to sleep where it likes best, but you should still buy a sleeping place for it - a cat basket with a soft insert or an ottoman. The sleeping place should be located away from a source of cold or draft. . Although cats don’t have colds as such, the most similar disease is... She can do it.

Bathing

It is harmful for a British breed cat to stay in the sun for a long time, as the fur may acquire a reddish tint.

Feeding

The British love to eat. Therefore, the owner must take into account this feature of his pet and monitor its weight. The cat should move a lot and play - this will help avoid gaining excess weight.

The cat's food should be well balanced, liquid food and jelly should be given, as this breed is prone to.

You can feed British cats high-quality ready-made food

Milk can be given to kittens up to three months. For adult animals, it is replaced with kefir or sour cream. You need to choose a wide bowl to make it easier for your cat to eat.

Don’t forget that drinking water should always be available to your cat.

Vaccination

Your cat must undergo a full range of vaccinations at a veterinary clinic.. Vaccinations protect your pet from dangerous diseases that can affect the animal.

The British need to undergo a full range of vaccinations

Cats of this breed have very thick hair, so with frequent licking, the animal's stomach becomes clogged with hairballs that are difficult to remove from the digestive system. To avoid this problem, your cat should be brushed regularly, at least once a week.

Your British dog needs regular brushing.

To remove hair from the esophagus, you can buy special food. During A shedding cat needs to be brushed more often. Pet stores, veterinary clinics and pharmacies sell special scratchers.

Kittens

The filler in the tray should be changed once every 2 days

The kitten must be accustomed to the tray in time, then he will use it. The filler in the tray must be changed at least once every two days. If this is not done, the cat will begin to walk in inappropriate places (on the carpet or on the bed) and the owner will be to blame for this. For one cat you need to have two trays, then the filler will have to be changed less often.

Video about the British Shorthair cat

The British cat is a plush miracle that will leave few people indifferent. It’s no wonder that British kittens have won the hearts of our compatriots - they are cute, calm and leisurely pets that get along well with children and dogs. They are affectionate, but in moderation; they cannot be called intrusive.

This breed of cat has its own characteristics, behavior, and care, which you must know before purchasing a pet.

Breed Features

British Shorthair cat - description of the breed is found in ancient sources. It has a rich pedigree, officially dating back to 43 AD. It was at that time that Claudius, the uncle of the murdered Emperor Caligula, having inherited an empty throne, decided to secure it by taking military action with Britain. He sent 4 Roman legions towards the islands. It so happened that the fierce legionnaires set foot on the shores of Britain not alone, but together with cats.

What does a British cat look like? The British are distinguished by their large size, with the male being much larger than the female. An adult British cat can weigh up to 5–8 kg. Representatives of this breed generally look very harmonious. British cats have a dense build and strong bones.

The British must have a compact body, a large head on a strong neck, and not too large strong paws. The breed of British cats is distinguished by the presence of a flexible, not very long, thick tail at the base, which has the shape of a cone with a rounded tip. The British straight-eared cat has a rounded muzzle profile, an elongated body, and a long tail that is slightly tapered towards the tip. British cats can have different colors: black, silver, lilac, spotted, tabby, tortoiseshell.

British Shorthair standard:

  1. The head is round and regular in shape. The skull is wide. The British breed means that the animal's face should be as close to a circle as possible.
  2. The nose is straight, short and wide. There is a small depression in the area of ​​the bridge of the nose.
  3. Low set small ears.
  4. The eyes are round and large. Most often - gold color.
  5. The body is strong, muscular and broad-boned.
  6. The coat can be long or short.
  7. Each Briton has its own color, which must fully comply with all the standards of a particular breed type.

Character of British breed cats

The British cat has an easy-going character. She is approachable and sociable, friendly and affectionate. Another positive character trait is that they get along well with all family members and other animals (except birds).

The character of British cats is ideal for people who spend a lot of time outside the home and do not have enough time to care for the animal’s fur. The cat is unobtrusive and is able to take care of its coat itself. A plush pet will never show its weakness under any circumstances. The reason for this is innate aristocracy.

The character of British cats is very proud. If you forgot to feed your pet, then he will definitely not ask for anything and will remain hungry. After that, he will only look at you as if you are guilty of all mortal sins.

British cat colors

The first officially recognized British woman was pure white. The desire to breed a large, strong, hardy cat with a calm character has led to the fact that the colors of British cats include 25 species. Some species are so rare that few people can afford them.

The types of British cats are varied. The first representatives had a thick undercoat and short hair. Relationship with the Persian breed gave rise to the British semi-longhair.

Types of colors can be divided into groups depending on the type of pattern, the predominance of a particular color and the type of pigmentation. British Blue is the standard color of the breed. Its coat is monochromatic, without light hairs; the undercoat is sometimes a little lighter. The lighter the coat, the more expensive the British Blue cat is valued. In kittens, it is acceptable to have a residual pattern in the first months of life, which completely disappears by the age of 1 year. The myth that British Blues must have bright orange eyes is a misconception. All kittens are born with blue or gray dull eyes.

Very rare British dogs of cinnamon and fawn colors, more often found - black, blue, white, red, chocolate, lilac.

The lilac British cat has a solid color, combining blue and pink. It should be remembered that black and brown British Shorthair cats should not have light tan. Cinnamon is a very attractive but rare color of the British cinnamon cat breed. The British White cat may have blue or multi-colored eyes. The Golden Brittany has large eyes of a bright emerald color, which are set quite wide. Small ears with rounded tips are slightly tilted forward. The British golden cat has limbs like all British cats - quite strong, with rounded paws. You can find out more about British cats of the selected species from the breeder. There you will receive complete information about the pedigree.

Cat care

Caring for a British cat is a unique skill, and to some extent even a talent. It’s good that manufacturers of various cat accessories think about the owners, and from year to year modernized models of houses, combs, leashes, shampoos, etc. appear on the cat accessories market, which are used to care for a pet. Your task is to understand the tools for caring for cats and use them skillfully.

So, the owner of a domestic British cat who lives exclusively in an apartment will be interested in the question of the tray and its filler. In practice, there are many cases when owners are forced to give up a pet just because of the unpleasant odor emanating from the toilet room. In this case, you can find a solution in caring for a British shorthair cat by choosing the right tray and filler for it. Do not under any circumstances skimp or cut out a cat's toilet space from cardboard or wood - these materials become damp and rot. The cat itself will soon not want to use such a toilet. For cat litter, it is better to buy a plastic tray, preferably with a grid.

The next factor is the filler. Some British cats do not need it, but others have a natural instinct to dig and dig. In this case, you also shouldn’t save money and collect dirty sand on the street. Firstly, sand does not neutralize the smell, and secondly, it can soon spread throughout the entire apartment thanks to the paws of a furry pet. It is better to buy granules that tend to clump when exposed to moisture, that is, you do not have to change the entire tray when the cat relieves itself; it will be enough to replace a lump of wet granules.

An important point in caring for British cats is hygiene.

The next deterrent is the wool. If there is severe shedding, contact your veterinarian; this may be a consequence of vitamin deficiency. Next, start combing. First, get your cat used to the brush, don’t hurt it, don’t pin it in corners, don’t frighten it. If these conditions are met, the combing process will bring pleasure to both you and your pet.

Sometimes it’s nice to pamper your favorite miracle. Store shelves are now bursting with various toys, vitamins, and scratching posts. These little things, which at first glance may seem like excess, will significantly affect the cat’s life. She herself will be able to sharpen her teeth on toys and claws - on a special board, and not your sofa. British kittens - their character and caring for them requires a special approach. Take care of cats correctly and get real pleasure from your work.

Cat food

If you still think that the British cat breed can eat what falls from its owners’ table, then you are deeply mistaken. Table scraps, bones, raw meat, and sweets can have a detrimental effect on the health of your furry friend. The diet of a pet, like the diet of a person, should consist of the required daily intake of nutrients. On average, the diet of mature Britons should include 150 g of protein, 50 g of carbohydrates and substances necessary for digestion, water and vitamins every day. It is not advisable to leave a British cat without food for 2-3 days; it is important to monitor the presence of water in its bowl. Please note that the British Shorthair cat breed is very clean.

If her bowl is dirty, she may refuse to eat.

Based on this, you have several feeding options. Firstly, this is natural food, that is, one that you made for the sake of your beloved pet. Be prepared to sacrifice your time and energy for the sake of your pet's health. But it’s not so difficult to find a way out of this situation - cook in your free time for the whole week, distributing portions into bags and freezing them in the refrigerator.

What can you cook? In general, each dish should correspond to the proportion - 60–70% meat or fish, 15–20% vegetables, the rest cereals. Meat is the main product in a pet’s diet because it contains the substance taurine, a deficiency of which leads to poor vision and disruption of the nervous and cardiovascular systems. Cat treats are, of course, fermented milk products. However, it should be remembered that British cats should not consume foods with a high percentage of fat content; it is better to give light kefir and fermented baked milk.

Secondly, you can use industrial feed. The bright packaging depicts healthy and joyful animals, which attracts owners. Let's discover a simple truth - no matter how expensive food is, it will never replace natural products. The food still has its advantages: the manufacturers scientifically calculated the cats’ required diet and based on this they prepared a treat for them. If you still decide to buy food for your pet, then alternate it with natural products. Remember - you are responsible for those you have tamed.

Cat health

The key to a pet's health is the result of the attention and care of its owner. After all, how nice it is to watch a healthy and active cat that has no problems with appetite, breathing and coordination of movements. Therefore, in addition to regular independent supervision, which is important, it is necessary to periodically show your pet to a veterinarian, because many diseases may not be visible to the human eye. For example, it is very difficult to recognize cancer, which often manifests itself in adult cats; in some cases, it may not interfere with their life processes.

British cats can be sick with AIDS, cystitis and a number of other diseases that can only be identified by a specialist.

So what can you do to prevent your meowing friend from feeling unwell? A proven method is to feel the cat's nose. In a healthy pet it will be damp and cool, but if it is dry and hot, this is the first cause for concern.

Try to prevent cat poisoning by hiding all toxic substances in the house in advance. Make sure that your cat does not come into contact with foreign animals that could spread the infection. This doesn't just apply to dogs or cats; Often cats get sick due to bites from ticks, fleas and other insects. In this case, before a walk, it is advisable to treat the animal’s fur with special protective equipment.

Poor nutrition is a direct path to stomach or liver disease. When feeding a British breed cat only dry food, you are putting the animal in real danger. In addition, unsuitable food can cause caries in your pet. Therefore, if your cat suddenly starts eating grass while on a walk, do not interfere under any circumstances. The pet is guided by the instinct of self-preservation; this is how its ability to self-medicate is manifested. Hence the well-known phrase “lick the wounds”: the fact is that cat saliva contains the substance lysozyme, under the influence of which the wound is neutralized and heals faster. Therefore, there is no need to worry about minor scratches and wounds.

Try to remove all objects from your home that could injure your cat.

Small kittens need feeding 2 times more often than an adult cat. Up to 2 months, a small kitten should eat 5-6 times a day in small portions, that is, it should be fed little by little, but often.

It is wise to provide your kitten with constant access to food.

This ensures on-demand feeding. Cats very rarely transmit. If overeating does happen, then it is better to return to feeding by the hour.

Harmful products:

  • butter and other fats;
  • pork;
  • bird bones:
  • sausage;
  • raw fish.

In conclusion, one more tip on how to feed a one-month-old kitten - if the kitten refuses to eat from the bowl, offer him new food from your hands and the problem in most cases will be resolved immediately. Feed your little pet correctly, and every time he will gift you with his irrepressible cheerfulness and soothing purr.

Basic information regarding cat health will help you sense danger early and take action. Remember, the life and health of a living creature depends on your attention.

Raising a pet

On advertising posters, in glossy magazines, and television screensavers, you can often see the main character - a small kitten, so funny, helpless, on weak legs, who takes his first hesitant steps. And an unconscious desire arises to give your child the same fluffy living toy. The search begins for a newborn kitten in order to quickly take it from the cat and bring it into your home. But is this right? At what age should I adopt a kitten?

Raising cats is not only a necessary process, but also an exciting one for you and your cat. By taking home an animal, you agree to be responsible for it. The way you raise your cat will affect its future attitude towards you and family members, its character and habits.

The first thing you need to start the process of raising a cat is to give it a name. Choose a nickname that the kitten will respond to instantly—short and sonorous. Try to call the animal to you with all the names you have chosen for it, and you will understand which one you should choose by its reaction.

Tray training is an obligatory part of training from the first days of your pet's arrival in your home.

Pet stores offer many different products that will help you set up your cat's litter box. Choose the option that is most convenient for you and your pet. If he is still just a kitten, buy a small tray that is the right size. Bring the cat to its private litter box; let her remember the way to him. If the animal has done its “dirty deed” in the wrong place, explain to it that this is not possible and bring it back to the tray. Do not scold her under any circumstances, otherwise the animal will be afraid and will not become your friend. With this method of calmly explaining the situation, you will sooner or later instill in the cat “what is good and what is bad.”

Raising cats, like raising children, requires a lot of patience. In order for the animal to quickly understand what is required of it, reward it as often as possible. The British cat sharpened his claws on a special board, and not on the back of the sofa - praise him, stroke him. Show encouragement not only with affection, but also with feeding (as circus animals are fed when they perform a trick).

The British cat does not understand human speech, but is able to understand a person by intonation, behavior towards him and the pronunciation of words often used towards him (the name of the pet, the commands “eat”, “come here” and others).

Play with your cat, give her attention and then she, in turn, will be affectionate and become your friend.

Pet mating

Having sheltered a female kitten in your home, you must understand that at some point in her life there will be a period of puberty, which will be associated with the solution of many issues.

In British cats, puberty begins at 7–8 months of age.

The behavior of your pet will tell you about the beginning of this period. Usually cats become more affectionate and begin to roll on the floor, rubbing themselves against their owners’ legs and furniture for a long time. If you notice this behavior, you know that your cat has grown up and will soon be ready to become a mother. In addition, breeding British Shorthair cats can bring good income.

If you have decided to breed, take your time. Let the cat reach the age of 1 year, or better yet, wait until she is 1.5 years old. Mating cats at an early age may be unsuccessful (which will affect the health of the cat and her kittens).

When you and your kitty are ready and in the mood for mating, start looking for a suitable gentleman. It is better to look for applicants at exhibitions, but you can also use the search for advertisements about mating in the press. Look carefully at the color of the cat and the characteristics of the breed. After all, the breed and coat color will mainly influence the appearance of future kittens.

Having chosen a worthy groom for your kitty, carefully negotiate the mating conditions with his owners. This refers not only to monetary issues, but also to the premises in which the preparation and the process itself will take place. The place should be warm, clean and spacious. Bring everything you need with you: your usual cat eater, its bowls, tray, rug. You can take her favorite toys. The cat will be nervous when in a strange room. To avoid this, take her things that will create a familiar home environment.

Mating cats must be safe for both participants. Owners should take their pets to a veterinarian to be checked for invasive, fungal, infectious and viral diseases.

2 weeks before the process, it is necessary to carry out preventive deworming of animals.

When everything is ready, you can take your cat to visit the cat. You need to be prepared for the fact that animals may react to each other differently. At the beginning of the process, British cats hiss at cats and allow them to approach them after 3–5 attempts. It all depends on the stage of puberty.

Mating of cats will be successful if all its points are observed correctly. This mainly depends on the cat's readiness, because the cat can do this at any time. The process itself lasts about 7 minutes, after which ejaculation occurs. After the first time, fertilization may not occur, so animals are usually left alone for up to 3 days. After this, you can take your kitty home. Kittens are born after 58–68 days.

Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and the care of companion animals. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in Veterinary Medicine and Surgery. He has been working at the same animal clinic in his hometown for over 20 years.

Number of sources used in this article: . You will find a list of them at the bottom of the page.

Often cats get very excited when feeding time approaches and will either eat too quickly or eat too much. If your cat swallows food too quickly, it may vomit and cause digestive problems; A cat may also become overweight due to overeating or eating food too quickly. Cat owners can encourage their cat to eat slowly and properly by using special feeding containers or other cat feeding techniques.

Steps

Special containers for feeding

    Distribute your cat's food evenly on a flat plate or baking sheet. You can encourage your cat to eat slowly by spreading dry food evenly on a flat surface, such as a flat plate or baking tray. This way, your cat will only have to eat a few pellets of dry food or a smaller amount of wet food at a time.

    Try feeding your cat using a special puzzle feeder. You can buy or make your own puzzle feeder for your cat, which will also help develop your pet's mind. Your cat will have to work hard to get food out of this toy. This way, she will not be able to swallow the whole meal at once, since the food will fall out of the toy in small portions. You can buy a pre-made feeder or make your own by gluing together several cardboard toilet paper rolls and sticking them to a flat surface. Then you can put a few pellets of food in each sleeve.

    Smear the wet food into the bottom of your cat's bowl. This will make the cat eat more slowly because it will not be able to lick off all the food in one sitting. The animal will have to eat slowly, swallowing the food before moving on to the next portion.

    Place the golf ball in the food bowl. A tennis or golf ball (or other obstacle) will cause your cat to eat more slowly because she will have to pause to move the object or approach the bowl from a different direction.

    • The barrier should be large enough to prevent the cat from swallowing it (a golf or tennis ball will do).
  1. Buy a bowl with ledges. Many pet supply stores sell cat and dog bowls with a large ridge in the middle or several small ridges. distributed throughout the bowl. Thanks to this bowl, your cat will learn to eat more slowly and take less food at a time.

  2. Buy an automatic feeder. The automatic feeder is designed in such a way that only the owner can control the portion of food that the cat will receive at a time (by pressing a button). Many feeders have digital timers, so you'll know exactly how much food your cat is getting at one time. The feeder also has volume sensors to help you feed your cat no less or more food than necessary.

    • You can set the feeder to give your cat smaller amounts of food throughout the day, which will help her eat more slowly.

Content:

Cats are quite selective in their food. However, if you follow the feeding rules, the animal will have an excellent appetite.

The right time to feed

Habit plays a special role in the life of cats. Firstly, it concerns the daily routine. Secondly, regularity is important. You should try to give food to your pets at the same time. Even if the pet owner has forgotten, the “tiger cub” will make itself known.

It is best if your cat eats little by little throughout the day. But for animal owners this may not be very convenient in terms of time. Adult cats may well only eat in the morning and evening. To avoid begging at the table, the animal is fed well in advance of family members eating. Cats older than one year do not eat everything at once and often leave food in the bowl. They eat little by little. They can be fed three times a day.

Place for a bowl

The bowl is located in a secluded corner so that nothing interferes with the cat’s eating.

The bowl is placed on a smooth, but at the same time slightly rough surface. To prevent the animal from staining the floor or carpet, place an oilcloth or tray under the bowl, because cats have a habit of pulling out food and feasting on it on the floor.

The number of bowls is equal to the number of cats in the house.

How to feed?

Neither hot nor cold food is suitable for a small cat's stomach. Wet food, stored in the refrigerator, is left in the room for some time before feeding to warm up a little. This food is given as much as the cat can eat in one meal. Unpacked cans of food are kept hermetically sealed with lids in the refrigerator. Older cats may go to the bowl 4 or 5 times during the day, depending on their weight and lifestyle. Wet food left in a cat's dish after a meal is thrown away after thirty or sixty minutes, but no more. If the food dries out and smells bad, furry gourmets will no longer eat it. This is why your cat's dishes should always be kept clean. Dry food stays in the plate longer - it doesn’t spoil as quickly.

The calorie intake of the cat depends on the cat’s lifestyle and size. Large cat breeds and fidgety cats eat more. The label of a jar of wet food indicates its calorie content, that is, 400 g contains about 1200 kcal. Dry food (100 g) contains about 1500 kcal. The owner decides how much food the animal will consume. For cats weighing three kilograms, the norm would be 900 kcal. For those who weigh four kilograms or more – 1200-1500 kcal per day.

What vitamins do cats need?

Tauric acid is vital for striped purrs. The animal's body does not produce it. To keep the skin, eyes and gastrointestinal tract of cats normal, their diet must include dairy products, boiled chicken or pork liver, which contains vitamin A.

Ready-made food: yes or no?

Fresh meat or canned food? The question remains relevant among cat lovers.

Pros of dry and wet food:

  • saves time;
  • Ready-made feed contains optimal quantities of nutrients, beneficial substances and vitamins. Biologists, veterinarians and nutritionists test the quality of the product on many cats.
Disadvantages of dry and wet food:
  • high-quality varieties of professional food are expensive, but cheap ones are full of flavorings, flavoring additives and are made from meat by-products;
  • The cat's stomach adapts to a specific type of food, be it natural food or food. During the digestion process, it releases special enzymes that promote better absorption of what is consumed. The cat's body does not produce both types of enzymes at once.
Whether to choose ready-made food or natural food is the decision of the animal owner. It is imperative to take into account that if your pet eats mostly dry food, it absorbs a sufficient amount of water. Clean drinking water must be within reach.

About natural food and treats

Raw meat or fish is not suitable for cats. They can only be included in the menu in boiled form. And no more than a couple of times a week. Bones are excluded as food. The fact is that fragments from them can injure a cat’s esophagus. At the owner's request, you can offer your pet a boiled egg, a spoonful of cream, cottage cheese or a piece of cheese. Milk is preferable for babies. But chocolate and alcohol are cat poisons. It is not worth feeding an animal for a long time the same things that people eat: an abundance of sugar and spices will not benefit the animal.

In their emails to the editor, cat owners often complain: we wake up in the morning and there is vomit near the food bowl, pieces of undigested food are visible, etc. Moreover, most often such collisions happen to a cat at night; During the day everything seems to be fine. Is there any cause for concern? We turned to specialists for clarification.

If your cat vomits soon after eating, meaning that the food has not yet had time to be digested and absorbed by the body, then this may indeed indicate a serious problem. But don't panic ahead of time! Cats themselves are very interesting creatures. In principle, they do not eat anything that is not suitable for food - pieces of plastic, paper, needles, threads and yarn, but such cases do occur. This is evidenced by both my practice and letters from our readers. Sometimes all these obviously inedible things get stuck in the esophagus. When a cat starts a “normal” meal, she can easily vomit what she eats. The picture is different - your cat is absolutely healthy, but she suddenly began to eat very quickly or eat food in very large volumes, much more than she can digest. In this case, excess food also comes out through vomiting!

So are we dealing with a problem or a false alarm? Here are some practical tips for you.

First. Watch how your pet eats food. He is in a hurry, choking - limit the portions. Let your cat eat a little, but more often. By the way, this method of eating is a good prevention of obesity.

Second. Your cat may ingest her own hairballs while washing or grooming herself. Take the initiative and help your cat groom itself, especially if it is a long-haired breed. Buy an effective and convenient comb-comb (there is a wide selection from well-known manufacturers in pet stores and online stores) and make it a rule to comb your pet periodically, as needed. If you are not confident in your abilities, try talking to a veterinarian, or seek the services of professional grooming salons.

Third. Very often, nausea and vomiting in cats is caused by unmotivated and rapid changes in diet and regimen. Some owners like to experiment with food from different manufacturers or simply randomly, at their own discretion, feed their cat a wide variety of foods. This is fundamentally wrong.

Of course, there are cases when, for medical reasons or as prescribed by a veterinarian, it is necessary to adjust the diet. But this is done strictly stepwise, new products are introduced in stages, their share increases gradually and only then is brought to the optimum. In general, the process of transferring a cat to a new diet takes about a week, sometimes a little more, depending on the characteristics of the particular animal. There is also an intolerance by animals to certain foods and even treats. When introducing a new food or treat, always check your pet's reaction. Everything went well - we can continue further.

Fourth. In some cases, nausea after eating may be the result of an allergic reaction. This may require specialist advice.

If in any doubt, call or take your animal to a veterinarian. He will either dispel your fears and anxieties, or prescribe appropriate treatment.