What to feed a lop-eared cat at home

If the cat shows interest in grass, it should be bought in pet stores. It is sold in the form of grains, which are planted in the ground to sprout a useful treat.

Scottish lop-eared cats: the rules of feeding at home

In order for the pet to grow up healthy and beautiful, it is necessary to choose the right diet for him. And Scottish lop-eared cats are no exception. Like all purebred animals, they need quality food rich in vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. If you decide to get a cat of this breed, be sure to read the recommendations on its feeding.

When making a feeding regimen for your lop-eared pet, keep in mind that feeding should take place in compliance with the schedule:

Of course, the portion size also depends on the age of the pet. Cats' diets should include:

Some veterinarians assure that cats do not need carbohydrates because animals do not have an enzyme called amylase, which is responsible for their digestion. But this statement can be challenged, where will the cat get its energy if not from complex carbohydrates.

To calculate a cat's daily calorie needs, you need to take into account the cat's weight and lifestyle, so here are only approximate figures to guide you:

• for a baby – 838 kJ (200 kcal.);
• for a nursing Scottie – 1,047.4 kJ (250 kcal);
• for a pregnant and developing housecat – 419 kJ (100 kcal);
• for an obese cat, 251.4 kJ (59.9 kcal);
• for an aging fluffy cat, 335.2 kJ (80 kcal).

Ideally, the amount of protein in relation to fat and carbohydrates should be 3/1.5/1.

Powerful and stocky Scottish cats put more strain on their joints than lighter cats

What to Consider When Choosing a Food

You can provide your pet with everything he needs from one of three food options. A Scottish pet's diet can consist of:

Features of the choice of food

Choosing food for Scottish lop-eared cats, it is not always possible to save money. The basis of cheap food often consists of by-products and cereals, which do not contribute to the proper development of the animal and have a negative impact on the sensitive digestive system of the pet. So if you are going to buy food in a store, look for premium, super-premium and holistic products.

Remember that wet and dry food can only be combined if they are from the same manufacturer. Do not combine different products at the same meal. For example, wet food in the evening and dry food in the morning or vice versa.

For kittens

It is necessary to think about buying food for a Scottish lop-eared kitten only a month after the birth of the baby. Before that, he gets everything he needs with his mother's milk. From one month of age to the diet of the kitten introduce small portions of finely chopped meat and special foods. Dry and hard pellets should preferably be soaked in a small amount of water. This will make it easier for the kitten to eat.

Table: Cat food for lop-eared kittens

Photo Gallery: kitten food for Scottish Lop

Wahre Liebe Junge – a full-fledged super-premium quality food for kittens from 2 months to 1 year Wahre Liebe Junge – a full-fledged super-premium quality food for kittens from 2 months to 1 year Hill's Science Plan Kitten Tuna is excellent for supporting immunity and a healthy digestion 1st Choice Kitten is the ideal formula for beginning complementary feeding from 2 months of age, when a kitten needs new sources of nutrition instead of mother's milk 1st Choice Kitten is the ideal formula for beginning complementary feeding from 2 months of age, when a kitten needs new sources of nutrition instead of mother's milk Royal Canin Kitten Instinctive helps support the kitten's natural defence mechanisms during the second growth phase The Royal Canin British Shorthair Kitten is specially formulated for shorthair British kittens and covers all their physiological needs

How common are food allergies in Scottish lop cats?

Food allergies are quite common among cats these days. Food allergies usually occur when a Scottish Fold is exposed to specific allergens over a long period of time. Allergies can be to wheat or corn, for example. If consumed regularly, these supplements can disrupt your cat's digestion and lead to the development of food allergies.

Approximate diet for a Scottish Fold kitten up to a year old?

It is recommended that kittens be fed super-premium foods from manufacturers such as: Royal Canin, Acana, Orijen, Applaws, Schesir, Leonardo. Acana and Orijen are similar in composition and ingredients. Royal Canin has more grains than either Orijen or Acana, which have more protein.

When a kitten reaches the age of 8 months or older, the following foods can be added to his diet:
– Special food (dry or wet) adapted to the cat's age, weight and health (e.g., dermatological, liver, kidney and other conditions),
– Beef, chicken, fish (boneless, lightly cooked),
– dairy products (cheese, yogurt),
– cereals soaked in milk or broth,
– Rice, buckwheat or oatmeal cooked in water or beef/chicken broth,
– raw and cooked vegetables and fruits (raw carrots and apples; cooked cauliflower and green beans)
– Boiled egg or raw egg yolk (maximum twice a week).

List of prohibited foods for the Scottish lop cat:
– Pork, lamb, horse meat (meat, offal, bones),
– fish or chicken bones,
– sausages and sausage of any kind,
– fried foods, sauces or any foods containing sauce,
– human canned foods,
– fermented vegetables (potatoes, peas, beans),
– preservatives (+ any kind of food additives),
– chocolate, hazelnuts, candy in general,
– freshly baked bread.

Natural food for Scottish cats

If you select quality products and combine them correctly in the daily menu, a natural diet will be very beneficial for Scotties. Each pet owner should clearly know which foods can be consumed, and which are under the strictest prohibition, as they can provoke various diseases.

Allowed food set

In addition to the list of allowed products, you need to pay attention to how much and how often they can and should be given, as well as what are the features of their preparation:

1. Meat – Meat should be given every day. The meat portion should make up at least 50% of the total daily food intake, the ideal amount being 90%. Meat is suitable only lean, lean varieties. The way it is served is raw, but it must be frozen for 3 days. In boiled form, it is recommended to give it only to Scottish kittens. For adults, boiled meat will not bring any benefit, since after heat treatment it loses all of its useful properties.
2. By-products – This includes chicken navels and liver, kidneys, beef liver, and heart. By-products, as well as meat, in the diet should be a lot, not less than 70%. Heart contains substances such as taurine and amino acid, elements necessary for the normal functioning of the entire feline body. Liver is useful, but heavy enough for cats, you can give it no more than 2 times a week. It is better to buy turkey liver, it is more pure, unlike chicken or beef.
3. Bones – Only chicken neck bones are suitable. It is recommended to give them to kittens to replenish the necessary amount of calcium in the body. They are passed through a meat grinder and served with meat products.
4. Fish – Is not a staple in a Scottish cat's diet. It can be introduced into the cat's menu not earlier than 5 months of age. Recommended varieties: tuna, hake, pilchard and catfish. Fish should be served only boiled, cut into small pieces, strictly boneless.
5. Dairy products and sour milk: necessary components in the diet of the Scotsman, but with some nuances in the daily menu:
   • cottage cheese – Low-fat, fresh, should be present several times a week in the kitten's diet;
   • cheese – only unsalted and of minimum fat content;
   • kefir – can be given every day;
   • ryazhenka – allowed to eat several times a week.

   Features of natural nutrition for Scottish kittens

   

   Feeding a little Scottish has its own peculiarities. Each month, as your pet matures, new foods should be added to his diet. It is important to observe the correct combination of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Protein of animal origin should prevail to ensure the normal development of the muscular corset.

   Feeding a kitten from 1 to 2 months of age

   The volume of food per day – up to 120 g. Be sure to give raw lean meat, ideally chicken or turkey. If the kitten grows without mother's milk, the introduction to the diet of meat can begin at 3 weeks. It is chopped with a meat grinder so that the consistency of minced meat is obtained.

   From 1.5 months of age, the meat can be cut into small pieces. Preference should be given to chicken, turkey and rabbit meat. Beef is not recommended, because it has wide fibers, and the kitten's body can not properly digest them. Also begin to introduce porridge, boiled in a lot of water, so that a liquid consistency is obtained.

   Diet at 2 and 3 months

   The food volume of a growing kitten increases to 160-180 g per day. Meat is the basis of the diet, cut into cubes. Be sure to have vegetables in the diet – they are boiled, chopped finely and mixed with the meat. Scotties from 2 to 3 months of age can begin to accustom the kitten to industrial food, dry or wet.

   Feeding a 3 and 4 month old baby

   

   This age is characterized by active growth of the kitten, the recruitment of muscle mass. In addition to sliced meat and porridges with vegetables, the little Scotsman should be given purchased vitamins, which contain calcium.

   Mixed diet

   

   A mixed diet is a combination of natural and industrial feeds. When feeding a Scottish lop-eared cat with a mixed diet, there are a few important points to keep in mind:

   • Natural food should not be given along with dry food;
   • Wet and dry industrial food should not be given until 4-5 hours after feeding with natural food;
   • abrupt and frequent changes of homemade food with store-bought food is undesirable, as it has a negative effect on the cat's digestive system.

   The digestion of both natural foods and industrial "croutons" involves different gastrointestinal mechanisms, so frequent changes of food can lead to digestive disorders.

   Vitamins and minerals

   Natural food is most often unbalanced in vitamins, micro- and macronutrients, so the Scottish lop cats need additional vitamin supplementation. For this purpose, the pet is given complex vitamin or biologically active supplements.

   The owner should keep in mind that vitamins and supplements can not pick up on their own, it should be entrusted to a veterinarian. Specialist takes into account the general state of health and coat, age and mobility of the animal. Usually such supplements are used in courses, once every 6 or 12 months.

   Mixed variant

   The option of feeding, which combines natural and industrial food, also has the right to exist. A few simple rules should be followed:

   • Dry food should not be given at the same time as natural food;
   • Make sure you wait at least four hours after swallowing nature food before feeding it with industrial food;
   • frequent changes of homemade and industrial food are not recommended by veterinarians, because different gastrointestinal mechanisms are used for digestion and problems may arise.

   What shouldn't you give?

   We've taken you through the nutritional rules in detail, discussing what you can give Scottish lop-eared cats. Let's now determine what they can't have.

   1. Food from the owner's table. Smoked foods, pickles, confectionery are harmful to the little body.
   2. Milk for pets over a year old can be destructive.
   3. Fodder of low quality. We have already said that they are made from low quality ingredients and are only harmful to "Scotsmen".
   4. Fatty meats: Pork, lamb are hard to digest and can lead to digestive disorders.
   5. Raw, unprocessed meatMeat that may contain parasites.
   6. River fish River fish is prohibited because it contains a large number of small bones.
   7. Onions, potatoes are not digestible in cats.
   8. Parsley, dill, cilantro – may discourage a cat from eating.

   Fatty meat, baked goods, pastries will lead to obesity of your pet, especially if he is neutered. So don't train your cat on them from infancy. If you do not know the taste of a dish, it is easy to refuse it.

   Frequent consumption of sweet fruits is undesirable, as they can lead to diabetes in your pet.

   Learn more about the rules of feeding Scottish lop-eared cats by watching the following video.

   Highlights

   Keeping Scottish cats is simple enough, nevertheless, you need to know the main points in order not to do any harm.

   Feeding

   An adult Scottish lop-eared cat, like a straight-eared cat, takes a meal twice a day if it eats meat. On dry food, the cat may also take a meal in the morning and evening, or the food may be available at all times. We recommend sticking with the first option if possible, as then the pet doesn't overeat. It is also a healthier option for keeping the organs healthy. You can find out more about feeding by clicking on the buttons.

   Care

   When you have a Scottish lop-eared kitten at home, but you do not know how to properly care for, if you have no experience, be sure to read a few articles first. For example, a Scottish cat requires periodic grooming for her coat, ears and claws. Some also need dental and eye care. Read about this in our articles.

   Regular checkups at the vet

   Every owner should make it a rule to regularly, about once a year, show his pet to the veterinarian, even if everything is outwardly normal.

   In addition, you should also do the examination yourself. At least once a week, you should pull the coat apart in different places and look at the condition of the skin: are there any fleas, dandruff, rashes, sores, redness? It is also worth checking her anus: is it sore and bloody?

   You should also look in the litter box. Yellow feces indicate gallbladder or liver problems, and combined with diarrhea, could indicate an infection. If the cat poops black, this may also indicate liver problems. In addition, the feces should be free of traces of blood and worms.

   Regular examination of the ears will detect various inflammatory and tick diseases at an early stage. If you see black plaque and inflammation, that's a reason to see your veterinarian.

   Don't forget to check your teeth and gums, too. Cats don't like it, but if you accustom yours to this procedure from childhood, it won't be anything out of the ordinary for him.

   Also pay attention to your cat's behavior. If it is lethargic and sad or too excited, meows a lot for no reason, scratches its ear, tilts its head to one side all the time, eats poorly or excessively, this may indicate various illnesses. Without experience you will not know what is wrong. Therefore it is recommended to find a good veterinarian and seek his advice as soon as the problem appears.

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   Vaccinations

   Although lop-eared Scotties are known for their strong health, they can still exhibit various types of diseases, among which "stiff tails" are considered common. This disease is characterized by the formation of some kind of seals on the tail caused by a gene mutation, and is usually noticed after a few weeks from the birth of the kitten. These lumps not only make the animal feel painful, but can also lead to paralysis or death. To prevent this, you need to buy kittens only in specialized catteries, where they are vaccinated. Once the little miracle appeared in the house, it is important to worry about getting it all the necessary set of vaccinations. It is worth noting that you can only vaccinate a healthy cat.

   At one month of age, to prevent worming, the baby is given a special suspension. It should also be given every four months.

   The first vaccination is usually performed at the age of three months of a Scottish cat, for this purpose, a complex vaccine is used, the effect of which is directed simultaneously against several diseases. The reaction is monitored three weeks after vaccination and the vaccination is given every year thereafter. When a kitten is 3 to 6 months old, the vaccination is given against ringworm, and at one year of age the vaccination is given against rabies. Get more information about the types and timing of vaccinations by the veterinarian, who will register the kitten and mark vaccinations in his passport.

   Nutritional features

   Scottish lop-eared cats are insanely popular. These beauties are loved by many people who appreciate in animals kind and calm character. It is impossible not to mention the amazingly soft, plush coat of these pets. Of course, it will remain as such for many years, if you take care about nutrition cats.

   Many people wonder what is the advantage of feeding ready-made food to Scottish pets over food from the table. It should be borne in mind that not all foods that people eat have the right amount of essential components and vitamins in their composition. Some foods should not be eaten by cats at all.

   As for ready-made industrial food, it already includes all the necessary vitamins and minerals. All ingredients are balanced.

   Professional products often contain special vitamin supplements, so that cats do not have to be given different supplements.

   Prepared food for cats of all breeds is available in a huge range. Consumer choice is made of products with different flavors – picking the perfect solution for your favorite Scottie is not difficult. With so many choices, you can diversify your cat's menu rather than giving him the same thing all the time.

   Prepared foods do not need to be prepared in advance for the Scottish lop-eared cat. You just have to put them in a bowl and that's it. The main thing is to choose for your pet what suits him better – dry or wet treats.

   You can get "lost" in the wide range of branded foods, which makes many owners wonder which product is the best and most suitable. It is important to start with the class of food. The main thing is not to give pets economy class treats, as they can cause serious harm to the pets' health, especially if you feed them such products constantly.

   Quality branded premium or super-premium food should be fed to lop-eared Scotties 2-3 times a day – this is the standard norm. If the diet for the kitty will be compiled competently, the pet will be healthy and energetic. Meat should always be the basis of the diet, regardless of whether you give ready-made food or resort to natural fresh products.

   Food Description

   There are several food options, suitable for lop-eared Scotties, namely:

   The most popular are rightly recognized as dry food. The granules that make up such products have a long shelf life. They do not need to be cooked, boiled or stewed beforehand – they are immediately poured into bowls and then they can be eaten. The main thing is to remember that such treats should not be given to very young kittens.

   While little Scottish babies still have milk teeth, they will not be able to chew pellets properly. When the teeth loosen and change, the gums can be severely injured when eating this kind of food. When teeth are erupting and growing, dry food can cause bite damage and distortion of the incisors – this is very important to consider.

   Sometimes kittens (this also happens with adult cats) don't chew the pellets, but swallow them whole at once. Nothing good can come from such ingestions. As a result, it can lead to a number of problems:

   For adults, on the other hand, dry food is fine. Not only do they nourish the animals, but they also work like a toothbrush, cleaning their teeth and massaging their gums. Often dry food pellets are used to encourage whiskered friends during training and various learning processes.

   But dry food used as a staple food is bound to require plenty of fluid intake from the kitty. The Scottish will have to drink a lot, otherwise there will be certain problems related to the digestive system. That is why the owners should not forget about the regular change of water – it should always be fresh and clean.

   The second most popular are wet and semi-moist products for cats. Such food differs from the dry food described above by a significant content of liquid. This type of treats is more suitable for Scottish cats, as it does not force the cats to consume water in large quantities. True, these foods have one disadvantage – sometimes their regular consumption of food ends up with loosening of the gums, due to the lack of hard bits.

   Home food for a Scottish kitten

   Breeders argue about what's better to feed a Scottish kitten, natural food or factory food, probably ever since factories began producing ready-made foods. The answer to this question we will not give, because it depends not only on the benefits or harms that give the body those or other products, but also on your wallet and the availability of free time. Although, of course, if you have time and possibilities and if you properly balance your diet, there is nothing better than a natural diet. At the same time you may not have enough time for it.

   

   Natural nutrition (popularly called "natural food") is not food from the host table, as many people think. It is a separate, feline-appropriate food. It includes foods such as.

   What you can and should feed kittens – lop-eared Scottish and straight-eared

   

   Natural food for kittens differs from human food in that it is not salted and not spiced. That is, it must be unleavened. Occasionally, slightly salted products are allowed.

   Meat is served either raw (preferably) or boiled, but in no case roasted, cured or marinated.

   You also need to understand that you can not save on the cat, that is inappropriate to give tampered and weathered products. Domestic purebred cats are very sensitive to food and may suffer from stomach upsets because of it. Slightly spoiled food can only be given to cats who are used to it on the streets. Otherwise, it is better to spare them as well.

   The food you serve should not be cold or hot: bring it to room temperature, if possible a little warmer.

   What should not be fed to lop-eared and straight-eared kittens?

   What Scottish lop and straight-eared kittens enjoy eating is not always the same as what is good for them. Learn a list of what not to eat.

   

   What to feed a kitten under 1 month and one month old Scottish lop-eared and straight-eared kitten

   Up to 3 weeks to 1 month, kittens are fed by their mother: up to 2 weeks – 10 times a day, including at night, at 1 month – 8 times a day. Then they are given complementary food, but kittens are fed by their mother's milk until they are 2-2,5 months old, so you can't wean them before that. At this time, mom-cat has a difficult task: her body is depleted, and therefore the best thing that can do the owner – is a strong and balanced feeding mom. But this is a topic for a separate article. Feeding directly to kittens begins about 1 month.

   It so happens that the mother of the kittens for some reason, no. Then the person has to feed them. This activity is difficult and painstaking: in the first week you have to feed every 2 hours, which means you have to take time off from work. Besides, without mother's milk the kittens do not get her antibodies and resistance to infections. That's why if you can, it's better to put the kittens with another lactating cat (a healthy pure cat with all the vaccinations, a street mother won't do): she usually won't refuse to take in the foundlings.

   Did you know that sometimes cats will even nurse animals of a different species? For example, one caring mother nursed hedgehogs that were thrown to her.

   But sometimes there is no such opportunity. Then feed kittens at the rate of 30 ml of food per 100 grams of kitten's weight in the first week, 38 ml per 100 grams of kitten's weight in two weeks, 48 ml per 100 grams of kitten's weight in the third week, 48-53 ml per 100 grams of weight from four weeks. We are talking about milk (cream) or a special factory formula milk for kittens. The formula can be poured into the mouth through a bottle with a nipple, a dropper or a syringe without a needle: be careful not to choke the kitten. This mixture can be bought at a pet store.