Scottish fold kittens feeding. How to feed a Scottish kitten correctly

The appearance of a small kitten in the house is not only joy for all household members, but also a great responsibility for the small defenseless creature. When looking at a fluffy baby, several questions arise at once: what can you feed a kitten at 1.5 months? What should you give a mustachioed baby?

Usually kittens at the age of 1.5-2 months already eat on their own. After 2 months they are separated from the cat and given to other owners. Therefore, before taking a pet into your home, ask the former owners what they fed it. A new home, a foreign environment - all this is stressful for the baby. It will be good if he receives the usual menu for the first 7 days.

Kitten food

To form a healthy body, proper nutrition is necessary. It is important to know that new foods should be introduced gradually, depending on age.

Kittens up to one month old should be given liquid food. Experts advise using baby food for infants.

Never give your baby whole, undiluted cow's milk! Fat milk is difficult to digest, constipation may occur, and for some kittens it is contraindicated. 10% cream will replace mother's milk.

At one month of age, you can slowly begin to give kefir and cottage cheese, but in small quantities, thus moving from liquid to more solid foods.

What foods can be given at one and a half months?

Food for a 1.5-month-old kitten is already much more varied than for a month. Meat is gradually introduced. It is advisable to start feeding a young predator with lean varieties of meat: chicken, beef.

All solid food must be processed in a meat grinder, because it is still difficult for the kitten to bite off a piece and chew it. Professionals advise giving kittens meat purees designed for infants; they are made from natural products.

The yolk of a chicken or quail egg is rich in vitamin E and is very beneficial for animals. But you shouldn't give them protein unless the kittens have diarrhea.

Feeding for a 1.5 month old kitten should be moderate, without overeating, so that the baby does not subsequently become obese. You shouldn’t overfeed it either: a lack of vitamins and exhaustion of the body can negatively affect the further development of the animal.

Features of feeding a British kitten

All purebred animals have weak immunity and are categorically unsuitable for many of the things that barn cats can eat without any consequences. Therefore, you need to pay special attention to what to feed a British kitten at 1.5 months.

British kittens should start feeding from three weeks of age, without being separated from their mother. The longer she breastfeeds, the better and stronger the baby’s immunity.

If at the beginning of complementary feeding a mustachioed pet does not strive to eat other food, it means that he has enough mother’s milk. You can try giving new food after a few days.

So when introducing a new product for the first time? Let's try to answer this question.

It is advisable to start with milk for kittens. Introduce cottage cheese without fruit additives, 10% cream, kefir, and baby milk porridge into your diet.

You can give the yolk, boiled or raw, mixed with sour cream or kefir

Don't forget that a pet is also a carnivore and needs to eat meat. At one and a half months, you need to gradually start giving him beef meat, twisted in a meat grinder or scraped (necessarily - frozen in the freezer or scalded with boiling water).

Complementary foods are given from 3 to 6 times a day. It depends on how often the cat feeds her kittens. This is how babies gradually give up natural breastfeeding.

Scottish breed

The best option is if the kitten feeds on mother's milk for up to 2 months until it gets stronger. Otherwise, he will have weak immunity, poor resistance to disease and difficulties in further development. At 1.5-2 months, complementary foods are gradually introduced. At this age, the baby eats 6 times a day.

What to feed a 1.5 month old Scottish kitten? Let's try to figure it out. It is better to start complementary feeding with milk porridges for babies. A young predator needs to eat meat every day, so it must be included in the diet. Experts advise starting with meat puree for infants. For Scottish Fold breeds, meat is the main product, so it should be given daily. Do not forget that it cannot be given raw - only scalded, boiled, twisted in a meat grinder and without bones. Raw egg yolk is given once a week

Nutritious porridges for Scottish kittens - buckwheat and rice. You can add chicken and beef. Cute furry animals will really like this menu.

It is useful to give beef or chicken liver once a week.

Vegetables and fruits: pros and cons

From an early age, it is necessary to teach kittens to eat vegetables, boiled and raw. When a kitten gnaws on a whole apple, a head of cabbage, or raw carrots, it cleans its teeth from plaque. Boiled pumpkin is given for prevention against worms. Experts advise giving grated carrots with the addition of vegetable or animal fat; they are rich in vitamin A, which is very useful for pets.

Boiled potatoes are given in small quantities.

You can't give onions.

Healthy Supplements

For the healthy development of the body of mustachioed babies, they need to consume eggshells crushed in a coffee grinder every day.

Sprouted wheat and oats are rich in vitamin B and C and are very beneficial for furry babies.

It is advisable to have a bowl of white chalk near the plate of food.

Don’t forget that there should also be a container of drinking water near the bowl of food.

Dry food for kittens

In any pet store it is not a problem to buy expensive as well as cheap dry food. So what is better to feed a 1.5 month old kitten: dry or natural food? Opinions on this matter are divided.

Some experts believe that dry food is undesirable for babies aged 1.5 months. The baby's stomach will not be able to digest it. If in the future preference is given to dry food, it should be introduced to it no earlier than 3 months.

Others argue that there is a high-quality dry food specially designed for small kittens that contains a large amount of vitamins and nutrients. But before using it, it must be soaked in warm water. Do not soak large amounts of feed; Leftovers should be refrigerated or thrown away. The soaked food is stored in the refrigerator for 1 day.

And yet, what to feed a kitten for 1.5 months, dry or natural food, you will have to decide on your own. Experts advise not to buy cheap food, but to use premium food purchased in specialized stores, so as not to harm the baby.

Prohibited foods for kittens

Pay attention to foods that should absolutely be excluded from your baby’s diet. This applies to any purebred or non-pedigreed cats (with the exception of castrated and sterilized cats, there are special instructions for them).

What should you not feed a 1.5 month old kitten? We present to your attention a list of products:

Harmful for all cat breeds.
It is dangerous to give pork to cats - this meat is too fatty and difficult to digest. In addition, it contains a lot of bacteria harmful to the cat family.
You should not give food from the table to small kittens, it contains spices and a large amount of salt.
Under no circumstances should you give your children salty, smoked foods or sausages.
You should not give bird or fish bones.
Onions are very toxic for cats.
Low-grade dry food, canned food - all this is very harmful food for kittens and adult cats.
Dry and wet dog food does not meet the needs of a cat's body.
Sweets and baked goods are prohibited.
Kittens should not be given mixed food - combining natural food and dry food.

It is necessary to give your baby something to drink, even if he is still breastfed. Be sure to change the water every day.

Do not feed your kitten as soon as you wake up. Cats have a good memory. The pet can immediately understand that it will receive food as soon as the owner wakes up, and in the future it will wake him up in the morning.

Decide on a feeding area where the cat will have a bowl of food and water so that it is comfortable and easily accessible for both the pet and the owners.

Do not feed the cat from your table so that it does not get into the habit of disturbing its owners while eating.

Any creature, after it has eaten, needs rest, time to digest the food. This is especially true for children. You should not immediately start playing with the kitten after eating, hugging it, squeezing it, so as not to harm the baby.

Conclusion

To summarize, we can say that small furry creatures, like small children, require attention and affection. Good nutrition, good care, love and affection from their owners are what is necessary for the healthy development of the baby.

Veterinarians do not recommend using a mixed version, citing the fact that in this case it is difficult to avoid an overdose of vitamin supplements. An imbalance of vitamins and minerals in the body causes disturbances in the functioning of the body.

The choice of food depends on the owner’s employment, their financial capabilities, and the pet’s taste preferences. It should be remembered that the diet should be varied, but at the same time balanced. Obesity is dangerous to the health of any cat.

It is best to feed animals according to a schedule and a pre-compiled menu. Neutered cats are usually found with the problem of excess body weight, so special attention is paid to their diet.

Many pet owners argue about the correct choice of food. Some insist on a natural diet, others say that industrial feed is much healthier and tastier. It is difficult to prove anyone is right in this situation.

In addition, fresh meat and fish delicacies may contain worm larvae, which can lead to the development of helminthiasis. To avoid infection, you will need to boil or bake a dish for cats, because fried food is harmful not only to the human body, but also to the cat’s stomach.

Ready-made food does not take much time to feed. It is enough to pour a certain portion to clearly know that your pet will not go hungry until the evening.

What to feed at 2 months and beyond?

After one and a half months, portions are gradually increased, but the number of feedings is reduced to 4–5 times. At the age of 4 - 5 months, feeding should be done 4 times a day, at 6 - 7 months - 3 times a day, and after 12 - 14 months, a Scottish cat should be fed twice a day.

At home, you can also use the continuous feeding method for Scottish Fold kittens: in this case, the food is not removed from the bowl and the kitten can approach it whenever it wants. The food needs to be changed as often as possible, depending on what you feed your lop-eared kitten.

For example, dry food can be constantly present in the bowl, while canned food and natural food can be changed 4 times a day.

It is important not only to feed and water your Scottish Fold kitten correctly. Water should be in a separate container (metal or plastic). If you decide to purchase a plastic bowl, buy it in a specialized store to avoid getting a fake: poor quality plastic may contain harmful substances.

Change the water 2 times a day and make sure that no pieces of food get into it.

Food for pregnant and lactating cats

During pregnancy, your Scottish cat should be fed in small portions. Calcium-rich foods (cottage cheese, cheese, fermented baked milk) or food supplements should appear in the diet. Liver and greens best meet the needs of the expectant mother. Breastfeeding cats begin to eat more, because milk production requires a lot of calories.

When asked what to feed a cat after giving birth, veterinarians answer that the same thing as kittens, then the milk will be absorbed in the best possible way. But a nursing mother’s diet should contain enough protein – 30%.

But what to feed a nursing Scottish Fold cat? In general, the diet for newly born lop-eared beauties does not change much. However, you should add a spoonful of bone meal to a single serving, and sprinkle your food with a few drops of fish oil once a week. Don’t forget about vitamins: animals need additional support with microelements during this period.

Representatives of the Scottish Fold breed are very peaceful and unpretentious creatures. Their diet includes a wide selection of products, but it is worth considering several features, which will be discussed below. The optimal food for Scottish Fold cats is industrial food, both dry and canned. In addition to specialized cat food selected based on the age (kitten, adult cat) and activity level of the cat (calm, moderate, active), representatives of the breed can be fed the following products, which will be discussed below.

A cat with an “average” activity level should receive a basic amount of calories. A calm pet that stays mostly indoors and doesn't expend much energy may require ten percent less food than recommended on food packages. However, an active pet who plays all day may require 20 to 40 percent more than the base amount of food.

Your cat should always have free access to fresh, clean water. The water bowl should be washed every day.

Cats require taurine, an amino acid that is essential for normal heart function, vision and reproduction. Although most mammals can synthesize taurine from other amino acids in the body, cats cannot. Since taurine is found only in animal protein foods, cats require a meat-based diet to meet their body's needs.

As with humans, excessively hot or cold weather can increase a cat's energy needs. It takes extra energy to stay warm or cool, so you may want to consult your veterinarian about feeding regimen in such cases. If your pet is recovering from surgery or suffering from an illness, it is also possible to increase nutritional requirements to speed up the healing process. Talk to your veterinarian about ways to adjust your cat's diet during illness or recovery.

As a general rule, it is recommended to feed cats twice a day. Measure the recommended daily amount as indicated on the cat food package and divide into two meals. The interval between doses is from eight to twelve hours. Try to adapt to your cat's needs by observing her behavior: whether she eats all the food, how often she comes to the bowl, and so on.

Some cat owners work on strict schedules that do not allow them to feed their pet twice a day. Don't worry - cats can be safely fed in other ways that meet the needs of both pet and owner. It is quite acceptable to give food in small portions more than twice a day or put a daily portion of food in a bowl at one time. However, in this case, you need to ensure that the animal does not overeat and the food remains fresh. If difficulties arise with this, then special devices are sold that dispense certain amounts of food at a designated time - this way the animal will not be tempted to eat everything at once.

Feeding Scottish Fold kittens aged 1-2 months

If you need to care for kittens in the first few months of their lives, then prepare to gradually transition them from milk to regular cat food.

Newborn fold kittens receive adequate nutrition from their mother's milk during the first four weeks of life. Mother's milk is 100 percent suitable for their needs, so you don't have to feed them anything extra.

If the mother cat is sick and cannot produce enough milk, or if the kittens are found without a mother, a milk replacer may be needed. If you have this situation, contact your veterinarian for nutrition selection and feeding recommendations.

During the first weeks of life, a kitten's weight may double or even triple. This rapid growth will continue, but gradually the speed will decrease. Large amounts of energy and nutrients are required to support this impressive growth.

Make sure the food you choose is formulated specifically for kittens. Your pet needs to eat this food until he reaches maturity, around one year of age.

By the time Scottish Fold kittens are 1 month old, they should be given a small amount of specialized dry kitten food, although milk is still the main food. This gradual introduction process is important in transitioning kittens to adult cat food. Most cats feed their kittens milk for about two months. By this time, 80 percent of the kitten's total nutrient intake should come from solid food.

Babies separated from their mother can begin to be fed moistened food from three weeks of age. Use formulated milk replacers to moisten kitten food and gradually reduce the amount of milk.

You can use a free-feeding method - this means that the kitten has access to food whenever he wants. In this way, dry food is mainly given, since it does not disappear or dry out during the day. If you have a dog at home, make sure that it does not eat cat food (dogs love it very much).

Also make sure there is always fresh water available in the kitten’s access area. At first, curious kittens will likely play with their food more than eat it, but gradually they will get used to eating it rather than throwing it around the bowl. At the age of 2 months and beyond, the main diet should be dry food in order to support the growth and development of a small Scottish Fold kitten!

In order for a Scottish Fold or Straight-eared cat, cat or kitten to be healthy, strong and beautiful, you need to take care of the correct diet and feeding pattern.

Types of food

For any breed of cat, and the Scots are no exception, there are three types of food:

The diversity of species can be puzzling: what is the best food to feed a Scottish cat? Each of the listed types of food will be correct, so you need to focus on your pet’s taste preferences and your free time, because natural feeding takes much more time than feeding ready-made offerings.

Let's take a closer look at each type of food.

Natural nutrition for Scottish fold or straight-eared kittens and adult animals

This type of feeding is not easy and requires a certain amount of time to prepare food, which is not always convenient or possible.

List of main products that are allowed for Scottish cats:

The main percentage of products when feeding a Scottish cat naturally should be meat products, because they contain protein, which is necessary for the normal functioning of the body: heart muscle, good vision, reproduction, etc.

Microelements, vitamins and supplements.

Dietary supplements must be included in the pet’s diet throughout the entire period of feeding natural products. Kittens under 6 months of age need a source of vitamins D and A, that is, fish oil. In addition, chain veterinary pharmacies offer a huge selection of multivitamin preparations for cats and kittens of the Scottish breed and simply as a species of animal.

Your pet must always have fresh, clean water. Ideally, you need to change the water 2 times a day. You can allow your pet to drink water from the tap; the Scottish breed especially loves this.

Approximate nutrition menu for 1 kg of body weight of a Scottish fold or straight-eared cat.

Recipe 1:

lean fresh beef (pour boiling water) – 25 gr.;
light – 5 g;
clean water – 10 g;
vegetable oil – 2 g;
dry ordinary tremors - 0.2 g;
plain oat flakes – 4 gr.

Recipe 2:

fresh liver – 10 g;
lean fish – 25 gr.;
buckwheat – 4 gr.;
plain water – 7 g;
regular dry yeast – 0.1 g;
low-fat cottage cheese – 3 gr.

Once you've made the recipe, you can portion it out and freeze it for later. So at any time, after defrosting, you can quickly feed your pet natural food.

Prohibited foods for Scottish Fold and Straight-eared cats:

pork, smoked, salted, peppered, dried, fresh meat;
fats;
floury, sweet.

Ready-made food or a quick and balanced way to feed Scots

What to feed a Scottish Fold or Piam-eared cat if it is not possible to prepare fresh food for it every day? The answer is simple - ready-made high-quality food that contains all the necessary proteins, carbohydrates and fats, as well as multivitamins. They will form the main diet of your pet.

Ready-made food for kittens and cats differs in the amount of water it contains: semi-moist, dry and wet food. However, with any type of feeding, it is necessary to ensure that the animal has constant access to water.

When feeding, you can combine wet and dry food if they are produced by the same manufacturer and are given at different meals. For example: in the morning - wet food, in the afternoon - dry and in the evening again wet or dry.

When choosing food, it is better to give preference to well-known brands, since budget options are not as high quality and do not contain enough minerals and vitamins. In addition, you should pay attention to the recommendations provided by the manufacturer regarding age, breed and health status.

Royal Canin;
Matisse;
Advance;
Hills;
etc. premium and super-premium brands.

Cheap options that you should not feed your Scottish cat or kitten include the following:

Darling;
Kitiket;
Whiskas.

When switching from natural food to dry food or when changing manufacturer, it is better to buy a small amount, because... The pet may be allergic to this type of food or may simply not like it. It is also important to consider that the translation needs to be gradual. It is better to start adding new food at 30%.

Features of feeding prepared food for adults

The diet of older pets should contain the required amount of high-quality, nutritious food that can maintain muscle tissue and satisfy energy needs, because they spend a lot of energy playing and communicating with you.

The amount of food depends on the lifestyle of the adult and is directly related to the size of the cat. Each pet has a different level of activity - this should be reflected in the calorie intake. For a pet with an average level of mobility, a basic amount of calories is required, and for calm pets, who mostly sleep and look boredly out of the window, the diet should be 10% less than what is recommended by the manufacturers on the food packaging. At the same time, a bully who plays throughout the day should eat 40% more than the base level.

The weather also affects the appetite of cats; in the warm season, the need for food decreases somewhat, and in the cold season it increases, in fact, just like in humans. After all, in order to stay warm, energy is required, and energy is calories.

A proper diet includes dividing food into several meals, namely 2-3. The interval between meals should be 8-12 hours.

By observing your household, you can understand whether two meals a day is enough for him or whether it is better to transfer him to three meals a day. Some animals eat the entire meal at once, while others may eat gradually over several hours.

Some owners, due to a strict work schedule, do not have the opportunity to give food to Scottish Fold cats several times a day, and the pet can abuse this, eating everything at once and begging for more. This problem can be easily solved by a special dispenser that dispenses a set amount of feed at a certain time.

What is the best way to feed a pregnant Scottish Fold or Straight cat?

The diet of expectant mothers deserves special attention. As you know, it is they who need much more food and the vitamins that come with it, which means that they should be fed better. At the same time, it is not recommended to increase the serving size, since a small stomach will have difficulty digesting food that exceeds the required norm.

When eating natural food, you need to follow simple instructions:

Giving fish to pregnant Scottish women is strictly prohibited; it is best to feed them fresh, tasty greens and low-fat liver. Sometimes you can include mackerel, sprat, tasty sardines, and red trout in your diet with richly fat-soluble elements.
Pregnant pets need foods high in calcium. It can be low-fat cottage cheese, cheese, fermented baked milk. It is also recommended to add powdered Kalceks tablets and bone meal to food.

A cat bearing kittens needs constant access to fresh and clean water, especially if she is fed canned or dry food. If before the interesting situation the cat ate ready-made offerings, then during pregnancy she should eat them. A sudden change in the type of diet may not be beneficial. But such a cat can be switched to dry or jelly food, which is designed specifically for pregnant women. It will include more vitamins and calories, thus consuming almost the same amount of food as usual, the pet will have enough energy and microelements to bear healthy kittens.

Two weeks before giving birth, the portion for your pet is reduced by 20-30%. This is necessary so that the kittens do not gain too much weight. A large fetus can cause complications during childbirth, especially if the cat has a narrow pelvis. So it’s better to worry in advance and protect your pet from overeating.

Immediately before giving birth, the cat may completely refuse to eat. Don't worry, it's normal. Provide her with peace and prepare for the birth of your babies.

After giving birth, your cat may also have no appetite. This is due to the fact that the cat eats the placenta, but you should not allow the Scottish cat to eat more than three placentas. Otherwise it may cause diarrhea.

During lactation, a cat's appetite increases, because she needs to provide vital energy not only for herself, but also for her offspring. At this time, the cat’s diet is being formed, and it is necessary to take into account its age, weight and the number of babies in the litter.

After the offspring gradually switch to solid food, the cat's appetite will decrease somewhat, and it is quite possible that she will eat the same foods as her babies. All this happens at the level of instinct, since consuming the same food will make its milk more digestible for kittens.

Basically, during the lactation period, the Scottish woman loses weight and returns to the normal weight that she had before pregnancy. Make sure that the animal does not become exhausted. If the mother’s weight is below normal, then it is necessary to introduce more high-calorie foods into the diet or use food developed specifically for kittens.

Scottish fold and straight-eared kittens: care and nutrition

A Scottish kitten should be brought to a new home no earlier than 2.5 months. But if you become the owner of offspring or for some other reason you have a baby, then get ready for troubles. Up to a month or two, kittens feed on mother's milk. If the cat refuses to feed or there is not enough milk, then the babies are offered a milk substitute or infant formula. Instructions for feeding and preparing formula are indicated on the packaging.

For the first three weeks, kittens eat approximately every 2 hours, then the break gradually becomes longer. By the age of one month, babies can be fed 3-5 times a day, gradually switching to natural or ready-made feeding. Rapid growth and formation of the body requires high-quality nutrition, rich in proteins, fats, carbohydrates and vitamins. When choosing ready-made food, you need to make sure that it is designed specifically for kittens; you should also pay attention to the age at which the food is recommended. For example, Royal Canin offers different lines “from 1 to 4 months” and “for kittens from 4 to 12 months.”

Curious kids will play with their food at first, not understanding what it is for, but after a while they get used to it and stop throwing food near the bowl. At 2 months, their main diet should be dry food to maintain full development.

With proper nutrition, kittens grow very quickly and gain weight. Gradually, the growth rate will decrease and will no longer be so obvious.

Features of feeding a castrated or sterilized cat

A tendency towards obesity often appears in Scots after a castration or sterilization procedure - this is primarily due to hormonal disorders. There is a way out. First of all, the amount of food should be reduced. In this case, the number of feedings needs to be increased. It wouldn’t hurt to conduct a test once a month, which includes stroking your pet’s back and sides. If you feel the bones, the nutrition is correct.

Feeding with natural products:

A natural, balanced diet should include fiber, vitamins, and various mineral supplements.
Exclude fish from the diet, as it contains a lot of phosphorus and magnesium. They are the ones who provoke the occurrence of urolithiasis.
Meat, only lean: beef, chicken breast, turkey and rabbit.
Porridge must be present in the diet. You can add some meat to add flavor. You can include offal no more than once a week.
Vegetables should be added pureed and always raw: carrots, cauliflower or, for example, fresh cucumber.
Broth made from lean meats.

Ready-made food for spayed and neutered pets.

When choosing food, you should remember that it must be of high quality, that is, “premium” or “super-premium” class, for example, Royal Canin. In this case, the bag must be marked: “for castrated or sterilized cats.” You should also know that liquid food is preferable to dry food.

Despite the difference in nutrition between castrated and sterilized pets, they remain just as cheerful and active. Therefore, they should still, and maybe even more, pay attention and play with them, and then your Scottish Fold or Straight-eared dog will always be in athletic shape.

Feeding aging Scots

An aging pet needs to be provided with a balanced diet that will prolong its active period of life. They do not need to be given large amounts of food, since their energy consumption per day is only 65 kcal per kilogram of body weight. Overfeeding will lead to obesity, and therefore will not have the best effect on the functioning of the body.

Elderly pets are fed several times a day with food divided into small portions. You can also feed dry food specially designed for older cats. When choosing food for your Scotsman, you need to pay attention to the amount of fat it contains. The best option is when it is 95% fat-free.

An aging pet may refuse dry food due to pain in the gums and/or teeth. In this case, the Scotsman needs to be switched to a wet or semi-moist feeding option. You can soak dry food.

A common disease in aging Scottish Fold and Straight cats is hyperthyroidism, an increase in the amount of hormones in the thyroid gland. If this disease is detected, the pet needs to be fed more high-calorie food.

And if renal failure is detected, it is necessary to reduce the intake of salts and phosphorus, and include protein in the diet in small doses.

A Scottish cat with heart failure should be placed on a salt-free diet.

Taurine must be present in food for an elderly pet, since its deficiency will lead to the development of a disease such as cardiomyopathy.

Norm kJ, calories (energy consumption) for kittens and adult pets

According to the rules, the norm of kJ and calories must be calculated based on the pet’s weight and lifestyle, so the data below refers to approximate indicators that can be used as a guide:

for a baby – 838 kJ (200 kcal);
for a nursing Scottish woman – 1047.4 kJ (250 kcal);
for a pregnant and developing household – 419 kJ (100 kcal);
for an obese cat - 251.4 kJ (59.9 kcal);
for an aging furry – 335.2 kJ (80 kcal).

Information about the calorie content of foods can be found on food packages. In order to convert kJ into calories, the required figure should be divided by 4.19.

They may be different, but no matter what color they are, the nutrition must be balanced in order to maintain their vital functions at the proper level. Then your pet will always be healthy and beautiful.

Have you already decided what you will feed your Scottish Fold kitten? If your choice falls on industrial dry or wet food, your pet’s diet needs to be changed gradually. In addition, you need to make a choice between: economy, premium, superpremium and holistic food classes. Let's figure out how to properly feed a kitten from 2-3 months to a year, whether it is necessary to give vitamins or soak the food.

If a Scottish Fold kitten has congenital problems with bone structure, food, even the highest quality, this problem cannot be solved. Be sure to contact your veterinarian for detailed advice.

Scottish fold kittens attract the attention of many four-legged lovers. An irresistible feature of the breed - ears pressed to the head, makes the pet especially charming. Few people know that the gene responsible for pinned ears can cause health problems.

There is a strict rule regarding the breeding of fold cats. The breeder can only breed folds and straights - that is, one of the parents must have straight ears.

If this rule is not followed, there is a very high probability that the litter will contain kittens with gene defects that cannot be cured. Deformed hind legs and tail are not only a visual feature, but also the consequences of an incorrect structure of the spine. Kittens from such matings are born disabled or become disabled at an early age.

Pay attention! Amateur-bred Scottish Fold cats suffer from food allergies.

If your kitten is healthy and does not suffer from allergies, you have a choice: feeding or commercial food. Most owners lean toward commercial feeds because they don't require cooking. In addition, good quality food is balanced and fortified.

Dry food

– the most popular type of industrial food. Feed pellets have a long shelf life, are easy to weigh and do not require pre-cooking. Dry food is very convenient for owners, but it is not suitable for feeding kittens under six months of age.

While the kitten has baby teeth, it cannot chew pellets. During the loosening and replacement of teeth, the kitten can injure its gums in the process of chewing. As teeth erupt and grow, chewing on granules can cause crooked incisors and damage to the bite.

Some kittens adapt to swallow the pellets whole, leading to:

Overeating - until the granules have gained moisture and volume, the kitten will not feel full from a correctly selected portion.
Bloating.
Constipation due to dehydration.

Advice: If you are determined to switch your Scottish Fold cat to dry food, this should be done gradually. At the beginning of training, the granules must be soaked in water and mixed with wet or semi-moist food of the same brand.

Wet and semi-moist food

It differs from dry in its increased water content. This type of food is more acceptable for a pet, since it does not feel acute thirst after consuming food. The only disadvantage of wet food is loosening of the gums due to constant consumption of soft food.

Wet food is divided into two types: pates and pieces with gravy. The composition of both products is identical (if we are talking about the same brand).

Pate is fed to kittens, elderly cats that lack teeth, and animals with chronic oral diseases. Wet kibble food is suitable for feeding adolescent kittens and adult cats.

Economy class food

Economy class food is the most famous brands and lines that are widely advertised and well recognized. It’s interesting that manufacturers reduce the cost of food by using a soy or carbohydrate base. It is not recommended to feed Scottish Fold kittens, or any other cats, with economy class products.

If you did not go into details and bought food for your pet, guided by intuition, most likely your choice settled on recognizable names and attractive packs.

Some of the items on the list of popular economy class foods may come as an unpleasant surprise to you:

Sheba.
Gourmet Gold.
Wellkiss.
Whiskas.
Friskies.
Cat Chow Purina.
Darling.
Felix.
Puffins.
Protail.
Gemon.
Perfect.
Vital.

Pay attention! The basis of economy class food is waste cereals, soy or beans, which are not digested in the cat’s intestines. Simply put, cheap food is stomach filler that does not benefit your pet.

Premium and super premium food

Premium and super premium food is optimal for daily feeding of healthy cats. It is worth paying attention to the fact that food for neutered cats most often belongs to premium lines.

Be careful when choosing food. Most of the trade names that “popularly” consider to be the best and are classified as super-premium, are in fact a premium line.

Brit Premium.
Nutra Mix.
Royal Canin.
Pro Plan.
Hills Science Plan line.
Eukanuba.
Advance.
Almo Nature.
Animonda.
Happy Cat.
Probalance.
Organix.
Sirius.
Flatazor.

The optimal choice for feeding purebred cats is super premium food.

Popular manufacturers produce products for cats of different ages and taking into account individual characteristics (activity, coat type).

Super premium food for Scottish fold kittens can be selected from the following list:

First Choice or Choice No. 1 (1st Choice).
Brit Care.
Dr. Clauder's Super premium line.
Arden Grange.
Superpet.
Royal Farm.
Blitz.
Duke's farm.
Fitmin.
Guabi Natural.
Landor.
Leonardo.
Natika (Natyka).
Mealfeel.

Pay attention! Super premium food is fully fortified and contains taurine and essential minerals. The composition of premium line products must be carefully studied, since not all foods are fully fortified.

Holistic class food

The holistic class is considered the highest quality. According to the manufacturers, holistic food is made only from natural products. Simply put, for a fairly reasonable price, you get pet food made from the same products that you buy for yourself.

The only disadvantage of holistic class feeds is the high price and low availability. Such products are rarely sold in pet stores and the owner has to buy food to order.

Go Natural.
Akana.
Holistic.
Wildcat.
Applaws.
Kanagan.
Carnilove.
Farmina.
Grandorf.
Orijen.

Pay attention! Holistic food lines are rarely produced in a rich assortment. Most often, the manufacturer gives a choice between 2-3 compositions and the form of food (dry, pate, pieces).

Vitamins and feed additives for Scottish Fold kittens

If you bought a kitten that the breeder supplemented with natural products, a sudden switch to a commercial diet can lead to problems with the gastrointestinal tract. While the kitten eats natural products, it is better to give it vitamins to ensure timely formation of the backbone and confidence in the vitamin content of the diet.

Pay attention! If you are feeding a kitten with super premium or holistic food, you do not need to give a vitamin complex. If your pet eats premium food, the vitamin complex is selected individually.

It is strongly recommended not to give your Scottish Fold kittens vitamins unless you are sure of your pet's needs or have received advice from your veterinarian. The problem is that an excess of vitamins is no less destructive than their deficiency.

If the kitten is clearly stunted or suffers from vitamin deficiency, the following vitamins are suitable for him:

Gimpet Baby Tabs.
Beaphar Kitty's Mix or Beaphar Kittys junior.
FeliDerm.
8 in 1 Excel Brewers.
Canina cat mineral or Canina Canivita.
Polidex Immunity up.
Hartz Everyday (with taurine).
Doctor Zoo (with taurine and biotin).
Farmavit Neo.

Pay attention! Vitamins are produced in the form of tablets, crackers and pastes. For small kittens that chew poorly, pastes are ideal. Crackers have an attractive taste and are enjoyed by pets. Tablets are more suitable for adolescent and adult cats.

How to feed a Scottish Fold kitten from birth to one year

During the first month of life, Scottish Fold kittens feed exclusively on their mother's milk. If a cat does not have enough milk or some kittens are stunted, they are switched to a cat milk replacer. Supplemental feeding is not recommended until one month of age, since the kittens' intestines are not ready to digest new food.

At 3 to 4 weeks of age, they begin to become interested in the outside world and the food their mother eats. The heightened sense of smell and instincts tell kittens that milk is not the only source of nutrition. As soon as babies turn one month old, they will gradually begin to refuse mother's milk and become increasingly interested in adult food.

1 – 2 months

When kittens are 2 months old, they still live with their mother and drink milk from time to time. Depending on the preferences of the breeder, kittens receive natural or industrial supplementary food.

Suitable natural products for supplementing kittens are:

Boiled minced meat.
Low-fat broths.
Dairy and fermented milk products.

The following are used as industrial complementary foods:

Cat milk replacer.
Wet food for kittens in the form of a pate.
Dry soaked food from the line for nursing cats and kittens.

At 2 months of age, it is time for the first vaccination, and therefore... Due to stress from procedures and taking prophylactic medications, the kitten may experience symptoms that are not related to the type of feeding.

Important! During the two weeks before and after vaccination, it is not recommended to change the type of feeding of the Scottish Fold kitten!

2 - 3 months

When kittens are 3 months old, they are usually “put up for sale.” After moving a pet to a new home, it is not recommended to change its usual diet and feeding schedule for at least a week. , which the kitten experiences as a result of a change of place of residence, has a detrimental effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Additional load will lead to the development of diarrhea or refusal to feed.

If the breeder supplements the kitten with natural food, and you decide, the transition is made through a smooth substitution. Soaked dry food or wet food in the form of a pate is mixed into natural food. The proportion of industrial feed is increased gradually, over 7–10 days.

4 - 6 months

With the industrial type of feeding kittens aged 4 to 6 months, soaked dry food granules are constantly mixed into the wet food. To prepare the granules, they need to be filled with hot water or broth and left for 10-15 minutes. When the granules increase in size and become lighter in color, they must be crushed with a fork. The mixture of wet and dry food is brought to a homogeneous consistency and heated slightly to stimulate the pet’s appetite.

Important! By the age of six months, provided that bones and teeth are formed in a timely manner, the kitten is able to chew dry food granules. Drying is introduced gradually, in the first stages in a proportion of no more than 10% of the entire portion.

6 - 12 months and older

At six months of age, by gradually introducing dry food into the diet, its mass fraction is increased to 50%. It is advisable to give wet and dry food alternately, in the morning and evening feedings.

Your task is to ensure that the kitten perceives the granules as food. At an early stage of habituation, the relatively insignificant smell of granules can lead to refusal of food.

When increasing the mass fraction of dry food, make sure that the kitten consumes enough water!

By 10 months of age, a kitten's diet should consist of 70% dry food and 30% wet food of the same brand. This proportion is also recommended for adult animals, since eating exclusively dry food leads to rapid deterioration of the enamel.