Eating food is vital for all living things in the world, including British cats. Therefore, this issue should be taken quite seriously. Poor nutrition often leads to chronic diseases.
All dry cat food can be divided into categories:
- Economy class
- Premium class
- Super premium class
- Holistics
When choosing food for the British, give your preference to premium and super-premium food, you can use holistic products.
ECONOMY CLASS FOOD FOR CATS
Food that should not be fed to animals (economy class):
- Whiskas
- Friskies
- Kitekat
- Felix
- Our brand
There is nothing healthy in these foods. They are comparable to chips for humans. They contain very few nutrients and elements for the full development of a British kitten and the functioning of the adult body as a whole, if you analyze their composition, they contain a lot of corn flour. In addition, there are many additives that cause allergies. Because of this, more of this food is needed to satiate in order to get a sufficient amount of calories, and calories are energy, fuel for the body.
PREMIUM FOOD FOR BRITISH CATS AND KITTENS
Premium food:
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PREMIUM FOOD: WHAT ARE THEY GOOD?
What are the benefits of premium food? - They always contain a source of protein. It could be chicken, chicken protein, corn gluten. Chicken can be not only meat, but also its other processed parts. Corn, rice and wheat are sources of carbohydrates. The feed always contains the required amount of microelements and vitamins. Often in the composition you can see such a name as “tocopherols” - a preservative (even rosemary is included in the composition), it is an antioxidant. Don't be alarmed, these substances are natural and there is nothing bad in them, they are not chemical preservatives, which are not a natural product.
You shouldn't always pay attention to advertised brands. There are foods of excellent composition at a good price, however, we have not heard their names. Above is a list that will help you verify this. Conclusion: do not be guided by the price, be guided by the composition.
SUPER PREMIUM FOOD FOR BRITISH CATS AND KITTENS
Super premium food:
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SUPER PREMIUM FOOD: WHAT ARE THEY GOOD?
Super premium food contains more meat. More often it is even two types of meat, for example, turkey, chicken. The carbohydrates most often included are rice and rice bran; there is no corn flour. Again, we see tocopherols as preservatives and antioxidants (remember that this is a natural composition). Tocopherols are chemical compounds that are biologically active; in other words, they are vitamin E. In the composition we usually see them like this:
- E306 (mixed tocopherols)
- E307 (α-tocopherol)
- E308 (γ-tocopherol)
- E309 (δ-tocopherol)
Well, and, of course, we see an even richer and more extensive list of minerals and vitamins, even compared to premium foods.
HOLISTIC FOOD FOR BRITISH CATS
List of holistic foods for cats:
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WHAT ARE HOLISTICS GOOD?
This is high quality food and belongs to the super premium line. Contains natural meat, vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial additives. You will not find any artificial additives in the holistic product.
Holistic food should contain only natural proteins, fats, additives - dried fermentation products (probiotics), Omega acids, minerals and vitamins. If there are strange additives in the food, then this food is not considered holistic.
I would not separate these foods into a separate class, but food manufacturers increasingly want to emphasize the natural composition by mentioning the word “holistic” right on the packaging. In my opinion, this is nothing more than just a publicity stunt. However, the composition still really meets the declared quality.
Animal sources of protein
No fresh and/or raw meat or fish ingredients were used in the production of Royal Canin British Shorthair Adult food.
Ingredient No. 1 – source of animal protein, so-called. "dehydrated poultry meat." In fact, it is “dehydrated poultry protein” - dehydrated poultry protein. An inaccurate translation may be a mistake or a marketing ploy.
Hydrolyzed animal proteins rank only eighth and are more likely to be a protein component that improves the taste and smell of food than a source of animal protein.
The manufacturer does not indicate what raw materials these products are obtained from, nor is the percentage of the main ingredients in the feed unclear. The proportion of animal protein in Royal Canin British Shorthair food is generally low.
For spayed and neutered
Royal Canin Male for the prevention of urolithiasis
pros
- Good coat condition
- No side effects
- Disease Prevention
Minuses
- High price
From 313 RUR
Dry food for castrated British cats from 1 year to 6 years. The product prevents the occurrence of urolithiasis and obesity. Veterinarians advise owners to feed their pets with food from this series after operations related to sterilization. Based on nutrition, problems of the gastrointestinal tract are solved: cats with sensitive stomachs stop regurgitating. An excellent option for cats after castration; in most cases, urolithiasis does not develop.
Bozita for the prevention of urolithiasis, with chicken
pros
- Affordable price
- Increased fiber content
- Contains fresh meat
- Practical packaging
- The packaging does not allow the smell to dissipate
- Suitable for older cats
- Contains a natural immunostimulant
Minuses
- Not found
From 358 ₽
The product is suitable for indoor and adult cats from 1 to 6 years of age. The food is selected taking into account the age characteristics of sterilized and elderly cats. Chicken meat in the diet is easily digestible, L-Carnitine normalizes the metabolism of sedentary animals. The dry product boosts the cat's immunity.
Plant based protein sources
The food contains 4 types of cereal components (rice, corn, corn flour and corn gluten) and a certain “vegetable protein isolate” - a dubious ingredient from unknown raw materials.
All of these products are sources of vegetable protein and carbohydrates, which means that the content of the latter in the food is very high (rice, corn and vegetable protein isolate are among the top five ingredients).
Corn gluten is a protein from corn, or corn gluten. This ingredient often causes allergies in cats and is undesirable in their diet. Essentially, corn, corn meal and corn gluten are all the same thing. The manufacturer used the “split” technique - adding several different protein and/or carbohydrate ingredients (most often plant-based) from the same source to the feed.
In fact, their content in food may exceed that of animal protein sources. So, if you combine corn, cornmeal and gluten, there may be more of them than animal protein (ingredient #1). This is just a guess, but the likelihood of this makes us think about the quality of this food.
Note that grains are not included in the natural diet of carnivores and are not recommended for them in large quantities, much less as the basis of food.
Benefits of Royal Canin cat food for British cats
What characteristics of the British should the ideal food take into account?
This breed has a heavy build, so special stress falls on the joints. It is the joints that are the “weak point” of many British people, especially the “aged”. It becomes difficult for them not only to jump, but also to move. You can, of course, separately give your pet supplements containing Omega 3 - these polyunsaturated fatty acids are the building material of bones, joint tissue, hair, and claws. Therefore, Omega 3 helps protect joints under high loads, and in addition, improves the condition of the coat. But why try to “push” vitamins into your cat if there is food that already contains a sufficient amount of useful substances?
Another substance that helps keep an adult cat in good physical shape is L-carnitine, which helps nourish muscle tissue. This means that the pet will be quite mobile and at the same time its physique will meet the requirements of the breed standard.
Another organ that often serves as a source of concern for the owner of the “British” is the heart. Don't be surprised - heart disease is not uncommon for British cats. Special food additives - taurine and fatty acids - help maintain the heart. At the same time, food should not be excessively high in calories and contain a large amount of fat - after all, excess weight creates additional stress on the heart.
The Briton's strong and large jaws also need exercise. When feeding cereals, the jaw muscles weaken, and plaque will have to be regularly cleaned by contacting a special cat dentist. At the same time, large, hard pieces of food that need to be chewed solve the problem in an easier and more convenient way for the British. By gnawing food, the cat simultaneously loads the jaws and cleanses plaque from the teeth. And the food enters the stomach quite crushed.
The taste of Royal Canina British is usually liked by animals, but not so much that, like cheap brands, it gives the impression of a “drug”.
On a natural diet, in addition to the serious difficulties of creating a truly balanced diet, the question constantly arises: how to determine the quality and composition of products. For example, the average calorie content of lean chicken is known. But how many calories does this piece contain? What vitamins and microelements are missing if you use frozen rather than fresh vegetables? There is one more problem with “natural” food - what is not eaten can be stored for a maximum of several hours in the refrigerator. Then you will have to throw it away, unless, of course, you are ready to finish eating your royal Briton...
Thus, the benefits of Royal Canin dry food for British cats are obvious:
- has a pre-known balanced composition adapted to the needs of the breed;
- convenient to use and economical (you don’t have to throw away uneaten food and constantly cook fresh);
- eating dry food is the most physiological for cats in terms of diet - eat often in small portions;
- contains additives that have a positive effect on the joints and heart of British breed cats;
- Helps maintain optimal weight and good condition.
Wet food for British shorthairs from the Royal Kpanin brand is one of the favorite treats of many four-legged pets. And here the owner can only be scared off by a fairly high price. Still, you will need 3-4 pouches (bags) per day. The best option is when the diet combines dry and wet food from the same line. For example, in the morning the owner pours a portion of “drying” into the pet’s bowl, which will be eaten during the day (the main thing is not to forget to leave a sufficient amount of fresh water). And in the evening, for dinner, your favorite Briton will receive delicious pieces of meat in jelly.
Even without looking at the advertising, we can say with confidence: Royal Canin for the British has positive reviews from veterinarians, and many breeders recommend it for their graduates.
Cellulose
The diet contains several types of fiber. Vegetable fiber (No. 6 in the list of ingredients) is a cheap ballast filler of unknown origin, most likely cellulose. It is not nutritious for cats, so it is best avoided in their diet.
Chicory pulp is a carbohydrate filler with a small amount of the prebiotic inulin. In this form it does not bring any benefit.
The shell and seeds of plantain consist of 70% soluble fiber, which is beneficial for intestinal microflora and normalization of stool. Unfortunately, there is very little of this ingredient in the food - how much it can help animals remains open.
Plant products are difficult for predators to digest, and a large amount of fiber in the food increases the volume of the food bolus and gives cats a deceptive feeling of fullness.
Is Royal Canin food suitable for everyone in the UK?
Just like people, cats can have individual characteristics and taste preferences. And of course there are British people who will completely refuse Royal Canina in any form.
If special British food causes indigestion or allergies, you can try other types of food from the daily or veterinary line.
In general, any new food should be introduced with caution. If you have just adopted a kitten from a breeder, it is strongly recommended that you only feed it the same food that it received before. And switch to a new diet after at least 2 weeks, using extreme caution.
For example, after switching to Royal Canin, my beauties lost their bad breath. And the trays began to “smell” much less – and this is a sign of good digestion of food. Whether this will happen to your Briton, only experience will tell.
Healthy Ingredients
The fructo-oligosaccharides and yeast hydrolysate (a source of mannan oligosaccharides) declared in the composition are natural prebiotics that help normalize intestinal function. In addition, yeast contains many B vitamins.
Marigold erecta extract (a source of lutein) is very useful. In addition to lutein (a plant pigment that preserves vision), marigolds are also a source of bioflavonoids - powerful natural antioxidants.
The food also contains a variety of vitamin and mineral supplements. They are added partly due to a lack of minerals and vitamins in the raw materials, partly due to the peculiarities of the technological process for the production of dry food (this is the industry norm, and therefore is not a direct indicator of high or low quality of the diet).
How to calculate the optimal portion
The diet is calculated based on the norm of 70 kcal and 10 g of protein per 1 kg of animal weight. At the same time, food for British cats can be either natural or ready-made. Moreover, it is best if you accustom your kitten to a variety of foods from a very different age. In this case, you will not face the problem of a balanced diet.
So, as we have already said, first of all, the fluffy beauty needs protein. These are meat, fish and eggs, cottage cheese and soy flour, the total amount of which is 200 g per day. Carbohydrates are also useful as they are sources of energy. However, their amount should be much less, about 50 g per day. This could be rice, rolled oats and buckwheat. Cereals are practically not digestible and are ballast substances. Meat and fish are well digested raw; you just need to freeze them well, but cereals definitely need to be cooked.
Cons of Royal Canin British Shorthair Adult food
The production of food for British Shorthair cats does not contain fresh or raw (frozen) meat and fish ingredients - only dried animal proteins.
It is unknown what raw materials were used to prepare a number of products (dehydrated poultry meat, animal fats, vegetable protein isolate, hydrolyzed animal proteins and fish oil). Because of this, the feed may have an inconsistent composition, depending on the cost of the original components.
In addition, the manufacturer used techniques designed to mislead the buyer: “split” ingredients-sources of vegetable protein and inaccurate translation of English names.
Finally, this diet contains ingredients that are hazardous to the health of pets (corn gluten, plant fiber, etc.).
Is Royal Canin too expensive to feed a Briton?
Seeing the price of Royal Canin for the British in a store, many are horrified and believe that this is a whim of the rich. “And we’ll pour some soup for ours too...”
But such owners don’t think about the fact that cat digestion is very different from human digestion. Yes, there are cats that live happily for many years even on homemade food. However, most often these are ordinary street “murkas” and “vaskas”. Pedigree cats and cats, for example, the British, are the result of a long selection work. And often special attention was paid to the manufacturer’s articles, and not to his health. Therefore, the longer the pedigree, the more capricious such a pet is in terms of care. And the more care it requires when preparing a diet.
And show-class Britons need perfect coat, correct proportions (to be quite well-fed, but without excess fat), shiny eyes, healthy skin. And these characteristics largely depend on proper nutrition. If you don’t want to count calories and cook three times a day, the optimal solution is to trust professional manufacturers. Royal Canin is a very good premium food option for the British.
There is a “but”... There are rumors that Royal Canin, produced in Russia, is worse than its foreign counterparts. I can’t say anything here - I only tried the domestic version. If you have information on this matter, please share in the comments!
Main difference
This super premium food is just perfect for the British. The main difference is its high nutritional value and high digestibility. In the production of this category of food, chicken, lamb, eggs and high-quality cereals are used. The best feed options for the British are offered by Eukanuba (Netherlands), Hills (USA), Pro Pac (USA). Very good and high-quality diets recommended by leading breeders.
If you choose a natural diet
Eliminate pork or lamb from your diet, this is too heavy food. Eliminate foods from your table completely, otherwise you will shorten your Brit's life.
It is very undesirable to give your pets chicken heads and legs, as after such food they may experience intestinal injuries. If you just want your pet to sharpen its teeth, then give it a large beef bone with veins. But fish, contrary to general opinion, should not be given often. Kittens can be given pre-frozen fish once a week, and adults once every two weeks. Be sure to lightly cook the fish and remove the bones. If your pet has urolithiasis, then fish is completely excluded.
A natural diet, no matter how balanced it may seem, requires the mandatory use of vitamin and mineral complexes. Otherwise, the development of vitamin deficiency is very likely. If you prepare food in advance, divide the food into equal portions and freeze. Before giving it to your cat, you need to not only defrost it, but also make sure that the food is warm. Cold food is contraindicated for the British.
From leading manufacturers
Dry food for British cats is, on the one hand, very convenient. The owner does not need to worry that his pet did not receive enough of any important substances. In addition, purrs always eat the contents of the bags with great appetite. However, there are also pitfalls. There are a lot of fakes on the market for ready-made food, and sellers do not always comply with optimal storage conditions. All this, first of all, affects the quality of food, and this is already reflected in the health of your pet.
