When a small British cat appears in your home, you should think not only about how to take care of him, but also about how to raise him. Yes, this breed of cat is not much different from ordinary cats, but they have one twist. And this is their highest intelligence! It is because of this that owners need to have a certain approach.
Naturally, when you see a little fluffy bear in front of you, it seems that he is the best in the world. However, each kitten has its own character and its own rules, but it is worth considering that he lives in your house, then it is you who needs to establish rules for him from the first day.
British kids, like children, if you put something in them from the very beginning, it will be the key to success.
Cats of this breed are often very calm and balanced, but this does not mean that they will not be playful. Moreover, all small pets have incredible energy and curiosity.
Visit to the veterinarian
When purchasing a pet, you should carefully read the reviews of visitors to nearby veterinary clinics and choose the right one.
The first vaccination for a kitten is given at 12 weeks.
If British breed kittens are cared for correctly, visits to the veterinarian will not be frequent, but kittens should be seen regularly for examinations and vaccinations during the first year of life.
- Vaccination schedule.
When the kitten is one year old, he is vaccinated against rabies.
At 12 weeks, the baby receives the first comprehensive vaccination, which includes components against rhinotracheitis, calcivirosis, and panleukopenia. The vaccine is fixed exactly after 21 days with a similar composition. When the kitten is one year old, he is given the same vaccination for the third time, and a rabies vaccination is added to it.
Caring for British kittens includes preventive deworming
In the future, the pet is given a comprehensive vaccination and vaccination against rabies every year. Even if the cat is constantly in the apartment, annual vaccination should not be neglected.
- Deworming.
Caring for British kittens includes preventive deworming.
Deworming is mandatory before vaccinations. The procedure must be carried out 10 days before vaccination; the drug can be in the form of a tablet or suspension.
If lice, fleas, scabies mites or lice mites are found on a kitten, it is necessary to treat it with drugs against ectoparasites
Until the kitten is six months old, deworming is carried out monthly.
- Treatment against ectoparasites.
If lice, fleas, scabies mites or lice mites are found on a kitten, it is necessary to treat it with drugs against ectoparasites. The products are available in the form of sprays, powders, drops on the withers - the veterinarian will select the most effective one, because For kittens under 3 months of age, only short-acting medications can be used.
For kittens younger than 3 months, only short-acting medications can be used.
Care in the first days of life
When a Briton has just been adopted into a family, he will need to be looked after with special care. If the home is large, at first it is recommended to place the tray and feeding bowls close to each other. In the first 2-3 days, you can place the kitten in one room to make it easier for him to navigate. Initial feeding should be carried out with the food to which the British kitten is accustomed. After several days, he can be given other food, preferably natural.
For the safety of the fluffy, windows should be equipped with mosquito nets.
Often, at 2 months, a short-haired, fold-eared cat is already litter box trained, so she just needs to be shown where the toilet is. Caring for a one-month-old pet also means that the owner will now need to completely change his old habits, be sure to close the entrance doors, and install mosquito nets on the windows. Before using the washing machine, it is important to check its contents and close the toilet lid and cabinets.
Health
Newborn British kittens gain good immunity by being close to their mother for a long time. Within two weeks, their first teeth appear. You need to make sure that there is no inflammation of the gums.
Before vaccination, deworming must be carried out 10 days. Adult animals need to be given deworming medicine once every 3 months, especially if they go outside.
Although the British kitten is in good health, once you decide to have a baby, be prepared to pay attention to warning signs. If the cat constantly meows, is lethargic, and does not eat anything, then something is bothering her, but you should not make a diagnosis yourself
A veterinarian is qualified to identify diseases and treatments.
Where to start raising a child?
An animal must know its place. For an apartment cat, this concept includes such aspects as:
- the ability to relieve need in a tray intended for this purpose (and only there);
- willingness to respond to one's own name;
- no habit of begging or stealing food.
The listed skills should begin to be instilled in the baby as soon as he is taken to a new home. At 3 months (and it is at this age that kittens are best separated from their mother) the animal is quite capable of mastering the simplest rules of behavior. The main thing is to know how to explain your requirements to your pet.
Tray training
The kitten learns the habit of urinating and defecating in a designated place from its mother, so you need to check with the breeder how the toilet was organized in the baby’s home. Using the same tray and filler, you can greatly simplify your pet’s adaptation to new conditions.
Perhaps the baby, who has been fussing around in search of the toilet several times, will have to be taken there, but after a couple of days he will learn to find the tray himself. The main thing is to keep the cat litter clean (no cat wants to go into a dirty one).
The tray is clean, but the animal still leaves piles and puddles everywhere? It is worth looking for another place for the toilet. You can move the tray to a corner that your cat especially likes and, just to be sure, put a piece of paper in it, blotting one of the puddles your pet previously made with it. The smell of your own urine will help the kitten orientate itself.
You should praise the animal when it relieves itself where it is supposed to, but you should not scold it for peeing in other places. Moreover, you should not “raise” your pet by poking the baby’s nose into his own excrement. This tactic will give the cat the impression that he is being punished for the act of defecation itself. Should we then be surprised to find piles in very hidden places, for example behind cabinets and under sofas?
You will have to be patient, and instead of punishments, use special sprays (“Antigadin”, “Mr. Frech”, “Shitting? No!”, “STOP the problem. Doesn’t shit, doesn’t mark”, etc.). The smell of such products will make the cat feel uncomfortable. The spray is applied to surfaces that arouse the pet's interest until he gives up the intention to defecate on them. A similar effect can be achieved by rubbing freshly washed surfaces with citrus zest, whose aroma is also unpleasant for pets.
Getting to know the nickname
Calmness and patience will help teach the kitten any necessary skills, for example, the ability to respond to the nickname chosen for it. When performing any actions with a kitten, be it playing, feeding or other types of care, you need to repeat its name over and over again in a gentle voice so that it is imprinted in the baby’s mind and is remembered by him as an invitation to something pleasant.
To achieve success faster, you need to choose a nickname for your pet that will be easy for him to understand. It is better to give preference to a short name (no more than two syllables), and let it contain more hissing and whistling sounds that are attractive to cats: Ksyusha, Vaska, Roxy, etc.
Getting used to the "canteen"
From the very first days, you should accustom the kitten to feeding by the hour and strictly in the designated place. This will help you avoid begging and stealing food in the future. Having prepared a balanced diet for the pet in advance, strictly following the developed plan and showing inflexibility and strength of character in this matter, the owner will not leave the baby a chance to grow up to be a manipulator and picky.
Going to the toilet
The baby will quickly remember where the toilet is if the owner takes him there after every meal.
It is important to accustom British girls and boys to the litter box immediately after they appear in the house. Training should begin after the animal has eaten. You will need to put him in the toilet and help him make raking movements with his paws. If the pet is going to relieve itself away from the tray, it should be moved there and as soon as it copes, approve the action with stroking. When the kitten does defecate in another place, under no circumstances should you yell at it or hit it. You need to use a dissatisfied intonation to show the animal that this should not be done, and then blot the resulting puddle with a napkin and take it to the cat litter box. The smell of urine will attract him to void in the required place.
Table: British kitten hygiene
Care point What you will need How to proceed Frequency Cleaning the peephole
eye cleansing lotion or warm tea infusion; a piece of natural fabric.
You need to clean the eyes carefully, without pressing. They are wiped from the inner corner to the outer two times: first with lotion or tea infusion, then with a cloth moistened with clean water. Daily ear cleaning
ear lotion; ear drops; cotton pad.
First method: Take a cotton pad and moisten it with lotion. Carefully place the disc deeper into the ear, holding the kitten's head, and begin to gently massage. Remove the disc from your ear and take another one soaked in lotion. Roll it into a tight tube and place it in your ear
Twist it a little so that it picks up more dirt. This step can be repeated twice for better cleaning. Then use a disc soaked in lotion to wipe your pet’s ear. Second method: drop 2-3 drops into the ear for cleaning. Massage its base for 1-2 minutes. Using a cotton swab soaked in lotion, wipe the kitten's ear, removing dirt and wax.
Once a week Brushing teeth
toothpaste for cats; a special toothbrush or a piece of natural fabric for bleeding gums.
Apply a little toothpaste to a toothbrush or piece of cloth. Open the kitten's mouth and brush its teeth thoroughly, but without force. You can give him a little chew on the brush or cloth for better cleaning.
Every 2-3 days Bathing Shampoo for kittens
Pre-protect your kitten's ears from getting wet. You can place pieces of cotton wool in them. Place your baby in a bowl of water. The level is chest-deep. Temperature: 39–40 °C. Wet his fur well, apply a little shampoo and lather well. Rinse the area under the tail and tummy especially thoroughly. Simply wipe the muzzle with a damp cloth. Rinse off the shampoo and wrap the kitten in a warm, soft towel. The next day there should be no cold or drafts in the apartment. Between main bath procedures, you can use dry shampoo (powder or spray) once every 7 days to keep the coat clean.
If the fur becomes dull, starts to smell or becomes greasy, it’s time to wash the kitten. On average - once every 3-4 months. Combing
slicker; small furminator; rubber brush; fine comb; combined massage brush; restoring and caring spray for wool. It will help avoid tangles and tangles, making the coat obedient, soft and shiny.
Smooth out the fur with a comb. If there are tangles, gently untangle them with your fingers. If a kitten sheds, its fur should be combed with a furminator once a week. On other days and when not shedding, brush with a slicker brush. Then go over the fur with a rubber brush, removing any remaining dead hair. Smooth out the fur with a comb again. Finish combing with a massage brush: first comb the fur with the metal side, then with the bristles. Spray the fur with restorative spray and comb the kitten again with a comb.
During molting - once every 1-2 days, at normal times - once every 3-4 days. Nail trimming Claw cutter
choose a well-lit place; in case of a cut, prepare a bottle of hydrogen peroxide; Before cutting your kitten's claws, caress and calm him down. Take it in your arms; Press the pad with two fingers so that the claw is accessible and examine it. Usually, in good lighting, you can easily see the regrown edge of the claw and the living part - the pink tissue inside the claw. It has blood vessels and nerve endings, so there is no need to injure it; at a distance of 1–2 millimeters from the pink tissue, cut the claw slightly at an angle, respecting its natural shape, and file if necessary; Don't forget to trim the claw on the cat's fifth toe as well. It is this that most often grows into the pad and causes pain to the kitten.
As the claw grows
Briton bathing
It is permissible to carry out water procedures no earlier than the animal reaches one month of age. Breeders recommend starting the manipulation with play, gently wetting the cat's fur with wet hands. This will help you avoid scaring the kitten. Gradually, the baby will get used to the water and allow himself to be completely wet. Algorithm of water procedures:
- Fill a convenient container with warm water.
- Add shampoo suitable for a Brit.
- Place the animal in water and gently wet the fur.
- Rinse off the shampoo with warm water, being careful not to get it in your ears.
- Wrap the kitten in a cloth to dry its fur.
After the bath, the pet should be in a warm room where there are no drafts.
If your kitten keeps you up at night
If a small kitten squeaks at night or early in the morning and wakes you up. Firstly, if you adopted the kitten on time and not too young, he will no longer miss his mother so much and will not wake you up at night.
If he still wakes you up, you can tell him “no.” Pet him if he is small and bored. It's like a little child, he needs your love and affection, because now you are his mom or dad. Who else can he trust if not you?
It could also be that he is locked in a room with no access to a toilet. Or he just wants to eat, but there is no cup of food nearby. My cat sleeps in the same room where he has a toilet and where he has a cup of food. Therefore, there is no need for him to wake us up at night if he wants to go to the toilet or is hungry.
By the way, I noticed that many cats usually go to the toilet either late in the evening or early in the morning. But maybe it's just my cats that do this?
Of course, the kitten may simply become bored; he has already slept! He wants to play and calls mom or dad - play with me! Usually I manage to explain to him that I wouldn’t mind sleeping, and he goes to play with his toys himself.
Therefore, you need to give him different toys so that he can occupy himself while you sleep. In general, there should be enough toys so that the cat (especially a small kitten) does not get bored while you are at work. Kittens play constantly, with everything that comes under their paw. So, to prevent your new cell phone or collectible watch from falling under his paw, give him something that he can throw, drop and bite. It will be better for you.
You can also play with the cat before bed to make it tired, and then give it a piece of raw meat. This will extinguish the hunter's instinct, because all cats are hunters! And precisely at night. And since she already seemed to have hunted, she can sleep peacefully.
In general, if you love your cat or cat and strive to understand them, you will not have any problems with raising them. Especially with the Scots, since they are already very smart and kind, initially. You can achieve mutual understanding with your pet only with kindness, care and love. In return, you will receive the same care and love from your pet. With cats it is very simple, if you care for it and love it, then it will always love you back.
Cats do not know how to take revenge, take offense, they do not know how to betray, or do something out of spite. All deviations from normal cat behavior are ALWAYS the responsibility of the owner. It was the owner who did something wrong. We need to find out what it is and fix it. And the cat’s behavior will improve.
Cats, unlike dogs, are not initially herd animals. Therefore, if a cat follows you around, purrs on your lap and hugs you by the neck, it means that she really LOVES you, and this is not a herd instinct.
Natural food
A natural option is feeding a variety of meats and vegetables, occasionally diluting them with fish. Giving cow's milk is not recommended, but cream, sour cream or goat's milk are a good idea. You can give cottage cheese if your pet shows interest in it. Don't forget about various cereals . And, of course, various kinds of treats are not only a manifestation of care and concern, but also a pleasant surprise for your Briton.
Remember that it is important to follow care procedures not occasionally or according to your mood, but constantly! Now the responsibility for the health and happiness of the animal lies with you!
Source
How to feed
Proper feeding is based on three basic principles: regimen, correct selection of diet and separate nutrition.
It is very important to train the animal to receive food at the same time. This way his digestive system will work more stable, and your relationship will only become stronger from the nutrition ritual. Choose only high-quality products for your pet
If this is a ready-made food, then you should carefully study the label before succumbing to tempting advertising. In addition, do not forget that cats are big conservatives. Try to feed the animal the same food and products, making changes to the diet very gradually if necessary. Choose one of the options for your pet: dry food or natural food. Veterinarians do not recommend mixing them due to different digestion rates. If you still want to give your animal natural products from time to time, then remove the dry food an hour and a half before feeding. Always following this principle, you can make a combined diet on an ongoing basis.
For very small kittens under the age of 4 months, a special (four meals a day) food intake schedule should be provided. Each meal should include one of the following ingredients: low-fat cottage cheese, boiled chicken or ready-made canned children's meat, dry food, well-chopped raw beef. Don't forget that fresh water should always be available.
The combined diet of older individuals usually includes two types of lean meat (beef and chicken), cottage cheese and dry food.
This is a basic feeding option that may vary depending on your pet's taste preferences and health status. But there are some general taboos that all cat owners should know:
- Do not give your pets dog food, as its composition does not meet the needs of the cat’s body;
- You should not feed your cat fish, as this negatively affects the condition of the urinary tract;
- products containing bones may be hazardous to the health of the animal;
- there is no need to give your cat milk, as this will not bring any benefit to her body, but can lead to digestive upset;
- Do not accustom your cat to eating from your table, so as not to provoke obesity and other health problems.
When mixed or natural feeding, do not forget about the benefits of vitamins. Like people, animals periodically need to take multivitamin complexes to strengthen the immune system, improve the appearance of their fur coat and improve the overall health of the body.
A little about the breed
Shorthair British kittens have a plush feel due to their dense, soft coat with a thick undercoat. Varieties of the British breed are distinguished by hair length. During the selection, many experiments were carried out, the most successful result was the emergence of a long-haired British breed.
The description of the breed consists of describing the body of the British as strong and muscular. The limbs are quite short. The structure of the auricle allows only the straight-eared variety. The ears are small and widely spaced.
The eyes are round, wide open, more often found in orange, but depending on the color of the coat, the eyes are found in emerald, lavender, and gold. The blue coats of animals receive great attention; this is a color in which gray and blue are present. The owner determines the pros and cons of each color independently, choosing a pet according to his taste.
The main indicator is age
A kitten is a child with fur and a tail, which means it needs to be treated as such. Raising little kittens is always associated with pranks, disobedience, and later with rebellions of adolescence. Before you start training your pet, you need to assess its physical and psychological age.
From birth to 2 months, kittens are under the care of their mother. Kids actively communicate with each other and learn to build relationships. Essentially, at this stage, the quadruped goes through a process of basic socialization. Children have their first conflicts, and they resolve them as best they can; some fight, others silently retreat. At this age, kittens do not yet fully control their own bodies, but every day they become more and more confident in themselves and their abilities.
If you become the parent of an orphaned kitten, then the main task becomes survival. Feeding such a baby is not easy. The kitten needs to be bottle-fed every 2-4 hours, warmed and protected. A separate topic is the correct choice of food products, since whole and store-bought cow’s milk is not suitable for babies. The best choice is powdered cat milk replacer. You will have to massage your baby's stomach and genital area with a warm, damp cloth, otherwise he simply will not be able to go to the toilet.
As soon as the baby has opened his eyes, mastered complementary feeding and confidently stood on his paws, he can prepare to move to a new home. At this age, the main aspect is a complete and balanced diet. However, the kitten will face a lot of stress - moving, change of owner, environment and daily routine. Try to smooth out the baby’s experiences as much as possible, maintain the usual daily routine and food intake, take from the breeder or curator some of the bedding that will smell (for a while) of the mother.
Next, you will watch your ward grow up, not by months, but by days. The baby will begin to master running, jumping and other tasks that are difficult for his age. The kitten will realize that he is quite strong and will begin to climb all kinds of surfaces.
Around this age, you need to start raising your baby, but the main attention should be paid to his safety. The baby may already understand the meaning of boundaries, so try to isolate the kitten in a room, house or carrier for the period of time until you can monitor it
It is necessary to pay special attention to the equipment of the rest area. The kitten will need a house, which can be bought or made at home.
As soon as the baby goes to his place, do not disturb him. Your pet should be sure that he can step away from the hustle and bustle and be in complete peace and safety.
Up to 4 months the baby will grow by leaps and bounds, play and sleep a lot. Try to establish a routine, feed the kitten at a certain time and play with the baby during the period of active wakefulness.
At about 6 months, the kitten will begin puberty, which means it will begin to need to mark its territory. If your pet is not of breeding value, discuss spaying/neutering with your veterinarian in advance. The younger the animal, the easier it will tolerate the procedure. In addition, by neutering your cat before he starts marking, you won't have to clean corners and punish your pet.
Adaptation to a new home
The first few days the kitten may behave restlessly.
It usually takes at least three days, sometimes more, to acclimatize to an unfamiliar environment. At this time, the kitten behaves restlessly, constantly cries, and may refuse food.
In order for adaptation to be successful, the new resident is not disturbed and allowed to get comfortable. All that is needed from a person is to prepare the conditions for a full-fledged existence: put a bowl, a toilet, determine a place to sleep.
All hard-to-reach and potentially dangerous corners of the apartment are protected by any convenient method. If the baby is hiding, then there is no need to get him out by force, scaring him even more - sooner or later he will come out into the open world on his own.
Conduct a conversation with children, if there are any, that you cannot pester the kitten, squeeze it endlessly, and even more so drag it by the tail and torture it in every possible way.
When communicating with a kitten, do not raise your voice, use a gentle intonation, do not make sudden movements, play whenever possible and distract your pet from sad thoughts.
After some time, the adapted tenant will begin a tour of the house, at which point it’s time to think about his safety.
