British Shorthairs are known to be pretty good gluttons and this opinion is confirmed in reality. On the one hand, this is good news for owners, as they should have no problem pleasing their mewling cat’s palate. On the other hand, however, we must not forget that British Shorthairs have an outstanding tendency to gain weight and are at risk of obesity. That is why proper nutrition of the British Shorthair is so important. In our guide, we have collected 5 most important rules to follow in order to maintain the kitten in good physical condition and thus prolong its life.
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What do British cats eat? Meat, meat, and more meat!
Cats are not only carnivorous animals. They are obligate carnivores, which means that there should be no plant products in their diet at all. Nature has programmed our mruczki in such a way that everything they need for happiness and proper development is found in meat and its derivatives.
Every cat owner should know that cats cannot independently produce certain amino acids, called exogenous. These are mainly taurine, lysine, tryptophan, methionine, cysteine, and arginine. The owner’s duty is to provide the cat with these amino acids in the diet – preferably with food, without additional supplementation. The aforementioned amino acids are found mainly in meat. Their deficiency has very serious consequences for the cat’s health, so do not underestimate this!
When choosing your cat’s food – whether it’s dry or wet – always read the label first. If it contains a lot of plant products, put it back on the shelf. Good cat food is based on meat, not on by-products (i.e. so-called animal by-products, such as ears, eyes, gristle, etc.).
You could also try feeding your cat only meat – for example, boiled fish, liver (but only occasionally!), raw beef, etc. This is called the BARF diet, which raises some controversy due to the still questionable quality of meat available in Polish stores. Besides that, it is a very expensive way of feeding.
Time to check the ingredients in your pet food!
This is not only necessary due to the need to limit plant products in a cat’s diet. Reading the composition of the feed will tell you a lot about its quality and its actual adaptation to the nutritional needs of a British cat.
Good food will always contain a lot of protein and fat, which is very needed for a cat to function properly. It is completely different with carbohydrates. For a cat, it is nothing but empty calories that cause fat tissue to accumulate and gradually gain weight. This is especially dangerous for a British cat, which has a natural predisposition to excessive weight gain.
Pet Facts!
A good ready-made cat food should contain over 20% fat, but no more than 4% carbohydrates.
Fresh water for your British Shorthair— always!
All cats, regardless of breed, have some sort of aversion to drinking water. This also applies to “British” cats. Therefore, every owner should be very diligent in ensuring that they encourage their mewling to drink water regularly. This prevents serious problems with the kidneys and is particularly important in the case of cats that are fed dry food exclusively.
In order to encourage the cat to drink often, the water in the bowl should be changed regularly (it should be cold) and it should never be placed near the litter box or food bowl. Cats instinctively avoid drinking in places where they eat and relieve themselves – they protect themselves in this way from the risk of drinking contaminated water.
British cats: eating from your table is a bad idea
It’s very important to remember never to give your cat human food, especially scraps from the table or fried/baked meats. This also includes popular fruits like grapes and citrus fruits, which can be toxic to cats.
Do not overfeed the British cat
Finally, a rule that every owner of a British Shorthair must remember. Overeating is a simple way for your cat to gain weight and then obesity, which is already a direct threat to its health and life. Here you must consistently stick to the established diet and the amount and frequency of food given to your pet. Snacks are fine, as long as they are not the rule, but only an occasional way to reward your cat.
