British Shorthairs are natural predators. Never forget that when you’re trying to decide how you should feed your British Shorthair. If you don’t stick to this, your British Shorthair may seem like a finicky eater. If you’re giving your him food that is not meat or formulated from meat products, you may have difficulty getting your new British Shorthair to eat.
What should British Shorthairs eat?
Don’t ever forget that British Shorthairs share recent ancestry with the fiercest of felines — lions, tigers,and jaguars, etc. — so keep that in mind as you’re feeding the British Shorthair. You will not witness a full grown lion on Animal Planet eating an apple, chewing grass, or drinking milk in the wild. Nor would you see a young leopard cub in nature drinking milk from a cow, or any other animal. As ludicrous as these examples are, that’s exactly how many people feed their British Shorthairs. Don’t act surprised if your British Shorthair goes hungry. British Shorthairs don’t eat the same way dogs and humans do. With respect to their nutrition, they rarely stray, and as an owner you must always take that into consideration. Compared to how many other mammals eat, British Shorthairs need to eat a lot of meat for fat and protein. If we ate like British Shorthairs, we’d have serious health issues at a young age. British Shorthairs are not at all like humans and they are not like little dogs. It’s not uncommon for people to treat their British Shorthairs like they treat dogs, who can eat a variety of different foods and remain healthy. As a matter of fact, dog food is fatal to British Shorthairs over time because it fails to meet their dietary requirements and it’s usually overloaded with too many carbohydrates, which British Shorthairs can’t digest properly. Many times, when you see an extremely heavy domestic British Shorthair it’s because she was fed a diet heavy in carbohydrates. This also puts your British Shorthair at risk of diabetes. The British Shorthair’s digestive system is not designed for carbohydrates. They are to be avoided.
tips for taking care of British Shorthairs
Pleasing Your British Shorthair’s Palate
Make sure any food you buy for your British Shorthair satisifies the guidelines defined by the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). Satisfying their guidelines ensures that your British Shorthair is getting the correct nutrition. Pay no attention to marketing “hype” terms like “gourmet”, ” natural”, ” super-premium”, and “premium”, as there is no guideline that defines them. Ask the vet which food (wet or dry) they recommend for your British Shorthair. Once you have made your choice, let your British Shorthair do a taste test. If the British Shorthair eats it with no issues and seems to enjoy it, it is a great choice. In contrast, if the British Shorthair doesn’t like the food, you need to be prepared to offer options. British Shorthairs often will go on hunger strikes instead of eat something they don’t enjoy, and these strikes are harmful. If he ever decides to a hunger strike, your British Shorthair runs a high risk of liver failure or death. If you ever decide to change foods, introduce a different type of food a little at a time, in small quantities over about a week. This helps prevent the British Shorthair from rejecting the new food outright and lessens the risk of upsetting your kitty’s stomach.
Portion Size, Feeding Time, and Snacks for British Shorthairs
How much do you need to feed the British Shorthair? Well that depends on some elements you might not expect. For instance, is your British Shorthair an indoor or outdoor cat? Has the British Shorthair been sterilized? Both of these answers are critical in determining your British Shorthair’s nutritional requirements. Your best bet is to request more information from the vet, who will help you figure out your British Shorthair’s best weight and daily calorie count. Take the initiaitive and ask your veterinarian about your British Shorthair’s weight and food. Once you figure out how much food your British Shorthair needs, don’t deviate. It may seem like it’s not enough, but it will keep your British Shorthair at a ideal weight. For British Shorthairs, it’s hard to shed pounds once they get obese. Next, plan your British Shorthair’s meals. British Shorthairs like to eat all throughout the day, so it’s just best to leave food out for them where it’s accessible all the time. You can give out half in the morning before leaving for work and the other half in the evening. Keep treats to a minimum. Don’t let treats dilute their nutrition. Just like with people, too much salt is a bad thing.
Don’t forget to check out these other articles about British Shorthairs
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