European Shorthairs are natural predators. Never forget that when you’re trying to decide what food your European Shorthair should eat. If you don’t stick to this, your European Shorthair will seem like a finicky eater. If you’re giving your her food that is not meat or formulated from meat products, you may have a difficult time getting your European Shorthair to eat.
What food you should give to your new European Shorthair.
Always remember European Shorthairs are closely related to the biggest of felines — cougars, tigers and lions — so keep that in mind as you’re feeding the European Shorthair. Never will you see a mature panther on Animal Planet chewing grass, drinking milk, or eating an apple in the wild. You also would never observe a cougar cub in the wild drinking the milk of a cow, or any other animal. As outrageous as these examples sound, that’s exactly what many people feed their European Shorthairs. So you shouldn’t act surprised when your European Shorthair goes hungry. European Shorthairs are not like us and different from dogs. With respect to their nutrition, they rarely mix it up, and as an owner you must realize that. European Shorthairs consume almost entirely proteins and fats as opposed to omnivores like humans who also eat vegetables and fruits. A human would probably develop many problems if he ate the European Shorthair’s recommended diet. They are not at all the same as humans and they are not like miniature dogs. It’s not uncommon for owners to treat their European Shorthairs exactly like they treat their dogs, who can eat a variety of different foods and remain healthy. Given that dog food is mainly carbs, a dog’s diet can be deadly to your European Shorthair if fed for a long period of time. European Shorthairs are not meant to eat carbs because they can’t process them. European Shorthairs will develop extreme obesity problems from carbohydrates, which can lead to diabetes. The European Shorthair’s system is not designed for carbohydrates. They are to be avoided.
things to know when caring for young European Shorthairs
Delighting Your European Shorthair’s Appetite
Before deciding on a particular food for the European Shorthair make sure it is approved by the American Association of Feed Control Officials. Meeting those requirements ensures that your European Shorthair is getting the proper nutrition. Feel free to pay no attention to marketing terms such as “natural”, ” premium”, ” super-premium”, and “gourmet” which have no standard definition. Ask the vet what food (wet or dry) is best for the European Shorthair. Once you’ve selected the best food, it’s now the time to let your European Shorthair make the final decision. If your European Shorthair eats it with no problems and appears to enjoy it, it is a fine food for him. In contrast, if your European Shorthair doesn’t like the food, you need to be ready to give a different food. European Shorthairs often will go on hunger strikes instead of eat some food they don’t tolerate, and such strikes are harmful. If he commits to stop eating, your European Shorthair runs an extreme risk of death or liver failure at the least. If you do need to change from one food to another, replace the old food little by little, in small quantities over a week. This helps prevent the European Shorthair from rejecting the new food outright and lessens the risk of upsetting your kitty’s stomach.
European Shorthair Snacks, Portion Size, and Feeding Time
How much do you need to feed your European Shorthair? The answer may enlighten you. As an example, is the European Shorthair a house cat or a yard cat or hybrid? Has the European Shorthair had sterilization surgery? These both play a factor in nutritional requirements. Your best bet is to request more information from the doctor, who will help you define your European Shorthair’s ideal weight and daily dietary requirements. Take initiative about asking your doctor about your European Shorthair’s food and weight. Once you figure out how much food your European Shorthair needs, don’t deviate. Although it seems like it’s not enough, your European Shorthair will get used to it and remain at a ideal weight. For European Shorthairs, it’s difficult to lose weight once they get overweight. Once you’ve gotten this info from your vet, it’s time to set up your European Shorthair’s meals. European Shorthairs like to eat small servings during the day, so plan to leave bowls out so he can eat when hunger strikes. You can also give out half for the morning and the other half for the evening for a little portion control. Keep snacks to a minimum. The more treats they eat, the less room they’ll have for their core dietary requirements.
Don’t forget to check out these other articles about European Shorthairs
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