British shorthair cat Care Tips
The advantages of the British cat breed
little british kitten of blue color
The benefit of a British cat is at least only in the fact that, living with you on the same territory, she will be pleased every day with her presence, amazing appearance and character of you and all members of your family.
The cat, in itself, has the unique ability to relieve stress, which is incredibly important to any modern person who is constantly in the overload, speed mode.
Why is a cat of the British breed good?
– By virtue of her character, she will calm you unobtrusively, will not beg for her, and brazenly climb into her arms. At the same time, a person who is in an excited state will become infected with her restraint and pacification, after which the cat can calmly proceed to its main business – to give its owner the long-awaited warmth, affection and care, taking away nervous tension, excitement and even pain.
Walking cats
British Shorthair cats are not ordinary pets, but purebred pets. Always remember that cats, left to their own devices and having free access to the street, are in constant danger to life and health. On the street, your pet may face the following types of danger:
Injuries resulting from fights with other street animals or in the collision with vehicles;
Exposure to poisons and toxins from the environment;
Possibility of contracting infectious diseases from other street animals, as well as bringing fleas home.
Adult british blue cat
If you decide to give your British cat a little freedom and allow access to the street, let him go for a walk when it is light outside. It is not recommended to do this in urban conditions, since most of the dangers lie in wait for animals there.
How useful is walking cats in the afternoon?
– The fact is that domestic cats suffer from a lack of vitamin D, which is synthesized only under the influence of sunlight. To put a British cat near the window is also not an option, because it does not pass the ultraviolet necessary for this process.
Ideally, cats need to walk on a summer day in their own territory, fenced with a metal mesh.
Do british cats need communication?
British kittens aged 2 to 12 weeks need particularly active communication, not only with brothers, but also with the owner. This causes them the positive emotions necessary for British Shorthair cats to grow adapted to society and be ready for an adult independent life.
If thoroughbred British lack communication with other animal representatives or people, they can become fearful or even aggressive.
Communicating with other purebred cats, British kittens acquire all the skills necessary for adulthood.
Communicating with people teaches kittens to love and understand humans. This is important to know first of all to breeders of British shorthair cats in order to be able to raise an intelligent thoroughbred representative from a naughty kitten.
For the full development of British breed cats, it is necessary to provide them with an abundance of toys (ringing, rustling, etc.), places for climbing, for hide and seek. Toys should always be available.
The breeder should pay due attention to the game with his pet – this will not only improve his communication skills, but also his state of health. Remember that everyone needs care, especially British babies.
We teach kittens to go to the toilet
You should not be surprised that most kittens under the age of 1 month do not understand where to go to the toilet. Instinctively, they will go to write and shit in slippers or dirt. Here, the breeder needs to teach the baby where he should go, consolidate this skill and constantly perform this task in the same place. It is rarely possible to solve this problem in one day, so you need to be patient. In the end, each kitten will go to its own tray.
To ensure that the kitten does not lose its skills in the new house, provide it with free access to the tray, and also use the filler that the breeder will recommend for your cat’s toilet.
Now a little about cat litter. There are:
Paper
Woody
Earthenware
Silica gel,
Absorbent and crumpled fillers.
The filler helps to get rid of unpleasant odors, and also does not allow kittens to spread dirt and unpleasant odors from the tray throughout the apartment. The substance for the trays after the feces of the cat crumbles, absorbs moisture, as a result of which it is easy to remove with segments, and not with the whole tray.
It also happens that the animal refuses to use the cat’s toilet. The main reasons for this may be as follows:
The presence of intestinal parasites;
Aversion to a certain type of fillers;
Cystitis;
Features of the behavior of the British (territory label);
Dislike of a British cat to the location of the toilet;
The cat’s unwillingness to share the tray with another cat;
Feline jealousy.
If the cat defecates in the wrong places, it is enough to purchase a cat odor neutralizer in any veterinary clinic and pet store. In no case should you punish a cat for its embarrassment. Just think carefully about the reason for this behavior and try to solve the problem peacefully.
Washing and grooming a British cat’s hair
Combing is an indispensable daily ritual that should be carried out, regardless of the length of cat’s hair. This process allows you to evenly distribute sebum, cleanse hair from hair loss, ventilate the skin and enrich it with oxygen.
With regular brushing, a British cat will swallow and belch coat in much smaller quantities.
The main goal of washing a cat is to remove dust, dirt, grease, organic waste, as well as everything that can not be removed with a brush. This can be done quite rarely, thanks to the exceptional cleanliness of the British Shorthair.
When washing, it is recommended to use hypoallergenic shampoos designed exclusively for cats of the British breed.
Before washing, it is recommended to lubricate the cat’s eyes with sterile ointment for special purposes. This will prevent the traumatic effect on the eyes of the shampoo.
If your British cat (and most often a cat) suffers from increased salting of the hair in the area of the ears and the upper part of the tail, do not wash these places intensively, it is enough to introduce more vegetables into the diet, use special additives and vitamins that improve metabolism.
As an alternative to washing, these places can be wiped with chamomile broth (proportions – a tablespoon of the broth in a glass of water).
Cat eye care
The eyes of British cats do not need special care. It is enough to remove the accumulation of secretions in the corners of the eyes in the morning. This can be done with a damp cotton pad or a damp cloth.
Cat Ear Care
Brushing thoroughbred British ears is recommended at least once a month. Experts recommend using a special ear cleaner for this, or preparing a mixture of vinegar and isopropyl vinegar on their own (in proportions of 50:50).
The mixture is carefully injected into the ear, after which the owner should massage the canal for about 20 seconds. After the cat shakes its head, it is necessary to proceed to the second ear, repeating the same actions. Using a cotton swab, gently remove dirt by inserting the swab into the ear superficially. Wipe the outer part of the ear and the inner folds.
If an unpleasant smell comes from your ears, sores or irritations are visible, you should show your Briton to your veterinarian.
Tooth and Claw Care
If an unpleasant smell comes from the cat’s mouth, it’s surely suffering from gum or tooth disease. If left untreated, this can lead not only to tooth loss, but also to more serious problems, such as kidney and heart disease.
For the prevention and cleaning of the oral cavity, it is recommended to regularly feed British cats with rough food. Dry feeds are ideal for this. When chewing, the cat gums are massaged, plaque and stone are also removed.
More often than not, a British cat herself can take care of her claws. True, often your walls and furniture suffer from this. If this method does not suit you, once a week cut her nails on her own. During clipping, be careful not to cut off the pink part of the claw. Only cut the claws in half, as there is a risk of touching the blood vessels.
If the vessels are still touched, then gently press the foot with a napkin soaked in an antiseptic (hydrogen peroxide will do).
For more passive hosts, a claw point is ideal.
Cat sleep
British cats sleep, cat sleeps, sleeping kitten
People are used to thinking that cats like to sleep. In fact, the rate of cat sleep is 18 hours, the cat must stay awake for the remaining 6 hours.
You should not wake a cat at a time when she is resting, because she needs a long sleep for normal health and good mood.
Try to equip your Briton with a comfortable place to sleep. A house, a cozy wicker basket with a mattress, a lounger with sides – all this is perfect, especially if you set the berth at a certain height. In this case, the British cat will have a good viewing angle.
Even if you do not participate in exhibitions with your pet, your cat needs a complete and high-quality care.
If you follow these simple tips for caring for British Shorthair cats, your pet will always be healthy and beautiful.