What and how to feed Abyssinian cats and cats?

"Domestic puma" - this is how the Abyssinian cat is often called, it is mobile, flexible and very graceful. Like all other pedigree animals, she is quite picky about food. With proper organization of pet feeding, these "predators" can live up to 20 years.

If you decide to become the owner of an Abyssinian cat, be sure to consult with your veterinarian about how to feed it and formulate a balanced diet. Be sure to monitor your cat's health, it is very important not to overfeed these little cougars. Despite the fact that this breed is rather diminutive, in most cases it is uncharacteristic for them to overeat. Situations are not uncommon when the animal cannot stop near a filled bowl of food.

Puma's nutrition should be nutritious and balanced, enriched with useful vitamins and minerals. In addition to feed, the animal should be given a natural one. In general, a cat's diet should include several components.

• Dry food is the main food of the Abyssinians. Nowadays, stores offer a wide selection of food from different manufacturers, but it is better to give preference to more expensive ones, since nutrition directly affects the health of a pet. Keep in mind that this food does not contain liquid, so the cat must have a bowl of water. The daily drinking rate for an adult animal is 130–140 ml.
• Wet food. It is given to animals from time to time; it is not suitable for everyday nutrition. It is used only as a supplement to the dry diet.
• Meat. An Abyssinian needs protein for proper nutrition, and meat is an excellent source of protein. For cats and cats, rabbit meat, veal, lamb and chicken are suitable, but it is not recommended to give pork, since this product often contains helminths.
• A fish. Only sea fish is suitable for feeding the Abyssinians, and you can also occasionally offer your pet shrimp and other seafood. Fish should be introduced into the diet gradually, starting with small portions. If such food is to the taste of the cat, you can safely include it in the diet in the future.
• Dairy products. Homemade sour cream, low-fat cream, dry cottage cheese, milk, and yogurt should be present in the animal's menu as a source of calcium. But they need to be offered rarely and in small dosages, otherwise there is a great risk of disrupting the digestive system.
• Vegetables and fruits. Abyssinians often cannot resist a variety of juicy fruits and fresh vegetables. You can safely include them in your daily diet only if your pet is not allergic to this product.

The following products are strictly forbidden to be added to the menu of an Abyssinian cat:

• sausages, small sausages, ham and other sausages;
• both canned meat and fish;
• all types of smoked meats;
• dishes seasoned with spices and herbs;
• salted and pickled foods;
• sweets, rich products.

When choosing a feed, it is necessary to take into account such fundamental points as:

• cat age - small Abyssinian kittens develop much more slowly than kittens of other breeds;
• veterinarian appointments - usually the doctor makes recommendations, taking into account the physical condition and shape of the cat;
• health features of parents - you need to know exactly what the mother and father of the young Abyssinian were ill with, whether they had allergies and hereditary pathologies;
• chair features - Improper nutrition often leads to constipation or diarrhea of ​​the cat, in case of violations, the feeding regime of the animal should be changed immediately.

Let's dwell on the best dry food for cats of this breed.

This is a Canadian product and includes dried meat and sea fish. The meat component is represented by venison, wild boar, as well as meat and various by-products of sheep and lambs. The fish portion includes blue whiting, sardines, cod and arctic char. These products account for about 85% of the total feed, the remaining 15% are fruits and vegetables: legumes, pumpkin, carrots, lettuce, beet greens and parsnips.

Of the fruits, cranberries, apples and pears are most often used for making feed. Chicory root acts as a source of inulin for cats, and extracts from cod liver enrich the product with fat-soluble acids Omega-3 and Omega-6.

This is another product from Canada, it is 75% hake meat, as well as sardines and wild perch, the remaining 25% – these are peas, red and white beans, lentils, turnips, as well as pumpkin, blueberries, cranberries, also rose hips, pears, green apples and carrots. The ratio of proteins and fats in the product corresponds to 37% and 20%, the feed is enriched with Omega acids. All vegetables included in the product are characterized by a reduced glycemic status, which is especially important for the prevention of overweight and the development of diabetes.

This is a premium product made in the UK. The protein content is 31%, fats –18–19%. The product includes a meat component (meat and poultry meal, chicken fat), as well as fish (fish oil with fish meal). The feed is enriched with beet pulp, corn, rice, egg powder and brewer's yeast. To normalize the intestinal microflora, prebiotic, as well as vitamins A, D3 and E. The amino acid taurine is used as a dietary supplement.

It is a balanced feed from an Italian company. It contains 32% protein and 11% fat. The feed includes salmon or tuna meat, chicken, fish and poultry oils, as well as butter, beet tops, dairy corn and brewer's yeast. The product is rich in vitamins of the group B, A, E and D3, does not contain any artificial additives.

This is a Brazilian food with an increased dosage of protein components (34%). Product manufactured from chicken meat, chicken liver and offal, pork plasma, eggs, beet pulp, sugarcane pomace, all this is diluted with vegetable oil and seasoned with yeast. Additionally, extracts of apple, rosemary and green tea are added, as well as taurine.

The diet of an Abyssinian cat must also include a natural one.

• The need for proteins is covered by chicken, veal, turkey meat, white fish, chicken eggs, ducks and quails, dairy products. The body of the Abyssinians covers the lack of carbohydrates due to cereals, and all vitamins and fiber are obtained from ripe fruits, juicy vegetables and young greens.
• Animals are given beef pre-frozen for 2-3 days. The meat is cut into small cubes, it is better to choose with veins, then the cat will be able not only to eat, but also to clean the teeth at the same time. Meat is included in the pet's menu every day.
• By-products often contain helminths, so they are boiled before serving. The liver, heart and lungs are introduced into the animal's menu 2-3 times a week in small portions.
• Fish must certainly be present in the diet of the animal. It serves as a source of essential omega acids, as well as calcium and phosphorus. Keep in mind that with frequent use of the product, the "home cougar" may develop cholelithiasis, so one fish day of 7-10 days is quite enough for the animal.
• Eggs are boiled, mixed with vegetables and cereals. As a rule, the weekly consumption of the product does not exceed 1 chicken or 2 quail eggs.
• Sour milk. It is allowed to feed with kefir, yogurt, cream and unsweetened yogurt up to 4 times a week. The product promotes the production of digestive enzymes and improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
• Porridge for cats is prepared in meat broth, it is also possible in water without adding sugar and seasonings. They are usually mixed with meat and fish. You can include them in the menu every day.
• Abyssinians are eager to consume fruits, vegetables and herbs. The products are crushed and added to meat or fish in a 1: 2 ratio.
• To cleanse the intestines of accumulated hairballs, cats are given sprouted cereals. For the shine of the wool, brewer's yeast is introduced into food.

The body of a young cat of the Abyssinian breed develops much more slowly than the body of kittens of other varieties. Therefore, for up to six months they are given exclusively specialized feed for small animals. At 1.5–2 months, complementary foods are introduced into the diet - it can be milk porridge, minced meat or the yolk of a chicken egg. Many breeders feed their wards with baby food, for example, "Tema" or "Agusha", in small portions they introduce crumbly cottage cheese and crushed cheese.

At 3 months, teeth are replaced, at this moment dense lumpy food must prevail on the menu, so vegetables and meat products must be cut into larger pieces so that the animal gradually gets used to chewing. Up to 4 months, kittens are fed 6 times a day, from 4 to 12 months - four times. Adult food is allowed only after a year. It should be introduced gradually, since cats of this breed have a rather sensitive digestive system.Usually, the proportion of baby food is reduced, and the proportion of an adult is gradually increased - it takes about 1 month to completely replace the diet.

Pregnant and lactating cats require anxious attitude to feeding, during that period, their menu should be rich in essential vitamins, micro- and macroelements, namely:

• for the correct formation of the skeleton of the fetus, the animal needs calcium and fluoride; if these elements are not enough in the feed, it begins to be washed out from the mother's body;
• a deficiency of vitamins and mineral elements leads to a failure in the laying of the internal organs of the fetus;
• a lack of amino acids can often provoke a miscarriage;
• lack of taurine causes pregnancy fading;
• the absence of fatty acids leads to pathologies of the animal's neural tube.

Sterilization often leads to pathologies of the genitourinary system of animals, so their nutrition should be special. Feed for castrates must necessarily contain low concentrations of magnesium, phosphorus and calcium, fish is also contraindicated for them - these feeds can lead to kidney stones.

It is better to use special food for such animals. At least half of the diet should be natural feed, consisting of meat, offal, vegetables and cereals. It is very important to keep track of your pet's body weight. Usually, after castration, cats become less mobile, lose interest in cats and gain it in food, so animals should be fed small portions.

If your pet began to recover rapidly, it is necessary to start the fight against obesity as early as possible, otherwise there is a high risk of developing serious diseases and even the death of the pet. First of all, they reduce the calorie content of food, which can be done either by reducing the volume of portions or by changing the diet itself. With obesity, delicacies and delicacies are completely removed from the menu, unfortunately, you will have to completely abandon dry food.

However, this is not a reason to be upset - you can always choose the optimal low-calorie product from a specialized line of a regular manufacturer. It is best to prepare food for your pet yourself if you are overweight, such as liver, rice, sunflower oil, calcium carbonate, and vitamin supplements. The rice is boiled, the liver is cut, combined with oil and ground to a pasty state. The daily feed rate should not exceed 200 g, the products are divided into 2-3 doses.

For more information on the Abyssinian cat, see the next video.