FEEDING CATS
I feed my cats a varied diet, which consists of cooked meat and fish, tinned cat food and a good quality dry biscuit. Fresh raw meat, should always be bought from a reputable source, and fit for human consumption. Cats should never be fed on Tinned dog food, they require 20 per cent more protein than a dog.
Vitamin and Mineral Suppliments:
Cats require a variety of vitamins and minerals, which are essentials to their health, and bodily functions. A well ballanced, varied diet, should be fed, and suppliments will not be required.
Giving vitamin and mineral supplements, can be potentially harmful. A, D, or E, or Calcium and Phospherous, given in excess can cause serious health disorders. An excess of cod liver oil can cause bone disease.
Cooked meat:
Meat can be baked, grilled or boiled and when cool, cut into bite size chunks. An all time favourite of my cats, is boiled chicken, with a little brown or white rice added.
A small amount of vegetables, such as carrots and peas, can be added for extra vitamins.
Other meat meals can be, minced beef, or minced lamb, to which can be added vegetables, rice or pasta. **Vegetables, rice and pasta, should only make up a very small proportion of your cat's diet though.
Offal
Cooked kidneys, are very good for cats, especially for their teeth and gums, this is due to the extra effort they have to put into chewing the small chunks of kidney. Chicken Livers, I feed twice a week, boiled up with their chicken. Hearts are a very good source of taurine.
Tinned Fish:
Oily fish such as sardines, pilchards, pink salmon, (excellent source of calcium), and as an occasional treat of tuna, can also be fed.
Tuna, contains a small amount of Mercury, so it is better to feed the tinned Tuna, which is for human consumption. The pet food industry, uses the largest tuna, which contains more Mercury, whereas the smaller ones, containing less, is used for human consumption.
Always make sure, to drain and wash any fish well, if in brine. It is also not a good idea, to feed your cat any fish in sunflower or vegetable oil.
Fish should never be fed as a staple diet, as this can cause serious health problems.
Cooked Fish:
White fish, such as Cod, Coley and Haddock, is very good for tempting a cat that is unwell, or who has a poor appetite. Fish should never be fed raw, it should be poached or steamed, making sure all bones are removed.
Scrambled Eggs:
Lightly scrambled eggs, make an excellent light meal. My rex's love it with a little grated cheese, white fish added.
GLOP
There are times when your cat or very young kitten may need a special food that is easily digestible, very nourishing, high in calories and extremely palatable to encourage appetite. These special instances may include:
1. A cat that is ill, weak or won't eat - also for syringe feeding
2. Orphaned kittens
3. A large litter that needs supplementing
4. A cat of any age that needs extra energy and calories for any reason
The following is a very old Kitten Milk Replacer formula that has been around for years
and years, known as ‘glop’, to make this you will need:
Unflavoured Gelatine
Eggs
Plain Yoghurt(not low fat)
Mayonnaise(not low fat)
Syrup (light meaning in colour-not the dark Karo syrup)
Evaporated milk (not condensed milk)
Mix together and set aside:
2 cup of Gelatine dissolved in water
2 cups boiling water
Mix together:
4 eggs (yolks only)
4 Tablespoons Plain Live Yoghurt
2 Tablespoons Mayonnaise (full fat)
2 tsp. Syrup
2 Cups evaporated milk
After mixing, add the Gelatine you had set aside - you can add vitamins (such as SA37) and probiotic powder such as Protexin.
This will keep in your refrigerator for 7 days.... when you open the refrigerator and find you have "gelatine milk”. Take out what is needed, warm back to its liquid state and serve to the babies.
Alternativley freeze in ice cube trays and place in bags in the freezer. Great if you just need a small amount.
Grooming:
Rex's usually do not require much grooming. I find a good diet, and regular hand grooming, is all that's required to keep their coats in good condition. If a bath is needed, there are plenty of good quality cat shampoos on the market. Pet stores, such as Pets at Home, stock the leading brands, or a very mild baby shampoo can be used.
Ears:
This is one part of a Rex, which needs regular attention. A cotton wool ball, with a little baby oil on it, should be used to clean the inside of their ears. Great care should be taken, not to probe to deeply, into the ear, so that no damage is caused.
Vaccinations/Neutering/Parasites
It is advisable, to have your cat's vaccinations up-to-date. Even if they are indoor cats, bacteria and viruses can be carried into your home, on the bottom of people shoes, and their clothing; some are also airbourne. All cats and kittens, should be vaccinated against Cat Flu, and Feline Infectious enteritis.
Neutering:
Any cat not used for breeding, should be neutered, it is the responsible thing to do.
Neutering removes the cats sexual urges, and can help prevent or resolve some behavioural problems. If a female escapes and is mated by the local Tom, she might come home, with more than kittens.
The local Tom, just might have Feline Immunodeficiencey (FIV), or Feline Leukaemia. Both of these viruses can be passed on, by biting and scratching.
This is also a danger, for an unneutered male, who lands up fighting with other Tom cats. FIV is usually fatal, and there is no vaccine. Although there is a vaccine for Feline Leukaemia, if the cat is unvaccinated and catches it, there is no cure.
Worms:
Regularly worming should be carried out, on a regular basis. I use Drontal, which kills roundworm as well as tape worm, and is available on prescription from your vet. Also available on prescription, is Panacur paste and granules, and Stronghold.
Never use a dog wormer on cats, as it will kill them.
Fleas:
There is now an excellent flea spray available from vets, called Frontline. Always follow the instructions on flea treatment to the letter. Never use flea treatment for dogs on kittens, and check your kitten is old enough for the treatment.
Just recently, for the hard to handle adults, my vet has recommended Stonghold, which is a spot on flea/wormer and has worked a treat.(June 2004).
Indoor Cats:
Personally, we prefer to keep our cats indoors, with access to their purpose built out-door runs. This is where they can safely play, sunbathe and enjoy the fresh air, away from heavy traffic. Sadly most traffic accidents, are fatal.
Disease, is something to think about (please see above). If your cat goes out, even, if it's only into your backgarden, you should consider having them vaccinated against Flu, Feline Infectious Enteritis and Feline Leukeamia.
Internal and external parasites, can affect a roaming cat. These include ticks, fleas and worms.
Theft, can also be a problem, some individuals will steal pedigree cats to sell. Then there is the hideous, black market trade in cat pelts, (Domestic and Pedigree) for the fur trade.
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