Why don't Scottish and British cats sit on your hands?

Visit to the veterinarian

When purchasing a pet, you should carefully read the reviews of visitors to nearby veterinary clinics and choose the right one.

The first vaccination for a kitten is given at 12 weeks.

If British breed kittens are cared for correctly, visits to the veterinarian will not be frequent, but kittens should be seen regularly for examinations and vaccinations during the first year of life.

1. Vaccination schedule.

When the kitten is one year old, he is vaccinated against rabies.

At 12 weeks, the baby receives the first comprehensive vaccination, which includes components against rhinotracheitis, calcivirosis, and panleukopenia. The vaccine is fixed exactly after 21 days with a similar composition. When the kitten is one year old, he is given the same vaccination for the third time, and a rabies vaccination is added to it.

Caring for British kittens includes preventive deworming

In the future, the pet is given a comprehensive vaccination and vaccination against rabies every year. Even if the cat is constantly in the apartment, annual vaccination should not be neglected.

1. Deworming.

Caring for British kittens includes preventive deworming.

Deworming is mandatory before vaccinations. The procedure must be carried out 10 days before vaccination; the drug can be in the form of a tablet or suspension.

If lice, fleas, scabies mites or lice mites are found on a kitten, it is necessary to treat it with drugs against ectoparasites

Until the kitten is six months old, deworming is carried out monthly.

1. Treatment against ectoparasites.

If lice, fleas, scabies mites or lice mites are found on a kitten, it is necessary to treat it with drugs against ectoparasites. The products are available in the form of sprays, powders, drops on the withers - the veterinarian will select the most effective one, because For kittens under 3 months of age, only short-acting medications can be used.

For kittens younger than 3 months, only short-acting medications can be used.

Spray bait

Sometimes a cat must be accustomed to being handled using a special bait spray, which is sold in a pharmacy and usually contains catnip extract; this is necessary in cases where the kitten has been running wild for a long time and categorically refuses to make contact. Most often, this phenomenon is observed if the animal has suffered from people and because of this cannot help but fear even its owner, who loves it and has created comfortable living conditions for it. Also, basement kittens, which have largely returned to the behavior of their wild ancestors, are often distinguished by distrust.

The spray should be applied not to clothes, but to the palms of the hands, so that the kitten gets used to the person, and not to the thing. The smell of the product acts on the animal like a drug, and therefore the pet will, despite its fear, still run to the owner and rub against the hands. Gradually, the kitten will understand that there is nothing dangerous or unpleasant when communicating with a person. As a result of this, in the future, even without a spray, the pet will be willing to be handled.

When using a spray, it is important not to exceed the norm so that the baby does not become accustomed to it and begins to suffer from the lack of the drug. Because of this, you cannot use the product more often than once a day. This remedy should be used more often if you had to take an adult cat into your home.

Health

Newborn British kittens gain good immunity by being close to their mother for a long time. Within two weeks, their first teeth appear. You need to make sure that there is no inflammation of the gums.

Before vaccination, deworming must be carried out 10 days. Adult animals need to be given deworming medicine once every 3 months, especially if they go outside.

Although the British kitten is in good health, once you decide to have a baby, be prepared to pay attention to warning signs. If the cat constantly meows, is lethargic, and does not eat anything, then something is bothering her, but you should not make a diagnosis yourself

A veterinarian is qualified to identify diseases and treatments.

A small kitten found in the basement is much easier to adopt as a pet than an adult.

The main thing is to set a goal, which will be to turn a wild, fearful cat into a kind, sweet and completely safe cat for others. There have been cases where aggressive pets have caused significant damage to human health, so the safety aspect is paramount. An inappropriate cat that thinks it is protecting itself from danger can frighten or injure a child, and we should not allow this to happen.

In medicine, there is a special term - “cat scratch disease”.

You can easily end up in the hospital with this syndrome. The damage that remains after a bite or scratch is quite painful and often inflamed. It is very difficult to protect yourself and your loved ones from such situations, because it is impossible to predict the behavior of an unfamiliar animal that lived in unknown harm.

It is impossible to put a muzzle on a cat to prevent it from biting. It is also difficult for her to trim her nails to avoid scratches. Therefore, she needs to be educated. A pet should be affectionate and safe for all family members. To make an adult cat or a small kitten a kind pet, you first need to earn his trust. This can be achieved by satisfying his life needs. The animal should be fed well and tasty, play ball with it, speak in a gentle voice, and stroke it gently. All these simple manipulations will lead to the formation of trust and affection.

Where to start raising a child?

An animal must know its place. For an apartment cat, this concept includes such aspects as:

• the ability to relieve need in a tray intended for this purpose (and only there);
• willingness to respond to one's own name;
• no habit of begging or stealing food.

The listed skills should begin to be instilled in the baby as soon as he is taken to a new home. At 3 months (and it is at this age that kittens are best separated from their mother) the animal is quite capable of mastering the simplest rules of behavior. The main thing is to know how to explain your requirements to your pet.

Tray training

The kitten learns the habit of urinating and defecating in a designated place from its mother, so you need to check with the breeder how the toilet was organized in the baby’s home. Using the same tray and filler, you can greatly simplify your pet’s adaptation to new conditions.

Perhaps the baby, who has been fussing around in search of the toilet several times, will have to be taken there, but after a couple of days he will learn to find the tray himself. The main thing is to keep the cat litter clean (no cat wants to go into a dirty one).

The tray is clean, but the animal still leaves piles and puddles everywhere? It is worth looking for another place for the toilet. You can move the tray to a corner that your cat especially likes and, just to be sure, put a piece of paper in it, blotting one of the puddles your pet previously made with it. The smell of your own urine will help the kitten orientate itself.

You should praise the animal when it relieves itself where it is supposed to, but you should not scold it for peeing in other places. Moreover, you should not “raise” your pet by poking the baby’s nose into his own excrement. This tactic will give the cat the impression that he is being punished for the act of defecation itself. Should we then be surprised to find piles in very hidden places, for example behind cabinets and under sofas?

You will have to be patient, and instead of punishments, use special sprays (“Antigadin”, “Mr. Frech”, “Shitting? No!”, “STOP the problem. Doesn’t shit, doesn’t mark”, etc.). The smell of such products will make the cat feel uncomfortable. The spray is applied to surfaces that arouse the pet's interest until he gives up the intention to defecate on them. A similar effect can be achieved by rubbing freshly washed surfaces with citrus zest, whose aroma is also unpleasant for pets.

Getting to know the nickname

Calmness and patience will help teach the kitten any necessary skills, for example, the ability to respond to the nickname chosen for it. When performing any actions with a kitten, be it playing, feeding or other types of care, you need to repeat its name over and over again in a gentle voice so that it is imprinted in the baby’s mind and is remembered by him as an invitation to something pleasant.

To achieve success faster, you need to choose a nickname for your pet that will be easy for him to understand. It is better to give preference to a short name (no more than two syllables), and let it contain more hissing and whistling sounds that are attractive to cats: Ksyusha, Vaska, Roxy, etc.

Getting used to the "canteen"

From the very first days, you should accustom the kitten to feeding by the hour and strictly in the designated place. This will help you avoid begging and stealing food in the future. Having prepared a balanced diet for the pet in advance, strictly following the developed plan and showing inflexibility and strength of character in this matter, the owner will not leave the baby a chance to grow up to be a manipulator and picky.

Tame your kitten to sit in your arms from childhood

The easiest way to accustom a kitten to yourself is from childhood, namely up to 8 months.

Tame your Briton from childhood.

You can hand feed him and then put the treat on your lap. Fascinated by food, he will definitely jump after it, and while he is eating, you need to gently pet him. Soon your hands will begin to evoke positive emotions in the kitten.

Little kittens are terrified of heights, so it's best to pick up your baby while you're sitting. You need to hold the kitten carefully, without holding it by the body near the ribs and withers. This may hurt him . You need to hold him by the armpits with one hand, and support his hind legs with the other. This way he will feel balanced and the fear of heights will disappear. If the kitten feels calm, the problem will be solved.

Owner's robe and scent

The cat is used to the smell, and remembers it among the smells of the street on winter clothes

Many people advise purchasing a soft terry robe and placing the baby in its pocket. He will get used to it, begin to consider it his property and may even want to sleep with it. And your smell will become dear and beloved to him and will remain in his memory for many years.

Table: British kitten hygiene

Care point What you will need How to proceed Frequency Cleaning the peephole

eye cleansing lotion or warm tea infusion; a piece of natural fabric.

You need to clean the eyes carefully, without pressing. They are wiped from the inner corner to the outer two times: first with lotion or tea infusion, then with a cloth moistened with clean water. Daily ear cleaning

ear lotion; ear drops; cotton pad.

First method: Take a cotton pad and moisten it with lotion. Carefully place the disc deeper into the ear, holding the kitten's head, and begin to gently massage. Remove the disc from your ear and take another one soaked in lotion. Roll it into a tight tube and place it in your ear

Twist it a little so that it picks up more dirt. This step can be repeated twice for better cleaning. Then use a disc soaked in lotion to wipe your pet’s ear. Second method: drop 2-3 drops into the ear for cleaning. Massage its base for 1-2 minutes. Using a cotton swab soaked in lotion, wipe the kitten's ear, removing dirt and wax.

Once a week Brushing teeth

toothpaste for cats; a special toothbrush or a piece of natural fabric for bleeding gums.

Apply a little toothpaste to a toothbrush or piece of cloth. Open the kitten's mouth and brush its teeth thoroughly, but without force. You can give him a little chew on the brush or cloth for better cleaning.

Every 2-3 days Bathing Shampoo for kittens

Pre-protect your kitten's ears from getting wet. You can place pieces of cotton wool in them. Place your baby in a bowl of water. The level is chest-deep. Temperature: 39–40 °C. Wet his fur well, apply a little shampoo and lather well. Rinse the area under the tail and tummy especially thoroughly. Simply wipe the muzzle with a damp cloth. Rinse off the shampoo and wrap the kitten in a warm, soft towel. The next day there should be no cold or drafts in the apartment. Between main bath procedures, you can use dry shampoo (powder or spray) once every 7 days to keep the coat clean.

If the fur becomes dull, starts to smell or becomes greasy, it’s time to wash the kitten. On average - once every 3-4 months. Combing

slicker; small furminator; rubber brush; fine comb; combined massage brush; restoring and caring spray for wool. It will help avoid tangles and tangles, making the coat obedient, soft and shiny.

Smooth out the fur with a comb. If there are tangles, gently untangle them with your fingers. If a kitten sheds, its fur should be combed with a furminator once a week. On other days and when not shedding, brush with a slicker brush. Then go over the fur with a rubber brush, removing any remaining dead hair. Smooth out the fur with a comb again. Finish combing with a massage brush: first comb the fur with the metal side, then with the bristles. Spray the fur with restorative spray and comb the kitten again with a comb.

During molting - once every 1-2 days, at normal times - once every 3-4 days. Nail trimming Claw cutter

choose a well-lit place; in case of a cut, prepare a bottle of hydrogen peroxide; Before cutting your kitten's claws, caress and calm him down. Take it in your arms; Press the pad with two fingers so that the claw is accessible and examine it. Usually, in good lighting, you can easily see the regrown edge of the claw and the living part - the pink tissue inside the claw. It has blood vessels and nerve endings, so there is no need to injure it; at a distance of 1–2 millimeters from the pink tissue, cut the claw slightly at an angle, respecting its natural shape, and file if necessary; Don't forget to trim the claw on the cat's fifth toe as well. It is this that most often grows into the pad and causes pain to the kitten.

As the claw grows

We teach a British cat affection step by step

British from hand sitting

You need to accustom an adult animal to affection gradually and little by little. At first, you can gently and carefully scratch your Briton behind the ear (many cats are delighted with this) or stroke it, and this should be done only in the direction of growth of the pet’s fur. But under no circumstances grab him or squeeze him . If the cat begins to nervously beat its tail and show irritability, immediately leave it alone.

It is better to show affection when the cat has just woken up or goes to bed. Every day there should be more “portions of love”.

Sleep and the hands of the owner

Be sure to encourage any gentle impulses your pet makes in your direction; you can let him sleep with you. If the cat sleeps separately, carefully pick him up while he sleeps. It is quite possible that lying on them, he will continue his sleep.

When you feel that he is already accustomed to stroking, you can try to take your pet in your arms . If the cat starts to struggle, you should not hold him by force. This may frighten or anger the Briton, and it will be very difficult to win his favor again.

If your kitten keeps you up at night

If a small kitten squeaks at night or early in the morning and wakes you up. Firstly, if you adopted the kitten on time and not too young, he will no longer miss his mother so much and will not wake you up at night.

If he still wakes you up, you can tell him “no.” Pet him if he is small and bored. It's like a little child, he needs your love and affection, because now you are his mom or dad. Who else can he trust if not you?

It could also be that he is locked in a room with no access to a toilet. Or he just wants to eat, but there is no cup of food nearby. My cat sleeps in the same room where he has a toilet and where he has a cup of food. Therefore, there is no need for him to wake us up at night if he wants to go to the toilet or is hungry.

By the way, I noticed that many cats usually go to the toilet either late in the evening or early in the morning. But maybe it's just my cats that do this?

Of course, the kitten may simply become bored; he has already slept! He wants to play and calls mom or dad - play with me! Usually I manage to explain to him that I wouldn’t mind sleeping, and he goes to play with his toys himself.

Therefore, you need to give him different toys so that he can occupy himself while you sleep. In general, there should be enough toys so that the cat (especially a small kitten) does not get bored while you are at work. Kittens play constantly, with everything that comes under their paw. So, to prevent your new cell phone or collectible watch from falling under his paw, give him something that he can throw, drop and bite. It will be better for you.

You can also play with the cat before bed to make it tired, and then give it a piece of raw meat. This will extinguish the hunter's instinct, because all cats are hunters! And precisely at night. And since she already seemed to have hunted, she can sleep peacefully.

In general, if you love your cat or cat and strive to understand them, you will not have any problems with raising them. Especially with the Scots, since they are already very smart and kind, initially. You can achieve mutual understanding with your pet only with kindness, care and love. In return, you will receive the same care and love from your pet. With cats it is very simple, if you care for it and love it, then it will always love you back.

Cats do not know how to take revenge, take offense, they do not know how to betray, or do something out of spite. All deviations from normal cat behavior are ALWAYS the responsibility of the owner. It was the owner who did something wrong. We need to find out what it is and fix it. And the cat’s behavior will improve.

Cats, unlike dogs, are not initially herd animals. Therefore, if a cat follows you around, purrs on your lap and hugs you by the neck, it means that she really LOVES you, and this is not a herd instinct.

How to tame a wild kitten

Future owners are worried: how to tame a kitten, what if the situation gets out of control and an unaffectionate cat will grow out of a cute creature. The baby quickly gets used to it and begins to understand:

• Where is the toilet.
• Where is the bowl of food?
• Who lives in the family, from whom you need to hide.

To tame a cat you will have to wait ten days (maximum). Usually this much time is spent on re-educating a street dweller.

It’s worth learning from the very beginning: a kitten’s squeak means “I feel bad,” while purring is a sign of goodwill and contentment.

There is no need to push a squeaking lump into a bathtub of water or allow children to cause pain. The kitten should feel safe and loved. It’s easy to accustom a kitten to handling and rules of behavior (both in the house and at an exhibition): affection, play and treats will do.

Once the baby is in the house, you need to give him time to calm down. You can leave him in an unlocked cage or put him in a low cat basket. Don't forget to place a bowl of water nearby.

In a calm environment, the kitten will soon crawl out of its shelter and go to inspect the territory of the house. Don't pick him up just yet. It is enough to gently stroke him and say a few words in a calm tone. Then transfer to a bowl and praise. In this case, the kitten in your hands will not perceive the action as danger.

Within 24 hours, the cat will begin to trust its owner and may jump onto its lap. The kitten will learn to sit quietly in your arms if you support it by its back. The warmth of the hand is soothing, and any possible fear of heights disappears.

How to feed

Proper feeding is based on three basic principles: regimen, correct selection of diet and separate nutrition.

It is very important to train the animal to receive food at the same time. This way his digestive system will work more stable, and your relationship will only become stronger from the nutrition ritual. Choose only high-quality products for your pet

If this is a ready-made food, then you should carefully study the label before succumbing to tempting advertising. In addition, do not forget that cats are big conservatives. Try to feed the animal the same food and products, making changes to the diet very gradually if necessary. Choose one of the options for your pet: dry food or natural food. Veterinarians do not recommend mixing them due to different digestion rates. If you still want to give your animal natural products from time to time, then remove the dry food an hour and a half before feeding. Always following this principle, you can make a combined diet on an ongoing basis.

For very small kittens under the age of 4 months, a special (four meals a day) food intake schedule should be provided. Each meal should include one of the following ingredients: low-fat cottage cheese, boiled chicken or ready-made canned children's meat, dry food, well-chopped raw beef. Don't forget that fresh water should always be available.

The combined diet of older individuals usually includes two types of lean meat (beef and chicken), cottage cheese and dry food.

This is a basic feeding option that may vary depending on your pet's taste preferences and health status. But there are some general taboos that all cat owners should know:

• Do not give your pets dog food, as its composition does not meet the needs of the cat’s body;
• You should not feed your cat fish, as this negatively affects the condition of the urinary tract;
• products containing bones may be hazardous to the health of the animal;
• there is no need to give your cat milk, as this will not bring any benefit to her body, but can lead to digestive upset;
• Do not accustom your cat to eating from your table, so as not to provoke obesity and other health problems.

When mixed or natural feeding, do not forget about the benefits of vitamins. Like people, animals periodically need to take multivitamin complexes to strengthen the immune system, improve the appearance of their fur coat and improve the overall health of the body.

How to accustom a cat to hands and affection

If you want cat affection, become patient and affectionate yourself. An outdoor cat will begin to trust a person when it gets used to his smell and voice. He will associate his appearance with a pleasant event (food, affection).

A wild cat is tamed in the same way as a kitten. First, treats are brought regularly. Then they hold out their palm with a piece of the most delicious thing (the delicacy lies in the center of the palm, not on the fingers!), and allow it to be sniffed. When the cat begins to approach, perhaps rubs its head on its leg, you can pet it in response, speaking calmly and affectionately.

A common mistake: in order to tame a cat at home, he is immediately locked in a room - the animal will try to escape as soon as it is freed.

You can call the cat with you, after a few meters, stop, praise, and give a treat again. The main thing is that if you come, give her the opportunity to leave. Without feeling afraid, the pet will return.

The main indicator is age

A kitten is a child with fur and a tail, which means it needs to be treated as such. Raising little kittens is always associated with pranks, disobedience, and later with rebellions of adolescence. Before you start training your pet, you need to assess its physical and psychological age.

From birth to 2 months, kittens are under the care of their mother. Kids actively communicate with each other and learn to build relationships. Essentially, at this stage, the quadruped goes through a process of basic socialization. Children have their first conflicts, and they resolve them as best they can; some fight, others silently retreat. At this age, kittens do not yet fully control their own bodies, but every day they become more and more confident in themselves and their abilities.

If you become the parent of an orphaned kitten, then the main task becomes survival. Feeding such a baby is not easy. The kitten needs to be bottle-fed every 2-4 hours, warmed and protected. A separate topic is the correct choice of food products, since whole and store-bought cow’s milk is not suitable for babies. The best choice is powdered cat milk replacer. You will have to massage your baby's stomach and genital area with a warm, damp cloth, otherwise he simply will not be able to go to the toilet.

As soon as the baby has opened his eyes, mastered complementary feeding and confidently stood on his paws, he can prepare to move to a new home. At this age, the main aspect is a complete and balanced diet. However, the kitten will face a lot of stress - moving, change of owner, environment and daily routine. Try to smooth out the baby’s experiences as much as possible, maintain the usual daily routine and food intake, take from the breeder or curator some of the bedding that will smell (for a while) of the mother.

Next, you will watch your ward grow up, not by months, but by days. The baby will begin to master running, jumping and other tasks that are difficult for his age. The kitten will realize that he is quite strong and will begin to climb all kinds of surfaces.

Around this age, you need to start raising your baby, but the main attention should be paid to his safety. The baby may already understand the meaning of boundaries, so try to isolate the kitten in a room, house or carrier for the period of time until you can monitor it

It is necessary to pay special attention to the equipment of the rest area. The kitten will need a house, which can be bought or made at home.

As soon as the baby goes to his place, do not disturb him. Your pet should be sure that he can step away from the hustle and bustle and be in complete peace and safety.

Up to 4 months the baby will grow by leaps and bounds, play and sleep a lot. Try to establish a routine, feed the kitten at a certain time and play with the baby during the period of active wakefulness.

At about 6 months, the kitten will begin puberty, which means it will begin to need to mark its territory. If your pet is not of breeding value, discuss spaying/neutering with your veterinarian in advance. The younger the animal, the easier it will tolerate the procedure. In addition, by neutering your cat before he starts marking, you won't have to clean corners and punish your pet.

Why is the cat not affectionate?

If a cat scratches and bites as an adult, the owners themselves are to blame. While still playing with her, they allowed her to “claw” in excitement. At first it's funny, then the adult:

• bites legs;
• does not allow himself to be combed;
• spoils things, marks territory.

The simplest veterinary examination and medical procedures (injections, enemas) turn into a nightmare for the owner.

The independence and aggressiveness of a mustachioed cohabitant should not be shown towards family members. If the owners are afraid, the pet will become impudent. It is recommended to hold the cat in your arms more often and show affection. After taming, release it for further exploration of the area, praise and treat it with something tasty for good behavior.

Gradually the cat will understand: nothing bad is happening. If you do this regularly, at the same time talk affectionately, give a piece of “yummy” - after a while you can add short-term combing, examining the ears and other manipulations.

An irrepressible desire to “cuddle” can also be the reason why a cat becomes less affectionate. Small children will happily play with the kitty and pull its ear or tail.

Adults sometimes don’t lag behind (especially if the cat is not their property): they shamelessly shove pieces from the table, try to stroke them and pick them up against their will. It's not the cat that needs to be blamed, but the owner:

1. If the cat is not the highlight of the program, it is better to isolate it in another room. Or warn the guest about correct behavior.
2. For children, it is better to find other fun, otherwise the simplest scratch on the hand of an uncontrollable child will ruin the evening.
3. When neither the person nor the cat is particularly anxious, let them interact as they wish.

Advice. It is advisable to wash your hands not only after interacting with an animal, but also before. Precautionary measures apply to small unvaccinated kittens.

The selection of some breeds followed the path of consolidating external characteristics. Such cats are more attached to the territory than to the owner. For example, bobtails and Norwegian forest cats do not recognize excessive affection.

It is better to choose a Burmese, Siamese, Sphynx or Rex or an ordinary yard cat - a “mongrel”. “Human-dependent” cats can hardly tolerate loneliness, they are easy to tame and they love the affection of their owner.