The Right Foods to Feed Your Ragdoll Cats & Kittens
The Right Foods to Feed Your Ragdoll Cats & Kittens
Cat food can be divided into dry, moist, and semi-moist foods. Each one has its advantages, and Ragdolls require various kinds of food at different stages. Kittens need mainly breast milk and moist food, while adults require more protein and dry food. Pregnant Ragdolls have special dietary needs that alter during the pregnancy as well. A. Feeding Ragdoll Kittens Introductory food Ragdoll kittens should be exclusively breastfed for the first four to five weeks. Cat milk contains all the nutrients required for the kitten’s growth, including antibodies that help discourage disease. Breast milk also passes on other antibodies that the mother produced to fight previous diseases. Additional food ought to be given after four to five weeks, as the kitten needs more nutrients to support its rapid growth. Introductory food ought to be easy to digest. Mix canned food with warm water or kitten replacement milk until it becomes a loose paste. Do NOT use regular cow’s milk this is too heavy for kittens and could cause in indigestion. Dry food After another four to five weeks, your kitten should be ready for dry food. To make the change easier, moisten dry food with a little warm water in the first few feedings. It’s also important to choose high-quality supplements to dry food and some of the good brands are Iams , Science Diet , and Nutro Kitten . Science Diet Feline Growth is popular among Ragdoll kittens. Supplements can be given twice a day with morning and evening feeding. You can change to adult food after approximately 12 months. Choosing and preparing kitten food Ragdoll kittens have delicate stomachs, so take extra care in choosing kitten food. Food ought to always be warm or slightly above room temperature. Discard all food that has been left out for more than 30 minutes, especially in the summer. Bacteria grows quickly in warm, wet foods and could possibly upset your kitten’s stomach, or even lead to food poisoning. To keep from wasting food, just observe how much your kitten eats at a time so you know how much to prepare per feeding. House flies can easily contaminate kitten food, so keep your feeding area as fly-proof as possible. Wash the feeding bowl daily with hot, soapy water and replace water in the drinking bowl several times a day. Wash the drinking bowl at the same time and refill with fresh water. Table scraps can be provided occasionally, but don’t make regular meals out of them. Cooked human foods lack the nutrients necessary for your kitten’s growth. Generic cat food from groceries are better, but Stellarhart recommends high-quality foods from specialty pet stores. Also, cats don’t like the smell of plastic and metal containers, so use only glass drinking bowls. Dry vs wet foods Dry foods are generally superior for your Ragdoll, except in the breastfeeding and introductory stage. They work your kitten’s chewing muscles and help keep the teeth white. Dry food consists predominantly of meat and vegetables, and can be moistened or served dry. Serving them dry allows your cat to nibble throughout the day, rather than eating one large meal at a time. Dry food should contain about 9 to 10% moisture, 8% fat, and 30% protein. Moist food has about 75% moisture and equal amounts of fat and protein. Not all moist foods are the same some are all-meat or all-fish, while others are a mix of meat and vegetables. The former ought to not be used for regular meals, as your cat can get addicted and refuse to eat other foods. The small treat cans of variety foods are usually all-meat or all-fish. As with kitten food, moist foods ought to be warmed to room temperature before serving. Semi-moist food has about 35% water, 27% protein, and 7% fat. Most of them are nutritionally balanced, very tasty, and can be left out for nibbling, but they spoil more rapidly than dry food. Kitten treats Occasional kitten treats will not harm your kitten, but take care not to fill them up so they can still eat regular meals. Treats ought to not provide any more than 10% of your kitten’s daily caloric intake. Look for hard chew treats to help improve your kitten’s dental health B. Feeding Ragdoll Adults Ragdolls are not very active, so they gain weight more rapidly than other cats. Take care not to let them become obese provide them only 70 calories per kilogram of body weight. A lot of what people believe to be cats favourite foods are actually harmful. Here are some of the most common cat food myths: Fish Fish may be good for cats, but it can t cover all their nutritional needs, and too much of the same nutrients can be harmful. Tuna is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, which need vitamin E to break them down. too much tuna in your cat s diet can cause yellow fat disease (steatitis). Milk Milk is rich in water and carbohydrates, but many cats are lactose intolerant and get digestive problems a few hours after drinking milk. Regular cow s milk can lead to diarrhoea and loose stools, which can cause malnutrition and dehydration. If your cat likes milk, use replacement cat milk instead. Catnip Cats love the smell of catnip leaves, but it can cause short-term behavioural changes. Catnip is a hallucinogen and may put your cat in a state of near delirium. Some effects include rolling, rubbing, chasing phantom mice, or simply staring into space. Although it s not addictive, catnip has no place in your cat s diet. Dog food It could be more convenient to feed your cat and dog from the same dish, but it s not very healthy for either pet. Cats require more protein, taurine, preformed vitamin A, B-complex vitamins, and arachidonic acids, which they can get from a meat-heavy diet. A shortage of these nutrients can make your cat seriously ill, and an overdose can have the same effect in dogs. Low ash diets A popular belief among cat owners is that diets low in ash can help deter urinary tract infection. But that s only partly true. Ash is not a single nutrient, but is actually a group of minerals including calcium, copper, magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc. Lower levels of magnesium keep urine at its normal, slightly acidic state, but reducing other minerals will have no effect. Other foods to avoid Alcoholic beverages. Alcohol can be toxic and cause fatal complications. Baby food. Many baby foods contain onion powder, which can be harmful to the blood. Fish and meat bones. Small splinters can cut into the digestive tract and cause bleeding. Caffeine (coffee, tea, chocolate). Caffeine can affect the cat s heart and nervous system. Citrus oil extracts. This can lead to stomach upsets and vomiting. Fat. Animal fats can cause pancreatitis. Don t feed your cat fatty cooked meats, or at least trim the fat off first. Grapes and raisins. These contain a toxin that can harm the kidneys. Human vitamin and iron supplements. Excessive iron can damage the liver, kidneys, and the lining of the digestive tract. Liver. Liver is safe in small amounts, but an excess can lead to vitamin A toxicity. Macadamia nuts. Unknown toxins in macadamia can damage the muscles, digestive system, and nervous system. Marijuana. Marijuana can lead to vomiting, depression, and irregular heart rate. Mushrooms. Some mushrooms contain highly toxic substances that can affect multiple systems and even cause death. Onion and garlic (powdered, cooked or raw). These contain disulfides and sulfoxides, which can lead to anaemia. They are harmful to both cats and dogs, but cats are more vulnerable. Persimmons. Persimmons seeds can obstruct the intestines. Potato, tomato and rhubarb. These can be harmful to the nervous, digestive, and urinary systems. The leaves and stems could also be toxic. Raw eggs. Raw eggs can damage your cat s hair and coat. Salt. Salt and salty foods can cause electrolyte imbalance, a potentially fatal condition affecting the heart and nervous system. String. Strings from beans and other vegetables could not be digested, which can lead to blockages. Sugar. Sweets are high in empty calories, which can lead to obesity, diabetes, and dental problems. Yeast dough. Yeast can expand in the stomach during digestion, causing it to rupture. Just remember that you are not feeding a human but an animal with unique feeding requirements. Discover the trade secrets of Ragdoll Cat care, training, breeding and showing. Visit http://www.ragdoll-cat-care.com
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Great Tips For Breeding Your Dog
Choosing to breed your dog is a big decision and it?s natural to feel a little uneasy about the process. These dog breeding tips will help things go smoothly and help you enjoy the entire process. One of the most important steps is choosing the right mate for your dog. The mate you choose should possess the qualities you want to see carried on in the puppies. Both male and female should be healthy and possess no genetic faults that could jeopardize the health of the puppies. You also want to make sure the female is very healthy so that her pregnancy and birth are easier. You?ll want to support her prior to breeding with excellent nutrition and supplements. Of course she should always have excellent nutrition, but a boost will help her energy and help her stay healthy during her pregnancy. Good record keeping on both the male and female can help increase your breeding success, but it is especially important with the female. You should keep a history folder on your female which records important dates such as when you first see signs of the bitch going into heat, any changes in behavior, and any medical issues. You should also have a good working relationship with your veterinarian who can be a very helpful resource throughout the breeding process, during the pregnancy, during labor and of course once the pups are born. Male dogs have less reproductive problems than female dogs but they can be more difficult to correct. Anatomical defects, low sperm, and infection of the reproductive organs are the most common problems to watch for in a male dog. Hypothyroidism, arthritis of the spine, and Brucellosis should also be checked for in males that show no interest in breeding. With the female, the main reason for failed breeding is wrong timing. Because of the length of time a female is in heat, without hormone tests it can be difficult to tell when the ?right? time really is. Your vet has a variety of ways to test hormone levels to try to narrow down the best breading time, but at the end of the day it still really is hit and miss. Female dogs usually go into heat every 6 months starting at around the age of one year. It?s important to allow your female to become full-grown and developed before you decide to breed her as she is more likely to have a pregnancy with fewer complications. In some of the larger breeds this doesn?t occur until the age of 2. At around 10 to 12 days after going into heat the bitch will be ready to stand and hold. You start to count the days at the first signs of blood discharge. Each dog is different so you?ll need to get to know your dog, how she acts, changes in temperament, and the amount of discharge because day one might actually be day three. You?ll know your timing is right by the willingness of the bitch. When the bitch is ready the discharge will often change from a dark red to more of a tan color so you can watch for this signal as well. Try to place the bitch and stud together several days and several times throughout the heat period up to about the tenth day. If you want to be safe then put the bitch and the stud together early and try and try again. It?s better than being late because you?ll have to wait another 6 months. If impregnation occurs your vet will be able to tell around the 22nd day after breeding. Now?s the time to start calling those parents to be, congratulating them, and letting them know their new bundle of joy will arrive in a couple of months. The act of breeding is rather a natural one that requires little intervention from you other than placing the male and female in a safe and secure environment together. If the time is right you will be the proud owner of a beautiful litter of pups in no time at all. If the timing is wrong you?ll need to wait for the female to go into heat again in about 6 months. These breeding tips should help you find success in breeding your dog. Gray Rollins is a writer for CreatingDogs.com. Visit us to learn about <a href="http://www.creatingdogs.com/raredogbreeds/">rare dog breeds</a> and the <a href="http://www.creatingdogs.com/bestdogbreeds/">best dog breeds</a>. Come check us out if you love dogs.
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Fitting Memorial For Your Pet
To many loving pet owners losing a pet is like losing a member of the family. Many pets are loyal friends and companions and offer their owners unconditional love and comfort that is almost impossible to get from a human. Grieving for the loss of a friend or family member is expected and understood and yet many feel that they are not allowed to mourn when their pet passes on. Often they fear being ridiculed or mocked if they allow their distress to be visible and yet they can be closer to their pet than any human they know. Pet cemeteries are becoming more common and offer pet owners a place to lay their pet to rest and somewhere to go to mourn and remember them. Others prefer to scatter ashes in their pet?s favorite place or to keep them close to hand as a reminder. Until recently, these options have been the most common but even so they remain rare. However, as with most things, the Internet is opening up a range of new opportunities. For pet owners who are unable to retain their pet?s ashes, or who do not wish to do so, there is still a place where they can remember their pets and give and receive comfort to others who have lost their pets. Pet cemeteries are few and far between and so this virtual graveyard allows everyone to gather together regardless of their location, mobility, age or gender. In Memory of Pets was set up in 1997 after the website host, John Mingo, lost his beloved dog, Candy. The site has many options for pet lovers both to celebrate their lives and also to offer support to others who are grieving their own losses. The site has a section for tributes, poems and such like and also gives you the opportunity to light a candle in memory of your pet. This is done with an online ceremony and allows you to submit a photo of your pet. This then remains on the site permanently so that you can find and view the candle and remember your pet at any time that you wish to do so. For those who have experienced the pain of losing a pet in the past, this site offers a real opportunity to share the grief and openly mourn their passing. No longer is it an embarrassment to grieve your pet?s death from anywhere in the world. The author is a regular contributor to <a href="http://www.annspetsupplies.com">Ann's Pet Supplies</a> where more information about pet supplies and pet products are freely available.
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