What To Feed An Abyssinian Cat
Feeding Abyssinian cats is usually straightforward: unlike most pedigree breeders, these four-legged cats eat almost any food. Some owners claim that their Abyssinian cats are happy to eat melon, carrot, or apples. Still, not all food will benefit the pet.
Healthy and balanced nutrition is the key to the longevity of Abyssinian cats. If this rule is followed, the tailed pets live about 20 years, remaining mobile and cheerful. Therefore, the diet of Abyssinian cats should be approached with full responsibility.
Table Of Contents
· Secrets of the diet
· Food varieties
· What should be in the diet
· What to exclude from the diet
· Feeding Strategy
· What to feed an Abyssinian cat: Conclusion
Secrets of the diet
When choosing which food is best for Abyssinian cats, you should remember that there are 2 ways to feed your pets: finished food and natural products. In any case, the daily diet basis is meat: cats are predators by nature, so the composition of meat products should not be below 60–70%.
When I first got my kitty, I was very excited to find the perfect food for her. However, after hours of research and reading ingredient labels on bags at the store, it became clear that there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
Cats are predators by nature, so their diet should be primarily meat-based. To make things even more complicated, there are two ways to feed your pet: finished food or natural products. The most important thing to know is that cats have different nutritional needs at various life stages because they grow up 2x as fast as humans! For example, kittens need high protein until they are about 18 months old, while adult cats need a moderate amount of fat in their diet if they’re nursing kittens.
When it comes to choosing the right food for your Abyssinian, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, take into consideration your cat’s age. Kittens need a diet that is higher in protein, while adults need a moderate amount of fat. Second, think about your cat’s activity level. If they are more active, they will need more calories. And finally, always read the ingredient list to make sure that the food you are considering is high quality and contains all of the nutrients your cat needs.
There are a variety of different foods on the market that cater to Abyssinian cats, so it’s easy to find something that meets your pet’s specific dietary needs. As a general rule, I like to stick to brands that specialize in cat food.
If a cat eats natural meat, it is recommended to choose nonfat varieties. Before feeding, it is necessary to keep the product in the freezer for at least 3 days so that the animal did not catch helminths. The Abyssinians swallow the whole food, almost without chewing, so the meat and other products are necessarily chopped.
You can give a fish, but preference should be given to nonfat varieties, as in the case of meat. In addition, the fish should be only sea fish. Abyssinians should not be given milk because it is poorly absorbed in the body of adult cats. For feeding, it is better to choose sour milk products: cottage cheese, sour cream, kefir. The main thing is that the products are natural and do not contain colorants and flavor enhancers.
Vegetables make up about 20% of the daily animal diet. Abyssinians eat apples, carrots, cabbage, and carrots willingly. Approximately 10% is given to cereals. This product is rich in carbohydrates, so oats, rice, and bran should be included in the menu.
When choosing a meal, you should take it into account:
- the age of the pet;
- physical features;
- parents’ health.
Ideally, the menu for cats should be made by a veterinarian, who considers the characteristics of the body and its lifestyle.
Food varieties
If the Abyssinian cat nutrition is natural, the menu may consist of meat ingredients, nonfat fish varieties, cereals. The difficulty of such a diet is that it is difficult to choose a balanced diet that will fully meet the Abyssinian cat’s needs. Also, it takes a long time to prepare food.
That’s why many people prefer to use already prepared wet and dry food. They contain all the necessary ingredients, vitamin complexes, trace elements, and minerals. However, not all diets are suitable for feeding your pet. For Abyssinian cats, recommended only high-quality food: premium, super-premium, holistic.
The Abyssinian cat is a proud and aloof breed. They do not like to be touched, especially by strangers. If you’re an owner looking for the best food for your cat, I recommend going with high-quality foods that are sure to satisfy every nutritional need!
The best dry food for Abyssinian cats are produced by companies:
- ACANA
- PURINA
- BOZITA
- ORIJEN
- ROYAL CANIN
The range of these manufacturers includes wet food, cat treats, and special products designed for fat, sterilized, and elderly pets.
If a cat eats dry granules, it must drink at least 150 milliliters of liquid per day, so the bowl should always be filled with fresh water. Sometimes Abyssinians ignore the bowl, preferring to drink tap water. In this case, the pet can buy a special drinking fountain and put it away from the feeding place.
It is important to understand that natural and finished foods are never mixed in one bowl. For the digestion of different products are used certain enzymes, and with such a mixture of the stomach, the Abyssinian cat simply can not cope.
What should be in the diet
- raw beef — 100–200 grams daily;
- chicken or turkey meat — no more than 4 times per week;
- liver, lung, and heart — daily feeding, replacing the meat;
- cottage cheese yogurt — products with low-fat content;
- sea fish — not more than 1–2 times a week;
- shrimps and egg yolk — used as a treat to pamper a four-legged pet;
- fruits and vegetables — beets, carrots, apples;
- porridges — buckwheat, rice
If you’re looking for a diet to improve your pet’s health, many resources are online. But what if I told you that the answer is in your fridge? Yes! Some food products with specific nutrients and vitamins will help make sure your furry friend stays healthy. For example, eggs contain choline (essential for brain function), while carrots provide vitamin A (crucial for eyesight). However, a few things to keep in mind when introducing these products into your pet’s diet.
Abyssinian cats are one of the most active and playful cat breeds, so it’s important to make sure they’re getting the right nutrients to stay healthy. A diet rich in protein, fats, and carbohydrates will help them maintain their energy levels. Abyssinian cats also need taurine, an amino acid found in meat and fish, to support their heart health. Including eggs and carrots in their diet will help make sure they’re getting the essential nutrients they need.
Just a few things to keep in mind when introducing these food products into your pet’s diet: start with small amounts to see how they react, and consult with your veterinarian if you have any concerns. With the right diet, your Abyssinian cat will be healthy and happy for years to come.
Some people think that you should give your dog or cat the same food you eat. But this is not true! Dogs and cats need different kinds of food to stay healthy. For example, only 15% of a dog’s nutritional needs come from meat, but it is 10% for cats.
Studies have shown that cranberry supplements decrease the pH in urine by suppressing bacteria adhesion and preventing bladder inflammation. However, this will only work if the animal eats a complete, natural diet without being fed exclusively on dry kibble which is usually high in carbohydrates and lacks fresh ingredients.
If you are looking for a good diet for your Abyssinian, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, Abyssinians need plenty of protein to stay healthy. You can give them meat, eggs, or fish. They also need plenty of water and fiber. A good diet for an Abyssinian cat usually includes a mix of wet and dry food.
When it comes to treats, you should give your Abyssinian cat healthy options such as fruits and vegetables. Avoid giving them sweets or fatty foods. These can lead to health problems like obesity and diabetes.
And remember that when it comes to human food, dogs and cats should not be given the same products we enjoy eating ourselves.
What to exclude from the diet
- pork and mutton — fatty types of meat stress the liver and is poorly absorbed by the body;
- smoked meats, salt, and sugar — any spices cats are categorically contraindicated;
- bones — Abyssinian cats swallow food without chewing, so the bones can damage the esophagus;
- garlic and onion — it contains disulfide, a substance that promotes hemolytic anemia;
- eggplants are poison for any cat;
- river fish is a source of helminths and small stones.
Feeding Strategy
Abyssinian kittens eat 4–6 times a day, and on average they eat 80–120 grams of the food. Babies of this breed usually start on maternal nutrition, which gradually includes pates and soaked in dry water food. This menu is observed until the complete change of milk teeth occurs at age 7–8 months.
Adult cats are recommended to be fed twice a day, in the morning and in the evening. The average daily rate varies from 150 to 200 grams. If a pet weighs more than 5 kilograms, the daily ratio will be about 300 grams. The menu consists of 75% granular and 25% wet food.
What to feed an Abyssinian cat: Conclusion
First of all, it really needs fresh meat, because it has natural protein. That’s why you shouldn’t dwell on buying exclusively dry or wet food. Buy for your pet veal, chicken, or turkey meat, as well as mutton. Pork for Abyssinian cats is not recommended, as it may contain helminths.
The preparation of meat for cats should be simple enough: it should be boiled and cut into small pieces. If you are sure about the quality of the meat you buy, you can even give it raw. However, you should still give it boiling water, even if you trust the seller 100%.
As for such meat by-products as chicken liver, neck, and hearts, there is no definite answer — should they be given to Abyssinian cats? Try them from a small portion. If you see that your pet eats this kind of food with pleasure and doesn’t cause any cat problems, then go ahead.
Sea fish is also needed for balanced cat nutrition. We do not recommend giving river fish. The reason is the same as in the case of pork — infection with helminths is possible. You can try to feed the cat cod, it is sold frozen, and you don’t need to worry about this fish’s quality. Some cats eat shrimp with pleasure.
For Abyssinian cats, pork is not recommended. It may contain helminths that can make your pet sick and render it unable to use its reproductive organs properly or at all (which would also result in infertility).
Chicken and turkey meat should work well for felines as these are parasite-free animals that don’t carry similar diseases like HCMV/Cat Genital Mutilation Virus; unfortunately, veal isn’t quite so fortunate — it too has been associated with several intestinal disorders including myopathy caused by EHEC infection among others! However, this doesn‘t mean you shouldn’t buy any of them — just be aware.
Listing all the possible types of food that you can give your cat, we want to note that the main food of the Abyssinian cat is food (dry or wet). The rest of the food should be given much less often.
It is also worth noting that you can give your cat sour milk products (kefir, natural yoghurt without fruit additives, sour cream) for breakfast. Milk is also necessary for cats, but it is quite often poorly digested. Therefore it is better not to use it in the feeding process.
Please note that Abyssinian cats are often vegetarians, so eat vegetables or fruit with pleasure. Try to give your cat a little apple, melon, olive, or carrot. If your cat likes this product, you can safely add it to the cat’s diet.
It is recommended that you add a powder to your cat’s daily cat food. It should be used once in 2–3 days, sprinkling powder on the cold meat. Such supplements should be kept in the refrigerator. Also, an important element of the dietary supplement is a special paste, which contains vegetable oil. It is necessary to prevent such a process as the formation of clods of hair in a cat’s stomach. This is really an indispensable thing in the process of seasonal molting of the animal.
Abyssinian cats are a unique breed that requires a special diet in order to stay healthy and happy. It is important to provide them with fresh meat, boiled chicken or turkey, fish, and vegetables on a regular basis.
While pork is not recommended due to the risk of helminth infection, other meats and seafood are safe to give your pet provided they are properly cooked. Milk is also an important part of a cat’s diet, but it should not make up the majority of their caloric intake as it is often poorly digested. Vegetables and fruit are healthy snacks for Abyssinian cats and should be offered on a regular basis. With a little bit of preparation, you can provide your pet with everything they need to live a long and healthy life.
FAQ
Where did the Abyssinian cat originate?
Abyssinian cats are believed to originate from the region that is now known as Ethiopia. They were first mentioned in writing in 1871 when an Englishwoman named Viscountess Bruce sent a description of one to the journal The Cat. She had acquired it while travelling in Abyssinia (now Ethiopia). Abyssinians are thought to be among the oldest domesticated cat breeds.
How much should an Abyssinian cat weigh?
How much an Abyssinian cat should weigh depends on the individual cat. Some Abyssinians are more extensive, and some are smaller. The average weight for an Abyssinian is around 8–10 pounds, but there isn’t a set weight that all Abyssinians should be. Instead, focus on making sure your cat is at a healthy weight by monitoring their food intake and activity level. A good rule of thumb is that your cat should be able to target its ribs without having to push too hard quickly. If you’re unsure whether your cat falls into a healthy weight range, consult with your veterinarian.
How long does an Abyssinian cat live?
The average lifespan of an Abyssinian cat is between 10 and 15 years. However, some Abyssinians have been known to live into their 20s! So, if you’re lucky enough to have an Abyssinian as a pet, you can expect to enjoy many years of companionship with your furry friend.
