Food and Litter
Food:
Fresh water should be available at all times. Milk is not necessary. Beware – Homogenized milk products are not good for cats as they are not readily digest and consequently cause diarrhea. If you insist that a kitten needs milk use evaporated milk and water in even proportions.
Our cats are accustomed to a mostly dry food diet. Dry food should be available at all times. We recommend Eukaneuba Chicken and Rice, Royal Canin, Iams Chicken & Rice or Innova. Canned or”wet” food is fed to once a day, in limited amounts. Remember to introduce new foods gradually to avoid upsetting the cat’s stomach. New foods should be mixed with the food the cat/kitten is currently eating, gradually adding more of the new food and less of the old until the kitten is eating the new food exclusively. Food should be served at room temperature.
Table foods and treats won't hurt a cat/kitten's health but they should not exceed 10% of the diet. Birman owners have been surprised a number of times to find that their cat enjoy a variety of foods including fruit, breads, vegetables, etc. Allow the kitten to become acquainted with as many tastes as possible but remember NO CHOCOLATE!
We recommend metal or china dishes. Plastic dishes can harbor germs in the surface which can cause a condition known as feline acne. Feline acne is small pimples or black heads on the chin that can cause swelling and discomfort and can be very difficult to clear up. If this problem arises, consult your vet for the best method of treatment.
Litter:
We recommend the Rubbermaid covered litter pan or a storage container with high sides. The covered pan allows privacy and enables the kitten to get used to a covered pan going into adulthood. We find that some of the older cats stand up when they urinate and a pan with high sides or a covered pan will eliminate damage to the walls, carpets, etc.
We use Fresh Step clay litter in the litter boxes. We do not recommend clumping litters for two reasons: the boxes are not changed as frequently causing a build up of bacteria and more importantly, residual clumping litter on a kitten’s feet can be ingested when the kitten cleans his feet. The ingested litter may “clump” in the intestinal tract and cause an intestinal blockage. Surgery may be required to remedy this.
