Are Somali cats easy to raise? What are the precautions for raising Somali cats? The breeding rate of Somali cats in our country is not low. The hair of this cat is relatively long and dense. Like other cats, you don’t need to be too particular. You can just follow the following diet plan, so overall, it is relatively easy to raise.

What should I prepare before raising a Somali cat?

Things to prepare before raising a Somali cat: When you decide to buy a Somali cat, the most concerned question must be how to choose a healthy kitten. First of all, if possible, it is best to go to the cat owner’s home to make a selection. First, check the physical condition of the mother cat and the cats in the litter, because the physical condition of the parent cats will directly affect the physical condition of the next generation of kittens. Choose from offspring of good breeds, strong physiques, and beautiful bodies.

Take another look at the kitten's growth status, whether it is lively, cute, smart, strong, has a good appetite, and has a shiny coat, etc. Do not choose the smallest cat in a litter (that is, a weak cat) because it has a weak constitution, slow growth, is prone to illness, and is difficult to feed.

Second, check whether the Somali cat is healthy. The signs of a healthy cat are:

The eyes are bright, no tears, no discharge, and no inflammation;

The ears are clean and erect, with little or no earwax and no other foreign matter;

The area around the mouth should be clean and dry, free of saliva and food, and the teeth should be solid, pink, and free of ulcers;

The coat is smooth, the skin is soft, there are no bald spots or lumps, and the skin is not red;

The anus and external genitalia should be clean and free of secretions, and there should be no fecal dirt on the nearby coat;

The body muscles are firm and well developed, and there are no rashes. Do not choose a kitten with a runny nose or tears.

Healthy cats, in a quiet state, are sensitive to the owner's call or other sounds, and their ears will swing back and forth after hearing the sound. Sick or deaf cats do not respond to sounds. When you have selected a kitten, you should try calling it to see if the cat responds. If the kitten is easily frightened or grins, carefully observe whether it is unwell, fearful of its new owner, or unable to adapt to the new environment.

Third, you must learn to identify the age of Somali cats. Under normal circumstances, Somali cats begin to grow their deciduous teeth in the 2-3rd week after birth, and in 2-3 months, all the deciduous teeth will grow in, and teeth will begin to change. By 6 months, all the permanent incisors will grow in. After 1 year, the lower incisors begin to wear, after 5 years the canine teeth begin to wear, after 7 years the lower incisors grind into a round shape, and after 10 years or more, the upper collar incisors wear into a round shape.

The age of a Somali cat can also be roughly identified based on the growth and color changes of the fur. Six months after a Somali cat is born, it will grow new hair to indicate adulthood; after six or seven years, it will enter middle age. At this time, the mouth willWhite beards grow; in old age, white hair grows on the head and back.

Are Somali cats easy to raise?

Although Somali cats are not very popular cats, their breeding rate in our country is not low. The hair of this cat is relatively long and dense. Like other cats, you don’t need to be too particular. You can just follow the following diet plan, so overall, it is relatively easy to raise.

You need to pay attention to the following dietary aspects when raising Somali cats:

1. Animal liver. Some cats love to eat animal liver and refuse to eat other foods. Animal liver contains a large amount of vitamin A, but excessive intake of vitamin A by Somali cats can lead to muscle stiffness, neck pain, bone and joint deformation, and liver disease.

2. High-fat foods. If a Somali cat's diet contains a lot of fatty fish or stale fatty meat, it will lead to insufficient intake of vitamin E, which will cause inflammation of its body fat and cause extreme pain.

3. Raw fish. Some raw fish contain enzymes that can destroy vitamin B1, and vitamin B1 deficiency can lead to neurological diseases in Somali cats, which can be fatal in severe cases. This enzyme can be destroyed by heating, so the fish must be cooked before feeding. .

4. Meat. Although the Somali cat's diet should be mainly meat, if it is fed only meat food, it will lead to uneven intake of minerals and vitamins, which will lead to serious bone metabolism disorders.

5. Dog food. The nutrients in dog food and cat food are not the same, and the nutrients in dog food cannot meet the needs of Somali cats. Although cats and dogs are both carnivores, dogs have less nutritional needs than cats.

6. Cod liver oil. Special caution should be exercised when supplementing Somali cats with additional vitamins and minerals. Excessive consumption of cod liver oil can lead to excessive intake of vitamin A and vitamin D, which can lead to bone disease.

How to choose high-quality cat food:

1. Ensure food quality

It is best to buy it at a pet hospital to ensure product quality, or supermarkets may also accept it. Never go to the wet market to buy cat food. The cat food there is indeed cheap, but the raw materials are all plants. Somali cats will suffer from heart disease or more serious diseases if they eat it for a long time. Cats are carnivores, so the raw materials must be meat and necessary nutrients.

2. Selection of flavors

There are many brands of cat/dog food on the market with different flavors, such as "beef flavor", "chicken flavor" and so on. When a pet food label states that it contains “beef” or “chicken,”How much beef or chicken is in it?

The list of ingredients in professional pet food is arranged in descending order by weight. For example, if chicken is ranked first in the label list, it means that chicken is the main ingredient in the pet food and the content is higher than other ingredients.

So, when purchasing, be sure to pay attention to the ingredient ratio in the ingredient list. If a certain cat food says "chicken flavor" but chicken is not listed first in the ingredient ratio, then it is Proves that this cat food is not high in chicken content.

It is normal for pets to prefer a certain flavor, but it is best for owners to change flavors regularly or mix flavors for their pets. This will prevent picky eaters. What’s more, you won’t be in a hurry just because this flavor of food is out of stock.

The above questions about whether Somali cats are easy to raise and what precautions should be taken when raising them, I hope they can help you.