Here at Love Branch Cattery our desire is two-fold. We want to enjoy these marvelous Highlander cats that have become such a big part of our hearts and lives, and we also want to raise the healthiest, most beautiful kittens in order to provide you with a precious feline companion as well.
In order to achieve these goals, we have gone to great lengths and great expense to feed and care for each King, Queen and Kitten in our cattery as lovingly as possible. That means we try to provide the kind of diet that would be most beneficial for a cat; the kind that God designed them to eat in nature. It also means we try to avoid exposing our cats to chemicals, preservatives, vaccines and other potentially toxic substances as much as possible.
Interested in a Highlander Kitten? Apply Here!
Health
It seems to us that a kitten that has been raised in a situation where the focus is to provide them with species appropriate nutrition: natural food, clean water and an environment that is health building, gives them the best chance at a long and healthy life! It also ensures that you as the buyer have a beautiful pet that is in the best possible condition.
A healthy cat will have an immune system that is able to combat disease more effectively than any prescriptions could enable it to do. A kitten obtains it’s immune system from it’s mother until it is weaned (generally between 9 – 12 weeks old). If the mother cat has had excellent nutrition herself, and the Highlander kittens are given the highest quality of species appropriate food, then when they are weaned they will have a good immune system of their own beginning to develop.
Some supplementation of nutrients can also be very beneficial to kittens/cats. Supplements such as probiotics, essential fatty acids, green plants (cat grass) and others have shown scientific benefits and can help to build stronger immune systems. For issues of inflammation we use herbs like turmeric; for viruses, red marine algae; for natural parasite control, food grade diatomaceous earth, noni juice and black walnut (in small quantities).
Diet
All cats and dogs, in nature would eat a diet of primarily raw meat (including bones and organs) and a smaller % of vegetation. It seems logical that the more we can mimic those natural conditions, the healthier our cats will be.
It is important to understand several things regarding what felines require for health:
– Dry food is NOT healthy for any cat in large quantities! Where would our pets get any dry food in nature???? Moist food also helps to keep your cats from getting kidney related diseases so common in felines, and usually caused by a lack of moisture in their diet.
– All cats are what we call obligate carnivores, which means they require high percentage of animal protein. Felines cannot digest carbohydrates such as the grains often used in commercial cat food. The Highlander is no different and thus needs Grain-free foods. Cats also get more digestive problems when fed grains (especially soy, corn and wheat).
– Other potentially harmful and toxic ingredients include things such as food coloring, sugars, preservatives, meat by-products, synthetic vitamins and minerals (such as the dangerous iron called ferrous sulfate), gluten and other fillers such as white rice etc.
Other
1. A note regarding cats and cigarette smoke: Research shows that 2nd hand smoke can be more dangerous to those exposed than is smoking. The lungs of a cat or kitten are very tiny compared to a humans. They also inhale more frequently, respirate faster and as a result must have clean air at all times. Whatever is in the air of your home, on the floor or furniture, etc. will be part of what they breathe. This includes air fresheners, cleaners, dusty cat litter, perfumes, cigarette smoke, etc….all of which can be very detrimental to your cat’s health!
2. Declawing: We consider declawing to be inhumane and unacceptable under any conditions! Declawing involves the amputation of the last section of each toe. For a human being, it would be like cutting off each finger at the last knuckle. Besides the initial pain and phantom pain there are many potential side effects of declawing including litter box problems, aggression, and lasting physical and emotional issues for your cat.
