CARE OF YOUR DONSKOY

 

1) Buyer agrees that a kitten/cat, when entering a home where there is another animal present, will be isolated for a period of up to 2 weeks and will only be gradually introduced to other animals in the home.  It is strongly advised that even a kitten entering a home with no other pets should be gradually introduced to the household, being isolated in one room with its waste container and food for at least two weeks with only human company, to allow for adjustment to its new home. 

A) Reason: - Each kitten/cat will differ in the time it needs to bond with its new family.

Your new kitten/cat needs to feel safe and secure for its unique individual personality to surface before having the challenge of dealing with an established animal and it's new environment.  Your kitten will indicate fear and stress by hissing, hiding and running.  Loose bowl movements, not eating properly and throwing up are also signs of stress.  Buyer understands that kitten/cat can come down with an URI (Upper Respiratory Infection)/Cold due to the stress of moving and it will require medical attention.

 B) Reason: Your kitten/cat's immune system needs time to adjust to its new environment and to be allowed to build immunity against all the new things in its new environment before it comes in contact with new animals especially those that are allowed to go outdoors and bring a myriad of things that it will never have been in contact with before.  The isolation period of up to 2 weeks is a very important adjustment period for your kitten/cat’s mental and physical health.  Remember your kitten/cat does not know what is best; it depends on you to do what is best for it.

 2) Remember to keep your Donskoy warm.

A) Reason DONSKOYS are more easily chilled than other breeds.

 3) Feed a high protein diet.  I recommend Nutro Complete Care of your flavor choice.  Weaning and up to 6 months old require wet food 3 times a day as well as the dry.  Older (after 6 months) and adult Dons require wet food twice a day.  I highly recommend a premixed raw food.  I use Nature's Premium Elk with Antler Velvet; I also use their prepared mixed Beef.  The beef also has antler velvet in it.  It also has bone and other nutrients added.  The antler velvet is a natural glucosamine. Glucosamine is very important for healthy development and maintenance of bones and prevention of arthritis.  I feed them about 100 grams each per day, 50 grams per feeding per adult twice a day.  The little guys eat all they want.  You can feed very lean ground raw beef that has been frozen for at least a week but you need to add supplements such as glucosamine, bone etc..  

Sample Schedule 

9 am raw elk   (or raw beef)

3 pm raw beef or (day old chicks) other raw meats are fine too but supplements are needed.  See our amazing Don line for raw food recipes. (Day old chicks can be substituted with raw chicken necks or wings.)

8 pm raw elk - Raw wings and /or necks are better for the teeth and gums and prevent tarter build up.

 

Whiskas foil pouches can be used as wet food substitutes when traveling or when in a pinch, they contain no fish.  I have not checked the Nutro pouches.  I will though.   

A) Reason: - This is about when I feed so they don’t expect to eat when we eat.  You can gradually change it to suit your schedule.  I sometimes have up to 27 Dons eating at once.  Please don’t change their schedule too suddenly it will upset their system and may cause them to gorge themselves and get stomach aches or diarrhea.

B) Reason: - It takes more energy to maintain their body heat.  Change the food gradually by mixing it bit by bit if you change brands, only one at a time in case you have an allergic reaction to one of the new food so you know the cause.  Donskoy love to try different foods.  Try anything you like but slowly, one at time to see what is tolerated. Things they like include raw potato, tomatoes, gummy bears, bread, sponge cake, spaghetti and meatballs, boiled chicken, deli meats (turkey or chicken), mushroom sauce, lobster, shrimp, tuna, (all mine hate salmon), love crab and the list goes on.  They even like cotton candy; it's just not good for them, so just a tiny taste or two is enough! Remember CHOCOLATE KILLS, ONIONS are no good for them either.

C) Reason: - With new foods the reason for one at a time is if they react to the food you will know which food to eliminate.

D) Reason: - Cat grass is also good for them and they enjoy it.  Follow the instructions on the package to grow it.

E) THERE ARE THOSE THAT DISAGREE WITH FEEDING BOTH WET AND DRY FOODS. I DISCUSSED THIS WITH VETS AND RESEARCHED IT.  I HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL IN MY BREEDING PROGRAM AND AGREE IN TINY KITTENS DRY IS NOT A GOOD IDEA BECAUSE IT SWELLS.  AFTER KITTENS ARE THREE (3) MONTHS OLD I HAVE FOUND IT TO BE AN ASSET.  I

RECOMMEND IT FOR CATS LEAVING MY CATTERY.  IT CONTAINS ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS THEY MAY NOT OBTAIN IN OTHER WAYS.

 

4) Read all cat food labels. NEVER FEED CAT FOOD THAT HAS FISH IN IT!

Let them enjoy the real thing once a week instead of having fish as a pollutant in their daily diet.

A) Reasons – Fish rob nutrients from their bodies and cause them to become ill.

 

5). NEVER FEED Raw Chicken that has not been soaked in Grapefruit Seed Extract for at least one hour (4 drops to 6 ounces of water) to kill the Salmonella.  Dons are sensitive to Salmonella and it can kill them.  Salmonella will not necessarily kill other breeds of cats. Grapefruit Seed Extract can be purchased at you local health food store..

 

6) I do not recommend litter.  My adults use the toilet. If you do use litter I recommend Cat Country.  It is wheatgrass grass pellets, very absorbent, and adsorbs odors really well, (smells like outside and is flushable.  Yesterdays News is also, but does not absorb odor quite as well.  Stay away from all clay type litters.  DO NOT USE PINE SCENTED LITTERS OR CLEANERS.   The Wheat Grass organic litter is very good and I use it exclusively now.

A) Reasons - Pine cleaners and pine pellets can cause upper respiratory infections and have killed CANDIAN Sphynx over time.  We are not sure of the effect on our Don Sphynx yet but are not willing to risk it.

A) Reasons - Clay litters are very dusty and bald cats have very few hairs in their nose and few eyelashes. This combination leads to upper respiratory problems, sinus problems, sneezing, eye irritation and eye infections when dust is trapped in the eyes and tear ducts etc..

 

 7) Weekly (or every second week depend on how oily kitten is) baths are best given with Ivory dish detergent – I use a thermometer and the bath should be about 40 to 41 degrees C. Bathing -   Fill the sink ( a plastic dish pan is better, they like to hang onto the edge while being bathed) one quarter of the way with warm water (I place a soft foam bath mat in the bottom if using the sink to avoid kitty slipping and it gives them something to hold onto.)  Run a large plastic container of rinse water at the same time and make it slightly warmer. (Running water may scare kitty).  I wash their face, ears and neck with a wash cloth while holding them in my arm making sure I don’t get soap in their eyes or water in their ears. I then microwave a towel for 10 to 15 seconds to preheat it for after the bath (be sure not to burn your towel). Using a bath mitt and Ivory dish soap I scrub the rest of their body.  Rinse kitty with warm water already in pitcher.  Wrap kitty tightly in the warm towel from the microwave and do ear and nail care.  Eye car if it is necessary.  The Tail-: Baby wipes work real well as a daily cleanser to help prevent and avoid black heads (Stud tail)  If you find black heads are occurring, swab the area with "Apple Cider Vinegar with Mother" found at your local health food store, for a few days and the black heads will dry up and fall out.

A) Reasons: - Ivory dish soap cuts the oils on their skin better than any shampoo does and the cats’ bodies produce oil (sweat) which dirt clings to and (bi) weekly baths are necessary to prevent skin issues.  Keep soap out of their eyes and water out of their ears to prevent infections and irritations.  "Apple cider vinegar with mother" gets rid of the blackheads without bruising or damaging their sensitive skin.

 

8) Bi monthly nail trimming and filing of nails keeps nails from breaking and bodies from being scratched.

A) Reasons: - keeps them well groomed and from hurting themselves by snagging their nails.  Clean under the foreskin by pulling it back on toe over nail and clean very GENTLY with soft paper towel.  This prevents bacteria build up. If a black oily substance does develops under the foreskin it is a bacteria or yeast and needs attention.  I use a mild bleach solution (It should not be very strong, about 1-10) once or twice should do it.  Use a warm bowl of this bleach solution and a baby tooth brush that is very soft.  Wet the tooth brush with the bleach solution and gently expose the oily build up by pulling the foreskin back on the toe exposing the whole nail and clean very GENTLY with the soft tooth brush as you brush the black off the nail.  Do this right after the bath so the tarry build up is soft and easy to remove.  If it is resistant, go to the next nail letting the nails soak until you come back to the first one.  It should come off easy then. Clean under the foreskin of each nail with the same solution using a soft paper towel or very soft brush.  Work rapidly.  Don't leave the solution on too long.  Rinse by dipping the paw into a container of clean warm water. Dry well.

 

9) Weekly ear cleaning with VET ear cleaning Solution, a small amount in each ear.  Let it set a moment, gently bend the ear over and massage the solution around inside then remove what you can see in the outer ear.  If you discover a foul smell or something seems wrong you may need to see a vet.

A) Reasons: - Failure to provide weekly ear cleanings may result in deadly ear infections.  Watch for foul smelling ears.  This can indication and warrants immediate Vet attention.

 

10) Daily cleaning of eyes by cleaning the inner corners out with a dry Q-tip will avoid a build up of debris in the eye and help avoid further problems.

A) Reason – if dirt gets in the eye and the eye gets sore it could get chronic. (Reason for not using clay litter)

 

11) L-lysine - 1/2 (250) capsule sprinkled on their food each day.

A) Reason – to protect against the Herpes virus (colds and eye problems)

 

12)I did put Nolvadent in their water (according to bottle directions), and use it on a Q Tip to clean their teeth once a week.  I have not used this since feeding raw chicks and wings.  It has not been needed. They still get Feline t/d to chew on; this is a treat for them.  This prevents tarter build up.  Tarter prevention control treats are frequent too.    

A) Reason – prevents gingivitis and tooth decay.

 

If I can answer any questions please feel free to contact me.  As I learn I will change my information and share it.  Thanks and Have a Nice Day!  Evelyn

 

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