Choosing the Best Food for Your Ragdoll - Feline Diet Guide
Ragdoll owners want the very best for their furry, Lap Cat companions! One of the most important aspects of their care is providing them with the right nutrition. What should you feed your Ragdoll? With so many options on the market, how do you ensure you’re choosing the best food? In this guide, we’ll walk you through the essential nutrients your Ragdoll needs, explore the different types of cat food available and give you practical tips on selecting the best diet in order to keep your Ragdoll cat healthy and thriving.
Seal Lynx Mitted Ragdoll
Blue Mitted Ragdoll
Blue Lynx Bicolor Ragdoll
Understanding Your Ragdoll Cat’s Nutritional Needs
If you own a Ragdoll, it's essential to understand what makes up a well-balanced diet for them. All cats, including Ragdolls, are obligate carnivores, meaning their bodies are specifically designed to thrive on animal-based proteins. To ensure your Ragdoll remains healthy and happy, their food should resemble the diet of wild cats as closely as possible. Let's dive into the top 3 key nutritional components for a Ragdoll cat’s optimal health.
High Quality Animal Protein: Cats need protein derived from animals to maintain their health and overall well-being. Popular, high-quality animal proteins appropriate for cats include chicken, turkey, lamb, beef, rabbit and duck. Animal proteins, such as these, are essential for muscle growth, tissue repair and overall body function in felines. Unlike plant proteins, animal proteins contain all of the essential amino acids cat need, such as taurine. Choosing a cat food that lists a high-quality meat source as the first ingredient ensures your Ragdoll is getting the nutrition their body is designed to thrive on.
Low or No Carbohydrates: Cats have absolutely no nutritional need for carbohydrates. High-carb cat foods, containing fillers like wheat, rice or corn, can contribute to obesity, digestive issues and even diabetes over time. Instead, focus on foods with little to no carbohydrates. A low-carb diet helps your Ragdoll stay lean and energetic, and supports healthy blood sugar levels. You should be cautious of foods that include grains or fillers as the main ingredient, as they can reduce the overall quality of the diet, leading to Health Issues in Your Ragdoll over time.
Moisture Content: One of the most important yet often overlooked aspects of your Ragdoll’s diet is moisture content. Cats are not natural drinkers and often don't consume enough water, leading to dehydration, urinary tract issues and kidney disease. Even if you prefer dry food for convenience, it’s very important to ensure your Ragdoll has access to plenty of fresh water and to consider adding some wet or raw food into their rotation to help with hydration.
Dry, Wet or Raw? Choosing the Right Food for Your Cat
When it comes to choosing what to feed your Ragdoll, there are many options available, including dry, wet and raw foods. It’s important to understand the benefits and potential drawbacks of each to make the best decision for your cat’s health and well-being. Each diet offers unique advantages and disadvantages.
Dry Food Diet: Dry cat food is popular simply due to its convenience and lower cost. It’s shelf stable and can be left out for long periods of time without spoiling. However, the convenience of kibble often comes at the steep price of your Ragdoll’s health. Because dry food has very low moisture content, a diet consisting solely of kibble can increase the risk of urinary tract issues and kidney disease in Ragdolls long-term.
Wet Food Diet: A Wet Food Diet will likely be less convenient and more expensive to feed than kibble. It typically requires transitioning your Ragdoll to a feeding schedule and remembering to feed your furry friend multiple times each day. On the plus side, wet cat food has a high moisture content, which will support their kidney and urinary health. The nutritional benefits of wet food, such as better hydration and a healthier coat, often make it a more appealing choice. As a Ragdoll owner, you may want to note that a completely wet food diet is more likely to cause Soft Stools/Diarrhea in Ragdolls, so I recommend adding Probiotics for Ragdoll Cats into their wet food to help prevent this.
Raw Food Diet: A Raw Food Diet closely mirrors what a cat would naturally eat in the wild. It consists of raw meat, organs and bone. As with wet food, it tends to be a more expensive option that generally requires more effort. However, for Ragdoll owners willing to make the commitment, a raw feline diet offers a tremendous variety of health benefits, like Healthier Teeth and lean muscle mass. Raw food can carry more risk if not properly handled so cat owners should be sure to do their research ahead of time. Overall, a raw food diet is by far the healthiest option available since it is incredibly high in moisture and species appropriate for cats.
Feline Diet Comparison Chart - Dry, Wet and Raw Cat Food
Cat Food Ingredients to be Mindful of
The following ingredients have no real place in a cat’s diet. However, it can be difficult to find a food that is 100% free of these additives and that is also reasonably priced. I have found that most foods are not going to be “perfect”. So, I recommend at least aiming for a cat food that doesn’t have these fillers or additives in the first few ingredients. Ultimately, it’s all about finding a balance between high-quality foods that fit within your budget, and that also keep your Ragdoll healthy and happy!
Fish: Fish in Cat Food is often considered a tasty and protein-rich ingredient, but it is not always the best choice for your cat’s long-term health. One of the main concerns with fish, especially tuna and salmon, is its high mercury content. Cats that consume fish regularly can accumulate mercury in their systems, which can lead to toxicity over time and negatively impact their health.
Grain: Grains like wheat, corn and rice are frequently used as fillers in cat food and they have little to no nutritional value for obligate carnivores. Cats lack the necessary enzymes to properly digest these carbohydrates, which can lead to digestive issues, allergies or obesity.
Soy: Soy is often used as a plant-based protein source in cheaper cat foods. However, soy can be difficult for cats to digest as well, potentially leading to gastrointestinal issues. It is a common allergen for many cats and can trigger adverse reactions such as itching or inflammation.
Potatoes: Potatoes are often marketed as "healthy" carbohydrates, but they can be problematic in cat food. They are high in starch, which cats don’t need in their diet and can be hard to digest. Excessive starch intake can contribute to weight gain, blood sugar spikes and gastrointestinal issues in felines.
Gums: Gums (like guar gum or xanthan gum) are used as thickening agents in cat food. While they’re generally safe in small amounts, they provide no nutritional value. Some gums can cause gastrointestinal distress, such as bloating or diarrhea, especially in cats with more sensitive guts.
Seed Oils: Seed oils, such as sunflower, safflower and canola oil, are often included in cat food. However, these oils are highly processed and can contribute to inflammation. Some seed oils are even linked to poor coat quality and skin issues in cats. Ideally, cats should receive their fats from animal-based sources like fish oils.
Artificial Flavors and Colorings: Artificial flavors and colorings may pose health risks when added to cat food. Some artificial colorings have been linked to hyperactivity and allergic reactions in pets, while synthetic flavors can lead to food sensitivities and cravings for less nutritious foods.
How Much Should A Ragdoll Eat?
Ragdolls are a large breed, and their dietary needs can vary depending on their age and activity level. Overfeeding or underfeeding can lead to health issues such as obesity or malnutrition. So, understanding the appropriate portion sizes at different stages of life is essential.
Here’s a breakdown of how much your Ragdoll should be eating based on their age:
Kittens (Up to 1 Year): Kittens are growing rapidly, and they have higher energy needs than adult cats.
Feed 3-4 meals per day or free feed, with a focus on high-quality kitten food that’s rich in protein and fat.
Monitor their weight and adjust food amounts as needed to ensure steady, healthy growth.
Raw Diet: If feeding raw, aim to feed 4-7% of the kitten’s current body weight each day.
Adults (1 Year and Older): Once your Ragdoll reaches adulthood, their metabolism will slow down slightly and they will require fewer calories than a growing kitten.
Feed 2-3 meals per day, ideally with high-quality adult food that’s rich in protein and moderate in fat.
Be mindful of portion sizes to prevent overfeeding, as Ragdolls are prone to obesity. Regularly monitor their weight and adjust food portions as necessary.
Raw Diet: If feeding raw, aim to feed 2-4% of the cat’s current body weight each day.
Seniors (7 Years and Older): As Ragdolls age into their senior years, their metabolism continues to slow down, and they may become less active.
Feed 2-3 meals per day with a focus on high-quality food that’s lower in calories but still rich in protein and essential nutrients.
Monitor their weight and health closely. Senior Ragdolls may require fewer calories but need more specialized nutrients to support aging joints, kidneys and overall vitality.
Raw Diet: If feeding raw, aim to feed 2-4% of the cat’s current body weight each day.
Observe Your Ragdoll’s Food Preferences
Just like with people, Ragdolls will have their own unique likes and dislikes when it comes to food. Some might prefer beef, while others go crazy for chicken. It’s important to note these preferences so you can find food that is both healthy and that they hopefully enjoy. Also, keep in mind that their preferences might change over time. Observing these shifts can help you adapt their diet and keep them eating a balanced variety.
Our Top Picks
As a Ragdoll Breeder with a lot of experience feeding different cat foods, I’ve curated my list of top recommendations for dry food, wet food and pre-made raw food. Most of these selections have been carefully chosen for their very high-quality ingredients. The IAMs Hairball Formula and Weruva Paw Lickin Chicken, however, are more mid-range options that I included simply because they promote nice digestion in Ragdolls and are foods that most Ragdolls love. Whether you're searching for a cat food that enhances your Ragdoll's overall wellness or a delicious treat to indulge them, my top picks are sure to meet your needs!
Dry Food: These are my top 3 recommendations for dry cat food.
Ziwi Peak Air-Dried Food
This is an incredible dry food option, with 96% of the formula being high quality animal protein sources. The downside is that it is expensive and you only recieve a small amount per bag.
Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Raw Morsels
This is another high quality dry food option with great ingredients. It contains freeze-dried raw morsels that can be fed the same way as kibble - dry, rehydrated or used as treats/meal topper.
IAMs Hairball Formula Dry Food
While this kibble contains some fillers, the first ingredient is still chicken. I often feed it to our kittens and choose to include it as a dry food recommendation because it has been loved and used by many experienced Ragdoll breeders for decades. Ragdolls often have more sensitive stomachs than other cats and the high fiber in this specific formula promotes nice digestion.
Wet Food: These are my top 3 recommendations for wet cat food.
Feline Natural Wet Food
When looking at ingredients, this is the most “perfect” wet cat food available on the market. It is a New Zealand brand and 98%+ of the ingredients are grass-fed, free range meat, cage free chicken and/or fish and organs. Check out the ingredients list yourself and you’ll see!
Orijen Wet Food in Bone Broth
Orijen also has some great quality wet food with 95% of the ingredients being high quality animal ingredients.
Weruva Paw Lickin’ Chicken
Patés are generally going to be a better option than chunks/shreds in gravy, which tend to contain more fillers in the gravy portion of the food. Despite including gravy with a few fillers, this will always be one of my top wet food recommendations due to the high volume of chicken protein and how much our cats love it. Digestively, it is also typically well tolerated by Ragdolls.
Raw Food: These are my top 3 recommendations for pre-made raw cat food.
Darwin’s Raw Cat Food
Darwin’s Natural Selections is my go-to pre-made raw cat food for my Ragdolls that are on raw food diets. This is the food that we choose to feed our pet Ragdoll as we feel raw is the best long-term option for keeping her healthy and happy. Darwin’s is already balanced and complete.
Raw Feeding Miami Protein Grinds
Raw Feeding Miami is another great pre-made raw food option. Keep in mind that their grinds aren’t “balanced” and will need a completer supplement like EZComplete added to them.
LOTUS Raw Recipes for Cats
LOTUS makes high quality pre-made raw cat food that I also feed on occasion. This brand is more difficult to source and you typically have to pick it up at a local pet food shop, but I have been extremely impressed by the quality of their ingredients.
Purrfectly Nourished
Feeding the right diet is key to extending your Ragdoll’s Lifespan. Whether you’re choosing high-quality dry kibble, moisture-rich wet food or a species appropriate raw food diet, it’s important to cater to their specific needs as they grow from playful kittens to beautiful adults. By observing their food preferences, providing the right portions and adjusting their diet to match their life stage and preferences, you’ll help them live a healthy, happy life!