The Best Cat Food for Ragdoll cats
My 15-pound Ragdoll cat is force of nature, and finding healthy, tasty food to give her is always a priority. To maintain her amazing long-haired coat, large frame, and playful personality, I recommend ZIWI Peak Canned Wet Cat Food as the current best cat food for Ragdoll cats.
But perfect for my Ragdoll cat may not be perfect for yours. So in this post, we talk about the various top picks for wet and dry Ragdoll cat cat foods. At the end is a buyer’s guide to make your own decision.
Best Wet Cat Food for Ragdoll cats
ZIWI Peak is likely the best canned cat food on the market today, with an ultra high-protein content from 92% meat, organs, and mussels.
The protein mix is great because in the wild, cats eat the entire animal, organs and all. Organs are incredibly nutrient dense and species-specific ingredient, I just love it.
ZIWI Peak also completely skips sugar, artificial preservatives, gums, and BPA. And you won’t find fillers like wheat and grains, potatoes, rice, soy, and rendered meals.
This is the type of nutrition your Ragdoll cat would get from catching perfect prey in nature!
You feel good that all meats and seafoods used in this formula are 100-percent ethically and sustainably resourced from free-range farms and wild waters in New Zealand.
The meats and seafoods also have no like antibiotics or artificial hormones.
I also love about this cat food contains tripe and New Zealand green muscles to deliver chondroitin and glucosamine. These are both powerhouses for joint health.
That’s important because Ragdoll cats may be at bigger risk for hip issues as she ages, due to genetics.
And of course, users also say their Ragdoll cats just eat this right up! This stuff is not cheap, but if you paid the considerable price of a Ragdoll cat, you can fit this in your budget.
Pros:
- 92% species-specific protein mix
- Free of fillers, carbs, preservatives, gums
- Ethically and sustainably sourced
- Super clean high quality ingredients
Cons:
- Price
Runner Up Wet Food for Ragdoll cat Cats
Feline Natural Canned Cat Food
Feline Natural is another top-tier wet food with 98% protein in the form of meats, organs, and ground bones. Ingredients are sourced from grass-fed, free-range meats and cage-free chickens.
Some great ingredients to call out are lamb heart, kidney, liver, and blood. And just like our top pick, this brand also includes New Zealand mussels for overall joint health.
This is a superb low-carb, grain-free cat food option, with no fillers like legumes, plant protein, starches or gums, rice, wheat, or potatoes. This makes it a good fit for diabetic cats!
Feline Natural is also free of fillers, binders and BPA. And amazingly, the only “gelling agent” used to keep this food together is pure, fresh water from New Zealand.
One thing to note – a few users said that the flavor and texture is not for all cats, and bone shards mixed up in the foods sometimes were too much.
Pros:
- 98% species-specific protein mix
- Free of fillers, carbs, preservatives, gums
- Ethically and sustainably sourced
- Super clean high quality ingredients
Cons:
- Price
- Not all cats appreciate taste and bone
Also Great Wet Cat Food for Ragdoll cats
Maybe you are not into super-premium boutique wet cat foods. It’s quite alright since there are a number of quality commercial store-bought brands!
Made-in-the-USA Taste of the Wild is one of those. Their wet food has a high protein content, with real trout or salmon as the first ingredient, then liver, animal broth, or whitefish as the next few.
Their vitamin and mineral mix is on the ball, with taurine and vitamins A, B, D, E, and K.
Additionally, it contains no:
- wheat
- grain
- corn
- rice
- by-products
The ingredient list does includes some blueberries, raspberries and vegetables for fiber and that act as minor filler. Although not ideal, I imagine it’s like the contents of an eaten animal’s stomach to your Ragdoll.
One thing that made me want to call out is that Taste of the Wild’s formula is heavy on fatty acids that are ideal for skin and coat.
As a Ragdoll cat owner, it should be important for you because their luscious coat requires those nutrients.
Pros:
- Much more affordable than comparable “premium” options
- Grain-free
- High protein
- Fatty acids for skin and coat
Cons:
- Fruits and veggie filler
Most Popular & Best Budget Cat Food for Ragdoll cats
Purina Fancy Feast Classic Pate Collection
It’s really important for me to put a mainstream option on this list because not everyone is in a position to splurge on high-end cat food.
There are good “budget” options that offer your Ragdoll 100% complete and balanced nutrition, as recommended by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).
Purina Fancy Feast is one of those brands.
This Fancy Feast grain-free variety offers high protein, complete and balanced nutrition for any cat in a multitude of flavors. One real downside of some expensive, boutique brands is a lack of variety.
Coupled with a cat’s tendency towards finicky eating, it can be a struggle finding food she will eat. Get a Fancy Feast variety pack and you don’t worry about that.
There are more by-products and gums in this food than I’d like. But I cannot that deny that globally, cats really flip for the rich scent and pate texture of this cat food.
The brand’s success speak for itself – and the tens of thousands of satisfied buyers.
Pros:
- Affordability & availability
- Variety
- AAFCO-approved complete and balanced nutrition
- Grain-free
- Soft texture is great for older cats with tooth or jaw problems
Cons:
- Meat by-products
- Gums
Best Dry Cat Food for Ragdoll cats
Dr. Elsey’s Cleanprotein Formula Dry Cat Food Chicken Flavor
Dr. Elsey’s is one of the best dry cat foods out there. It boasts a clean and simple ingredient list, is extremely high protein, and the protein used is almost entirely (90%) from real animals.
Here are the first 5 ingredients (which indicate a lot about the food):
Chicken, dried egg product, pork protein concentrate, gelatin, chicken fat
Real meat and fat to start is a great sign. And the breakdown by dry weight is 63.45% protein, 19.88% fat, and only 6.8% carbs. Altogether wonderful ratios that mimic a natural wild diet!
And basically, the rest of the ingredients are vitamins, minerals, and real seasons like salt and rosemary.
These tasty crunchies also happen to be 100% grain-free and gluten-free. They’re also full of omega-3 fatty acids that are important for skin and coat health. Also no gums as binders, since Dr Elsey’s uses real gelatin!
If the price is higher than what you are currently paying for kibble, realize this Dr Elsey’s is about 150% of the protein of most other commercial brands.
This means you feed less, and your Ragdoll stays satiated for longer! All the while avoiding the garbage filler Kitty has no use for.
Pros:
- Super high protein
- Clean, high-quality ingredients
- No fillers, wheat, gluten, artificial binders
- Omega 3 fatty acids
Cons:
- Price
- Not to all cat’s liking
Runner Up Dry Food for Ragdoll cats
If your Ragdoll cat does not take to our top pick Dr Elsey’s, give Wysong Epigen 90 a try. This food is unique because it’s appropriate for both cats and dogs.
But don’t let that lower your opinion of it. This dry food is a powerhouse in real animal protein content (just like our top pick) with a blend of fat to fuel your Ragdoll the natural way.
The top 5 ingredients:
Chicken Meal, Organic Chicken, Meat Protein Isolate, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Gelatin
At 63% (!) protein and 16% fat dry weight, along with vitamins, minerals, probiotics, prebiotics, plant-based nutrients, antioxidants, and superfoods, Wysong Epigen 90 is an ultra complete and very nutrient dense dry food.
And of course, as one of our best picks, this food does not contain grains, carbs, starches, fruits or veggies, random fillers, by-products, or any other undesirable ingredient.
This is another great pick if your Ragdoll cat is diabetic too, because of its high protein and its starch-free, grain free nature.
A key thing to note: some owners complain this food gives their cat digestive and litter box issues. Most likely, their cat’s systems are not used to a such a high-protein food.
A cat’s stomach is sensitive and any dramatic change can be upsetting, even with wet food. Take slow steps in the transition by mixing this brand in with their regular brand over a period of time,
Pros:
- Super high protein
- Clean, high-quality ingredients
- No fillers, wheat, gluten, starches
- Omega 3 fatty acids
- Wide array of added vitamins, minerals, and other supplements
Cons:
- Price
- Lack of flavor variety
- May require adjustment period
Royal Canin Ragdoll cat Cat Food
A list of cat food for Ragdoll cats is not complete without this well known brand that bears their namesake! Royal Canin’s Ragdoll cat dry food formulation is a popular and tasty alternative to my above best picks.
This food contains ingredients that cater to your Ragdoll cat’s distinct needs, like their long coat, big bones, and heart health. See my full review of Royal Canin’s Ragdoll cat Adult dry food
What To Look For In Ragdoll cat Cat Food
Ragdoll cat cats are obligate carnivores, meaning their diet must contain a good amount of animal protein for optimal health.
Your Ragdoll cat is a relative of tigers, lions, jaguars, and the like, so ensure your little killer gets their protein!
According to the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) cat food nutrient profiles, a well balanced food contains at least 20% protein and 9% fat. Plus the following:
- fatty acids like Omega 3’s and Omega 6’s
- amino acids like Taurine
- various vitamins and minerals
The AAFCO label on a product means it is nutritionally balanced, but is not the ultimate mark of quality. Most popular commercial foods on the market have this label.
Do Maine Coons Require Special Diets?
Ragdoll cats are unlike most cat breeds, and more akin to small dogs. For example, taking a Ragdoll cat walking outside or playing fetch is not unusual.
A loyal, true companion of a cat breed, I find myself “talking” to my Blue Smoke girl often! So a natural question is whether or not they require breed-specific cat food.
While it’s true that Ragdoll cats differ in personality and size from most other breeds, they don’t actually require a special formula. All domestic cats have the same essential nutritional needs.
Quality cat food is quality cat food. Buy good brands and read ingredient lists to make sure that the right nutrients are there to support the large size, thick coat and active nature of this breed.
What’s the Food Requirement for Ragdoll cat Kittens?
Majestic and large, the Ragdoll cat takes much longer to reach full size than other breeds. You can think of them as slow-growing giants!
While most cats are ready to make the switch from kitten food to adult food after their first birthday, Ragdoll cats should typically be left “at the kid table” until at least 18 months because that’s when they reach maturity.
This is where I’ll say you should definitely ask your vet about making a timeline for switching food.
How Much Should I Feed My Ragdoll cat Kitten?
Feed your Ragdoll cat kitten as much as he or she would like to eat, provided they are scampering around playing all day. Kittens expend so much energy that it is okay to free feed them.
Growth periods are not the time to withhold calories. Unless a cat shows weight problems, you don’t need to measure exactly.
You can leave out a bowl of dry food for grazing purposes all day. Supplement that with twice a day wet food in the morning and early evening. You’re set!
What’s the Best Cat Food for Ragdoll cat Kittens?
Any of the choices above make great wet and dry choices for Ragdoll cat kittens. Kittens do not necessarily have different nutrient requirements – the main thing is enough good clean protein to support their growing bodies.
Wet or Dry Food?
A proper diet for Ragdoll cats have a combination of wet food and dry food. Vets seem to back this up.
“Adding canned food to dry food is another way to increase the moisture content and enhance the flavor of the meal, while allowing you the flexibility of buying different types of food that fit your budget,”
Dr. Gallagher also adds that combinations of textures and aromas actually help to get a pet’s appetite going! I can confirm that this is true with my Ragdoll cat.
- With dry food, your Ragdoll is getting a great way to use her teeth that also happens to be very easy for you to prepare.
- With wet food, you’re giving your Ragdoll a nice dose of moisture that’s really helpful for hydration and kidney function. This more important as your Ragdoll gets older!
(We Ragdoll cat owners know our cats have a bit of a water infatuation, and they love having water to play with and occasionally drink from. Other cats have a low thirst drive, so wet food helps with this.)
What To Avoid in Ragdoll cat Cat Food
A “complex” ingredient list doesn’t mean much when you’re reading cat-food labels. That’s because many brands want to impress by adding things like:
- unreadable chemicals
- excessive grains and wheat
- rice and corn
- fiber and potatoes
However, many of those ingredients amount to filler. Because while they are healthy to humans, cats have no use for them.
Vets agree. According to Dr. Lisa M. Freeman at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University:
“Manufacturers include ingredients that will appeal to pet owners but probably don’t provide any nutritional benefit to the pet, such as artichokes, kale, and blueberries,”
Cats basically have been on the Keto diet for the past thousands of years!
- Watch out for chemical preservatives like butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), possible carcinogens, yet widely used in pet foods.
- Beware of excess carbs. Like in humans, they can cause diarrhea or even diabetes.
- If you have an older or diabetic cat, look for a grain-free option. I’ll be covering wheat-free, grain-free options in my reviews of the best cat food for Ragdoll cats.
- Keep an eye on the “by-products.” The fact of the matter is that by-products do often infuse lots of nutrition into cat food recipes. While there’s technically nothing wrong with cat food that contains by-products, they alone do not constitute quality food.
What About Ragdoll cat Food Allergies?
Like humans, Ragdoll cats have food allergies too. Food allergies develop after too much exposure to one ingredient, or if an ingredient simply does not agree with their system.
A Ragdoll cat’s immune system is unique, so they can be allergic to any ingredient. It’s not just the obvious things like chemicals, artificial flavors, or preservatives.
Sometimes the offending item is a certain type of protein, wheat, or even eggs. Not all food allergies are acute and instant, many times the accumulation of the item causes subtle but troublesome symptoms
That’s why in my above best foods for Ragdoll cats list, I point out whether or not that product contains or does not contain certain allergens.
Raw Food for Ragdoll cat
A diet of raw food for your Ragdoll cat sounds logical. Emulate nature and the cat will thrive.
Eating what a cat would naturally (a freshly killed animal, like a rat) is best for their health. Eating this way avoids the artificial chemicals and highly processed by-products in modern cat food.
For me, it sounds more idealistic and not practical. Consider that cats will eat a whole animal, bones, blood, and all. Can you source all of this consistently and prepare it so it’s clean and appetizing?
Quality commercial cat food has a proper nutrient proportions of proteins, fats, and little carbs. I have no way of doing that myself. That’s why I do not feed my Ragdoll cat a raw diet.
If you can do all of the above, go ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should a Ragdoll cat cat eat?
Generally, Ragdoll cat cats eat more than the average cat due to the large size of this breed. That often works out to be between 3 ounces of wet food/9 ounces of dry food daily.
The general guideline is that a cat needs between 24 to 35 calories a day per pound to maintain a healthy weight.
How much a cat should eat depends on their ideal weight. Determine this with help from a vet. They can tell you how many calories are needed daily to maintain a healthy weight. Don’t forget that kittens generally need more calories than adult cats.
Why is my Ragdoll cat always hungry?
There are many explanations behind why a cat is always hungry. your Ragdoll is always hungry because you’re providing low-nutrition food that is simply filling them up without satisfying their dietary needs.
Pick one of the above mentioned best cat food for Ragdoll cats to help with that.
Cats can linger at the food dish out of pure boredom. However, health issues like diabetes, pancreatic disease, bowel problems and parasites could also be to blame. If your Ragdoll seems abnormally hungry, a trip to the vet is in order!
How can I fatten up my Ragdoll cat?
The only way to fatten up a Ragdoll cat is to add more calories to the cat’s diet. However, it’s important to confirm with a vet that your Ragdoll is underweight before beginning a new diet.
You’ll also want to rule out any health issues that could be causing drops in weight.
When adding calories to a cat’s diet, never introduce excess carbs or fillers. Stick to high-protein, balanced formulas that provide complete nutrition, like any on our list of the best cat food for Ragdoll cats.
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