The 6 Best Cat Foods For Ragdoll Cats

Reviews January 6, 2022

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The 6 Best Cat Foods For Ragdoll Cats

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The Ragdoll cat is laid-back, gentle and earned its name by the way they go limp in your arms. They are considered one of the largest domestic cat breeds which means they do eat more than smaller breeds.

To keep your Ragdoll cat happy and at a healthy weight, it is important to find the right food and diet.

Why Should You Trust This Review?

  • I am a certified pet nutritionist
  • I’ve been a cat mom for 30 plus years
  • I have volunteered at cat shelters for over 15 years
  • I did 48 hours of research on these cat food brands

The Best Cat Foods For Ragdoll Cats Comparison Chart

IMAGE PRODUCT
  • Pre-portioned sealed meals
  • Fresh to order every week
  • No fillers, grains or artificial flavors
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Smalls Cat Food
  • The meat and produce are sourced from US suppliers
  • Grain free recipes
  • Plans for every budget
  • Free shipping
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  • Grain and filler free
  • Made with wholesome chicken
  • Moisture content 78%
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  • 100% grain-free
  • Antioxidant-rich with vitamins
  • No artificial preservatives, colors or flavors
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  • No hard-to-digest grains, fillers, or artificial preservatives.
  • Made with 100% humanely raised ingredients
  • No chicken or poultry by-product meals, corn, wheat, gluten or soy
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  • Made specifically for Ragdoll cats
  • Highly digestible recipe
  • Contains healthy fats
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Product Reviews: The Best Food For Ragdoll Cats

#1 Nom Nom Fresh Cat Food

Product Info:

  • Price: ~$2-$3/ Per Meal
  • Food Type: Fresh
  • Made in: United States
  • Protein: 18%
  • Fat: 4%

The Good

  • Pre-portioned sealed meals
  • Fresh to order every week
  • No fillers, grains or artificial flavors

The Bad

  • Price on the high side
  • Food needs to be refrigerated

Nom Nom is a subscription cat food delivery service that delivers customized meals to your door. They guarantee to provide restaurant quality ingredients that are considered human grade, in every meal.

The food contains no fillers or grains, no preservatives or artificial flavors, and they only use the highest-quality, sourced meats. Nom Nom recipes are prepared in a human-grade kitchen that is 100% designed and dedicated to making fresh pet food.

There are two meal recipes that you can choose for your cat. The first is the Chicken Chow-Meow which is full of ingredients to keep your cat’s eyesight razor sharp for stalking. The second is Flavorful Fish Feast and it is packed with tilapia and salmon to guarantee a softer and shinier coat for your cat.

#2 Smalls Cat Food

Product Info:

  • Price Range: ~$2.00 – $3.50/ per meal
  • Food Type: Fresh
  • Made In: USA
  • Protein: 21.2% Min
  • Fat: 8.05% Min

The Good

  • The meat and produce are sourced from US suppliers
  • Grain free recipes
  • Plans for every budget
  • Free shipping

The Bad

  • The food must be refrigerated
  • Website is hard to navigate
  • Food packaged in large portions

Smalls offers premium-quality recipes right here in the USA. Not only are their products made with fresh ingredients, they are prepared the same day they are purchased and frozen at the peak of freshness.

Smalls currently offers only three different recipes that include protein sources from beef, turkey and chicken. They also provide customers with many meal plan options for those who are on a tight budget but want the best for their cat.

The price of Smalls depends on your cat’s needs, the recipes you choose, and your delivery schedule. With this in mind you will be paying about $2.00 to $3.89 per day per cat depending on the plan you choose and not entirely on cat size.

Their goal is to provide cats with a meal plan that is good for both nutrition and affordability. Smalls offers plenty of options to customize your cat’s meal plan to keep you on budget.


#3 Whole Earth Farms Grain-Free Real Healthy Kitten Recipe

Product Info:

  • Price: ~$0.5/ OZ
  • Food Type: Wet
  • Made in: USA
  • Protein: 9%
  • Fat: 4%

The Good

  • Grain and filler free
  • Made with wholesome chicken
  • Moisture content 78%

The Bad

  • Can smaller than traditional cat food cans
  • Some kittens refuse to eat

Whole Earth Farms Grain-Free Real Healthy Kitten Recipe Canned Cat Food starts with high-quality, deboned chicken. This grain-free recipe is formulated with wholesome USA sourced ingredients like chicken liver and eggs, plus added vitamins and minerals.

This wet kitten food is nutritionally balanced for your growing Ragdoll kittens and made grain-free, with no corn, no wheat, no soy, and it is pea-free.


#4 Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Canned Cat Food

Product Info:

  • Price: ~$0.4/ OZ
  • Food Type: Wet
  • Made in: United States
  • Protein: 12%
  • Fat: 8%

The Good

  • 100% grain-free
  • Antioxidant-rich with vitamins, balanced minerals, omegas and taurine
  • No artificial preservatives, colors or flavors

The Bad

  • Some cats do not like the texture
  • Can contains a lot of “jelly-like” substance

Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Turkey & Duck Pate Canned Cat Food is made with turkey and duck as the top ingredients. This nutrient-dense, grain-free recipe contains all the protein your Ragdoll cat needs to support his strong muscles and energy as well as supporting urinary health.

This recipe is packed with omegas from flaxseed and salmon oil to maintain a healthy skin and coat, plus antioxidants, taurine, vitamins and minerals to support immunity and well-being. Core does not contain wheat, fillers, or anything artificial and has a smooth pate texture.


#5 Open Farm Homestead Turkey & Chicken Dry Cat Food

Product Info:

  • Price Range: ~$1-2$/ Per Meal
  • Food Type: Dry
  • Made In: USA
  • Protein: 37% Min
  • Fat: 18% Min

The Good

  • No hard-to-digest grains, fillers, or artificial preservatives.
  • Made with 100% humanely raised ingredients
  • No chicken or poultry by-product meals, corn, wheat, gluten or soy

The Bad

  • Contains plant based ingredients
  • Low moisture content

Open Farm uses only the highest quality ingredients to give your pet the premium nutrition they deserve. That means humanely raised meat free from antibiotics and growth hormones, non-GMO fruits & veggies and functional superfoods go into the recipes.

Nearly all of their ingredients are sourced in Canada and the United States with the exception of coconut oil and certain vitamins and minerals that are not available in North America. These particular vitamins and minerals are sourced from Europe and the coconut oil comes from Indonesia, the Philippines or Thailand. They source their Lamb and Venison from New Zealand.

Their variety of grain-free options puts them above many of their competitors in this area. There are some recipes that do include garbanzo beans and lentils which are not necessary in a cats diet and can be difficult for some to digest.


#6 Royal Canin Ragdoll Dry Cat Food

Product Info:

  • Price: ~$4/ Ibs
  • Food Type: Dry
  • Made in: United States
  • Protein: 30%
  • Fat: 16%

The Good

  • Made specifically for Ragdoll cats
  • Highly digestible recipe for maximum nutrient absorption
  • Contains Omegas that also help in maintaining a healthy coat

The Bad

  • Contains high amounts of crude fat
  • Corn meal in ingredients

The silky, semi-longhaired coat is one of the Ragdoll cat’s best features and this food is made just for them. To help maintain that coat health,  as well as skin, Royal Canin Ragdoll Dry Cat Food includes antioxidants, vitamins, Omega 3 fatty acids and Omega 6 fatty acids.

And since the Ragdoll is one of the largest cat breeds, this appropriately balanced diet supports their strong-boned muscular body and contributes to an ideal weight. This formula is made specifically for the needs of a Ragdoll cat.


Ragdoll Cats Eating Habits

Because Ragdolls are a larger size of cat, they will eat more than other average size cat breeds. They do like to snack throughout the day but should be monitored because they do tend to become over weight if fed too much.

They should have constant access to fresh water, and eat foods high in protein and low in carbohydrates.

During their early formative years, they need a kitten food provide essential nutrients for healthy growth and development.

Ragdoll kittens do not reach full maturity until they are about 3 to 4 years of age, but should transition to an adult food before then. At around ten weeks old your Ragdoll cat should be ready to eat dry and canned food.

It is important to remember that when it comes to diet and feeding behaviors, each cat has individual needs and characteristics.

The amount of meals offered and type of food will vary with individual preferences and activity levels. Checking the ingredient list on cat food and confirming the first ingredient is an animal protein is a must for your Ragdoll cat’s diet.

Ragdoll Cats Common Food Allergies

Ragdoll cats can develop allergies or an intolerance to ingredients often found in commercial cat dry foods and wet foods, like any cat. The most common ingredients that cause allergies are chicken, fish, eggs, and corn, as well as grains and dairy products. However, an allergy can develop to any protein to which the cat is repeatedly or constantly exposed, and sometimes, allergies develop over time.

Food allergies can manifest as itchy skin, rashes or excessive grooming, or as digestive symptoms, including vomiting or diarrhea. Digestive symptoms often mimic those of inflammatory bowel disease.

Raw Food Diet And Homemade Food For Ragdoll Cats

Making raw and homemade cat food for your Ragdoll cat does take a bit of work, but is worth it for the health of your cat. Raw cat food is the only type of food that resembles what your cat would be eating in the wild.

Some of the main ingredients needed to make raw cat food are raw animal protein such as raw meat, raw organs, raw egg yolks as well as cooked egg whites. Vegetables and other carbs should be avoided or minimal when making your Ragdoll cat food due to their size and appetite. Vitamin supplements can be added because they can help in balancing out the nutritional value of the food.

To learn more about making your own cat food check out www.catnutrition.org or www.petdiets.com.

What Not To Feed Your Ragdoll Cat?

While not all of these items are guaranteed to harm your Ragdoll cat, there are some that should be avoided to lower the risk of health problems. To learn more about what foods cat’s should not eat read: What Foods Cats Should Not Eat?

Chemicals

preservatives are common in many cat foods as a way to improve the shelf life. Other chemicals are used as a moistening agent to give treats and foods a softer texture. Many of these chemical cocktails are illegal for use in human foods and known to cause cancer, kidney problems, and liver damage. Here is some of the common culprits to look out for:

  • Ethoxyquin
  • Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT)
  • Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA)
  • Propylene Glycol (PG)

Fillers

These are used by cat food manufacturers to cut cost. as well as owners to cut costs and save money. The trade-off is that cats who live off foods with high concentrations of fillers are often less healthy, over weight and have a lower life expectancy. Common fillers include:

  • Corn
  • Wheat (gluten)
  • Meat “by-products” (waste products from the rendering process, like bone meal and grease)
  • Rendered fat

Cooked Bones

These are bad in homemade recipes or as a treat. They can splinter causing internal bleeding and intestinal issues.

Grapes, Avacados, Macademia Nuts and Raisins

This group of foods can cause severe and acute kidney failure in your Siberian cat. Symptoms are equivalent to human food poisoning.

Final Thoughts

It is not only important to provide your fluffy, floppy ball of love with a healthy diet but make sure he gets plenty of exercise to maintain a healthy weight.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Ragdolls like to eat?

Ragdoll cats are no different from other cats and thrive on quality animal proteins in their diet. Their meals should replicate what a cat would eat out in the wild, which is moisture rich and full or meat like chicken, lamb, turkey and fish.

What is the daily calorie intake for a Ragdoll cat?

The average calorie content depends on size, lifestyle and life stage of your Ragdoll cat. Kittens should consume about 100 calories per pound while adults should get about 30 calories per pound.

How much does a Ragdoll eat?

A lot. Ragdolls are known for their ability to eat quite a bit yet gain no weight. Generally speaking, cats around 10 pounds should eat about 1/2 cup of dry cat food per day while a 15 pound cat can eat up to 3/4 a cup per day.

What is the best food for Ragdoll cats?

Good quality, high protein food with no grains or fillers is ideal. The first three ingredients should come from animal proteins, such as duck, chicken, turkey, or beef. The best cat food would be home made or the next best thing, a fresh cat food like Nom Nom.

Array

Amy is the founder of Cat Mania and a Certified NAVC Pet Nutritionist. She is the proud owner of two cats and a dog and her love for animals has led her to a successful career as a freelance writer specializing in pet care, nutrition, and product reviews.
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