Cats Reviews

The 6 Best Cat Foods For Ragdolls

May 12, 2022

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The 6 Best Cat Foods For Ragdolls

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After studying the Ragdoll breed, looking for diet-related health conditions, and learning what seasoned Ragdoll guardians feed their cats, we’ve created this resource to help you find the right food for your floppy cat.

In this guide, you will learn what makes your Ragdoll’s dietary needs different from those of other breeds and how to pick a great cat food for your kitty. Keep on reading for our top six picks for the best cat foods for Ragdoll cats.
Ragdolls are large breed cats, meaning they are larger and more muscular than the typical domestic shorthaired cats.

As a large breed cat, your Ragdoll develops more slowly than smaller breeds. While her smaller relatives may grow to adulthood in a year or less, your Ragdoll will continue to develop beyond a year and will not reach full size and weight for about four years. She will need plenty of calories from protein and fat, so a food that is dense and meaty is ideal.

We recommend Hound & Gatos Chicken & Chicken Liver canned cat food as the best cat food for Ragdolls. It is rich in nourishing muscle meat and liver, has salmon oil for a lustrous coat, and doesn’t contain any starchy ingredients that might weigh your Ragdoll down.

At A Glance: Best Cat Foods To Buy For Ragdolls

We highly recommend looking at the comparison table we have below where we highlighted the features of each product. You will also find more detailed information about each product later in the article.

Compare Best Cat Foods For Ragdolls

Overall Best
Hound & Gatos 98% Chicken & Liver Grain-Free Canned Cat Food

1. Hound & Gatos 98% Chicken & Liver Grain-Free Canned Cat Food

Best Affordable
WholeHearted All Life Stages Canned Cat Food

2. WholeHearted All Life Stages Canned Cat Food

Best For Sensitive Stomach
Smalls Freeze-Dried Water Bird

3. Smalls Freeze-Dried Water Bird

Best For Kittens
Nulo Freestyle Turkey & Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Canned Cat & Kitten Food

4. Nulo Freestyle Turkey & Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Canned Cat & Kitten Food

Best For Seniors
Feline Natural Chicken & Venison Feast Grain-Free Canned Cat Food

5. Feline Natural Chicken & Venison Feast Grain-Free Canned Cat Food

Best For Weight Loss
Tiki Cat After Dark Chicken & Quail Canned Cat Food

6. Tiki Cat After Dark Chicken & Quail Canned Cat Food

Protein
10% Min
Protein
10% Min
Protein
45% Min
Protein
11% Min
Protein
9.0% Min
Protein
12% Min
Fat
9.0% Min
Fat
2% Min
Fat
20% Min
Fat
6.5% Min
Fat
5.0% Min
Fat
2.4% Min
Fiber
1.0% Max
Fiber
1% Max
Fiber
3% Max
Fiber
0.75% Max
Fiber
0.2% Max
Fiber
0.7% Max
Life Stage
Adult
Life Stage
All Lifestages
Life Stage
Adult
Life Stage
All Life Stages
Life Stage
Adult
Life Stage
Adult
Type
Wet/Canned
Type
Wet
Type
Freeze-Dried
Type
Wet/Canned
Type
Wet/Canned
Type
Wet/Canned
Made In
United States
Made In
United States
Made In
United States
Made In
United States
Made In
New Zealand
Made In
Thailand

What Is The Best Cat Food For Ragdolls?

As generally healthy cats and obligate carnivores, Ragdolls should consume a diet rich in muscle meat, organs, animal fat, and not a lot of plant matter.

What About Breed-Specific Cat Food For Ragdolls?

There is at least one Ragdoll-specific cat food on the market. Its pyramid-shaped pieces are designed for the Ragdoll’s broad jaw, theoretically keeping your Ragdoll from scarfing down her food too quickly. In addition to its unique shape, the kibble is rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to help maintain a lustrous, healthy coat.

For all this food ostensibly does to provide breed-tailored nutrition, it misses the mark in carnivore nutrition basics. It’s full of corn, wheat, wheat gluten, and brewers rice—ingredients that pump up the carbohydrate content without delivering a lot of nutrition.

Many canned, fresh, raw, or freeze-dried foods offer all the benefits this food provides while also honoring your Ragdoll’s carnivorous needs.

Cats, in general, are better off eating a high-moisture diet with low carbohydrate content. Most high-moisture foods are well-suited to your Ragdoll’s jaw shape. The best contain fish oil as a natural source of omega-3 fatty acids for a healthy coat.

Therefore, none of the foods on this list have pictures of Ragdolls on the packaging or the word Ragdoll in their name. They are simple, straightforward products that honor your Ragdoll’s essential carnivorous nature.

Our Top Picks For The Best Cat Foods For Ragdolls

Overall Best
1.

Hound & Gatos 98% Chicken & Liver Grain-Free Canned Cat Food

Product Info

  • Protein: 10% Min
  • Fat: 9.0% Min
  • Fiber: 1.0% Max
  • Life Stage: Adult
  • Type: Wet/Canned
  • Made In: United States

Guaranteed Analysis

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Crude Protein: 10%
Crude Fat: 9%
Crude Fiber: 1%
Moisture: 78%
Ash: 2.5%

Dry Matter Basis

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Protein: 45.45%
Fat: 40.91%
Fiber: 4.55%
Pros
  • Primarily made from nourishing chicken muscle meat and liver
  • Rich in omega-3 fatty acids from salmon oil
  • Low carbohydrate content
  • Doesn’t contain carrageenan or potentially harmful dyes, flavors, or preservatives
Cons
  • An expensive food
  • Some cats don’t like the taste or texture of Hound & Gatos cat food
This paté from Hound & Gatos is made from chicken, chicken broth, and chicken liver. All of this protein-rich, nutrient-dense flesh is mixed with agar-agar as a thickener. It’s one of the safest thickeners or stabilizers you can give your cat.

The food has salmon oil as a source of omega-3 fatty acids, which help to keep your Ragdoll’s coat looking lustrous and soft.

Because it doesn’t contain any tapioca starch, potato starch, or other ingredients commonly found in other cat foods, this Hound & Gatos recipe is extraordinarily low in carbohydrates.
Best Affordable
2.

WholeHearted All Life Stages Canned Cat Food

Product Info

  • Protein: 10% Min
  • Fat: 2% Min
  • Fiber: 1% Max
  • Life Stage: All Lifestages
  • Type: Wet
  • Made In: United States

Guaranteed Analysis

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Crude Protein: 10%
Crude Fat: 2%
Crude Fiber: 1%
Moisture: 84%

Dry Matter Basis

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Protein: 62.5%
Fat: 12.5%
Fiber: 6.25%
Carbs: 18.75%
Pros
  • Primarily made from carnivore appropriate meat ingredients
  • Very low carbohydrate content
  • Contains tuna oil as a source of omega-3 fatty acids
  • Doesn’t contain carrageenan, artificial flavors, or dyes
  • One of the most affordable foods you can buy
Cons
  • Some cats don’t like the way the foods taste
  • All lifestage foods are higher in calories and may lead to significant weight gain in middle aged to older cats
WholeHearted is one of the pet food world’s best-kept secrets. For the price of a can of Fancy Feast or Friskies, you get a straightforward, low-calorie food that looks a lot like some recipes from Weruva or Earthborn Holistic.

It’s made with chicken in a tapioca starch and xanthan gum-thickened broth. Tuna oil serves as a source of omega-3 fatty acids, which help to keep your Ragdoll’s coat soft and shiny.

Though it’s one of the cheapest foods on the market, this recipe doesn’t contain any animal by-products, artificial colors, or artificial flavors that you’d expect in a comparably-priced food.
Best For Sensitive Stomach
3.

Smalls Freeze-Dried Water Bird

Product Info

  • Protein: 45% Min
  • Fat: 20% Min
  • Fiber: 3% Max
  • Life Stage: Adult
  • Type: Freeze-Dried
  • Made In: United States

Guaranteed Analysis

loader
Crude Protein: 45%
Crude Fat: 20%
Crude Fiber: 3%
Moisture: 8%

Dry Matter Basis

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Protein: 48.91%
Fat: 21.74%
Fiber: 3.26%
Carbs: 26.09%
Pros
  • Packed with a single source of real animal protein
  • Freeze-dried to preserve nutritional value
  • Sent right to your door in regular shipments
  • Limited number of ingredients, highly digestible
Cons
  • Only available by subscription, must create an account
  • Some cats just don’t like the texture of freeze-dried food
Ragdolls are a large breed, so they need a little more than other cats when it comes to their diet: more protein, more fat, more calories. At the same time, it’s important to keep everything in balance and that’s exactly what this Smalls Freeze-Dried Water Bird formula does.

This recipe starts off strong with real duck (including the bone) to provide a foundation for your Ragdoll’s nutrition. Duck organs provide additional sources of protein (along with duck egg) while herring oil helps balance out the fat content. All in all, this recipe provides 45% crude protein and 20% crude fat. It’s not short on real poultry flavor, either.

What many cat owners appreciate about Smalls is that they are a subscription service. You may not be able to place one-time orders, but you will get your cat food sent right to your door right when you need it, each and every month.
Best For Kittens
4.

Nulo Freestyle Turkey & Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Canned Cat & Kitten Food

Product Info

  • Protein: 11% Min
  • Fat: 6.5% Min
  • Fiber: 0.75% Max
  • Life Stage: All Life Stages
  • Type: Wet/Canned
  • Made In: United States

Guaranteed Analysis

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Crude Protein: 11%
Crude Fat: 6.5%
Crude Fiber: 0.75%
Moisture: 78%

Dry Matter Basis

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Protein: 50%
Fat: 29.55%
Fiber: 3.41%
Carbs: 17.05%
Pros
  • Rich in highly-digestible protein
  • Contains menhaden fish oil as a source of DHA
  • Low carbohydrate content
Cons
  • Contains some plant ingredients
  • All lifestage foods are higher in calories and may lead to significant weight gain in middle aged to older cats
As a large breed, Ragdoll cats don’t mature as quickly as some other cats. Their calorie needs may remain elevated as they continue to grow during the first few years of life.

Therefore, your cat might want to stay on a high-calorie, protein-rich, and nutrient-dense food until he’s around four years old.

This food from Nulo meets AAFCO guidelines for both adults and kittens. It contains a mix of turkey, chicken, turkey liver, and tuna. Menhaden fish oil serves as a source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are vital for kittens and beneficial for Ragdolls of all ages.

With plenty of protein, moderate fat levels, and minimal carbohydrate content, this food delivers everything your Ragdoll needs at any stage of life.
Best For Seniors
5.

Feline Natural Chicken & Venison Feast Grain-Free Canned Cat Food

Product Info

  • Protein: 9.0% Min
  • Fat: 5.0% Min
  • Fiber: 0.2% Max
  • Life Stage: Adult
  • Type: Wet/Canned
  • Made In: New Zealand

Guaranteed Analysis

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Crude Protein: 9%
Crude Fat: 5%
Crude Fiber: 0.2%
Moisture: 82.5%

Dry Matter Basis

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Protein: 51.43%
Fat: 28.57%
Fiber: 1.14%
Carbs: 18.86%
Pros
  • Contains anti-inflammatory omega-3s for senior cats
  • Rich in muscle meat, organs, and blood
  • Low in carbohydrates
Cons
  • Expensive
As your Ragdoll enters her senior years, plenty of highly-digestible protein will help to support lean muscle mass and omega-3 fatty acids will ease achy joints. That’s why I’ve chosen Feline Natural’s New Zealand Chicken & Venison Feast as the best cat food for senior Ragdolls.

It’s rich in protein and animal-sourced nutrients from chicken, chicken heart, venison kidney, liver, and blood. New Zealand green mussel adds an array of omega-3 fatty acids, which promote healthy skin and coat while reducing inflammation and potentially supporting joint health.
Best For Weight Loss
6.

Tiki Cat After Dark Chicken & Quail Canned Cat Food

Product Info

  • Protein: 12% Min
  • Fat: 2.4% Min
  • Fiber: 0.7% Max
  • Life Stage: Adult
  • Type: Wet/Canned
  • Made In: Thailand

Guaranteed Analysis

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Crude Protein: 12%
Crude Fat: 2.4%
Crude Fiber: 0.7%
Moisture: 82%
Ash: 1.7%

Dry Matter Basis

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Protein: 66.67%
Fat: 13.33%
Fiber: 3.89%
Carbs: 6.67%
Pros
  • Low fat and calorie content are ideal for overweight Ragdolls
  • Low carbohydrate content
  • Features salmon oil, a nourishing ingredient with anti-inflammatory benefits
Cons
  • Expensive
Like all Tiki Cat foods, this canned product is low in fat and emphasizes muscle meat and broth. It’s a low-calorie, highly-satiating food that’s ideal for cats who don’t want to cut back on their portion sizes but need to drop a few ounces.

The food contains a variety of nourishing animal-sourced ingredients, including chicken, chicken liver, gizzard, and heart, along with quail egg as another source of protein. And no, this quail egg isn’t mixed in with everything else—each can contains half of a whole egg, sitting in the broth like it’s a bowl of ramen.

Tuna oil serves as a source of omega-3s for skin and coat health.

Overall, this is a meat-rich, low-carbohydrate food that is ideal for Ragdolls who need to lose weight. Its low fat content, however, may make it a less-than-ideal option for long-term feeding.
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