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.
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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
1. Hound & Gatos 98% Chicken & Liver Grain-Free Canned Cat Food |
Best For Kittens
4. Nulo Freestyle Turkey & Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Canned Cat & Kitten Food |
Best For Seniors
5. Feline Natural Chicken & Venison Feast Grain-Free Canned Cat Food |
Best For Weight Loss
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
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
Dry Matter Basis
- 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
- An expensive food
- Some cats don’t like the taste or texture of Hound & Gatos cat food
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.
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
Dry Matter Basis
- 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
- 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
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.
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
Dry Matter Basis
- 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
- Only available by subscription, must create an account
- Some cats just don’t like the texture of freeze-dried food
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.
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
Dry Matter Basis
- Rich in highly-digestible protein
- Contains menhaden fish oil as a source of DHA
- Low carbohydrate content
- Contains some plant ingredients
- All lifestage foods are higher in calories and may lead to significant weight gain in middle aged to older cats
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.
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
Dry Matter Basis
- Contains anti-inflammatory omega-3s for senior cats
- Rich in muscle meat, organs, and blood
- Low in carbohydrates
- Expensive
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.
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
Dry Matter Basis
- Low fat and calorie content are ideal for overweight Ragdolls
- Low carbohydrate content
- Features salmon oil, a nourishing ingredient with anti-inflammatory benefits
- Expensive
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.
