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7 Best Cat Food for Ragdoll Cats

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comments-icon Medically reviewed by  JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
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A Ragdoll cat eating cat food

The Ragdoll is a large breed cat with bright blue eyes, pointed coloration, and a laid-back attitude. Not only are these cats easy-going, but they are also remarkably intelligent. They make for an all-around great family pet, including households with children and other pets.

Ragdolls aim to please and they have been known to pick up tricks quickly – with the right motivation, of course. They make fast friends with everyone they meet but reserve a special degree of affection for their own family.

While all cats have the same basic nutritional requirements, Ragdolls are bigger than the average housecat, so they need more calories. They also tend to be kept as indoor cats, which has certain implications in terms of balanced nutrition.

Why Should You Trust Us?

We have reviewed  230 of the world’s most popular and hundreds of formulas. We spent hours researching, contacting pet food companies, and analyzing labels. With the help of our cats, we also got hands-on experience with a few foods.

Between reviewing specific brands and researching feline nutrition, we’ve learned which brands and products are worth buying and putting in your cat’s bowl.

Based on that experience, we’ve chosen the products described below as the best cat food you can buy for Ragdoll cats.

At a Glance: Best Cat Food for Ragdoll Cats To Buy

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Want a quick look at the products reviewed in this article? In the comparison table below, we’ve highlighted some of the most important features of each product. You’ll find more detailed information about each product later in the article.

Overall Best
10
Picked by 31 people today!

Smalls Smooth Fish Fresh Cat Food

  • Fish-based formula rich in protein
  • Rich in omega-3s from cod liver oil
  • Very low carb content
GET 35% OFF ENTER "CATS35" TO GET 35% OFF YOUR FIRST ORDER
Best Ethically Sourced
9.7
Picked by 31 people today!

Open Farm Wild-Caught Salmon Dry Food

  • Wild Pacific salmon as the first ingredient
  • Supplemented with two concentrated sources of animal protein
  • Herring and salmon oils for omega fatty acids
Get 20% Off ENTER "CATS20" TO GET 20% OFF YOUR FIRST AUTO-SHIP ORDER
Budget Pick
9.5
Picked by 25 people today!

Wellness Complete Health Chicken Entrée Canned Food

  • Plenty of high-quality animal-based protein
  • Comes in 12.5-ounce cans for bulk buyers
  • No artificial additives or fillers
Best Canned
9.4
Picked by 21 people today!

Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Chicken Frick ‘A Zee Chicken Recipe Au Jus Grain-Free Canned Cat Food

  • Made with chicken as a single source of protein
  • Shredded texture may appeal to picky cats
  • High in protein and very low in carbohydrate
Best Dehydrated
9.3
Picked by 18 people today!

The Honest Kitchen Grace Grain-Free Turkey Cat Food

  • 70% of protein from real turkey
  • Made from human-grade ingredients
  • Minimally processed, no artificial additives
Best Freeze-Dried
9.2
Picked by 31 people today!

Stella & Chewy’s Absolutely Rabbit Dinner Morsels

  • Novel source of protein (rabbit)
  • Highly digestible natural ingredients
  • Rich in protein and probiotics
Best For Sensitive Stomach
9.0
Picked by 31 people today!

Hound & Gatos 98% Trout and Duck Liver Canned Cat Food

  • Novel source of protein (trout and duck)
  • Rich in protein and moisture
  • Highly digestible and limited list of ingredients

What Should You Know About Your Ragdoll’s Dietary Requirements?

First and foremost, remember that cats are obligate carnivores.

The term obligate carnivore refers to the cat’s biological requirement for a meat-based diet. A diet made primarily of animal protein is not just a preference for your cat – it’s a necessity.

But what does a biologically appropriate diet for obligate carnivores look like?

The ideal diet for Ragdoll cats features real animal protein as the first ingredient.

Real animal protein should always be the first ingredient in your cat’s diet. Check the ingredients list; if you see anything that isn’t meat, poultry, or fish listed first, move on.

As obligate carnivores, cats have a limited ability to digest plant products. They lack a specific digestive enzyme, called salivary amylase, which helps omnivores and herbivores break down carbohydrates. In other words, your cat isn’t designed to eat plant foods and won’t be healthy on a carbohydrate-heavy diet.

Your cat’s ideal diet contains about 52% protein, 46% fat, and no more than 2% carbohydrates.

Second, a biologically appropriate diet for Ragdoll cats contains moderate levels of healthy, animal-based fat.

Protein provides the building blocks for healthy tissue and strong muscle in your Ragdoll. However, fat is the most concentrated source of energy available. As is true for protein, the best fat comes from animal-based sources. Look for ingredients like chicken fat or salmon oil within the top 10 ingredients.

Plant-based fats like sunflower oil and flaxseed oil can be beneficial for cats, but animal sources are preferred. These fats are often included as natural sources of omega-6 fatty acids to help balance out the omega-3s your cat gets from ingredients like fatty fish.

The best diet for Ragdoll cats is low in carbohydrates – ideally under 2%.

After ensuring your Ragdoll’s diet is rich in animal protein and healthy animal-based fats, you should check the carbohydrate content. In the wild, your cat’s diet would contain less than 2% carbohydrate, but commercial diets are much higher in carbs.

We consider a commercial diet to be sufficiently low in carbohydrates if it comes in under 10%.

To calculate the estimated carbohydrate content of a cat food formula, add up the guaranteed analysis values for crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, moisture, and ash. If the ash level isn’t listed, you can estimate 7.5% for dry food and 3.5% for wet food to get a rough idea. Subtract the sum from 100 to get the estimated carb content of the recipe.

Generally speaking, canned cat food, when compared with dry cat food, is higher in protein and lower in carbohydrate.

Finally, a healthy diet for Ragdoll cats contains essential vitamins and minerals for balanced nutrition.

Most commercial cat foods contain synthetic vitamins and minerals to meet the basic nutritional requirements for cats, as established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). If a product carries an AAFCO statement of nutritional adequacy, you know it will meet your cat’s minimum requirements for nutrition.

What the label doesn’t tell you, however, is where those nutrients come from.

You want to feed your cat a high-quality diet made up of primarily whole-food ingredients. The more synthetic supplements in the food, the more likely it is that the main ingredients are low in nutritional value or that their nutrition has been compromised by high heat processing.

The shorter the list of ingredients the better, especially if your cat has food allergies. Fortunately, Ragdolls are no more prone to food allergies than any other breed.

How Much Should You Feed Your Ragdoll?

Once you’ve chosen a high-quality cat food for your Ragdoll, the next question is how much do you feed him? Ragdolls are a large breed, weighing 10 to 20 pounds at maturity, so they may require more calories than other cats.

Because your Ragdoll requires more calories than average, it’s even more important to choose a high-quality cat food.

A high-quality cat food made with whole-food ingredients will be more nutrient-dense than a poor-quality diet. In other words, your cat gets the nutrients he needs in a smaller portion size. With a breed that already eats more than the average cat, this is important.

When shopping for cat food, check the feeding recommendations for your cat’s body weight. If the recommended portion seems high, it could be because the nutritional integrity of the food is low.

Do You Need a Breed-Specific Diet?

Several pet food manufacturers like Purina offer breed-specific diets for cats like the Ragdoll. Royal Canin offers a Ragdoll-specific formula in both dry food and wet food.

What you have to ask yourself is whether these diets are any different from a typical cat food and, if so, are they any better for your cat?

The truth is all cats have the same basic nutritional requirements – there are no significant variations by breed. The only differences worth considering are calorie needs based on size and minor dietary changes based on certain health problems to which the breed may be prone.

What To Avoid in Your Ragdoll’s Diet?

The best option for your Ragdoll is a high-quality cat food made with whole food ingredients including real animal protein, healthy animal-based fats, and minimal carbohydrates.

Here’s a list of things to avoid in your cat’s diet:

  • Artificial additives like colors, flavors, and preservatives
  • Non-nutritive fillers like corn, wheat, and soy
  • Unnamed by-products (like animal digest, poultry by-product meal, etc.)
  • High concentrations of carbohydrates
  • Legumes and pulses (like peas, beans, or chickpeas)

You may also want to avoid a strictly kibble or dry cat food diet for your Ragdoll.

Moisture is an essential component of a balanced diet for any cat, but Ragdolls tend to be kept as indoor cats, which means the majority of their moisture intake comes from their food (rather than wild prey).

To keep your cat hydrated, consider feeding fresh or canned food. You can also add moisture to a dry food diet by soaking it in water or broth.

Top Picks for Best Canned, Soft & Wet Cat Food for Ragdoll Cats

#1 Overall Best: Smalls Smooth Fish Fresh Cat Food

Smalls Fresh Smooth Fish

  • Made In: United States
  • Guaranteed Protein: 15% Min
  • Age Range: All Life Stages
  • Calories Per Ounce: 36
  • Typical Cost Per Day: $4.00 per day

Smalls human-grade fresh cat food is a premium option for cats. The food is gently cooked and immediately frozen to preserve its freshness and nutritional value. When you start a subscription, you’ll receive a 10-pack sampler which rolls over into a monthly delivery plan. You can customize your Ragdoll’s plan by choosing from recipes made with four proteins (chicken, turkey, beef, or fish) in multiple textures.

This Smalls Fresh Smooth Fish formula features salmon as the primary ingredient, supplemented with additional protein from cod. While canola oil is the main source of added fat, the food also contains cod liver oil, a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids. In addition to offering anti-inflammatory benefits, omega-3s help support healthy skin and coat in cats like your Ragdoll.

Overall, this recipe offers plenty of animal-sourced protein and healthy fats with limited carbohydrate content. It’s also a high-moisture recipe which is good for your cat’s hydration.

Ingredients

Salmon, Cod, Green Beans, Pumpkin, Dried Yeast, Canola Oil, Tricalcium Phosphate, Cod Liver Oil, Choline Chloride, Dried Parsley, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Magnesium Proteinate, Taurine, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Proteinate, Vitamin A Supplement, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin.

Ingredients We Liked: Salmon, Cod, Cod Liver Oil

Ingredients We Didn’t Like: None

Guaranteed Analysis

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Crude Protein: 15%
Crude Fat: 5%
Crude Fiber: 1.5%
Moisture: 76%

Dry Matter Basis

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Protein: 62.5%
Fat: 20.83%
Fiber: 6.25%
Carbs: 10.42%

Caloric Weight Basis

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Protein: 50.6%
Fat: 40.96%
Carbs: 8.43%

Pros

  • Fish-based formula rich in protein
  • Rich in omega-3s from cod liver oil
  • Very low carb content
  • Conveniently shipped to your door

Cons

  • Only available as a subscription plan
  • No phone support (text and email only)

#2 Best Ethically Sourced: Open Farm Wild-Caught Salmon Dry Food

Wild-Caught Salmon Dry Cat Food

The best cat food for Ragdoll cats is rich in species-appropriate nutrition from high-quality, traceable sources. All of Open Farm’s ingredients are ethically sourced.

This salmon recipe dry cat food features wild Pacific salmon as the first ingredient, followed by ocean whitefish meal and ocean herring meal. While it may not be a single-source protein recipe, it is rich in species-appropriate animal-based protein and healthy fats.

In addition to being loaded with animal-based protein, this Open Farm formula contains herring oil and salmon oil as natural sources for omega fatty acids, though it’s worth noting that the first source of added fat is plant-based (coconut oil).

Though this recipe is loaded with animal protein and healthy fats, it does contain a significant number of plant-based ingredients. Also, the overall carbohydrate content is pretty high, at just over 34%.

We typically prefer to avoid legumes and pulses like lentils and chickpeas in cat food – replacing these ingredients with animal-based ingredients would improve the species-appropriateness of this formula.

Ingredients

Wild Pacific Salmon, Ocean Whitefish Meal, Ocean Herring Meal, Garbanzo Beans (Chickpeas), Red Lentils, Coconut Oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Herring Oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Pumpkin, Natural Flavor, Green Lentils, Salmon Oil, Non-GMO Cranberries, Chicory Root, Apples, Dandelion Greens, Choline Chloride, Salt, Turmeric, Dried Yucca Schidigera Extract, Mixed Tocopherols (a natural preservative), Calcium Carbonate, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin A Acetate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Taurine, Rosemary Extract

Guaranteed Analysis

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Crude Protein: 41%
Crude Fat: 20%
Crude Fiber: 3%
Moisture: 8%
Ash: 8%

Dry Matter Basis

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Protein: 44.57%
Fat: 21.74%
Fiber: 3.26%
Carbs: 21.74%

Caloric Weight Basis

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Protein: 37.42%
Fat: 44.33%
Carbs: 18.25%

What We Liked:

  • Wild Pacific salmon as the first ingredient
  • Supplemented with two concentrated sources of animal protein
  • Herring and salmon oils for omega fatty acids
  • No animal by-products or vaguely named ingredients

What We Didn’t Like:

  • Contains a significant number of plant-based ingredients
  • Dry matter carbohydrate content is fairly high, at over 34%
  • Doesn’t contain the moisture your cat needs

#3 Budget Pick: Wellness Complete Health Chicken Entrée Canned Food

Wellness Complete Health Pate Chicken Entree Grain-Free Canned Cat Food

This popular recipe is a straightforward, meat-based canned cat food that incorporates high-quality chicken, chicken liver, and turkey. According to customer reviews, the pate has a texture “like ground meat” that cats seem to enjoy.

In addition to carnivore-appropriate meat ingredients, the canned food contains fruits and vegetables like carrots and cranberries, plus cassia gum, guar gum, and xanthan gum as thickeners.

What makes this Wellness Complete Health canned food a great option for Ragdoll cats, other than the high nutritional value, is that it comes in large 12.5-ounce cans. Because Ragdoll cats eat more than the average housecat, many cat owners value products that can be bought in bulk.

Altogether, the food is high in protein from species-appropriate animal sources, moderate in fat, and low in carbohydrates. The food is 34 calories per ounce (101 calories in each 3 oz can).

Ingredients

Chicken, Chicken Liver, Turkey, Chicken Broth, Carrots, Natural Flavor, Guar Gum, Cranberries, Ground Flaxseed, Potassium Chloride, Taurine, Salt, Cassia Gum, Xanthan Gum, Choline Chloride, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Beta Carotene, Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Potassium Iodide, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid.

Guaranteed Analysis

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Crude Protein: 10.5%
Crude Fat: 7%
Crude Fiber: 1%
Moisture: 78%

Dry Matter Basis

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Protein: 47.73%
Fat: 31.82%
Fiber: 4.55%
Carbs: 15.91%

Caloric Weight Basis

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Protein: 33.87%
Fat: 54.84%
Carbs: 11.29%

Pros

  • Plenty of high-quality animal-based protein
  • Comes in 12.5-ounce cans for bulk buyers
  • No artificial additives or fillers

Cons

  • Contains some thickeners (cassia gum, xanthan gum, guar gum)

#4 Best Canned: Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Chicken Frick ‘A Zee Chicken Recipe Au Jus Grain-Free Canned Cat Food

Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Chicken Frick 'A Zee Aus Jus

With Weruva canned cat food, you always get high protein and moisture content and minimal carbohydrate content. This recipe features fresh chicken as the sole source of animal protein with sunflower seed oil and fish oil as added fats.

Unlike many canned cat foods, Weruva doesn’t use carrageenan which has been identified as a potential carcinogen. This recipe does, however, contain several gum thickeners which seem to cause loose stools in some cats.

Overall, this is a high-protein, low-fat canned food with minimal carbohydrate content. These features combined with its high moisture content makes the food a great choice for ragdoll cats.

Ingredients

Chicken, Chicken Broth, Sunflower Seed Oil, Locust Bean Gum, Calcium Lactate, Guar Gum, Xanthan Gum, Tricalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Fish Oil, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Zinc Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Nicotinic Acid (Vitamin B3), Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Copper Sulfate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement.

Guaranteed Analysis

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Crude Protein: 10%
Crude Fat: 2.5%
Crude Fiber: 0.5%
Moisture: 85%

Dry Matter Basis

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Protein: 66.67%
Fat: 16.67%
Fiber: 3.33%
Carbs: 13.33%

Caloric Weight Basis

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Protein: 55.34%
Fat: 33.6%
Carbs: 11.07%

Pros

  • Made with chicken as a single source of protein
  • Shredded texture may appeal to picky cats
  • High in protein and very low in carbohydrate

Cons

  • Fairly expensive, nearly $0.40 per ounce

#5 Best Dehydrated: The Honest Kitchen Grace Grain-Free Turkey Cat Food

Ragdoll cats benefit from a moisture-rich diet. This Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Turkey recipe is a dehydrated cat food, so it shouldn’t be fed as-is. But, once rehydrated, it is a great source of moisture for cats. It is also packed with real animal protein from fresh turkey.

Grace by The Honest Kitchen contains 70% cage-free turkey, making it a nourishing high-quality protein choice for your meat-loving cat. The recipe contains pumpkin, which is a good fiber-containing food often used as a home remedy for hairballs.

This food wasn’t made specifically with indoor cats in mind and is high in calories, so make sure to watch the portion sizes when feeding it to a less-active cat. For most Ragdolls, however, the higher calorie content is beneficial to maintain a healthy weight.

All of the ingredients are minimally processed.

Ingredients

Dehydrated Turkey, Dehydrated Eggs, Dehydrated Pumpkin, Dehydrated Potatoes, Dried Parsley, Dehydrated Kale, Dried Cranberries, Minerals [Tricalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Potassium Iodide, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Sodium Selenite], Taurine, Vitamins [Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), D- Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Vitamin D3 Supplement].

Guaranteed Analysis

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Crude Protein: 38.5%
Crude Fat: 34.5%
Crude Fiber: 2.5%
Moisture: 4.5%

Dry Matter Basis

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Protein: 40.31%
Fat: 36.13%
Fiber: 2.62%
Carbs: 20.94%

Caloric Weight Basis

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Protein: 27.06%
Fat: 58.89%
Carbs: 14.06%

Pros

  • 70% of protein from real turkey
  • Minimally processed, no artificial additives
  • Rich in moisture when rehydrated

Cons

  • Some cats dislike the texture of rehydrated food

#6 Best Freeze-Dried: Stella & Chewy’s Absolutely Rabbit Dinner Morsels

Stella & Chewy's Absolutely Rabbit Dinner Morsels

If you like the idea of feeding your cat raw food but don’t want to deal with the hassle, Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Raw food for cats is a great alternative. It’s available in three different sizes and a number of different recipes, including novel proteins like rabbit.

Freeze-drying destroys disease-causing organisms without altering the nutritional and textural qualities of fresh raw meat, making this Stella and Chewy’s recipe a safe, appealing, and highly-digestible choice for cats.

The morsels are primarily composed of rabbit meat and bones. Because most cats don’t eat rabbit on a regular basis, rabbit is not one of the top allergens and is unlikely to stir up any allergy issues. The food contains probiotics, which can improve overall digestive health. Handling, processing, and storage conditions could kill these microorganisms, however, so it’s unclear how viable they’ll be by the time they reach your cat’s food bowl.

Ingredients

Rabbit With Ground Bone, Rabbit Liver, Olive Oil, Pumpkin Seed, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Phosphate, Choline Chloride, Dried Ediococcus Acidilactici Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Longum Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus Coagulans Fermentation Product, Taurine, Tocopherols (Preservative), Dandelion, Dried Kelp, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Copper Proteinate, Riboflavin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Manganese Proteinate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement.

Guaranteed Analysis

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Crude Protein: 44%
Crude Fat: 30%
Crude Fiber: 5%
Moisture: 5%

Dry Matter Basis

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Protein: 46.32%
Fat: 31.58%
Fiber: 5.26%
Carbs: 16.84%

Caloric Weight Basis

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Protein: 33.12%
Fat: 54.84%
Carbs: 12.04%

Pros

  • Novel source of protein (rabbit)
  • Highly-digestible natural ingredients
  • Rich in protein and probiotics

Cons

  • Requires thawing before feeding
  • Fairly expensive

#7 Best For Sensitive Stomach: Hound & Gatos 98% Trout and Duck Liver Canned Cat Food

Though Ragdoll cats are no more prone to food allergies than other brands, some cats do develop sensitive stomachs. In this case, it’s important to find a high-quality diet made with simple natural ingredients that are easy to digest.

Hound and Gatos 98% Trout and Duck Liver is a great option for a number of reasons. Not only is it packed with protein and moisture, but it is completely free from plant protein and made with a limited list of ingredients. In fact, it doesn’t contain any added carbohydrate ingredients.

This canned food formula is a great choice if you’re looking for a high-protein diet that is also rich in calories and nutrition. It also doesn’t hurt that it contains a novel source of protein. It could be just what your Ragdoll needs.

Ingredients

Trout, Fish Broth, Duck Liver, Calcium Carbonate, Agar-Agar, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Salt, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Magnesium Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Calcium Panthothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid.

Guaranteed Analysis

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Crude Protein: 10.5%
Crude Fat: 8%
Crude Fiber: 1%
Moisture: 78%
Ash: 2.5%

Dry Matter Basis

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Protein: 47.73%
Fat: 36.36%
Fiber: 4.55%

Caloric Weight Basis

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Protein: 35.08%
Fat: 64.92%

Pros

  • Novel source of protein (trout and duck)
  • Rich in protein and moisture
  • Highly digestible and limited list of ingredients

Cons

  • Fairly expensive compared to other options

Raw Food for Ragdoll Cats and Ragdoll Kittens

The commercial cat food options above should provide your Ragdoll with the balanced nutrition he needs. But if you’re looking for an even more biologically appropriate diet, you might consider raw food.

Many pet nutrition experts consider a raw food diet the highest quality diet for cats. Why?

Because raw food diets for cats are whole-prey-inspired. This means they are designed to mimic the natural diet of wild cats which includes muscle meat, organs, and raw bone.

Be aware, though, that the Food & Drug Administration and American Veterinary Medical Association advise against raw food diets for pets. This is because raw food diets can contain disease-causing bacteria that can make pets and humans sick.

If you are considering feeding your Ragdoll a raw diet, talk with your veterinarian first to understand the health risks of raw food diets for pets. If you still prefer a raw food diet for your Ragdoll, work with your vet to choose between a commercial raw food diet and a homemade raw food diet.

Commercial diets take the guesswork out of the equation, though they can be pricey. If you choose to make your own raw cat food, be sure to follow a veterinarian-approved recipe to ensure your cat gets the nutrients he needs.

Learn more about homemade and raw cat food in our handy guide.

Also Read:

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Ragdoll cats eat a lot?

While the Ragdoll’s ideal diet is no different from any other cat’s in terms of nutritional needs, this breed does tend to eat a lot more than other cats. Ragdolls weigh 10 to 20 pounds at maturity, so they need more calories than smaller cat breeds. In fact, they may eat 5 to 8 times as much as the average cat.

Do Ragdolls need a special diet?

Not necessarily. Any high-quality commercial cat food made with whole-food ingredients and centered around real animal proteins should be sufficient. That being said, Ragdoll cats tend to be kept as indoor cats so they may be at-risk for hairballs and dehydration due to a lack of moisture in most commercial diets. Consider a fresh, canned, or raw food diet for your Ragdoll.

Is it better to get a male or female Ragdoll?

Many Ragdoll owners say that male cats are sweeter, but there’s no way to quantify this claim. Some say female Ragdolls play a little more aggressively but both sexes form strong bonds with their owners.

Note: The values in our nutrient charts are automatically calculated based on the guaranteed analysis and may not represent typical nutrient values. This may lead to discrepancies between the charts and the values mentioned in the body of the review.
small mallory photo

About Mallory Crusta

Mallory is the Head of Content at Cats.com and an NAVC-certified Pet Nutrition Coach. Having produced and managed multimedia content across several pet-related domains, Mallory is dedicated to ensuring that the information on Cats.com is accurate, clear, and engaging. When she’s not reviewing pet products or editing content, Mallory enjoys skiing, hiking, and trying out new recipes in the kitchen. She has two cats, Wessie and Forest.

9 thoughts on “7 Best Cat Food for Ragdoll Cats”

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  1. Carol Brown

    I just bought a ragdoll kitten I am having a hard time training her to use the litter box to poop in, she uses it to pee, but poops on the floor.? Can you help me to get her to use the litter box?

    Reply
  2. Avatar photoWendy

    Hi Mallory,

    I use the Wellness Complete Health line and feed different flavor options to my kitty. Is there any major difference from one flavor to the next as far quality since it’s from.the same brand? I like to give my cat a variety of flavors from the pate options and she seems to enjoy them. Never had any adverse side effects.

    Reply
    1. small mallory photoMallory Crusta Post author

      Yes, all of the wet recipes in this line follow roughly the same blueprint, and the ingredient quality seems to be comparable across all of these formulations. Thank you!

      Reply
  3. Marilyn Kagan

    I feed my male Ragdoll Purina Fancy Feast beef and poulrty (turkey and chicken. I add a can of very warm water to his bowl and mix it well,
    and he cleans it up. He gets 2 cans a day, and then a portion of Temptees, chicken flavor, because he likes to crunch. Fish is not as nutritious for him, and he loves what I give him. He is now almost 23 and blind. I miss those big blue eyes, but they’re now covered. He has to live in the basement to sniff out his box, or the house would be fair game. He comes up the stairs 3 times a day, twice for his food, and once for his treats.
    He seems happy enough. He curls up near the boiler to be warm. The world is his oyster down there.

    Reply