What is the Best Ragdoll Cat Food: 5 Reasons Raw is Right
A rotation of three or more raw proteins is the most humane diet you can feed your kitten or cat. The best ragdoll cat food cannot be bought in a bag on the shelf. Just as you wouldn’t rely on boxed cereal every day as your sole breakfast entree, neither would your ragdoll.
Read on for five life-altering reasons your ragdoll should eat raw food exclusively. Plus a bonus reason that benefits YOU, the ragdoll cat owner.
Trust me, your whole house will thank you!
Hang on! Don’t Run Off.
We know raw feeding is a lifestyle most pet owners are not accustomed to, so we will also help you through the transition to cooked food if you must. But first, as a breeder and feline friend, it’s my job to inspire you to aim for the best ragdoll cat food diet.
What if I told you that the best food for a Ragdoll Cat actually costs less than kibble & canned food?
What if you never had to smell a recently used litter box?
Are these extravagant promises? I think not!
Why is a raw food diet the best ragdoll cat food?
Most reasons center around feline health. Cats have always eaten fresh-caught prey. Only after the domestication of cats during the Industrial Revolution did we begin to buy bags of processed food.
After reading this, you will understand why the best ragdoll cat food is raw meat.
1. Food Sensitivity Problems
Bagged kibble and canned foods contain ingredients cats don’t need, like carrots or rosemary extract. This sudden introduction to so many ingredients and chemicals can upset the tummy and cause GI distress. Vets will try to diagnose without success. It is quite challenging to narrow down what item in a bag of food is the problematic element.
A raw diet includes muscle meat, organ meat, bones, eggs, and a dash of omega-3 fatty acids from select kinds of seafood. No vegetables, fruits, grains, or additives for texture, preservation, or flavor enhancers to lure the kitty to the plate. No tummy aches, icky trips to the litter box, and no bum scooting.
Each protein source served is based on its nutritional content. For example, boneless thighs have more fat and taurine than the chicken breast. And we wouldn’t use pork kidneys because the minerals are not bioavailable to the cat. What would be the point in serving food if we know our ragdoll can’t take absorb and use the nutrients?
By Adoption Day, your ragdoll kitten will have been served a rotational raw diet. We will notify you of any protein sensitivities.
2. Easy Peasy Digestion
The best ragdoll cat food is one with limited ingredients–stuff your cat needs. In the long run, you can count on fewer digestion issues, ostensibly prolonging your ragdoll’s organ life. Raw diet is easy on the liver, the kidneys, and ideal for a healthy metabolism.
If raw meat is served at a cool or room temperature, eating and eliminating (litter box biz) are accomplished with little mess. Fewer dingleberries and pasty poops.
TIP: If served too cold or partially frozen, the kitty might reject it after the fact (vomit).
Since there are no unnecessary ingredients, the cat’s body is not overworked. The liver and kidneys just don’t have too much to do.
3. Healthy Teeth & Gums
Do you know that gummy feeling you have after eating corn chips or rice krispie treats? Your ragdoll cat can relate. After she has gnawed at rice, corn, and brewers yeast–ingredients typically found in veterinarian-recommended dry kibble she could use a good cleaning. Still, she doesn’t have access to dental floss and a toothbrush. So she waits until the next annual exam at the vet for a warning about gingivitis. Let’s be honest: how many of us will actually use a cat toothbrush to clean our ragdoll’s teeth with any regularity?
If we don’t feed oily, crunchy rocks, the molars don’t suffer from “leftovers” lodged between and around the teeth. The theory that kibble helps keep teeth clean is not scientifically supported.
Chewing on raw bones is a benefit to your ragdoll’s teeth. Never feed cooked bones; they can splinter and wreak havoc in the digestive tract.
4. Healthy Urinary Tract
Your ragdoll has its evolutionary roots in eating whole prey. This means he “eats his water.” He is not evolutionarily designed to eat, and then drink. It’s a one-stop shop for the carnivore.
Veterinary Hospitals will tell you that one of the most common reasons for an urgent care office visit is urinary elimination problems. Peeing outside the box, peeing too often, not peeing enough, chrystals, cystitis, etc. Urinary Tract Infections and other urinary issues are frequent and vary in type. Most pee problems can be traced back to hydration, or lack of it.
Unlike dogs, a cat’s tongue is not shaped to lap water. They have learned, thankfully. Many ragdolls who drink from the fountain do so in a rather ungraceful way. They can make a mess. (Mrs. Bennett is the worst.)
Cats instinctively avoid still water, and because their water typically comes from the prey they catch and eat, they are generally not drawn to water, except on a few hilarious occasions you see on TikTok.
The best ragdoll cat food is a wet one. We don’t mean canned wet foods because most brands are overcooked, nutrient-reduced, oily vats of mystery meat biproducts. If offered, please make sure to choose a limited-ingredient canned food.
“Limited Ingredient” is not regulated by the FDA (big deal). The term generally means food that is limited to one protein, one carbohydrate (still, I ask–why?), and basic supplements (because the food was cooked to the point of nutrition loss).
As I will say repeatedly, if you feed dry cat food, your cat needs a water fountain or this water fountain. The raw eaters here rarely drink from the fountain, but we do keep the fountains clean and filled just in case.
5. Avoiding Feline Obesity & Managing Healthy Weight.
The best ragdoll cat food is one that provides energy but doesn’t weigh the princess down.
After adoption, the most frequently asked question I answer–and this often happens around 8 months of age– “Is my ragdoll overweight?” Probably not, at 8 months. The ragdoll breed is a large-boned cat with the muscles to go with it. He should have a long rectangular body and a big belly (primordial sac).
But if you’ve been feeding your cat kibble, he’s probably getting unnecessary carbohydrates. Carbs self-store in the body as fat in case of a scrimpy future where energy is hard to find. As he ages and gains, obesity and heart disease can develop.
Remember the “flavor enhancers” above? The smell of fat-coated kibble lures your ragdoll to the bowl like a 50% off sale sign beacons me into a bookstore. This tasty coating acts like a treat, leading to overeating. And what happens when any creature overeats carbohydrates? Yup, decreased energy.
A cat fed a raw diet with well-sourced ingredients eliminates binge eating. Empty carbs don’t sit around making for a sluggish cat.
Note: Ready the toys because your raw-fed ragdoll cat loves to play. He pounces, plunges, and performs his best stunts in the face of a string wand or a springy toy. He has energy and because ragdolls have heavy boning & strong musculature, they enjoy the height of a jump. Ragdolls, like many cats, have evolved to catch prey. Play time should correspond to that natural behavior.
Litter Box Odor Gone!
Seriously. If you don’t feed your ragdoll a raw diet for health reasons, do it for your home’s designated litter box scooper and residents’ noses.
Raw-fed ragdolls have cleaner, less smelly litter boxes. Yup. I said what I said. Back when we fed kibble and canned food, the smell of the food lured kitties to the plate. It also offended my nostrils once it had been digested and deposited in the box.
Raw food is nearly odorless to people. So, the output is fairly odorless, too. And the fecal material is far less frequent because the food consumed is actually used.
Despite having several cats in our home, most visitors report they do not smell litter boxes. We scoop boxes twice daily and with an average of 10 cats in a space, we only collect about 4 #2 waste jobs.
Litter Box cleaning and sanitation is easier too, because the poops are firm, less frequent, and easy to scoop. Level 2 on the Bristol Poop Chart!
What about parasites?
Since we have begun feeding raw, every fecal sample returns negative for parasites. None of our cats and kittens are symptomatic for parasites or infection. All stools are solid. If the poop isn’t right, we know a kitten is suffering from a food allergy, or she needs a vet exam to diagnose for other digestive or intestinal problems.
Where Can I Buy The Best Ragdoll Cat Food?
Sourcing raw food can be intimidating. Should I make it myself? Or buy it? And from where? How do I know it’s safe? How do I know what’s a good brand? Below are two companies I have used and feel comfortable recommending. Many others are vying for your business but not having experience, I am cautious to recommend them. Look for raw meat that is bright in color. That’s a good sign that the quality of the protein does not suffer from a lack of nutrients.
Darwins Natural Pet Products
Darwins receives my vote for the most complete, no-nonsense raw pet food delivered to your door. A species-specific, balanced recipe can be found at the Seattle-based company. The company even provides a kidney support recipe, Intelligent Design, for older cats who may have been diagnosed with kidney conditions.
Darwins is nutritionally complete. Ratios of bone to meat and fat are correct. They’ve taken the guesswork out of supplementing. There is no need to add eggs, salmon oil, or taurine supplements. Just thaw and serve 4-6 oz per day to your cat. The amount will vary depending on age and activity level. No kibble is necessary with this diet. Easy Peasy.
It’s the most spendy option available. $10-14 per pound. An introductory offer is available to incentivize this lifestyle choice.
Darwin’s enjoys the endorsement of Two Crazy Cat Ladies.
VIVA Raw
VIVA Raw boasts two options for pet owners. One product is complete, containing the same nutritional elements as the spendy Darwins’, but the price point starts at $6.75/lb. Prices increase depending on the protein source.
The complete version, CHICKEN FOR CATS, includes Chilean Mussels, Fish Oil, Organic Egg Yolk, Taurine, Cod Liver Oil, Organic Icelandic Kelp, Nutritional Yeast, Vitamin E (Tocopherols), Oyster Meat, Manganese Proteinate.
The second option is called PURE CHICKEN. It excludes the supplements. For about $1 less, you can purchase just the meat in the feline-specific ratios of muscle meat, bone, and organs–no supplements* that your kitty needs. You would need to add these yourself.
VIVA recognizes some owners are willing to DIY the necessary omega-3 fatty acids like sardines, small fish oil or mussels, eggs, etc to arrive at roughly the same product as their feline-specific recipe, “Chicke for Cats.” Making your own cat food takes a little research, but you can learn. Consider using a Completer. The supplements in a Completer contain the vitamins and minerals from eggs, bones, organ meats, and fish. Follow the package directions, adding muscle meat you bought from your local butcher or grocery store.
VIVA offers a flat shipping fee when you order $250 worth. That’s about 28-35 pounds of chicken or turkey. Rabbit, Beef, and Duck grinds are more spendy, accounting for the variation in product weight. The best ragdoll cat food will be rotational, so offer your cat a rotation of at least three types of proteins throughout the week. VIVA states that feeding their product will cost about $2.50 daily for a 10-lb cat. Most ragdolls reach 12-18 lbs so I wouldn’t count on that figure.
VIVA is super customer-friendly! They have been known to make changes to shipments right before shipping. They also offer a flat shipping rate when you order a certain quantity. I enjoy their informative emails. Short and sweet, these little inbox nuggets are bite-sized & easily digestible. And they also enjoy the endorsement of Two Crazy Cat Ladies.
Check out this guide to the best ragdoll cat food for your Masterpiece.
Can I Feed Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food to My Ragdoll?
Why, yes you can! I’m glad you asked.
A freeze-dried raw diet counts as the best ragdoll cat food for many reasons! It is a shelf-stable option for those on the go. Serious vegetarians appreciate it for personal reasons. Freeze-dried raw gets a little flack from the food snobs because it is slightly heated in the preserving process and some brands are a little bone-heavy, say some critics. But in the end, freeze-dried raw is still a huge step up from cooked food.
When we travel to cat shows, we need an alternative to fresh or frozen meat. These are our go-to brands:
The loudest complaint I hear about freeze-dried raw food is the cost. I have never relied on freeze-dried raw enough to do the math. The weight will vary depending on how much water is added to the dried nuggets or patties. Each brand is different, so you’d need to experiment to determine how much your heavy-boned cat requires.
Can I Feed My Ragdoll Treats?
Treats are super important in the initial training stages. But most treats are a bite-sized mystery with a long ingredient list. So stick to a freeze-dried option. Vital Essentials is my go-to for REAL MINNOWS! Yup, we feed our ragdolls actual freeze-dried minnows. Read the packaging of any product you plan to purchase, but with Vital Essentials, the label will read: “minnows” period. These are also useful as entree toppers: crumble them over a less desirable protein source. This is how I often convince picky eaters to eat raw duck.
As with any raw food handling, make sure you seal the bag up tightly, store for 30 days max, and please wash your hands.
Nail-biting with raw fishy hands is not recommended.
Can I make raw food for my ragdoll cat?
Indeed, you can!
You can make your own best ragdoll cat food! Resources abound on the internet & Wright’s book on raw feeding will get you started with some basic recipes
You might experiment with recipes and decide it’s time-consuming and difficult to source organ meats. The most challenging part for us has been the bone to meat ratios. Plus, we grow tired of grinding meat with bones. The process is long and requires a spendy Meat Grinder.
Instead, consider a meal completer: EZ Complete. It is a popular one among many raw snooty foodies. It is a little spendy up front, but it beats grinding cases of chicken wings and looking high & low for hearts, liver, and other organ meats. This is an excellent solution if you have only one or two cats.
How much does it cost to DIY the Best Ragdoll Cat Food?
An average ragdoll eats 5-6 ounces (oz) of meat per day. The large bag makes 24 pounds (384 oz). That works out to 64 days of food. The larger package is $59.95 + shipping to your location (for me it’s $8.50) plus tax. Approximately USD 73.00.
If the EZ completer is $73 and it makes 384 oz, then the price/oz is a mere $0.19, or $3.04/lb. Muscle meat can be purchased anywhere from $2 – $4 per pound ($0.13-0.25/oz).
So, muscle meat at $3/lb + $3.04/lb EZ Completer is roughly $6 per pound. Since your ragdoll eats approximately 5 oz/day, that $6 feeds him for over 3 days.
Feeding your ragdoll the most nutritionally balanced diet for $2 daily sounds like a deal to me!
Consider that a single can of cat food exceeds $2. And you still need to offer a kibble that runs $4 to $7 per lb (an adult will eat around 1 cup of kibble, not a pound).
Let’s compare the cost of a traditional, diet with EZ Completer DIY Raw Diet.
Purina ProPlan Kibble is about $0.80/cup
Two Cans of Limited Ingredient Food is about $2.59 each. (Often, higher.)
Feeding the best ragdoll cat food (raw meat diet with EZ Completer) costs $2.00 per day.
To feed your Masterpiece Ragdoll kibble & canned processed food, the daily cost is $5.98 + tax.
| Diet Type | Daily Cost |
|---|---|
| VIVA Raw for Cats Rotating proteins | $2.50 – $5 per day |
| Commercial Dry Food + Canned Wet Diet (Purina) | $6 – $8 per day |
| Raw Meat Diet using EZ Completer | $2 – $3 per day |
Mind Blown.
Best Ragdoll Cat Food is the Kind that Prolongs His Life.
Remember that your cat has little say in what he or she is fed. You are his advocate and I’m guessing you want your ragdoll to live long and prosper. The benefits of a raw food diet include healthier skin and a shiny coat of fur. You will see stronger immunity and everyone will benefit from a cleaner home.
It stands to reason that whole foods equal whole health. When we eat junk, we feel it physically. Why would our cat be any different?
If you must transition to a dry diet, remember that returning to raw is hard. Kitty has grown dependent on a product with additives that lure her in. Eventually she will discover the best ragdoll cat food is raw meat. The return to raw is possible, but it is challenging.
