Last Updated on July 4, 2022 by Amanda P. Brown
The Ragdoll cat is the most loving of all the cat breeds. Also, this is the second most popular cat breed recognized by the governing organization of the cat fancy (GCCF). Their big blue eyes and chubby round faces make them popular to admire.
Although ragdoll cats make excellent home pets, you still need to consider some companionship about ragdoll cats. Dietary habits are one of them.
Ragdolls are larger than the average house cat; therefore, it is clear that they require a nutritional boost. Homemade Raw Cat Food for Ragdoll Cats is the best option to compensate for their deficiencies.
In response to your concern, I explore the most nutritious Homemade Raw Cat Food for Ragdolls Cats!
Can Ragdolls Eat Raw Meat?
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Being that cats are obligate carnivores, it is always a good idea to feed your cat fresh meat from the butcher. Due to the sufficient enzymes in raw meat, your ragdoll cat may easily digest it. As ragdolls are also known to be well-moisturized, raw meat helps keep your cat hydrated.
However, bear in mind basic safety precautions before you serve them raw meat, such as grinding the flesh yourself, giving raw meat in stainless steel bowls rather than plastic bowls, and if you wish to store it, keep the raw meat away from other foods in the freezer with well-wrapped portions.
Homemade Raw Cat Food for Ragdolls Cats
Some raw cat food ideas for ragdolls cats are below.
1. Beef
For your ragdolls, beef is a tasty delicacy that is simple to find, has enough protein, and is readily available. To feed cats, cut fresh, raw meat into bits or strips.
Another excellent option for homemade raw cat food for ragdoll cats is raw ground beef. You can give your cat chunks of the raw beef tongue to boost their jaw exercise.
2. Chicken
- Whole raw chicken
You can cut up whole, uncooked chicken into bite- or cat-sized pieces to feed to ragdolls. The kitten should feed much smaller portions than typical, bite-sized ones when you want to provide it.
Because the bones of little chickens are so soft, ragdoll kittens can easily consume them, making them the perfect choice for a small chicken.
- Chicken Drumsticks
Cats can benefit greatly from the protein in boneless chicken drumsticks. Another option is to feed them drumsticks after crushing them to release the marrow’s odor.
- Chicken Wings and Necks
You can treat your ragdolls to chicken wings and necks as an entire meal. Cats of adulthood can safely consume bone-in chicken wings with the skin still attached. On the other hand, Kittens need to remove their wing skins to feed.
- Chicken Liver
Chicken liver contains minerals, vitamin B and A, protein, etc. You can gradually begin giving your ragdolls chicken liver.
3. Rabbit
If you can easily obtain it, rabbit is the best cat food. It is among the top all-natural cat food options for ragdoll cats. All cats, including ragdolls, have an infatuation with eating bunnies. Cats typically haunt to eat bunnies
4. Lamb Heart
Lamb’s heart is an excellent food since cats need the most taurine. Lamb’s hearts are rich in taurine and low in salt, and they contain vitamins A, B6, C, and B12, as well as copper, iron, manganese, folate, and phosphorus. Lamb heart can feed to cats either raw or cooked. One time each week, or one-sixth of their daily intake, you can feed ragdolls lamb heart.
5. Raw Fish
Although it is not a staple of a cat’s diet, you can occasionally give them raw fish as a treat. Cut the fish into little pieces that the cat can easily swallow.
How Much Raw Food Should I Feed My Ragdoll?
Ragdoll cats of varying ages require varied diets. Here is the ratio:
Raw Food for Adults:
- 3 % of the cat’s entire body weight in pounds is recommended for healthy, underweight, and energetic cats for each day.
- Elderly cats, cats with reduced activity levels, and overweight cats should have 1.5% of their body weight per day.
- To maintain a healthy weight, a cat should gain no more than 2.5% of its current body weight every year for each day.
Raw Food for a Kitten:
- Between 3% and 6% of the kitten’s current body weight in pounds should be given for 8-12 months each day.
- Between 6 and 10 % of a kitten’s entire body weight in pounds is considered acceptable for them between the ages of 4 and 8 months each day.
- 10 to 13 % of the kitten’s current body weight is recommended for ages 2 to 4 months each day.
Why Raw Foods Are Good for Ragdolls Cat?
Your cat needs a raw food diet because all cats are obligate carnivores. To better assist you, I have included some reasons why you should feed your ragdoll cat raw food.
Improve Kidney, and Urinary Health
Cats have enough water from their diet, so they don’t need or want any more. Raw, high-quality meat is the simplest way to give them water to stay dehydrated.
Meat has a lot of water, which helps crystals and stones dissolve, avoid CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease), and clear the kidneys in cats. So your cat can easily avoid kidney problems with a raw diet.
Improve Skin and Coat
Numerous skin conditions affect cats, including feline military dermatitis, intense itching, redness, dull fur, scabs, and acne. Most of these problems can trace back to environmental factors and the pet food they eat. Fortunately, the best cure for these skin issues is raw food.
Moreover, the essential nutrients in raw foods include amino acids, which support the protein functions of skin cells, omega fatty acids, which reduce inflammation, intracellular moisture, which keeps your cat adequately hydrated, and enzymes, which support cellular renewal. Giving your raw cat food will help fight anti-fungal effects and guard against severe allergies.
Again, raw food provides omega-3 and omega-6 necessary fatty acids; these nutrients enhance healthy coats by reducing shedding and hairball radiation.
Promote Dental Health
The best approach to keep the cat’s teeth clean is to let it chew on raw meat and bone. Raw beef includes carbs that form a starchy film that prevents gum disease, promotes plaque formation, and removes tartar.
Infections in the mouth can also be cured by eating raw meat and bones. Your cat’s teeth will get cleaner and less smelly if it consumes raw beef. Meaty bones are supposed to be “nature’s toothbrush” for cats.
Good for Urinary Health
Cats don’t drink as much water as their bodies require, making them vulnerable in their urinary tract. The main cause of cats’ alkaline urine is diet, particularly dry and low-moisture meals.
For your cats’ diet, you should therefore consider dehydration. In this situation, you can feed your cat raw cat food to improve the health of their urinary system because it has high moisture levels (65-70 percent), which naturally treat their urinary system. Wild cats, however, receive more moisture than domestic cats; thus, they don’t have urinary tract issues.
Improve Digestion
Cats have one enzyme system; thus, they are different from dogs and people; hence cats are more sensitive to their digestive system. Cats have difficulty digesting because they cannot break down carbs. Therefore, almost entirely carbohydrate-free diets are preferred by cats.
In addition, your cat’s current food or lack thereof is likely to blame for various gastrointestinal problems, including but not limited to vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, and hairballs. Raw meals are more digestible than any other diet-based food, making them the superior choice for your cat.
How to Prepare Raw Cat Food Safely?
It is vital to remark that feeding raw food to your cat is not always safe. Due to harmful bacteria like E. coli and salmonella in raw food. They can cause life-threatening infections in your cat. All of the potential dangers associated with feeding your raw cat meat are easily avoided by following these steps:
- Before handling raw meat, wear gloves
- Never use or purchase meat from untrustworthy sources
- Use the enclosed area to prepare the food, and sanitize the place when it’s done.
- Rinse and disinfect the feeding equipment with a 1:32 bleach water solution after each usage.
- Avoid feeding near carpeted areas, and pick a spot that can easily clean afterward.
Ragdoll’s Diet-guidance (Amount-Ragdolls Diet Should Make Up of):
- Good quality raw food like-minced beef
- High moisture-you should moisten the dry food before feeding them
- A little 2%-5% of carbs
- 60 % protein
- Unsalted canned fish and steamed white fish- as a healthy treat
- 30% of fat
- Named meats, whole (including organ meats)
For Prey Model Diet- Recommended Ratios
- 5% to 10% organs included half liver- if you feed these ragdolls regularly, then this must equal to one or two grape
- 10% to 15% edible bone
- 80% to 85% of sinew, fat, connective tissue, meat, skin, etc.
Which Foods Should Be Avoided in Ragdoll’s Cat Diet?
- Though some research highly recommends dry foods to ragdolls cats. But, if you solely include dry cat foods on their shopping list, you risk upsetting their nutritional balance. So give them dry foods but don’t depend only on dry foods.
- Avoid feeding tuna to your ragdoll cat. A single bite of tuna may not harm your cat, but it is best to keep tuna away from your cat’s bowl for its high mercury. Especially canned tuna create some serious health issues like; diarrhea and lethargy.
- Ragdolls cats should not eat cheese. Cats cannot digest cheese without necessary enzymes, so cheese harms their digestive system. Cheese also contains a high amount of fat and salt, negatively impacting your little furry friend’s growth.
- Don’t feed too much milk to your ragdolls’ cat. From a young age, we grew up watching Tom and Jerry drink milk in one bowl, so feeding milk to cats is a very familiar thing to us. But do you know milk contains lactose, sugar, and ragdolls produce lactase? For that reason, they cannot digest lactose. That is the main reason drinking so much milk causes stomach upset to your cat, like diarrhea, gas, and bloating.
- Avoid feeding your cat wild bear, pig, or boar; these may transmit pseudorabies. Also, feeding squirrel is harmful to your cat for its leptospirosis transmission.
Why My Ragdoll Cat Doesn’t Eat Much?
Your cat can have potential issues with not eating much. It could be anorexia or sudden appetite increase or decrease. Diabetes, kidney disease, fever, pancreatitis, cat flu, and hyperthyroidism also cause your cat not to eat. If the need persists after 24 hours, a veterinarian visit is needed.
Final Verdict
As a pet parent, having a ragdoll cat has many responsibilities. Due to their lifestyle, ragdolls are sensitive about their food habits. Cat’s diet food is vital in keeping them strong and improving their health. You have to give much effort to making a food list for them and giving them proper nutrition.
For your consideration, I put together a list of the best homemade raw cat food for ragdoll cats, along with some important details. I hope you’ll find these recommendations helpful if you’re considering feeding your ragdoll a raw diet.
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