| Cat food can be divided into dry, moist, and | | | | Adults Ragdolls are not very active, so they gain |
| semi-moist foods. Each one has its advantages, and | | | | weight more rapidly than other cats. Take care not |
| Ragdolls require various kinds of food at different | | | | to let them become obese provide them only 70 |
| stages. Kittens need mainly breast milk and moist | | | | calories per kilogram of body weight. A lot of what |
| food, while adults require more protein and dry food. | | | | people believe to be cats’ favourite foods are |
| Pregnant Ragdolls have special dietary needs that | | | | actually harmful. Here are some of the most common |
| alter during the pregnancy as well. A. Feeding Ragdoll | | | | cat food myths: Fish Fish may be good for cats, but |
| Kittens Introductory food Ragdoll kittens should be | | | | it can’t cover all their nutritional needs, and too |
| exclusively breastfed for the first four to five weeks. | | | | much of the same nutrients can be harmful. Tuna is |
| Cat milk contains all the nutrients required for the | | | | rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, which need |
| kitten's growth, including antibodies that help | | | | vitamin E to break them down. too much tuna in |
| discourage disease. Breast milk also passes on other | | | | your cat’s diet can cause yellow fat disease |
| antibodies that the mother produced to fight | | | | (steatitis). Milk Milk is rich in water and carbohydrates, |
| previous diseases. Additional food ought to be given | | | | but many cats are lactose intolerant and get |
| after four to five weeks, as the kitten needs more | | | | digestive problems a few hours after drinking milk. |
| nutrients to support its rapid growth. Introductory | | | | Regular cow’s milk can lead to diarrhoea and |
| food ought to be easy to digest. Mix canned food | | | | loose stools, which can cause malnutrition and |
| with warm water or kitten replacement milk until it | | | | dehydration. If your cat likes milk, use replacement |
| becomes a loose paste. Do NOT use regular cow's | | | | cat milk instead. Catnip Cats love the smell of catnip |
| milk this is too heavy for kittens and could cause in | | | | leaves, but it can cause short-term behavioural |
| indigestion. Dry food After another four to five | | | | changes. Catnip is a hallucinogen and may put your |
| weeks, your kitten should be ready for dry food. To | | | | cat in a state of near delirium. Some effects include |
| make the change easier, moisten dry food with a | | | | rolling, rubbing, chasing phantom mice, or simply |
| little warm water in the first few feedings. It's also | | | | staring into space. Although it’s not addictive, |
| important to choose high-quality supplements to dry | | | | catnip has no place in your cat’s diet. Dog food |
| food and some of the good brands are Iams®, | | | | It could be more convenient to feed your cat and |
| Science Diet®, and Nutro Kitten®. Science Diet | | | | dog from the same dish, but it’s not very |
| Feline Growth® is popular among Ragdoll kittens. | | | | healthy for either pet. Cats require more protein, |
| Supplements can be given twice a day with morning | | | | taurine, preformed vitamin A, B-complex vitamins, |
| and evening feeding. You can change to adult food | | | | and arachidonic acids, which they can get from a |
| after approximately 12 months. Choosing and | | | | meat-heavy diet. A shortage of these nutrients can |
| preparing kitten food Ragdoll kittens have delicate | | | | make your cat seriously ill, and an overdose can have |
| stomachs, so take extra care in choosing kitten food. | | | | the same effect in dogs. Low ash diets A popular |
| Food ought to always be warm or slightly above | | | | belief among cat owners is that diets low in ash can |
| room temperature. Discard all food that has been left | | | | help deter urinary tract infection. But that’s only |
| out for more than 30 minutes, especially in the | | | | partly true. Ash is not a single nutrient, but is actually |
| summer. Bacteria grows quickly in warm, wet foods | | | | a group of minerals including calcium, copper, |
| and could possibly upset your kitten's stomach, or | | | | magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc. Lower levels of |
| even lead to food poisoning. To keep from wasting | | | | magnesium keep urine at its normal, slightly acidic |
| food, just observe how much your kitten eats at a | | | | state, but reducing other minerals will have no effect. |
| time so you know how much to prepare per feeding. | | | | Other foods to avoid Alcoholic beverages. Alcohol |
| House flies can easily contaminate kitten food, so | | | | can be toxic and cause fatal complications. Baby food. |
| keep your feeding area as fly-proof as possible. | | | | Many baby foods contain onion powder, which can |
| Wash the feeding bowl daily with hot, soapy water | | | | be harmful to the blood. Fish and meat bones. Small |
| and replace water in the drinking bowl several times a | | | | splinters can cut into the digestive tract and cause |
| day. Wash the drinking bowl at the same time and | | | | bleeding. Caffeine (coffee, tea, chocolate). Caffeine |
| refill with fresh water. Table scraps can be provided | | | | can affect the cat’s heart and nervous system. |
| occasionally, but don't make regular meals out of | | | | Citrus oil extracts. This can lead to stomach upsets |
| them. Cooked human foods lack the nutrients | | | | and vomiting. Fat. Animal fats can cause pancreatitis. |
| necessary for your kitten's growth. Generic cat food | | | | Don’t feed your cat fatty cooked meats, or at |
| from groceries are better, but Stellarhart | | | | least trim the fat off first. Grapes and raisins. These |
| recommends high-quality foods from specialty pet | | | | contain a toxin that can harm the kidneys. Human |
| stores. Also, cats don't like the smell of plastic and | | | | vitamin and iron supplements. Excessive iron can |
| metal containers, so use only glass drinking bowls. Dry | | | | damage the liver, kidneys, and the lining of the |
| vs wet foods Dry foods are generally superior for | | | | digestive tract. Liver. Liver is safe in small amounts, |
| your Ragdoll, except in the breastfeeding and | | | | but an excess can lead to vitamin A toxicity. |
| introductory stage. They work your kitten's chewing | | | | Macadamia nuts. Unknown toxins in macadamia can |
| muscles and help keep the teeth white. Dry food | | | | damage the muscles, digestive system, and nervous |
| consists predominantly of meat and vegetables, and | | | | system. Marijuana. Marijuana can lead to vomiting, |
| can be moistened or served dry. Serving them dry | | | | depression, and irregular heart rate. Mushrooms. Some |
| allows your cat to nibble throughout the day, rather | | | | mushrooms contain highly toxic substances that can |
| than eating one large meal at a time. Dry food should | | | | affect multiple systems and even cause death. Onion |
| contain about 9 to 10% moisture, 8% fat, and 30% | | | | and garlic (powdered, cooked or raw). These contain |
| protein. Moist food has about 75% moisture and | | | | disulfides and sulfoxides, which can lead to anaemia. |
| equal amounts of fat and protein. Not all moist foods | | | | They are harmful to both cats and dogs, but cats |
| are the same some are all-meat or all-fish, while | | | | are more vulnerable. Persimmons. Persimmons seeds |
| others are a mix of meat and vegetables. The | | | | can obstruct the intestines. Potato, tomato and |
| former ought to not be used for regular meals, as | | | | rhubarb. These can be harmful to the nervous, |
| your cat can get addicted and refuse to eat other | | | | digestive, and urinary systems. The leaves and stems |
| foods. The small treat cans of variety foods are | | | | could also be toxic. Raw eggs. Raw eggs can damage |
| usually all-meat or all-fish. As with kitten food, moist | | | | your cat’s hair and coat. Salt. Salt and salty |
| foods ought to be warmed to room temperature | | | | foods can cause electrolyte imbalance, a potentially |
| before serving. Semi-moist food has about 35% | | | | fatal condition affecting the heart and nervous |
| water, 27% protein, and 7% fat. Most of them are | | | | system. String. Strings from beans and other |
| nutritionally balanced, very tasty, and can be left out | | | | vegetables could not be digested, which can lead to |
| for nibbling, but they spoil more rapidly than dry food. | | | | blockages. Sugar. Sweets are high in empty calories, |
| Kitten treats Occasional kitten treats will not harm | | | | which can lead to obesity, diabetes, and dental |
| your kitten, but take care not to fill them up so they | | | | problems. Yeast dough. Yeast can expand in the |
| can still eat regular meals. Treats ought to not | | | | stomach during digestion, causing it to rupture. Just |
| provide any more than 10% of your kitten's daily | | | | remember that you are not feeding a human but an |
| caloric intake. Look for hard chew treats to help | | | | animal with unique feeding requirements. |
| improve your kitten's dental health B. Feeding Ragdoll | | | | |