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