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
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.
Smalls Smooth Fish Fresh Cat Food
- Fish-based formula rich in protein
- Rich in omega-3s from cod liver oil
- Very low carb content
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
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
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
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
Stella & Chewy’s Absolutely Rabbit Dinner Morsels
- Novel source of protein (rabbit)
- Highly digestible natural ingredients
- Rich in protein and probiotics
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
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:
- Best Cat Food for Diarrhea
- Best Cat Food to Prevent Vomiting
- Best Hypoallergenic Cat Food
- Best Kitten Food – Top 5 Best Kitten Foods
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.
Can you recommend dry food for a Sr ragdoll indoor cat. She is 12. Thank you
Hi Christine, as long as your senior doesn’t have any health issues that necessitate a special diet, any of the recommendations in our article on the best dry food should be a good fit: https://cats.com/best-dry-cat-food
Could you do a similar ranking with foods that are available in Europe, as all of the picks in this list are not actually available here?
Hi there! We’ll consider it. Thanks.
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?
Hi Carol, you might appreciate our litter box acceptance course! It’s free, and you can sign up here.
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.
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!
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.