+- The International Ragdoll Cat Guide and Forum (https://ragdollcatguide.ca)
+-- Forum: Ragdoll Cat Forums (https://ragdollcatguide.ca/forumdisplay.php?fid=8)
+--- Forum: Ragdoll Health (https://ragdollcatguide.ca/forumdisplay.php?fid=12)
+--- Thread: Best food for ragdolls (/showthread.php?tid=107)
Best food for ragdolls - NatsFan78 - 08-21-2019
I have been reading about different cat foods trying to figure out how to best care for my boy when he comes home. It is overwhelming! Everyone seems to have a different opinion of what is best with a great source to back them up. The breeder feeds Royal Canin.
1. What do you feed your babies?
2. Do you feed both dry and wet food?
3. Anyone feed only wet food?
RE: Best food for ragdolls - JanH - 08-21-2019
Best to keep a kitten on the same food for some time - until well adjusted to the new home. Same for litter and type of litter box.
Royal Canin is a good food and we feed it as one of ours. (There can be an advantage of feeding multiple foods. For example, if there is a recall, formula change or just a change of taste, you already have an alternative food that is well accepted.)
Best to feed both wet and dry. Dry means you can be away longer with food available. Wet is good because some illnesses, for example kidney problems, make it best to have as much fluid intake as possible. Therefore, a cat being already happy with a wet food is good. In addition and particularly if there are multiple cats, wet food means they will show up to eat and be observed. Lack of appetite can be an early sign of illness and you may notice it faster for the wet food than for the dry.
Consider brands (like Royal Canin) that have prescription foods. A cat who needs it may accept the prescription versions faster if already on that brand.
Some of our very young kittens have been wet food only, but they later accepted dry also (even if the preference stayed with wet). One of our studs goes nuts for gravy wet food -- and always has. He even is snippy about pate style wet.
RE: Best food for ragdolls - NatsFan78 - 08-21-2019
I was planning to free feed dry food and feed wet food either once or twice a day. I am going to stay with the Royal Canin for at least the first couple of months to help him with the move. I’m not sure what I am going to do after that. Thank you for your help.
RE: Best food for ragdolls - Tikismom - 08-22-2019
I feed Science Diet, a novelty protein prescription food due to Tiki's allergy to poultry. I'm of the opinion that the larger manufacturers like Hills and Royal Canin do more research than most and it makes me comfortable that they are invested in the best quality food for my cats.
I thought that this was an interesting study:
https://petnutritionalliance.org/chart/index.php/manufacturer-report
RE: Best food for ragdolls - Codysmom - 08-22-2019
I also feed mine Hill's Science, they get the kibble and I do feed a bit of wet as well.
RE: Best food for ragdolls - NatsFan78 - 08-22-2019
Is it true dry food is bad for cats and can lead to health issues? I have been looking at this chart. Anyone have thoughts on this?
https://catinfo.org/docs/CatFoodProteinFatCarbPhosphorusChart.pdf
RE: Best food for ragdolls - JanH - 08-23-2019
Not true except that cats with kidney issues are best getting the most fluid possible.
With wet, one needs to monitor freshness in the bowl, which often means discarding some. One also has a higher risk of feline acne.
Some complain about "processed" food, but in fact wet food is also "processed." Silliness. It is bad science, but probably makes no difference for a healthy cat, just like no grain foods. The real danger of the latter is that all of the prescription diets have grain and avoiding them when needed may have a true negative impact on health.
Do not over stress about it. Pick what you feel is a good food and hope your cat agrees with you. It seems they often do not. A food not eaten is the worst health choice.
You are most of the way there if the food meets AAFCO standards - and all in the US do.
(My advice. Ignore any advice from Dr. Pierson, an individual practitioners with no educational credentials in nutrition and no expert confirmation of her views. I would say peer reviewed, but she is not a peer of nutrition experts. Look to a consensus of vet school faculty who are feline nutrition experts.)
RE: Best food for ragdolls - NatsFan78 - 08-23-2019
Thank you Jan.