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