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