What brand wet food is best for senior cats
The 10 Best Wet Cat Foods for Senior Cats
What ingredients should I look for in wet cat foods for senior cats?
Look for ingredients like real meat and whole food ingredients in wet cat foods for senior cats. Other helpful ingredients in senior wet cat foods include things like prebiotics for good digestion, immunity-boosting antioxidants, omegas for skin and coat health and joint-supporting glucosamine and chondroitin.
What are the best wet cat foods for senior cats?
The best wet cat foods for senior cats are usually those formulated specifically for seniors. Look for senior or adult 7+ cat food formulas that are high in meaty protein and low on fillers and artificial ingredients. Many senior cat wet foods are formulated to be highly palatable and easy to digest, and some contain senior-supporting supplements like omega fatty acids, antioxidants, glucosamine, chondroitin and more.
Are wet cat foods good for senior cats?
Wet cat foods can be very good for senior cats. Wet cat foods provide extra moisture in the diet, which many senior cats need, and many are higher in muscle-preserving protein, too. In addition, wet cat foods are easier to chew and often easier to digest than dry foods, making them an ideal choice for senior cats.
7 Best Cat Food for Ragdoll Cats
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.
Ragdollsaim 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 samebasic 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 worlds 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, weve learned which brands and products are worth buying and putting in your cats bowl.
Based on that experience, weve chosen the products described below as the bestcat 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, weve highlighted some of the most important features of each product. Youll find more detailed information about each product later in the article.
Overall Best
10
Picked by 31 people today!
- Fish-based formula rich in protein
- Rich in omega-3s from cod liver oil
- Very low carb content
Best Dry
9.7
Picked by 31 people today!
- Wild Pacific salmon as the first ingredient
- Supplemented with two concentrated sources of animal protein
- Herring and salmon oils for omega fatty acids
Budget Pick
9.5
Picked by 25 people today!
- Plenty of high-quality animal-based protein
- Comes in 12.5-ounce cans for bulk buyers
- No artificial additives or fillers
Best Canned
9.4
Picked by 21 people today!
- Made with chicken as a single source of protein
- Shredded texture may appeal to picky cats
- High in protein and very low in carbohydrate
Best Dehydrated
9.3
Picked by 18 people today!
- 70% of protein from real turkey
- Made from human-grade ingredients
- Minimally processed, no artificial additives
Best Freeze-Dried
9.2
Picked by 31 people today!
- Novel source of protein (rabbit)
- Highly digestible natural ingredients
- Rich in protein and probiotics
Best For Sensitive Stomach
9.0
Picked by 31 people today!
- 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 Ragdolls Dietary Requirements?
First and foremost, remember that cats are obligate carnivores.
The term obligate carnivore refers to the cats biological requirement for a meat-based diet. A diet made primarily of animal protein is not just a preference for your cat its 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 cats diet. Check the ingredients list; if you see anything that isnt 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 isnt designed to eat plant foods and wont be healthy on a carbohydrate-heavy diet.
Your cats 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 cat. 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 Ragdolls diet is rich in animal protein and healthy animal-based fats, you should check the carbohydrate content. In the wild, your cats 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 isnt 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 cats minimum requirements for nutrition.
What the label doesnt 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 youve 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, its 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 cats 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 Ragdolls 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.
Heres a list of things to avoid in your cats 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 youre 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:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Ragdoll cats eat a lot?
While the Ragdolls ideal diet is no different from any other cats 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 theres no way to quantify this claim. Some say female Ragdolls play a little more aggressively but both sexes form strong bonds with their owners.
