How to Feed a Ragdoll Cat a Raw Diet

What is a balanced and complete raw diet, & why is it crucial for my ragdoll?

“Balanced” refers to a feline-specific ratio of muscle meat, fat, & bones. Too much or too little of these elements, and your kitten likely will experience digestive problems. Balancing this is not easy for most DIY recipes because sourcing odd ingredients like turkey hearts can be tricky in some markets. Raw Paws eliminates the guesswork and the grinding.

“Complete” refers to the variety of amino acids, vitamins, and minerals found in different protein types. Each animal protein boasts varying levels of bioavailable nutrients. Serving a single protein day after day is detrimental, so we say variety is the way forward! Chicken, Turkey, Duck, and Pork are our go-to suggestions. Eggs and fish oils complete the plate with omega fatty acids.

Your ragdoll kitten’s diet is complete when it includes raw muscle meat, raw ground bones, raw organ meat (5% of the total meal must be liver), and omega fatty acids from eggs and seafood. It is balanced if the ratio is approximately 80%/10%/10%, muscle meat/organ/bones+omega fatty acids. Raw Paws offers affordable options that do not include eggs & seafood because some breeds are allergic. Our Masterpiece Ragdolls can tolerate these extra ingredients. You will supplement with whole egg and seafood: sardines, salmon oil, or blue-lipped mussels because they provide the necessary omega 3’s not incorporated in the prepared Raw Paws chubs & patties. You will need to add these, and I’ll tell you how! This is the “DIY” part.

Frozen Raw Chicken

Chicken is the most easily tolerated protein for cats. It serves as the basis for our ragdoll cats’ diet. We recommend this affordable option because there are no artificial ingredients or additives or fillers in this blend. Raw Paws chickens are locally raised without antibiotics, steroids, or added hormones. There are NO unnecessary additives like fruits, vegetables, or grains. Cats don’t chase carrots or pea protein, so why put it in their food? Note: this particular raw meat diet is not safe for dogs; they require fiber from fruits and veggies/grains.

HOW TO: The most economical route is the 3-lb package. Add one egg and roughly half a tin of sardines. Just remember, raw meat thawed in the refrigerator should be consumed within 4 days. Since it thaws outside, the larger packages may last 5 days in the fridge. Three-pound chubs are best for multi-cat households.

Frozen Raw Turkey

Turkey is equally well-tolerated, but some of our ragdolls prefer chicken over turkey. Turkey is generally lower in fat but has significantly higher taurine levels. Note: the smaller the prey source, the higher its heart rate; a higher heart rate means more taurine. Little facts like this are why rotating protein sources is essential.

HOW TO: The most economical route is the 3-lb package. Add one egg and roughly half a tin of sardines. Just remember, raw meat thawed in the refrigerator should be consumed within 3 days. Since it thaws outside, the larger packages may last 4-5 days in the fridge. Three-pound chubs are best for multi-cat households.

Frozen Raw Duck, Pork, and Salmon

Pork has a significantly higher fat content, so we recommend adding a little pork to each poultry dish for kittens. When thawing a pound of chicken, also thaw pork. Allow it to serve as part of your kitten's daily diet. This means you can adjust your order to include less pork. We do not recommend it in the adult stage because adults simply don't need as many calories as a growing kitten.

Salmon is not absolutely necessary if you're using sardines & egg. Sometimes, we add it to large batches instead of salmon oil or sardines.

Freeze Dry Raw Options

Freeze-dried raw is usually a little more expensive, but it's a great option for convenience (think traveling). We use freeze-dried pieces in our treat dispensers. The kitties enjoy batting the little pieces around! It's a good idea to have a bag around in case you're running low on frozen supplies.

When you order from the Raw Paws links on this page, enter the code MASTERPIECE10 at the checkout for 10% off any order.

How often should I feed my ragdoll kitten?

Feeding a Ragdoll Kitten - The first few days

Upon first bringing your kitten home, she won't eat much. She will be busy exploring her new surroundings. Offer her small servings (2-3 tablespoons) throughout the day. Leave a small serving at night to enjoy while the house is quiet. Between 12 -24 weeks, feed your kitten at least 3 times per day. Between 6-12 months, you will gradually move to 2 daily feedings. In general, feed the cat in front of you. If she gobbles down a plate and doesn't leave it, she probably expects more. If she walks away from a plate with food on it, you can learn from that. She is finished for the time.

Feeding a cat a raw diet shouldn't be complicated.

Divide the recommended daily recommendation by the number of feedings per day. If you aim for three feedings per day, a 5-lb kitten needing 7-9 tablespoons per day should be offered three tablespoons at each meal (9 divided by 3 = 3 tablespoons). If there's any leftover food, you can leave it out for the next 3-4 hours unless her room is above 70 degrees. If the food is still there after four hours, discard it and make a mental note that she does not need quite that much. At the next meal, offer slightly less. You will always be learning her needs during the first year. She is growing, and her caloric intake will ebb and flow.

Make fresh, clean water available all the time.

What does it cost to feed a raw diet to my ragdoll?

The cost of a raw food diet varies by age and activity level. Ragdolls are typically less active, but they are a larger breed (second only to the Maine Coon), so you can expect them to eat at or above the recommended averages. Masterpiece Ragdolls aims to produce large, heavy-boned ragdoll cats. Check out Raw Paws Calculator to help you determine your kitten's minimum needs. You can also schedule a Raw Paws personal consultation! Their customer service is the best!

A full-size ragdoll cat will probably eat about $100/month worth of commercially prepared raw food. An alternative to commercially prepared is a route that allows you to chop grocery-store cuts of meat and serve with a completer. This is actually the least expensive method available, and it's similarly simple.

Raw Paws Raw Pet Food for Masterpiece Ragdolls