Ragamuffins, like other felines, are predators. Always remember that as you are considering what you should feed your Ragamuffin. If you deviate from this, your Ragamuffin may seem like a picky eater. By giving him non-meat based foods like fruits, vegetables, dairy, nuts, seeds, etc., you may have a difficult time getting the Ragamuffin to eat.
What foods to feed the Ragamuffin?
Remember Ragamuffins share a recent common ancestor with the largest of cats — lions, tigers,and jaguars, etc. — so take that to heart while feeding your Ragamuffin. Never will you witness an adult puma on National Geographic drinking milk, chewing grass, or eating an apple in his natural habitat. Nor would you observe a young panther cub in the wild drinking the milk of a cow, or any other animal. As ludicrous as these examples sound, that’s exactly what many owners feed their Ragamuffins. Don’t expect your Ragamuffin at home to be excited when that’s what you try to give to make him eat. Ragamuffins are not like us and unlike dogs. As it pertains to nutrition, they rarely stray, and as an owner you must always keep this in mind. In contrast to what their owners eat, Ragamuffins need to eat a lot of meat for protein and fat. If we ate like Ragamuffins, we’d develop serious health issues at a young age. They are not at all the same as humans and they are not like little dogs. Quite often, you’ll find families who feed their Ragamuffins the same way they feed themselves and their dog, even though the Ragamuffins diet is much more specific. Given that dog food is so overloaded with carbohydrates, a dog’s diet can actually be deadly to your Ragamuffin if fed consistently. Ragamuffins should not eat carbs and can’t process them. Many times, when you see an extremely heavy domestic Ragamuffin it’s because he was forced to eat a diet high in carbohydrates. This also puts them at risk of diabetes. The long and short of it is that Ragamuffins must avoid carbohydrates at all cost.
taking care of young Ragamuffins
Pleasing Your Ragamuffin’s Palate
When you’re choosing food for your Ragamuffin, check that the packaging states it meets the guidelines outlined by the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). That ensures that the food meets at least the minimum dietary needs of your Ragamuffin. Pay no attention to marketing “hype” terms like “premium”, ” gourmet”, ” super-premium”, and “natural”, as there is no guideline that defines them. You can ask the vet what type of food (wet or dry) is best for the Ragamuffin. After you’ve decided on the optimum food, it’s now the time to let your Ragamuffin give the go ahead. The food is a keeper if your Ragamuffin likes it and doesn’t display any noticeable discomfort later on. If your Ragamuffin doesn’t seem to tolerate it, however, it’s time to go back to square one. If the Ragamuffin doesn’t like the food you have fed him, a dangerous hunger strike is possilbe. If she commits to stop eating, your Ragamuffin runs a high risk of liver failure or death. If you do decide to swap from one food to another, introduce the new food a little at a time, in small amounts over a week. This prevents your Ragamuffin from rejecting the new food outright and lessens the risk of upsetting your kitty’s stomach.
Ragamuffin Snacks, Feeding Time, and Portion Size
How much food does your Ragamuffin need? The answer might surprise you. For instance, is the Ragamuffin a house cat or a yard cat or hybrid? Has your Ragamuffin been sterilized? These both play a huge factor in nutritional requirements. Your best bet is to consult your Ragamuffin’s doctor, who will set your Ragamuffins ideal weight and daily dietary requirements. Take the initiaitive and ask your veterinarian about your Ragamuffin’s food and weight. Once you know how much your Ragamuffin needs, stick to it. It may seem like it’s not enough, but it will keep your Ragamuffin at his ideal weight. It’s hard to help overweight Ragamuffin lose weight, so it’s best to keep yours at a healthy size. Next, set up the Ragamuffin’s meals. Ragamuffins like to eat all throughout the day, so it’s just best to leave meals out for them where it’s accessible all the time. You can leave out half in the morning before leaving for work and the other half in the evening. Don’t go overboard with treats, either. The more snacks they eat, the less room they’ll have for their real nutritional requirements.
Don’t forget to check out these other articles about Ragamuffins
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