10 Best Cat Foods for Ragdolls – 2025 Reviews & Top Picks

cat licking mouth after eating food from metal bowl

Providing your cat with a healthy, balanced, and high-quality diet is critical for them to stay in optimum health, and your beloved Ragdoll is no exception! But finding the right balance of high-quality food and something that your cat will enjoy can be challenging—or not. Some cats are picky, while others are less so.

Either way, since shopping can be time consuming, we researched and compiled a list of cat foods that are all great options for your kitty. We hope that these reviews will lead you to your Ragdoll’s next favorite food. There’s also a buyer’s guide to help make your decision an informed one.

Important Note: This article has been reviewed by one of our veterinarians to ensure accuracy and safety. However, the opinions and insights expressed are those of the author and may not fully represent the veterinarian’s perspective. This information is intended to complement, not replace, personalized veterinary guidance. If you’re considering changing your cat’s food, we strongly recommend consulting with your vet to ensure the new diet is appropriate for your cat’s health needs.

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A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2025

Rating Image Product Details
Winner

Smalls Ground Bird Cat Food
Smalls Ground Bird Cat Food

  • USDA-certified

  • Available in different textures

  • All-natural, sustainably sourced
  • Second place

    Cat Chow Indoor Hairball & Healthy
    Cat Chow Indoor Hairball & Healthy

  • Well-priced

  • Natural fiber for controlling hairballs

  • Nutritionally balanced for indoor cats
  • Third place

    Blue Buffalo Tastefuls Chicken
    Blue Buffalo Tastefuls Chicken

  • Main ingredient is deboned chicken

  • Psyllium seed husks and cellulose help with hairballs

  • Omega-3 and -6 for healthy skin and coat

  • Royal Canin Feline Breed Nutrition
    Royal Canin Feline Breed Nutrition

  • Formulated specifically for the Ragdoll breed

  • Enriched with EPA, DHA, and taurine

  • Nutrients keep the coat healthy and soft

  • Purina ONE +Plus Healthy Kitten
    Purina ONE +Plus Healthy Kitten

  • Affordable

  • Four antioxidants for immune system support

  • High in protein for developing muscles
  • The 10 Best Cat Foods for Ragdolls

    1. Smalls Ground Bird Cat Food — Best Overall

    Smalls Ground Other Bird

    Main ingredients: Chicken, chicken liver, green beans, peas
    Protein content: 55% (dry matter basis)
    Fat content: 30% (dry matter basis)
    Calories: 1,401 kcal/kg

    Smalls offers nutrient-rich, human-grade cat food that is tailored to the specific dietary needs of cats. The Ground Bird Cat Food makes the top of the recommendation list. This recipe’s primary ingredient is deboned chicken and a blend of natural ingredients like green beans, peas, and kale, offering exceptional benefits to cats, particularly those of the Ragdoll breed.

    Smalls recipes are all USDA-certified and sustainably sourced. Each is gently cooked to preserve nutrients and natural flavors. They also cater to all life stages by offering different textures.

    The convenience of a fresh food delivery service is that you never have to worry about running out of cat food or having to compromise your cat’s nutritional needs when buying a bag of cat food on a whim. All of these reasons are why we chose Smalls Ground Bird Cat Food as the best cat food for Ragdoll cats.

    Pros
    • All-natural, sustainably sourced
    • USDA-certified
    • Slow-cooking preserves natural flavors and nutrients
    • Available in different textures
    • Delivered to your door
    Cons
    • Unable to purchase in-store

    2. Cat Chow Indoor Hairball & Healthy Weight Dry Cat Food — Best Value

    Cat Chow Indoor Hairball

    Main ingredients: Chicken by-product meal, whole-grain corn, soy flour
    Protein content: 30%
    Fat content: 5%
    Calories: 358 kcal/cup

    The best cat food for Ragdolls for the money is Cat Chow’s Indoor Hairball & Healthy Weight Dry Cat Food. The indoor formula contains natural fiber to help control hairballs and aids in healthy digestion. Purina claims that the food is nutritionally balanced for cats that aren’t that physically active and includes 25 essential vitamins and minerals for their overall health. However, while this food is an excellent price, it does contain artificial colors.

    Pros
    • Well-priced
    • Natural fiber for controlling hairballs
    • Nutritionally balanced for indoor cats
    • Contains 25 essential vitamins and minerals
    Cons
    • Contains artificial colors

    3. Blue Buffalo Tastefuls Chicken & Brown Rice Hairball Control Adult Dry Cat Food — Premium Choice

    Blue Buffalo Tastefuls Chicken

    Main ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, brown rice
    Protein content: 32%
    Fat content: 15%
    Calories: 389 kcals/cup

    Blue Buffalo’s Tastefuls Chicken & Brown Rice Hairball Control Adult Dry Cat Food is our pick of a premium choice food for your Ragdoll. It will help control hairballs with the use of psyllium seed husks and cellulose, and natural fiber aids in digestion. The main ingredient is deboned chicken, and the sources of omega-3 and -6 fatty acids will work wonders on your Ragdoll’s coat. Blue Buffalo also uses LifeSource Bits, a blend of important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants for immune system support.

    The issues with this food are the price and the small size of the kibble, which might be problematic for particularly large Ragdolls.

    Pros
    • Main ingredient is deboned chicken
    • Psyllium seed husks and cellulose help with hairballs
    • Omega-3 and -6 for healthy skin and coat
    • LifeSource Bits for antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals included
    Cons
    • Small kibble
    • Expensive

    4. Royal Canin Feline Breed Nutrition Ragdoll Adult Dry Cat Food — Best Overall

    Royal Canin Feline Breed Nutrition Ragdoll Adult Dry Cat Food 2025

    Main ingredients: Chicken by-product meal, corn, wheat
    Protein content: 30%
    Fat content: 16%
    Calories: 402 kcal/cup

    Another great cat food for Ragdolls is Royal Canin’s Feline Breed Nutrition Ragdoll Cat Food. Ragdolls have beautifully soft, fluffy coats, and this cat food has the right balance of nutrients to keep them that way. It has omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are essential for large cats like the Ragdoll, and is enriched with taurine. The kibble is also the right shape and size, as it’s made explicitly for the Ragdoll’s jaw.

    The flaw with this cat food is that the main ingredients might not appeal to some owners, but cat food manufacturers always check the nutrition of their food to ensure that a cat will have a healthy and balanced diet.

    Pros
    • Formulated specifically for the Ragdoll breed
    • Nutrients keep the coat healthy and soft
    • Enriched with EPA, DHA, and taurine
    • Kibble is the right size and shape for the Ragdoll
    Cons
    • Main ingredient is chicken by-product meal

    5. Purina ONE +Plus Healthy Kitten Formula Dry Cat Food — Best for Kittens

    Purina ONE +Plus Healthy Kitten Formula Dry Cat Food

    Main ingredients: Chicken, chicken by-product meal, corn gluten meal
    Protein content: 40%
    Fat content: 18%
    Calories: 514 kcal/cup

    The best dry food for kittens is Purina’s ONE +Plus Healthy Kitten Formula, which has chicken as the main ingredient. It contains DHA for a growing kitten’s brain and vision development, in addition to four antioxidant sources, including vitamins A and E, for immune system support. It’s high in protein for developing muscles and has added calcium for strong bones and teeth. It doesn’t contain artificial preservatives or flavors and is quite affordable.

    However, many kitten owners have found that after their kittens ate this food, their poop was much stinkier than before.

    Pros
    • Chicken is the main ingredient
    • Affordable
    • Four antioxidants for immune system support
    • High in protein for developing muscles
    • No artificial preservatives or flavors
    Cons
    • Can make poop stinky

    6. Purina Pro Plan Hairball Control Pate Wet Cat Food

    Purina Pro Plan Hairball Control Pate Wet Cat Food

    Main ingredients: Ocean whitefish, water, meat by-products
    Protein content: 9%
    Fat content: 3%
    Calories: 82 kcal/can

    Purina’s Pro Plan Hairball Control Pate Wet Cat Food is full of natural fiber to help with digestion and hairballs. It has ocean whitefish as the main ingredient (several other flavors are also available, including chicken, turkey, and salmon) and is a high-protein wet food.

    It contains antioxidants for the immune system and vitamin A, and taurine. It also doesn’t have any artificial colors or preservatives. However, there are picky cats out there that might decide that this food is not for them.

    Pros
    • Vet recommended
    • Full of natural fiber to help with hairballs
    • Main ingredient is ocean whitefish
    • High-protein wet food
    • No artificial colors or preservatives
    Cons
    • Picky cats might not like it

    7. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Nature’s Evolutionary Diet Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food

    Blue Buffalo Wilderness Nature

    Main ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, pea protein
    Protein content: 38%
    Fat content: 16%
    Calories: 410 kcal/cup

    Blue Buffalo’s Wilderness Nature’s Evolutionary Diet Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food has deboned chicken as the first ingredient. This particular food is a great option for indoor cats for digestion help and maintaining a healthy weight. It has the LifeSource Bits that Blue Buffalo uses in all its dry pet food, which are balanced combinations of antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins.

    It doesn’t contain artificial ingredients or meat by-products and is grain-free. Unfortunately, some cats don’t seem to like this food, and the LifeSource Bits also tend to be ignored.

    Pros
    • Deboned chicken is the first ingredient
    • Helps indoor cats maintain a healthy weight
    • Aids in digestion and helps with hairballs
    • LifeSource Bits for antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals
    • Doesn’t contain artificial ingredients or meat by-products
    Cons
    • Picky cats might not like it
    • Some cats don’t eat the LifeSource Bits

    8. Royal Canin Indoor Adult Dry Cat Food

    Royal Canin Indoor Adult Dry Cat Food

    Main ingredients: Chicken meal, corn, brewers rice
    Protein content: 27%
    Fat content: 11%
    Calories: 325 kcal/cup

    Royal Canin Indoor Adult Dry Cat Food is meant for indoor adult cats aged 1 to 7. The blend of fiber provides relief from hairballs, enabling them to pass safely through the digestive tract. The calories are controlled to help indoor cats maintain a healthy weight, and there’s highly digestible protein for easier digestion and better-quality poop.

    Finally, the kibble’s texture and added minerals work together for improved dental health. However, while this won’t affect all cats, some cats might experience upset stomach with this food.

    Pros
    • Blend of fiber for hairballs
    • Controlled calories for weight management
    • Highly digestible protein for digestibility and poop quality
    • Minerals and kibble are great for dental health
    Cons
    • Some cats might get an upset stomach

    9. Iams ProActive Health Indoor Weight & Hairball Care Dry Cat Food

    Iams ProActive Health Indoor Weight

    Main ingredients: Chicken, chicken by-product meal, corn grits
    Protein content: 30%
    Fat content: 5%
    Calories: 302 kcal/cup

    Iams ProActive Health Indoor Weight & Hairball Care Dry Cat Food has been formulated with L-carnitine, which helps maintain a healthy metabolism and weight by burning fat. It additionally includes beet pulp to help reduce hairballs and aids in healthy digestion. It has omega acids that are great for your Ragdoll’s beautiful coat. It’s made with real chicken and is quite affordable.

    The flaws here are that not every cat seems to enjoy this food, and some cats might experience stomach upset.

    Pros
    • Includes L-carnitine for healthy weight and metabolism
    • Has beet pulp for hairballs and healthy digestion
    • Omega acids for a healthy coat
    • Affordable
    • Made with chicken
    Cons
    • Not all cats like it
    • Might give some cats stomachs upset

    11. Fancy Feast Classic Seafood Feast Canned Cat Food

    Fancy Feast Classic Seafood Feast Canned Cat Food

    Main ingredients: Ocean fish, liver, meat by-products
    Protein content: 12%
    Fat content: 5%
    Calories: 88 kcal/can

    Fancy Feast Classic Seafood Feast Canned Cat Food is a tasty wet food available in multiple flavors. The first ingredient is ocean fish, and it’s fortified with essential vitamins and minerals for your Ragdoll’s overall health. If your cat is sensitive to grains, this food is grain-free.

    However, the texture of this pâté tends to be drier than it should be. Also, picky cats don’t love this food, perhaps because it isn’t moist enough.

    Pros
    • Wet food with many flavors to choose from
    • First ingredient is ocean fish
    • Grain-free for cats sensitive to grains
    Cons
    • Pâté a bit dry
    • Picky cats might not like it

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    Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Ragdoll Cat Food

    Let’s discuss in further detail what food you should choose when shopping for your Ragdoll and why.

    Important Information on Comparing Dry and Wet Food

    When looking at the nutritional values of pet food, the guaranteed analysis listed on the package and included in our tables can be misleading because it’s based on the total weight. To get a correct reading, you need to eliminate the moisture content to compare a dry and a wet diet. If the moisture is not eliminated, the protein and fat content will appear much lower in wet food compared to dry food.

    To better understand if wet food aligns with dry matter recommendations, adjusting the food’s moisture content is necessary. The guide below offers a simple, quick method to estimate dry matter equivalents. Please note that this is only an approximation, not a precise calculation.

    Moisture Content Multiply Nutrient Level By
    70%  3.33
    75%  4
    80% 5
    85%  6.66

    Indoor Cat Food

    Almost all the food on this list is for indoor cats, and there’s a good reason for that. Ragdoll cats are generally considered indoor cats only, as they are large yet floppy cats that tend to have docile and trusting natures. This can make them more vulnerable than other cat breeds to everything from predators to cat snatchers.

    Indoor cats need environmental enrichment since they don’t have the same opportunities to run and get exercise. Ragdolls are more prone to weight gain and hairballs due to overgrooming. This is why it’s important to play with your cat often and to consider food formulated for indoor cats.

    Maine Coon's large adult cat eats raw meat from a metal cup
    Image Credit: Fayzulin Serg, Shutterstock

    Portion Sizes

    Ragdoll cats tend to eat more than most other breeds, which isn’t surprising given how large they are—they can weigh up to 20 pounds! They are also quite vocal about whether they like their food or when they think that it’s dinnertime.

    High-Quality Food

    You should become familiar with the ingredients in cat food. The first five ingredients tend to make up the majority of what goes into the food. Meat should be the first one, and named meat is best, such as chicken or beef. Cats are obligate carnivores, and roughly 70% of their diet should be animal protein.

    Food Changes

    What your Ragdoll eats will depend on their stage of life. Kittens have different nutritional requirements than adults, and adult cats need different food from seniors. Most cat food manufacturers make food designed for all life stages, so you can usually stick with the same flavors that your cat already loves.

    However, there are times when you need to put your cat on a special diet due to a food allergy, intolerance, or urinary, kidney, gastrointestinal, or endocrine issues. Before you switch your Ragdoll to a new food, though, discuss it with your veterinarian. Any switch should be slow and gradual, and you’ll want to give your Ragdoll the best food designed to keep them healthy.

    Our Ragdoll Cat Food Selection Process

    The cat foods for Ragdolls we reviewed in this article were chosen by PangoVet’s writers and editors, in collaboration with our experienced veterinary team, based on personal experience with the product, knowledge and expertise about the pet’s care needs, brand reputation, and reviews across multiple retail outlets from other customers that have purchased and used the product. The combination of these factors allows us to gather a wide range of information to help you choose only the best cat foods for Ragdolls and ensure you have the most accurate information about these products to promote proper care, health, and well-being of your beloved pets.

    Why Trust PangoVet?

    PangoVet’s licensed and experienced veterinarians have a knowledge base that extends to all kinds of pets—furry, scaly, and feathered—and want only the best for pets of all shapes and sizes. We also have experienced writers and editors who are pet owners with a variety of different pets, and we love our pets as much as you do. We recognize pets as part of our family. We make sure to only choose products from reputable brands highly rated by customers as well as products that we have personal experience with, to ensure that every cat food for Ragdolls featured in this review is high-quality and safe for your pets.

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    Conclusion

    The best overall food for Ragdoll cats is Smalls Fresh Cat Food. These meals were tailored to the specific dietary needs of felines. That said, Cat Chow’s Indoor Hairball & Healthy Weight uses natural fiber for hairballs, and it is the best for the money.

    Our third choice, Blue Buffalo’s Tastefuls Hairball Control Natural Cat Food, includes psyllium seed husks and cellulose for hairballs and has deboned chicken as the main ingredient. If you’re looking for food for your Ragdoll kitten, try Purina’s ONE +Plus Healthy Kitten Formula, which has chicken as the first ingredient and doesn’t contain artificial flavors or preservatives. Finally, Purina’s ONE +Plus Healthy Kitten Formula is vet-recommended because it is high in fiber for hairballs and contains real ocean whitefish as the main ingredient.

    We hope that these reviews have steered you in the right direction for your cat’s new food, but it all comes down to your choices—and your Ragdoll’s taste buds!


    Featured Image Credit: TarasBeletskiy, Shutterstock

    The post 10 Best Cat Foods for Ragdolls – 2025 Reviews & Top Picks appeared first on PangoVet.

    Can Cats Eat Ferret Food? Vet-Verified Nutrition Facts & FAQ

    If you have a multi-pet household, it might be much nicer if they all ate the same thing. However, every species seems to have their own commercial diet available to keep them healthy. Some animals can share one another’s food. But if you have a cat and a ferret, does this rule apply?

    Cats and ferrets are obligate carnivores, meaning they need only a meat diet to survive. Because of domestication, other ingredients have been added and tolerated. Since they are so similar in dietary makeup, a cat can technically eat ferret food, but not interchangeably and frequently, so it should only be an “in case of emergency” practice.

    The information presented in this article has been reviewed by a veterinary professional. However, this information isn’t intended to provide a specific recommendation for these products. We recommend consulting with your vet before opting to use any of these specific products for your pet.

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    Cats and Ferrets Have Different Dietary Requirements

    If you’re wondering if you can interchangeably switch ferret and cat food, the answer is no. On an occasional basis, their diets are similar enough that it won’t hurt them if they get a hold of the other animal’s food, but it will not serve each one long-term.

    If your ferret or cat ran out of their normal kibble, you can always give them a little of the other just to sustain until you can get more. However, if you think you can buy a giant bag of ferret food and distribute it to your cat (or vice versa), this is definitely not advisable. Over time, your cat will start to lack essential nutrients that help their body function. It can cause nutritional deficiencies and a decline in overall health if they are only fed ferret food.

    cat eating dry food in a silver bowl
    Image Credit: Roman Samsonov, Shutterstock

    Standard Recipe Differences Between Ferrets and Cats

    For comparison sake, we will compare a standard bag of cat food and ferret food to see how different the nutritional content is and how it could be disruptive to one or the other. The most nutritionally friendly diet for both ferrets and cats would be an utterly carnivorous meal full of animal content.

    However, it is impractical and expensive to fulfill this request, and carries risks of foodborne parasites, which is why so many people choose commercial diets instead. These diets are designed to match all of the species’ nutritional needs so they aren’t getting too many or too few of vital dietary components.

    For this example, we’re going to use a standard ferret commercial food to get you familiar with all of the ingredients that are in most recipes. Then we will show you what most cat food bags look like.

    Even though both of these critters are obligate carnivores, you will see that cat food does have grains, fruits, vegetables, and other additives that are outside of that natural diet. Even though a cat’s system has developed to tolerate these ingredients over time, our ferrets haven’t done the same.

    Oxbow Essentials Ferret Food

    Oxbow Animal Health Essentials Ferret Food

    Here is one standard ferret food as an example. Oxbow creates recipes for this particular species with a sterling reputation for optimal nutrition. Here are the details about this recipe.

    Guaranteed Analysis

    Crude Protein: 42.0%
    Crude Fat: 20.0%
    Crude Fiber: 3.0%
    Moisture: 10.0%

    Ingredients

    Chicken meal, chicken, chicken fat, egg product, gelatin, rice flour, flaxseed meal, cassava root flour, dried plain beet pulp, lysine, natural chicken liver flavor, fish oil, potassium chloride, taurine, salt, citric acid, and white vinegar

    As you can see, there are quite a few animal ingredients with some grain, vitamins, and minerals, but no vegetables or fruits. This is in alignment with their natural diet.


    Purina Naturals Cat Chow

    Purina Naturals Cat Chow

    In this example for cats, we are going to look at Purina Naturals Cat Chow, as it is a standard recipe for cats. Purina is a trusted company with many years in the pet food industry. Let’s look at what they add in the formula.

    Guaranteed Analysis

    Crude Protein: 34.0%
    Crude Fat: 13.0%
    Crude Fiber: 3.0%
    Moisture: 12.0%
    Linoleic Acid: 1.25%
    Arachidonic Acid: 0.03%

    Ingredients

    Chicken, corn gluten meal, chicken byproduct meal, rice, soybean meal, ground yellow corn, ground whole wheat, beef tallow preserved with mixed tocopherols, salmon, natural liver flavor, calcium carbonate, phosphoric acid, salt, and natural flavor.

    This recipe contains many more grains but has chicken as the primary ingredient. So, while very similar in composition, there are some notable differences.

    The Ingredient Breakdown

    As you can see, the ingredients closely mimic one another with some minor differences. Cat food contains less protein than ferret food. You’ll also likely never find a ferret food with vegetables or fruits listed, but cat foods do. Also, you will find corn, wheat, and other grains in many cat food recipes, whereas most ferret foods contain gluten-free grain ingredients.

    ferret eating
    Image Credit: Artsiom P, Shutterstock

    Cats and Ferrets Can Share Common Snacks

    If you prepare fresh meat for your cat or ferret, this is something that can be offered interchangeably. If you cook up some lean chicken or organ meats for one of them, you can certainly extend the offer to both. This is really one of the only ways a cat and ferret can share the same food items.

    Otherwise, each commercial diet is explicitly designed to match the nutritional needs of each species, which differ. So, while it might not hurt either one of them to have a bite of the other’s food in an emergency, the constant consumption of the wrong type of food can cause health issues and nutrient deficiencies over time.

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    Conclusion

    So, now you understand that cats and ferrets have very similar dietary requirements. However, ferret food has a much higher protein content than many commercial cat foods. Because of this, it might not hurt them to interchange tidbits of food, but it should never be a common practice.

    Neither cat food nor ferret food has the nutritional quality the other requires. So, neither formula will hurt them, but it’s best to stick with their species-specific commercial diets. Remember that you can also offer them similar snacks, like plain meats.


    Featured Image Credit: AJSTUDIO PHOTOGRAPHY, Shutterstock

    The post Can Cats Eat Ferret Food? Vet-Verified Nutrition Facts & FAQ appeared first on PangoVet.

    Why Do Cats Gag? 11 Vet-Reviewed Reasons & What to Do

    It’s kind of a running joke in the cat owner community that cats gag a lot, often in the middle of the night and while sitting on their owner’s bed or an expensive rug. Although most of the time they are just dealing with a pesky hairball, gagging in cats can be an indicator of a more serious problem, so it’s important to pay close attention to your cat’s gagging and get them to a vet if things seem concerning. There are a lot of reasons that cats may gag though, and thankfully, some of them are not serious and are easy to fix.

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    The 11 Reasons Why Cats Gag

    1. Hairballs

    The most common cause of gagging in cats is the presence of hairballs. Hairballs consist of hair that collects in your cat’s stomach, esophagus, or intestines, when grooming themselves. Hair doesn’t digest like food does, and much of the time it passes through the digestive tract and is eliminated in the feces. However, it’s not uncommon for the hair to accumulate over time. This can lead to constipation if it is in the large intestine, vomiting if it is in the small intestine, and gagging or retching if in the esophagus or entrance to the stomach.

    Hairballs are not uncommon in cats, but they can cause serious problems, including intestinal obstructions, so you should always pay attention to hairballs and talk to your vet about hairball remedies if your cat is gagging or throwing up hairballs regularly.

    cat hairball
    Image Credit: Joon Rungtipa, Shutterstock

    2.  Nausea and Vomiting

    Gagging is a common indicator of nausea in cats, and your cat may also gag multiple times before successfully vomiting. There are many reasons that cats may become nauseated and gag, ranging from mild to severe, so it’s very important that you note how often your cat is gagging and if they’re vomiting.

    Cats may vomit on occasion, but routine vomiting is not normal and can indicate that your cat is having chronic digestive problems that should be addressed by your vet.

    It is also important to be able to tell the difference between vomiting and regurgitation.
    • Vomiting: usually occurs several hours after eating, and involves abdominal effort. Food looks partially digested.
    • Regurgitation: Occurs soon/immediately after eating or drinking, and is a more passive ejection of food/water from the esophagus. Food comes out tubular in shape and similar to how it looked when it was eaten.

    3. Respiratory Illnesses

    There are lots of viruses and bacterial infections that cats can pick up, and infections of the respiratory tract can cause your cat to gag, cough, or gulp. Inflammation in the airway from a respiratory infection can be irritating for your cat and may even cause nausea.

    Rhinotracheitis, sinusitis and other upper respiratory infections are relatively common in cats, particularly in those that are not vaccinated. Any gagging that is accompanied by watery eyes, sneezing, coughing, or mucoid discharge needs veterinary attention.

    sick cat at the vet
    Image Credit: megaflopp, Shutterstock

    4.  Kidney, Heart, or Liver Disease

    Kidney disease is highly prevalent in senior cats, but cats are also prone to developing heart and liver disease. These diseases will lead to failure of the affected organ over time, which can lead to gagging for multiple reasons. Nausea from toxins building up in the bloodstream, extreme thirst, and fluid accumulation in the lungs due to heart disease can lead to gagging.

    These diseases are usually accompanied by other signs of illness including vomiting, abdominal swelling, inappetence, and increased urination/drinking, plus changes in energy levels or behavior. All of these diseases are potentially life-threatening and need to be immediately addressed by your veterinarian.


    5.  Ingestion of Toxins

    The ingestion of toxic substances isn’t as common in cats as it is in dogs, but it does still occur. There are lots of toxins that cats can be unintentionally exposed to, including houseplants, cleaning chemicals, automobile chemicals, pesticides, and rodenticides. Some toxins will cause nausea and vomiting, leading to gagging.

    Many people don’t realize that some toxins can also be caustic, which means they will cause burns. If your cat consumes a caustic chemical, then their mouth and throat will become burned and painful, which can lead to gagging. If this is the case, then your cat will almost certainly have visible chemical burns on their tongue and gums.


    6.  Ingestion of Foreign Bodies

    Like the ingestion of toxins, the ingestion of foreign bodies is less common in cats than in dogs, and cats tend to get into trouble with linear items. Common foreign bodies in cats include ponytail holders, floss, string, rubber bands, ribbons, and tinsel. Foreign bodies can lead to intestinal obstructions that can cause a backup in your cat’s digestive tract, leading to pain and nausea.

    Because of the linear nature of these objects, it is not uncommon for them to become tangled around the base of the tongue, causing irritation in the mouth. Sewing needles and fishing hooks are also among the more common items found lodged in a cat’s mouth or esophagus.


    7. Tumors

    Unfortunately, there are many types of cancer that cats can develop, including cancers of the mouth and throat. Chondrosarcoma, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and lymphosarcoma are all cancers that can affect your cat’s respiratory or digestive tract, leading to gagging. If your cat develops a tumor in their throat, it can lead to a constant feeling of irritation and a need to gag in an attempt to clear the sensation from the throat. Luckily, throat cancers are fairly rare in the cat, but oral SCC is quite common.

    Image Credit: JumpStory

    8. Eating Too Quickly

    Some cats can become far too exuberant about their food, consuming it so quickly that it tries to come right back up. Eating too quickly often results in the cat vomiting some of its food back up, but it may also lead to nausea and gagging without vomiting.

    This behavior can be a frustrating problem to deal with, but there are a few ways you can slow your cat’s rate of eating. Hiding small piles of food around the room or scatter feeding to encourage your cat to “hunt” can prevent this, as well as a slow-feeder bowl or puzzle toy. You may also need to split your cat’s food into multiple small meals throughout the day instead of one or two meals daily.


    9. Overwhelming Smells

    We’ve all smelled something so yucky that it made us want to gag. Cats have a much stronger sense of smell than humans, which means that smells that are unpleasant to them are even more unpleasant than they might be to us.

    Some of the smells that cats are disgusted by are smells that humans enjoy, like citrus, rosemary, lavender, eucalyptus, mint, pine, and thyme. Other smells are unpleasant to everyone, like a dirty litter box or a sniff of pepper. Some smells that are unpleasant to cats can also be dangerous for them, so make sure to thoroughly research any scents before bringing them into your home.

    sick cat vomiting the food
    Image Credit: Tom Wang, Shutterstock

    10. Ear Polyps

    Also called nasopharyngeal polyps, are benign growths that originate from the middle ear. They are more common in young cats, but they can also affect older felines.

    It is believed that they are a congenital problem, but some studies have linked them to upper respiratory or ear infections. If the polyps grow in the nasopharyngeal region, they can cause coughing and gagging.


    11. Dental Disease

    It is quite common for our pet cats to develop dental disease, as their domestic diet lacks the tooth flossing qualities of sinew, cartilage, and bones found in wild caught prey. Without us realizing, our cats can accumulate large amounts of calculus on their teeth, and even end up with nasty tooth infections. When this happens, your cat may gag due to the pain or discomfort in their mouth and gums, or from tartar and plaque irritating the back of the throat.

    Regular dental checks are vital to your cat’s health, as is frequent cleaning or providing them with products that can help keep their teeth clean and healthy.

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    What to Do if Your Cat Is Gagging

    How to handle gagging in cats depends on the frequency and severity of the gagging. If your cat is gagging frequently, is vomiting, or showing any other signs of being unwell or uncomfortable, contact your vet immediately. If your cat gags very occasionally, and is otherwise bright, happy, and healthy, then it is worth using the suggestions below to see if you can address the problem.

    Hairballs can usually be managed easily, with more frequent grooming using a deshedding brush, a change of diet, or by including supplements to help your cat to pass the hairballs more easily. Supplements containing essential fatty acids such as Omega-3 can also help improve skin and coat quality and reduce shedding.

    As we mentioned earlier, there are several ways to reduce or prevent regurgitation and gagging from eating too quickly, like food puzzles, scatter feeding, or feeding smaller, more frequent meals. Avoiding unpleasant odors and taking care with potentially toxic substances is also hugely important.

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    Conclusion

    In the majority of cases, gagging in cats is a fairly common and harmless issue, however, that doesn’t mean that we should just ignore it. The occasional episode of gagging is likely nothing to worry about, but it could also be a sign of something more serious.

    Understanding why your cat is gagging is the best way for you to help address the problem, and your vet will be able to examine your feline friend to determine if you are dealing with something as straightforward as a hairball, or if your cat’s gagging is a sign of underlying disease.


    Featured Image Credit: sophiecat, Shutterstock

    The post Why Do Cats Gag? 11 Vet-Reviewed Reasons & What to Do appeared first on PangoVet.