Things to pay attention to when raising ragdoll cats (2)

Things to pay attention to when raising ragdoll cats (2)

Third, diet.

Ragdoll cats have always been known as “glass stomachs”. Although this statement has not been scientifically confirmed, many parents have said that their ragdoll cats have sensitive stomachs and often have loose stools and diarrhea.

Cat diarrhea is usually caused by diet, parasites, bacterial or viral infections, etc., and diet is the most common cause. Food intolerance, food allergies, poor food quality, sudden food changes, food poisoning, etc. can all cause cat diarrhea.

Common causes of cat diarrhea

For cats that often have loose stools and sensitive stomachs, first check for parasites and diseases. Secondly, pay more attention to dietary convenience. You can choose low-sensitivity food with a single meat source and high digestion and absorption rate as the staple food to reduce the probability of indigestion and allergies in cats. In addition

, it is best to choose cat food made from fresh meat, because the ash content (the residue left after all organic matter is oxidized) in fresh meat food is less than that in meat powder food, which is less irritating to the stomach and intestines. Excessive ash will also affect the absorption of nutrients such as protein.

*Experimental data show that the protein digestibility of fresh chicken is about 95%, while that of chicken meal is 61%.

If a long-haired cat like a ragdoll has diarrhea, the hair around its buttocks will easily get stained with feces (the picture is too beautiful). Long-term soft stools may also cause the hair around the buttocks to change color and produce odor, so it needs to be cut off

. Another important point is that no matter what breed of cat you raise, it is not recommended to change all the food at once when changing food. Instead, mix the new and old food in a certain proportion and change it in a gradual transition manner.

Fourth, health management

In terms of health management, parents who raise ragdoll cats need to pay special attention, because according to many studies, ragdoll cats have a higher risk of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and polycystic kidney disease (PKD). Hypertrophic

cardiomyopathy (HCM): A heart disease characterized by left ventricular hypertrophy of unknown cause, which can cause serious consequences such as heart failure and thrombosis. The average age of onset is about 6 years old. At present, mutations in the MYBPC3 gene that cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy have been detected in Maine Coons and ragdoll cats.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy diagram

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD): refers to the appearance of a large number of fluid-filled cysts in the renal parenchyma. The size and number of cysts will increase over time and gradually replace the original renal tissue, causing abnormal kidney morphology and renal function damage. This is an autosomal dominant genetic disease, most common in Persian cats and breeds related to Persian cats. Ragdoll cats also have a certain risk of disease.

Schematic diagram of polycystic

kidney disease In addition, according to surveys and studies, the incidence of coronavirus, infectious peritonitis, lower urinary tract syndrome, chronic renal failure, arterial thromboembolism, uterine pyometra, and dystocia in Ragdoll cats is higher than the average level.

Therefore, parents who raise Ragdoll cats are advised to take their cats for comprehensive physical examinations regularly. For example, ultrasound cardiography can observe abnormalities in the internal structure and function of the cat’s heart, and B-ultrasound can observe abnormal kidneys, so as to achieve early detection and early treatment of diseases. In addition, families with conditions can take their cats for genetic screening, which is helpful for the diagnosis and prevention of genetic diseases.

Ragdoll cats are little angels with good looks and personality, but their owners also need to worry about a lot of things in terms of maintenance. As I said before, you need to be fully prepared mentally before raising a cat. Once you decide to raise one, you must take the corresponding responsibilities.