Why Is My Ragdoll Cat So Skinny – 5 Things You Should Know

Ragdoll cats are beautiful creatures with colorpoint coats and big blue eyes. And, in general, these cats are the giants of the cat world. Yet, you will occasionally come across a scrawny Ragdoll that will turn your hair white. And, if you look carefully around you, you will run into pet parents who worry about their Ragdolls wondering, why is my Ragdoll cat is so skinny. 

Ragdoll cats can be skinny due to malnutrition, parasites, or an inappropriate diet. Ragdoll cats go through growth spurts, so your cat might be skinny as it uses up all of its energy to gain an inch or two. There are times when cats going through medical treatments might lose weight.

Either way, if you are concerned about your ragdoll cat’s weight issues, and you want to get your hands on the entire list of reasons as to why ragdoll cats might be skinny, read on to find out.

What Are Ragdoll Cats

Ragdoll cats were developed by American breeder Ann Baker in the 1970s. These cats are best known for their mild temperaments and docile nature. And, you should know that these kitties got their name, ‘ragdoll,’ due to their tendency to go limp and relaxed when their humans pick them up.

In short, ragdolls are known to be ‘dog-like’ cats with their inclination to follow people around, their ease at being physically handled, and their non-aggressive attitude towards other pets. And, these kitties are anything but small. You see, female ragdolls can weigh up to 15 pounds, and males can go heavier. 

What Age Is A Ragdoll Cat Fully Grown

Most ragdolls don’t reach their maturity until four years of age. These cats can reach up to 11 inches tall and get 17-21 inches in length (excluding their tails). Ragdolls are considered to be the largest of the domestic cat breed.

But you should know that ragdolls don’t grow at a steady pace. They experience growth spurts. So, you might look at your cat and think it’s skinny or suffering from stunted growth, while your fur baby might just be experiencing a periodic lapse in its growth which is perfectly normal.

What Are The Possible Reasons Behind Your Ragdolls Being Skinny

As mentioned earlier, it is rare to have ragdolls that don’t become huge as they grow older. But, if your fur baby seems to have stunted growth, you can look into some of the reasons listed below to discover where you might help your feline become a healthy and happy kitty.

Malnutrition

Ragdoll kittens have ravenous appetites. And, as they grow older, their hunger grows. And, you have to keep pace with their increasing need for food. During the first four years, ragdolls need all the nutrition they can get for their overall well-being and healthy growth. 

But, if you haven’t been careful with your cat’s diet and nutrition, then your kitty will undoubtedly suffer from slow growth and become bony.

Parasites

Parasites affect your fur baby’s appetite and weight. Parasites such as hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, and heartworms have a hormonal effect giving your furry friend digestion problems in the short run. And, in the long run, you will find your ragdoll will lose a significant amount of weight.

Inappropriate Diet

Ragdoll cats need frequent meals. And, you should know that ragdolls are obligate carnivores (survive only on meat). Hence, they need a lot of animal protein to thrive. Also, when you are feeding adult ragdolls, you need to keep their carbohydrate content to a minimum level of 2%. 

However, their meals need to be rich in protein and healthy fats. That’s where your kitty will get the energy it needs to grow. But, if your cat’s diet is inappropriate, you will have a skinny feline on your hands, irrespective of the breed.

Runt Of The Litter

The mother often ignores kittens that are born too weak to feed themselves. However, if these little beings get love, care, and enough attention, they do outgrow their flaws in most cases. But, if the kittens get ignored for too long, they might suffer from malnutrition, stunted growth, or underdeveloped organs.

Additionally, stunted growth in a cat doesn’t just mean that your feline might be lean and scraggy. Stunted growth can also mean that your fur baby’s internal organs are compromised. Hence, if your ragdoll is way underweight, you might want to get your fur baby checked by the vet to ensure that your cat doesn’t suffer any medical conditions.

Aggression In A Multiple-Pet Household

You might find it hard to believe, but ragdolls neither show aggression nor are they good at aggression around them. So, if your beloved pet is under stress due to the introduction of a new pet in the house, there is a possibility that your ragdoll is off its food and not gaining any weight.

What Can You Do To Help Your Ragdoll Gain Weight

It would help if you were 100% sure that your pet doesn’t suffer from internal health concerns. Once your pet receives a clean bill of health, you can then proceed forward to make plans that will assist your pet in gaining some weight – the healthy way.

You can follow through a series of steps that you can take:

• Reduce your cat’s anxiety or stress – Any issue that makes your fur baby stressed needs to be resolved promptly and effectively.
• Choose canned food over kibble – Go with canned food for cats, particularly of high quality, with as few additives, preservatives, and chemicals as possible. And, try to warm up canned food before you offer it to your pet.
• Provide a balanced, nutritional diet – Wet cat food is better than dry kibble. And you should provide a varied meal to include other proteins such as chicken, turkey or lamb.
• Small, frequent meals – Cats hunt many times a day to stay healthy in the wild, so if you want a healthy cat, you should mimic its natural habits and feed your kitty small but frequent meals.

Things To Consider

If you do happen to follow some of the tips, your ragdoll is likely going to be well on its way to becoming a healthy feline. But, if you aren’t confident, then you should never forget the following:

• Suppose you are caring for a pet as precious as a ragdoll cat is truly a privilege. But, it can be quite a responsibility too. So, if you feel that your kitty is underweight, one of the first things you should do is get your pet a medical check-up.
• Make sure to provide your cat with a nutritional and balanced meal and give it a loving home with little or no reason for stress and concern, and you will invariably find your fur baby flourishing.