Ragdoll Kitten Care

Ragdoll Cat and Kitten Care

The First Few Days...|Contracts|Diet|Cooking for Your Kitten|Toileting

Grooming|Fleas and Worming|Vaccinations|Indoors or Outdoors?

Congratulations on buying your Ragdoll kitten from a Ragdoll International Breeder. As a group, the RI breeders try to stay as well informed, and up to date on the information concerning the breeding and raising of Ragdolls.

We encourage buyers to stay in touch with the breeder after the purchase of your kitten. It helps both the breeder and the buyer. The breeder needs to know how his breeding program is doing, and sometimes the breedercan help the owner solve a problem, and avoid a costly visit to the vet.

CONTRACTS

It is wise to ensure you have a signed contract from the breeder. The contract should have at least the following:

1. The birthdate, color, and parents of the kitten

2. The breeders health guarantee

2. A return policy

3. The immunization record of your kitten, plus future recommendations for shots.

4. Recommendation of food and litter to use with your kitten

5. An altering agreement, if your kitten hasn't already been desexed. It is the usual practice for the breeder to hold the registration papers on your kitten until proof of altering (spaying or neutering) has been sent to the breeder. Your breeder will have the procedure outlined in the contract.

Sometimes breeders will have more things in the contracts than just the basics. Make sure you read and understand the contract, and then abide by it, to protect yourself, as well as the cat. If your vet should question the advise given by the breeder, give him the name and telephone number of the breeder, and she or he can explain the reasoning behind the recommendation. Remember, the breeder knows the Ragdoll better than the vet knows the Ragdoll. The vets play a very important part in your cats life, and we can't do without them. However, each breed of cat is a little different, and your breeder will know the little things about the Ragdoll. Please work with your breeder.

THE FIRST FEW DAYS

You should receive your Ragdoll kitten in good health, fully immunised, desexed (if applicable), wormed and ready for a new life with you.

The first few days may be difficult for your kitten, remember, he/she has been used to mum, brothers and sisters and suddenly they are not there anymore. It takes time to adjust to a new home and your patience and love are greatly needed at this time.

For the first few nights, we suggest you confine your kitten to a small room with his bed, litter tray and a snack (water and biscuits). Perhaps a snugly safe toy will provide some security.

If you can stand it, your kitten would love to sleep with you for the first few nights until he/she has settled in. Some people don’t like this, but the kitten thinks it’s a brilliant idea!

DIET...................

Your Ragdoll International kitten has been fed a balanced diet. We recommend that you do not change your kittens diet early on to avoid the risk of an upset tummy.

A variety of foods is suitable. These include good quality tinned food and a good quality professional dried food such as (Iams, Pro Plan, or Hills Science Diet ). Kitten varieties of most of these are available. Fresh cooked meats ( fish, chicken) are good as is a little raw meat, preferably human quality. A sprinkling of grated cheese and chopped boiled egg is a welcome treat.

Cooking for Your Kitten!

1. Fish. Place fish (no bones!) in casserole dish and cover with milk and place lid or foil on top. Bake on moderate heat for 20-30 mins. Drain and flake fish, check for bones. Feed to your cat when cool. (We use this occasionally for our older cats)

2. Chicken. We buy whole chicken’s and steam them until cooked. Remove flesh from bones and once again feed to your cat when cool.

These foods are a small part of the diet, and are used as treats only.

There is a widespread belief in some countries that too much dried food causes kidney problems. We know of no known foundation for this with modern good quality dry foods (eg Hills Science or Iams etc), and many ragdoll breeders in USA feed their kittens ONLY dried food.

Raw chicken wings are good to keep teeth and gums healthy but please watch your kitten while young.

As each kitten is different and has his/her own preferences, ask your breeder exactly what your kitten enjoys.

Your kitten requires three meals a day till around five months old and then two meals a day. Some cats are happy to have one meal a day when adult, however, the recommendation is two smaller meals a day. It is easier on the cat’s digestion and an enjoyable part of their day!

We don’t recommend an all meat diet. This diet is lacking in various vitamins and minerals which are vital to your cat’s continued good health.

TOILETING.

Your kitten has been toilet trained using a tray with kitty litter. The best filling for the tray is one of the many brands of cat litters available.

Please don’t use sand , dirt or sawdust. It is not absorbent and quickly becomes wet and smelly. Sawdust ends up all over the house as it sticks to the cat’s paws.

Put the tray in a place where your kitten can find it and try not to relocate it- your kitten is not a mind reader!

The tray should be emptied and cleaned on a daily basis. Please use a disinfectant which is safe for cats.

Disinfectants containing phenols and cresols can be lethal to cats . They can absorb this substance through their paw pads. Please also be aware of the products you use in your bathrooms, kitchens etc.

We suggest chlorine based products or normal household bleach watered down.

Please remember your kitten is in a new environment and any adjustments need time and patient understanding of the occasional ‘slip ups’ that might occur.

GROOMING................

The Ragdoll coat is medium and long. Dense, soft and silky in texture. This coat does not form mats and is quite easy to groom.

We recommend a weekly combing and brushing for maintenance of your kitten’s coat, however if you wish to groom more regularly your cat will love the attention. You could groom your cat while watching television or sitting by the fire. It is an enjoyable time for both cat and human!!

The occasional bath is a good though challenging idea, ask your breeder about bathing cats!

There are many books available on grooming techniques.

FLEAS AND WORMING!

Flea, tick and worm control is of paramount importance for the ongoing good health of your kitten.

Problems with these vary from place to place so ask your breeder what she recommends.

It is vital your kitten is kept worm free, as apart from being uncomfortable for the kitten it also affects his/her health.

Fleas must also be kept at bay! Flea infestations can be most uncomfortable for you as well as the cat.

The recommendation is to use a veterinary product as these are the most effective in flea control.

Check with your cat’s breeder or your vet for advice. It doesn’t matter what you use so long as it is safe and effective.

VACCINATIONS.

These vary somewhat around the world, please check with your breeder for the best immunisation schedule for your kitten. Your kitten will need to be immunised annually.

Hopefully your kitten will only need to visit his/her vet annually, however if your kitten looks sick or you are concerned about him/her in any way- please seek veterinary advice promptly.

Remember, your kitten is totally dependent on you for all his needs, please be a responsible owner.

INDOORS OR OUTDOORS?

We recommend that your kitten is kept indoors. It is the safest place for your cat and protects the wildlife outside.

There has been increased awareness of the damaging effect that cats can have on our environment and this has become such a problem that currently draft legislation is in process in many countries.

Cats are natural hunters. Please do your part in protecting our wildlife and the well-being of your cat. Internal parasites, disease and abscesses are just a few problems that your cat may pick up from digesting or fighting wildlife, (this includes feral cats).

The best way to protect your cat and the wildlife is to confine your cat indoors at all times!!!!

The other dangers for your cat roaming free to consider are:-

1. Dog attacks

2. Car accidents

3. Cat fights or getting lost.

4. Exposure to diseases.

The trauma to your cat is distressful and the resultant vet bills can be very costly!

IN CONCLUSION.

Your Ragdoll kitten has been brought up in a loving home and has learnt to trust the humans and other animals it has been in contact with.

Please be aware that your trusting, gentle Ragdoll may need protecting at times, their nature is very trusting and they sometimes lack the judgment to be careful.

Some stories still exist that Ragdolls don’t feel pain, THEY DO! And just like any other living creature, they deserve the same respect and care.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call your breeder. We are more than happy to assist you and finally, we wish you many years of love and enjoyment with your special Ragdoll kitten.

PS All Breeders love to get the occasional photo ! .............