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Last updated on:
03/10/10 |
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(Click on questions to
automatically take you to answers, or just scroll down)
Temperament
*
Why is this breed called "Ragdolls"?
*
Will they scratch the
furniture?
Considering Adopting?
*
Is this the breed for me?
*
Should we get a male or female?
*
Should I adopt one kitten or
two?
*
The house is empty most days,
will the Ragdoll kitten be
lonely?
*
Is it true that people affected
by allergies will not be affected
by the Ragdoll
breed
of cats?
Purchasing
After Adopting & Taking Kitty Home
*
I heard that
Ragdolls are more sensitive than other breeds
and will have
reactions
to
vaccinations and should not be
given certain vaccines, should I
avoid vaccinating my
Ragdoll?
*
What
brand of food does your kittens eat?
*
What happens if I want to change
the food that my kitten is
eating?
*
Why can't I give milk to my
Ragdoll kitten?
*
Are the kittens litter trained
before they go home?
*
What type of litter do you recommend?
*
Are you still involved with
the kitten once he/she goes to
their homes?
~ Answers to Frequently Asked Questions ~
Temperament
Q: Why is this breed called "Ragdolls"?
The name Ragdoll comes from the cat’s ability to
become totally relaxed and limp like a child's toy Ragdoll. It is even more prevalent in mature
Ragdolls than in kittens.
Q: What are some of the
characteristics of the Ragdoll?
Ragdolls are by nature a relaxed, loving, docile cat.
They love to have their bellies rubbed and sleep lying next to
you. Ragdolls are very responsive and intelligent. They enjoy
being with people and other pets, as they are very social. Many
owners report they have little privacy since their Ragdolls
follow them everywhere in some cases. The Ragdoll is simply an
easy-going cat.
Q: Are all Ragdoll cats loving,
calm, and docile?
NO. Every kitten will have its own personality and
there may be an aggressive type in any litter. However, this is
not common and reputable breeders do breed for temperament that
holds true to the Ragdoll breed. The first 12 weeks of a
kitten's life shape its behavior later on in life. If the kitten
is raised with its mother, other pets, and a friendly atmosphere
including regular human contact, the kitten should be well-socialized.
Q:
Is the Ragdoll a "lap cat"?
Well, some can be, but most Ragdolls are not usually lap cats.
They are friendly, loving, sociable creatures who take delight in
being in your very presence. They will follow you from room to room,
greet you at the door, delight in being with you constantly, lay
beside you on the couch, or at your feet, or across the back of your
couch or lazy-boy chair, but they are not, for the most part, lap
cats. A Ragdoll's body temperature is 101 degrees or higher, and
yours is 98.6 on average, add the thick fur coat they wear to that
equation and you'll soon figure out why they become uncomfortable
after being held for long periods of time.
Q:
I want a Ragdoll
because I heard that they will flop in your arms and go
limp when you pick them up, is this true?
First, you might
want to consider buying a stuffed cat, a Ragdoll is not an inanimate
object.
Most Ragdolls will go limp at one stage or another, but
not all will do this. Ragdolls are in fact a very laid back,
docile and relaxed cat which makes them seem limp when you pick
them up.
Like any other cat,
not all Ragdolls love to be held to start with. Going "limp" often
depends on a strong trust or comfort level, the age of the cat, as
kittens tend to be far more active and "squirmy", and the
personality of the Ragdoll in question. Your cat may, or may not,
ever feel comfortable in a prone position. The Ragdoll personality
is more about being a laid back, gentle, sociable creature who
adores his humans than it is about being a limp sack of cat fur. Ragdolls love to play, a quality they tend to retain throughout
life; perpetual kittenhood. They are goofy, intelligent, moderately
active, and they thrive on attention. If you are looking for an
ornament, please do not buy a Ragdoll, both you and the Ragdoll
will be very unhappy with the end result.
Q:
Do Ragdolls get along well with other animals?
Actually, yes, very well. It's best to introduce them
slowly and they may hiss at first, but usually after a week or so,
they become good buddies. Ragdolls are extremely inquisitive,
and have very little hesitation in meeting new animals. Just as
long as the existing animal is friendly and gentle, then there
should be no problems.
Q: Are they really an indoor
cat?
Yes, definitely! The Ragdoll is bred as an inside cat
and are very trusting cats towards people, or even other
animals. They do like going outside for a play etc., but only
do this under strict supervision, as most Ragdolls will go to
anyone so it might get stolen or worse get run over or attacked
by another animal. They aren't street smart like your average moggie.
Q: Can a Ragdoll kitten be
trained similar to that of a dog?
YES. Many of our new owners have written back to us
how their Ragdoll will walk on a leash, play fetch with a ball,
and beg for a treat. Since the Ragdoll likes to please its
owners, almost anything may be possible, especially if started at
a young age.
Q: Will they scratch the
furniture?
All cats need to scratch their claws on something, so
make sure you get them a scratching post or they will find
something else to use instead, like furniture.
*For more information, you can visit our
About
Ragdolls page
Physical Characteristics
Q: Do all Ragdolls have blue eyes?
All "traditional" Ragdolls have blue eyes.
However, "non-traditional" Ragdolls such as minks
usually have variations of blue-green eyes, and solids
normally do
not have blue eyes... we produce minks, but not solids.
Q: Is it true that Ragdolls
change colors?
Yes and No. Ragdolls are unique, because they develop
their colors very slowly. Traditional Ragdolls are born all white and slowly
begin to develop their color and pattern over the first four
weeks of life. Between four weeks and sixteen weeks their colors
will intensify, but are still not a true representation of what
their coat will be as an adult. You will be able to see your
cat's full size, weight, and final coat color at between two to
three years of age. It is fascinating to watch the stages and
transitions.
Q: Can you explain
the colors & patterns of Ragdolls?
Ragdolls
are available in
traditional, mink, and solid. To learn more about mink
Ragdolls, you can
click here. Traditional Ragdolls are born
ALL white with their color coming in slowly and full color
isn't reached until they are around 3 years old. So, most of
the pictures you will see, especially of kittens, will be of
a mostly white cat except for the points, which will have color.
The colors and
patterns of Ragdolls is pretty easy to understand once you
get the hang of it.
COLORS - There are 6 basic colors: Seal, Blue, Chocolate, Lilac, Red
(also called Flame), and Cream.
Some of these are diluted colors of the other.
~
SEAL - is a dark brown that's almost black.
~
BLUE - (SEAL dilute) is a dark bluish grey.
~
CHOCOLATE - is best described as a chocolate brown.
~
LILAC (CHOCOLATE dilute) - is a noticeably lighter shade of blue/grey
with a slight pinkish tinge.
~
RED or FLAME - is much like most red cats you've seen.
~
CREAM (RED dilute) - is a noticeably lighter shade of red.
OK, that sums up the COLORS
and leads us to the PATTERNS, where I think most of the
confusion comes in....
PATTERNS
- There are 5 basic patterns:
Colorpoint, Mitted, Bicolor, Lynx (also called Tabby), and
Tortie.
~ COLORPOINT, is a cat
of any of the colors mentioned above, that has just one
color on its
body. Bear in mind that a colorpoint has a
darker shade of its body color on its points. The
points on
a Ragdoll are its paw tips, tail, ears, and face.
~ MITTED, is a cat much
like the colorpoint and comes in Seal, Blue, Chocolate, Lilac,
Red, and
Cream, but has white at some of the points. So, a mitted
Ragdoll has white on its front paw
tips, white on its rear legs
and as an added attraction, has a white chin and chest. The ears
and tail are the same as described for the colorpoint.
~ BICOLOR, is a pattern of
any of the colors mentioned above that has
two distinct colors on its
face. The color on its ears and top of the head are the
body color, only darker, and with an
inverted white "V" on the
lower part of the face. A BICOLOR Ragdoll has white legs and
white
on the face, with a body that may be mostly white with
splashes of color OR with solid color
covering the body.
~ LYNX or TABBY, is a
pattern of any of the colors mentioned above, but
has dark
stripes of the
same color that's on the body. A Lynx
Ragdoll has white inside its ears, with reddish nose
leather. Lynx Ragdolls ALSO combine patterns. There are Colorpoint, Mitted, and Bicolor Lynx
~ TORTIE, is a pattern
that's gender specific. Only females will be Tortie. When a kitten has a
Red father or mother, some of the female kittens
could be Tortie. A Tortie
Ragdoll has splashes
of dark color on her face and body
that's mostly cream colored. A BLUE CREAM is a female
Ragdoll that has one Blue parent and one Red parent, but is really a Tortie.
Q: Do Ragdolls lose a lot of fur, will they mat, and how much grooming do they need?
Their coat is like rabbits' and sheds a lot less than
other medium or long-haired cats.
Ragdolls generally do not mat, but if you don't
regularly groom them, then they may.
A quick brush every week or so
is recommended and enjoyed by most Ragdolls. They are very easy
to maintain.
Considering Adopting?
Q: Is this the breed for me?
If you want a large cat which is non-aggressive, loves
to be with people, and is very placid, you may want to consider
a Ragdoll. Also, if you love the look of a long-haired cat, but
do not want the constant grooming associated with breeds such as
the Persian, a Ragdoll would be a good choice. The gentle Ragdoll is also good with children and is easy to introduce into
a multi-pet household. If you want a very active or talkative
cat, then you might not be happy with the less-active Ragdoll.
Q: Should we get a male or
female?
This is the question that everyone
seems to ask :-). Both males and females make wonderful pets.
There is little variation in their personalities, once they have been de-sexed.
The boys usually won’t spray once desexed. It all
comes down to individual personalities. Some "generalized" cat
care books state that males are more extraverted and more apt to
adapt themselves with strangers. And, females are said to be
more stand offish and need more time to bond with their owners
or adapt to company or strangers. We have found that with the Ragdoll breed this is not always necessarily so. Part of the
intrigue with Ragdolls in general is how wonderful they are with
their human companions. Their main difference is size, being the
boys are bigger than the girls by a couple of kilos.
Q: Should I adopt one kitten or
two?
We recommend adopting two kittens
at the same time if possible for many different reasons.
1. The main reason is if you have
two cats, they can keep each other company and will never be lonely.
Ragdolls are very affectionate and love constant companions. But don't
worry, they will still love their humans just as much!
2. The second cat does not demand
much more work than having only one cat.
3. Cats love to play and having a
companion with them, they will always be able to. This will also help keep
your cat in better shape and better health from exercise!
4. Two cats together will create a
wonderful bond between them and will help keep each other clean with helpful
grooming in those hard to reach places :-).
5. Cats also tend to have less
destructive habits when they are not bored. Having another cat around
gives mental and physical stimulation.
6. And most of all... you get
twice as much love!!!
Q: The house is empty most days,
will the Ragdoll kitten be lonely?
If it's just usual work or school hours, they should be
fine. Although, they would prefer company, whether it be with humans or
animals. If you work away for long hours, you would be better off
with two pets or maybe look at a different breed. They really do love
company and it would be cruel to leave them on their own.
Q: Is it true that people affected
by allergies will not be affected by the Ragdoll breed of cats?
FALSE. Allergies from cats do not come from the hair,
rather it is found in cat dander (dried skin, a bit like dandruff).
Therefore, if you have an allergy to cats, this will hold as true for
the Ragdoll breed as it does for the hairless Sphynx.
Purchasing
Q: Where are you located and do you ship?
We are located
in Grovetown, Georgia, approximately 10 miles from Augusta. Yes, we ship through Delta Airlines out of Augusta Regional Airport.
Shipping charges are: the cost of the flight (plus taxes and fees), the
crate, and a health certificate. This is usually about
$350. We do not ship internationally, but you can fly here and take a
kitten home with you.
Q: You offer
delivery assistance. What does that mean?
We can save you
time and travel by meeting
you within 60 miles of our home at no charge.
Q: How do I go about reserving a Ragdoll kitten?
You can either phone or email us. Please tell me a little
about yourself and your family first. I'm sure you can understand that
we only want the best for
our kittens.
Q: When do I need to pay my
deposit?
You can pay your deposit once you've chosen your
kitten. You can pay via PayPal, check, money order, or
cash. Deposits are non-refundable, but can be transferred to another
available kitten or one of a future litter.
Q:
Is it first come, first serve?
Yes,
we no longer keep a waiting list,
and kittens will be reserved only for clients with
deposits. We do not accept deposits until a kitten has
been chosen. A kitten can be chosen by photos or by visit.
Q:
What forms of
payment do you accept the day I pick my kitten up?
We only accept cash
on the day your kitten leaves.
Full payment is due on/before the day your kitten leaves our home.
Q: Why do I need to wait until
the Ragdoll kitten is at least 10-12 weeks old before I can pick the kitten
up?
They need to be mature enough to leave the comfort of
their mother for a happy and healthy life. Some are later
bloomers than others, so occasionally we may require that a
kitten leaves a little later.
After Adopting & Taking Kitty Home
Q: When are their vaccinations
due?
They have their first vaccination at 8 weeks of age and a
second at 12 weeks, then yearly after that.
Q: I heard that
Ragdolls are more sensitive than other breeds and will have reactions
to vaccinations and should not be given certain vaccines, should I
avoid vaccinating my Ragdoll?
A healthy immune
system deals with routine vaccinations without trouble, it's what
the immune system was designed to do. If your Ragdoll
is healthy and from sound, healthy breeding stock, from a
reputable breeder who does not perpetuate poor immune systems or
other various GENETIC disorders through poor breeding practices,
your Ragdoll should have no problem with routine vaccinations. Ragdolls are no more susceptible to vaccine reactions than any other
breed.
Often breeders, including myself,
will caution you not to vaccinate for Feline Leukemia. A reaction to
this vaccine is possible, in ALL cats, and the risk of a reaction
outweighs the benefits of the vaccine in an indoor only cat. If your Ragdoll is from FeLv/FIV free breeding stock, and is an indoor only
cat, it is impossible for your Ragdoll to contract the virus and
therefore vaccinating against this disease is pointless. Note:
Your contract from us will be void if you give you vaccinate your
kitten against Feline Leukemia.
Q: What brand of food does your kittens eat?
We have recently switched our kitten food to Hill's Science
Diet Original dry kitten food, most vets recommend it (including ours) and it's very healthy for them and they
seem to love it. They're fed a full bowl at all times.
Hill's® Science Diet® Kitten Healthy Development Original cat food gives your
kitten precisely balanced nutrition to build immunity and digestive health.
It is enriched with DHA from high quality fish oil and made with high quality
ingredients that provide an ideal combination of nutrients, clinically proven
antioxidants and vital fatty acids to give your kitten the best start in life.
Click here to go to Hill's
website.
Q:
What happens if I want to change
the food that my kitten is eating?
We recommend feeding your Ragdoll Hill's Science Diet dry
kitten food
until he or she has reached at least one year of age. If in this
time you choose to change the kitten's food dramatically, it
could cause some stomach upset or diarrhea. What we recommend is
a gradual transition, adding a bit more each day, slowly mixing
in a little of the new food with their existing food until
completely switched over. This usually takes approximately two
weeks. There are many good foods on the market, but of course we
recommend feeding our kittens only "premium" quality kitten
foods since they contain all the essential nutrients and
ingredients a kitten needs to be happy, healthy, and strong. No matter what, DO NOT give them cow's
milk.
Q: Why can't I give milk to my
Ragdoll kitten?
Cats are lactose intolerant; any milk product will
upset their stomach and make them sick.
Q: Are the kittens litter trained
before they go home?
Yes, all my kittens are fully litter trained before they
leave. Keep in mind, that going to a new home can cause stress
and sometimes accidents can happen, especially because they're not
familiar with where their new litter box is. We recommend
putting your kitty in a small room when unattended where he/she can
easily get to the litter box until the kittens is familiar with its
new home. If an accident happens in an unwanted place, I've
heard that "Kitten Attract" seems to work well to help discourage
this behavior. Most of all, please be patient... your new
kitty is young and is still learning.
Q: What type of litter do you recommend?
We recommend
using World's Best Cat Litter (we use this for our kittens) since it's safe if a
kitten ingests the litter, or a good clumping cat litter for adult cats.
WBCL clumps and is safe, natural, scoopable, flushable, and available in
a variety of sizes. WBCL provides the benefits of an all-natural, safe litter
for cats.
Click here to go directly to their website.
Q: Are you still involved with
the kitten once he/she goes to their homes?
Yes... if you want me to be. Please let me know if you
have any questions or problems
and I'll do my best to help. Even if it's a
few years down the road. I always love getting photos and
updates on them as well, so feel free to email some from
time to time. (Please!) and I will include them on this website!!!
Some Important Links
Sorry if I
didn't cover all your questions, please feel free to
call or
e-mail me if you need any more information or have additional
questions.
Web Design & Maintenance by:
Cheryl Bromagen
~ Copyright © 2007 - 2010 GA Southern Dolls
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