Caring for a Ragdoll Cat
The ragdoll cat is a large breed of cat, best known for its
easygoing and mellow nature.
They have long, thick fur coats and markings that resemble a
siamese. Caring for your ragdoll cat should involve a regular
feeding and grooming schedule, along with regular visits to the
veterinarian for checkups and vaccinations. If you take good care
of your ragdoll cat, they will be healthy, happy, and a better
active pet for you to enjoy.
Feeding
Fresh food and water is an absolute necessity for your ragdoll.
It is recommended that you always have a bowl full of dry food
available for your cat, as well as a bowl of clean water. Wet food
is probably not necessary on a daily basis, but it is really up to
you, and what your ragdoll prefers. You may need to experiment with
different brands and flavors of wet food. It can provide extra
nutrients and add variety to your ragdoll's diet. We recommend
feeding your ragdoll one of the premium brands of food, as the
quality is usually better. Usually kittens should have a special
formula of food, so check with your veterinarian or local pet store
if your not sure.
You should try to clean the water bowl daily, and the food bowl
as much as possible to prevent germs and bacteria from building
up.
Grooming
Ragdoll coats can vary in thickness and hair type. The average
ragdoll hair is fairly thick, and very soft to the touch. The
length of the fur can be medium to long.
They usually do a good job of grooming themselves, and don't
require excessive brushing. It is a good idea to brush them
strenuously a couple of times a week to prevent matting of the fur.
The other reason for brushing on a regular schedule, is if you
happen to find a knot forming, you can easily brush it out before
it gets out of control.
Ragdolls tend to enjoy grooming and make it easy for you to
brush away!
Bathing
Bathing is not really necessary if regular grooming is done. It
may be beneficial to give your ragdoll a bath a couple of times a
year, to clean the coat if really dirty or if they have gotten into
something that can not be brushed out.
Make sure that you use a shampoo and conditioner that is
formulated especially for cats, as regular human products may be
harmful to your ragdoll.
Claws
Declawing a cat is a controversial subject, and one that brings
many different opinions. We generally don't recommend declawing a
ragdoll unless it will help with the safety within a household,
specifically with children. Clipping the claws can be done on a
regular basis to avoid damage to your furniture or other items in
the house, so if that is your only reason for declawing the cat,
your decision should be weighed carefully because it is not
reversible.
Keep in mind that if a ragdoll cat is declawed, it should be
limited in it's exposure to the outside world. Without front claws,
a ragdoll doesn't have much of a defense against other animals or
threats that it might encounter.
Litterbox
The litterbox should be kept in a fairly secluded area to allow
for privacy, but not so out of the way that it is difficult to
access for cleaning. Usually a laundry room or other spare room
serves as a good location.
We recommend scooping out the inside of the box at least once a
day, and actually replacing the litter weekly. If you have more
than one cat, then it may be necessary to clean the box twice
daily, morning and night for example.
There are many different brands and types of litter out there,
it is just a matter of preference. The main thing is to find
something that your cat will use, is easy to keep clean and
affordable for your budget.
Veterinarian
You should take your ragdoll to a veterinarian on a regular
basis according to what they recommend. You will want to get
vaccination shots and any other treatments that will keep your cat
healthy and safe.
There may be special considerations if your ragdoll spends more
time outside, such as pest control and a higher susceptibility to
disease. Make sure you discuss this with your vet and work out a
plan that makes sense.
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