Bringing Your Kitten Home: Part II

When feeding your new Ragdoll kitten it is best to stay with the food the breeder has been using. Your breeder will tell you to leave dry food out along with a bowl of water at all times. Your breeder may recommend a dish of soft food as often as twice a day. When feeding the soft food start with a small amount and increase the amount you feed if your kitten wants more. Do not leave soft food out for more that a few hours. The amount of food your kitten eats will vary from day to day with appetite; there is no need for alarm if your kitten refuses food occasionally. Kittens will eat more as they grow.

Your Ragdoll kitten may play hard all day and then sleep most of the next day. Their eating habits may follow this pattern also. One day they may eat everything in sight, the next simply pick at their food. This is a normal pattern. However, if your Ragdoll kitten seems lethargic or will not eat for several meals there may be a problem. If their nose is running and their eyes are crusty or puffy call your veterinarian. If you know how to take your kitten’s temperature let the vet know if your kitten has a fever. Often the temperature reading will be your only indication that your Ragdoll is sick. From time to time your Ragdoll may have loose stool. Most of the time this is due to something your kitten ate, like a bug. It could be due to plants or even swallowing part of a toy. If your kitten is throwing up this may work the problem out of their system, but keep an eye on them. If this condition persists for more than a day get your kitten to the veterinarian. You may want to call before taking your kitten in as this could save you money if the problem is simple to rectify.

It is very important to purchase quality cat food. Your Ragdoll cat’s health, energy level, and coat depend much on the food they eat. While a premium kitten and cat food will cost more, the benefits far outweigh the costs. Do not change the type of food you are feeding your Ragdoll kitten suddenly; a sudden change could cause diarrhea. If you decide to change food do it gradually by mixing the new food with the old over a period of time. Clean and refill your water bowl on a daily bases; if the bowl is not cleaned regularly it can get slime at the bottom. Something to keep in mind is not to give milk to your cat. Most cats are lactose intolerant and milk can upset their stomachs or even cause diarrhea. You should start your kitten on water, bottled water is ideal, as soon as you bring them home. Talk to your vet about brushing your kitten’s teeth and get them started with the toothbrush early. This is especially important if you are feeding your kitten soft food. Tarter buildup on your cat’s teeth can lead to bacteria and gum disease which can damage your cat’s liver and other organs. Your Ragdoll will be much healthier if you start a tooth brush routine early on as a kitten.

Purchase a large litter box for your Ragdoll kitten. If you have a large home you may want to consider multiple litter boxes throughout your house to prevent accidents. Be sure and scoop the box out daily and change the litter at least once a week. Keeping the box clean on a regular basis will prevent your house from smelling like a litter box. Most litter box problems people have result from not keeping the box clean on a regular basis. Before bringing your new Ragdoll kitten home it is important to kitten-proof your house. This process is the much the same as baby-proofing; look for sharp objects, string, and rubber bands. Houseplants are another danger for your new Ragdoll; most houseplants are poisonous to small animals. They may also dig in the pot and leave a mess, it is best to remove houseplants or hang them from the ceiling where your cat will not reach them.

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