Caring For Your New Ragdoll Cat
Sep 25th, 2006 by Rob
If you are a new Ragdoll cat owner, you probably have many questions about caring for your new furry critter. Here is a simple introduction to caring for your Ragdoll cat and building your relationship. Ragdolls are extremely affectionate cats; they have very few hang-ups and are very easy to care for.
The first thing you should do for your new Ragdoll is to establish a relationship with your veterinarian and get an exam. The veterinarian will need a fecal sample to check for parasites; before going in for the appointment take a fresh sample with you. You will want a clean bill of health from your veterinarian and have all of the necessary vaccinations taken care of. If you are considering declawing your Ragdoll, it is strongly recommended that you refrain from declawing your cat.
Cats can be destructive critters; however, it is easy to train your Ragdoll not to scratch your furniture. Declawing is a procedure that amputates the knuckle of your cat’s toes to remove the claw. This effectively cripples your cat, after undergoing this procedure many owners report their cat’s personality changes along with other painful side effects.
Spaying or neutering your cat is very important; cats that are spayed or neutered have fewer incidents of certain cancers and other diseased. Your Ragdoll has a better chance of living a long life if you spay or neuter when your cat is very young. Ragdoll owners that spay or neuter their cats rarely have problems with spraying; unaltered cats have a tendency to mark their territory by spraying urine on your furniture and walls.
One problem common to all cat owners comes from the litter box. Cats can be extremely picky when it comes to the litter box; keeping a clean litter box will help minimize any potential litter box problems in store for you. Consult your veterinarian on a regular basis regarding any problems that arise and you will be on your way to a long and happy relationship with your new Ragdoll cat.
Excellent reading. I haave a 1 year old male and he often bites me. I have tried everything and nothing works except now I get up and walk away when I see the look in his eyes. THis seems to be working. He will still try it off and on but I am thinking it is an attention getter as he usually does it when I am knitting. I can just reach out to pet him and he will bite me. Sometimes he hangs onto my arm and I can’t get him off. I have great scars. Will he outgrow this?
Thank you,