Ragdoll Cats

My eight year Ragdoll Louie, whose face you see at the top of this page, has been eating Science Diet “Ocean Savory” soft cat food ever since he was a kitten. Lo and behold this food was part of the Menu Foods recall so we stopped feeding him it immediately. Louie has always been a very well-behaved cat, aside from the occasional bout of scratching on my computer chair he’s never been destructive or had problems using the litter box.

Since changing Louie’s food I’ve been having a number of problems with the little guy. Louie and his sister Fiity now eat Fancy Feast “Elegant Medleys” cat food which was not affected by the Menu Foods recall. Both cats love the yellow fin tuna flavor and Louie in particular scarfs his food down as fast as possible. Ever since Louie was a kitten he has a problem throwing up when he eats his food too fast. Salmon flavored foods seem to exacerbate the problem; however, Louie has a clean bill of health form the Vet. The Vet said he just has a problem when he eats too fast.

Since changing Louie’s food he’s started having problems with the litter box. The problems started with him taking a poo in the corner of my office. This happened two or three times and I was able to stop it by covering the area he had been going with aluminum foil until he got it out of his head to go there. Louie’s litter box is located in the laundry room and he will now occasionally seek out a laundry basket full of clothes to poo in the basket. He doesn’t have a problem urinating in the box; Louie just seems to enjoy going on dirty clothes. I think he’s doing this because of the change in his diet; unfortunately, there was no way around this sudden change thanks to Menu Foods.

If you’re a Ragdoll cat owner experiencing problems with your Ragdoll due to the sudden change in your cat’s food, feel free to share your stories here.

Tags: pet food recall

Playing with your Ragdoll cat is a fun way to exercise and bond with your cat. Toys don’t have to cost a fortune and there are plenty of things around the house to keep your Ragdoll cat entertained and fit.

You may have seen your cat playing in a paper bag or a cardboard box. Cat toys don’t have to be fancy and even something as simple as a shower curtain ring can provide your Ragdoll hours of enjoyment.

Here are some ideas for homemade toys for your Ragdoll:

• Turn a cardboard box upside down and cut a small hole in one side to provide access for your cat’s paw. Place a catnip mouse inside the box and watch your Ragdoll grab at the mouse.

• Cut an opening on both ends of the cardboard box to create a tunnel for your Ragdoll cat to play in.

• Crumple paper into a ball and throw it into an open box for your cat to play with.

• Plastic rings from a milk jug can provide your cat hours of enjoyment, especially if your cat likes to fetch.

• Tie newspaper to a string and drag it across the floor for your cat to play with.

• Set a large paper bag on its side for your Ragdoll to crawl inside.

• Plastic drinking straws, shower curtain rings, and plastic bottle tops make great soccer toys.

Have any other ideas for homemade cat toys? Post your thoughts here!

Tags: cat toys

Christmas trees and Ragdoll cats can be a recipe for disaster. There are things you can do to make sure your Christmas tree is Ragdoll cat friendly. First, make sure you are using the largest tree base possible. Choosing the widest tree base will help keep the tree from tipping over if your Ragdoll cat tackles it. Another trick to keep your Christmas tree from tipping over is to tie fishing line to a hook in your ceiling and secure the top of the tree.

Another area of potential problems is the water in your tree stand. Christmas tree stands are filled with stagnant water that contains plant fertilizer and bacteria. If your Ragdoll drinks this water your cat could become very ill. One trick you can use to keep your Ragdoll cat away from the tree altogether is to use a metal foil tree skirt. Metal foils in a variety of colors are available from your local hobby store and cats strongly dislike the feel of metal foil on their paws.

When you decorate your Christmas tree avoid using glass balls or tinsel. Make sure your ornaments are not small enough to be a choking hazard for your Ragdoll cat and hang them on higher branches that are out of your cat’s reach. Tinsel is hazardous to small animals because it can cause intestinal blockage that requires surgery. You may want to avoid using Christmas lights that twinkle as these are mesmerizing for many cats and could result in chewing or tackling your Christmas tree.

To prevent your Ragdoll cat from chewing cords you should treat with bitter apple spray or an aerosol antiperspirant. Finally, when wrapping gifts, avoid using ribbon or streamers. Ribbons and streamers have the same allure as tinsel and if your cat swallows them it could create a painful intestinal blockage. Your family veterinarian is also an excellent resource for tips on cat proofing your Christmas tree.

Tags: cat proof christmas tree

If choosing a name for your Ragdoll cat or kitten is proving difficult for you, here are several tips to help you pick one. Ragdolls are affectionate, somewhat independent critters; however, they will come to know their names and respond when you call them. When naming a cat, researchers have found they seem to respond better to single word names, and those names ending in “y” or ie.”

When choosing a name for your Ragdoll kitten keep in mind that your kitten grows up quickly and the name should be appropriate for your Ragdoll at any age. Once you have decided on a name, don’t change it or use variations as you might only confuse your cat or kitten. Here are several famous cats to help serve as inspiration for your cat’s name.

Tabby President Abraham Lincoln’s cat was named Tabby.

Socks President Bill Clinton’s cat aptly named for it’s feet.

Morris A famous television commercial spokes-cat.

Tom The star of a famous cartoon.

Mimsey The kitten poking fun at the MGM lion.

Sylvester Another famous cartoon cat obsessed with Tweetie.

Jock Winston Churchill’s cat.

Nietzsche Joni Mitchell’s cat.

Grimalkin Nostradamus’s cat (creepy).

Avoid rushing your decision as taking a day or two could make the decision easier for you. Observing your cat or kitten and learning their personality might determine the name for you.