Preparing For Your New Ragdoll Cat
Aug 1st, 2006 by Rob
Before bringing your Ragdoll kitten or cat home for the first time, there are a number of items you will need to pick up to make the transition go smoothly. Making these preparations in advance will help reduce stress on “homecoming day.” Here is a list of the essential items you will need to pickup.
Talk to your breeder or previous caregiver about the kind of food your cat or kitten is used to. If you decide to change your cat’s food you will need to do it gradually so you do not upset your cat’s stomach. It is best to feed your cat a premium brand of cat food; do not skimp when it comes to food, premium brands are nutritionally balanced to meet all of your cat’s needs.
Kittens need more fat and protein in their diets than adult cats. If you are looking for kitten food look for premium kitten food that provides “complete and balanced nutrition.” Stick with a premium brand of cat food formulated specifically for kittens. Iams and Science Diet both have excellent, balanced kitten varieties of cat food that are easily digestible. After your kitten is eight weeks old they can handle dry kibble; however, canned food is more easily digested at their age.
Adult cats have their own nutritional needs. You should feed both dry and canned food to your adult cat. Dry kibble has the advantage of cleaning your cat’s teeth. You could leave dry food out during the day and feed a can of wet food to your cat for dinner.
Use ceramic (lead free) food and water bowls for your cat and kittens. Some cats experience irritation from plastic or metal bowls on their chins.
Provide your cat or kitten toys to play with so they do not become bored during the day while you are away. A favorite of most cats is the fishing pole type of toy with a feather or stuffed toy on the end of the line. Make sure the toys you provide are safe for cats and do not have parts that will break off and be swallowed. Toys treated with catnip are an instant hit with many cats, though most kittens do not experience any catnip effects until they are older.
Purchase a cat carrier for transporting your cat. This is extremely important as you should never put your cat in the car unless he or she is in a carrier. This is for the cat’s safety and yours. If your cat becomes frightened they could run underneath your feet and cause an accident.
Purchase several sturdy scratching posts or cat furniture. It is a good idea to have more than one scratching post, ideally you will want to have a scratching post in every room of your house. Training your cat to scratch the post and not your furniture can be a difficult task, and is covered in detail elsewhere on this site.
You will need a sturdy litter box for your cat. Like the scratching post, it is a good idea to have more than one box in your house and use cat litter that is not heavily scented. Talk to your breeder or previous caregiver about the type of cat litter your cat or kitten is used to and stick to it for the time being.
You will need to prepare a place for your cat or kitten to sleep. You have the option of purchasing a cat bed or using pillows and blankets to create a nest for your cat or kitten to feel comfortable and sleep in. If you purchase a cat bed make sure you get one that is washable and easy to clean.
Purchase a bottle of Bitter Apple Spray to treat power cords and other items in your home that you do not want your cat or kitten chewing or scratching.
Finally, schedule an appointment for your veterinarian’s exam. Your veterinarian may have their schedule booked up for weeks in advance so it is a good idea to schedule an appointment as soon as possible for your new cat or kitten. When you go to the first appointment remember to take a fresh stool sample with you so the veterinarian can check for parasites.