Ragdoll Cats

If you are having problems with your cat using the litter box your cat litter could be the culprit. Ragdoll cats can be very fussy creatures; if the perfumed cat litter you are currently using is offensive, this could be the reason for shunning the litter box.

When purchasing cat litter you have dozens of choices, many of which are marketed for the pet owners, not with the cats in mind. These brands of cat litter are often heavily perfumed to appeal to humans; this perfume could be offending your cat. Ragdoll cats have a sense of smell that is far superior to that of a human. If that sense of smell is overwhelmed by the heavily perfumed cat litter you purchased, you’ll find your Ragdoll cat going elsewhere.

Fortunately, this is an easy problem to rectify. If you have recently switched brands of cat litter, switch back. This is an easy compromise to solve the litter box problem. If the previous brand of cat litter is no longer available switching to a brand that is labeled “natural” or “clay” may also solve the problem.

If you’re unsure that the litter is the culprit there is a simple test you can perform to confirm this. Start by using two litter boxes with different brands of litter in each. Monitor each box for a period of two-three days and see which one your cat favors. If there is a preference for one brand you have a winner. You may need to repeat this test with multiple brands of cat litter before your Ragdoll cat chooses one. If you changed brands of cat litter because your previous brand is no longer stocked by your pet store, try the Internet. You should be able to locate the litter at a discount from what you were paying in the pet supply store.

Ragdoll cats can be very finicky and demanding animals. Since they don’t speak English they can’t always communicate problems to their owners. Effective communication for a cat may be going to the bathroom on your bed. It’s up to you to interpret this communication and take action to resolve the problem.

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The origin of the Ragdoll cat breed is often clouded by myth and misconception. Ragdoll cats are big cats; they are easy going, laid back cats with pointed patterns and big blue eyes. Ragdolls are a hybrid cat that was created through careful breeding.

The Ragdoll cat breed was established in the 1960s in Riverside California. The breed is believed to have been developed from a cross of Birman and Persian cats. The first Ragdoll cat was a white female cat named Josephine. It is with Josephine the myths and misconceptions begin. The myth goes that after Josephine was hit by a car she began having remarkable kittens. One account says her owner took Josephine to a government laboratory where she was genetically enhanced. This enhancement in the government lab is why her kittens began showing Ragdoll traits. The kittens were mysteriously non aggressive and had pointed coats. These kittens also displayed the characteristic Ragdoll trait of going limp like a rag doll when picked up. Other Ragdoll myths allege Ragdoll cats feel no pain, will not fight, and can reach a weight of thirty pounds.

There are no facts to support these claims and it is extremely unlikely that the government altered Josephine after her encounter with an automobile. Shortly after the breeds conception it fractured into several groups. The breed’s founder, a woman named Ann Baker started the first Ragdoll registry. This was the International Ragdoll Cat Association. Ann Baker trademarked “Ragdoll” so that any breeder had to pay her royalties for selling the cats. Members of the IRCA were also prohibited from showing their cats at any other associations. Ann Bakers fanaticism caused discontent among many breeders; many left the IRCA to found new Ragdoll associations. After Ann Baker died the IRCA has all but disappeared. Today all the major cat associations recognize and register Ragdoll cats.

Breed Characteristics

Ragdolls are big, muscular cats. They have long bodies with solid bones, a round head, and eyes of vivid blue. Ragdoll cats develop slowly and many do not reach their full weight and size until they are three years old. Male Ragdoll cats weigh in between 15 and 20 pounds. The females are slightly smaller but weigh in between 10 to 15 pounds. Ragdoll cats have coats that are medium in length. They have silky, rabbit like fur that does not tangle or matt. Ragdoll cats come in four main colors: blue, chocolate, lilac, and seal. There are variations of the breed that come in cream and red colors. Ragdolls come with three pattern varieties. These are: colorpoint, mitted, and bi-color.

Breed Temperament

No matter where these cats originated from their popularity has exploded worldwide. Ragdoll cats are wonderful companions with sweet dispositions. The name Ragdoll comes from the fact that they go limp when held. This is more likely due to their trusting and gentle nature rather than Ann Baker’s wild stories of aliens and genetic alteration.

Ragdoll cats are the perfect indoor pet. Ragdolls cats are affectionate but not demanding. They are smart cats and can be trained quite easily. Ragdolls are not chatty cats and rarely speak. Ragdoll cats get along extremely well with other cats, dogs, and children in the household.

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If you’re in the market for a new cat or kitten and are thinking about a Ragdoll cat here are some things to consider.

This is the perfect cat for you because:

You are looking for a friendly cat that loves people. You are looking for a large cat; Ragdoll cats can weigh in at 20 pounds in some cases. You are looking for a cat with a low maintenance coat. Ragdolls have medium-length coats that requires little grooming. You are looking for an indoor cat exclusively. You are looking for a cat that is not overly energetic. Ragdolls tend to be easygoing…some would even say lazy; think of a big yellow dog on a hot summer day. You are looking for a cat that is easily trained. You are looking for a cat that will get along with your children and other pets, including dogs. You are looking for a quiet cat that won’t shed all over your clothes and furniture.

Ragdoll cats are not the perfect cat for you because:

You travel often and will be leaving your cat alone. You are looking for a “chatty” cat. My Ragdoll cat only talks when he is hungry or has had an unpleasant experience in the litter box. You are looking for a cat to catch mice or bugs. Ragdolls typically do not make good mousers or buggers. You want an energetic and playful cat. Remember the lazy yellow dog on a hot summer day analogy; Ragdoll cats are gentle giants that are typically not very energetic. You are looking for an outdoor cat. Ragdoll cats are exclusively indoor cats and should not be let outside.

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Ragdoll cats should be kept exclusively indoors. With that said, there is still a chance your Ragdoll could be lost or stolen. If this happens to your Ragdoll how will it find its way back to you? There are thousands of cats lost or stolen on a daily basis.

More alarming is the fact that 20 million lost pets are euthanized each year. For this reason alone you should visit your veterinarian for a microchip. Microchip implantation is a safe and reliable method to identify your cat. Less than 2% of cats that go missing are ever returned to their owners. A microchip could mean the difference between losing your Ragdoll cat forever or having it returned to you.
Implantation of the microchip is a quick and painless procedure performed by your veterinarian. The chip itself is very small, about the size of a rice grain. This chip is injected just below the skin using a hypodermic needle. This microchip contains a number assigned to your Ragdoll cat which is placed in a database. The chip is read by a scanner and the veterinarian, animal shelter, or humane society can contact you through the database.

The company that maintains the database charges a fee around fifty dollars. Depending on the service you choose there may be an annual fee for maintaining the database record. The microchips used are inert and should last for decades. They are non-allergenic and should not have any side-effects for your cat. Microchips should be used to supplement identification tags, not replace them. Using a microchip along with pet ID tags is the best you can do to ensure your Ragdoll cat is returned to you if ever lost.

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