Ragdoll Cats

Many pet owners think their pets are happiest when they are outdoors. This may be true for dogs; however, for Ragdoll cats this is simply not the case. As you may know, Ragdoll cats are extremely gentle and docile by nature. Because of their docile nature, many Ragdoll cats will not defend themselves when provoked by another animal.

There is also the risk of infection from other cats. Other cats can pass feline leukemia or rabies to your Ragdoll cat. Your cat could also be infected with ticks, fleas or worms. There are pesticides and other dangerous chemicals such as anti-freeze your cat could come in contact with. There are also dangers from cars, children, and the chance your Ragdoll cat could be lost or stolen.

In addition most outdoor cats only live an average of five years. An indoor cat may live as long as fifteen years. As you can see, it is in the best interest of your Ragdoll to stay indoors.

Related Articles Other People Have Read:

Ragdoll Cat Care and Training

Caring for Your Ragdoll Cat

Is Your Ragdoll Safe from Heartworm?

Ragdoll Cats

Toys and Your Ragdoll Cat

 Print This Post

Many Ragdoll cat owners think cats are far too independent to train. While cats are not as easily trained as their canine counterparts they can still learn to perform tricks just like Fido. What self respecting Ragdoll cat would stoop so low? For starters…yours. Cats can learn simple voice commands and enjoy the attention they receive for completing the task. Training your Ragdoll cat is a fairly easy task. It only requires patience on your part and some treats your cat loves.

With that in mind here is how to train your cat to shake paws with you.

• Set a time to train your cat and form a routine for this training. The best time is before your Ragdoll eats; it’s best to train when your cat is slightly hungry. This will keep your Ragdoll focused on you and the training.

• Train your cat in a quiet room that is free of distractions. This includes distractions from other pets; keep them out of the room when training your Ragdoll.

• Keep a pocketful of your Ragdoll’s favorite treats ready as rewards.

• First, use the command “Sit.”

• After telling your cat to “Sit,” gently push down on your cats rear-end. When you do this your cat should take a seat. (some will lie down though…if this happens try coaxing your cat into a sitting position)

• Next, use the command “Shake a paw.”

• When you give this command, offer your cat your hand with the palm facing up in reach of your cat.

• If your cat does nothing, pick up the front paw and hold it for a moment. As soon as you let go praise your Ragdoll cat and give a treat.

• Do this routine 5 to 6 times per training session. Cats have short attention spans so limit your training to short sessions.

• Most cats learn it is worth their while to give up their paws when you want to shake.

• Keep your training sessions fun and end with positive praise and attention.

• When you are training only ask for a paw when you have a treat handy for the reward.

• When your cat has the hang of shaking, taper off the treats gradually. Make the rewards random and offer positive praise to reinforce the behavior.

• Remember to be patient!

Related Articles Other People Have Read:

Train Your Ragdoll Cat Tricks

Teach Your Ragdoll Cat to Stay off the Table

Teaching Your Ragdoll Cat Tricks

Ragdoll Cat Secrets: Book Review

How to Train Your Cat

 Print This Post

Been to see your veterinarian lately? The cost of veterinarian care has skyrocketed. And that’s just for annual vaccinations. What happens when your Ragdoll cat gets sick? If your Ragdoll ever needs surgery that can cost thousands of dollars. Obtaining pet insurance for your Ragdoll cat will help pay for unexpected expenses when sick. The most heartbreaking situation for any pet owner would be when you can’t afford the veterinarian treatment and your Ragdoll cat has to be put to sleep. For a less severe condition you may not be able to provide the best care or medication due to financial constraints. Having an insurance policy for your Ragdoll cat will prevent both of these scenarios.

Having an insurance policy for your Ragdoll cat’s health will remove the worries about money when your cat gets sick. It can be difficult to purchase insurance for older cats that may have pre-existing conditions so consider purchasing insurance when your Ragdoll is still a kitten. When obtaining pet insurance you will pay an insurance premium each month to cover your fees at the veterinarian. With monthly premiums as low as $9.95 per month for $2500 worth of coverage, why wouldn’t you? Insurance for your cat typically covers more than veterinarian expenses. You can purchase pet insurance for emergency expenses that include kennels, travel, and theft. Routine expenses for vaccinations and flea dips are typically excluded.

When purchasing insurance for your Ragdoll cat there are different levels of coverage to choose from. The more expensive plans will offer higher levels of coverage. When choosing a policy you will need to consider coverage options for your veterinarians fees, kennel expenses, travel, accidental death, and theft. As with any other purchase, it pays to shop around when purchasing insurance for your Ragdoll cat. Compare coverage and policy terms when shopping for pet insurance, not just the cost of the policy.

Related Articles Other People Have Read:

How to Find a Veterinarian

Ringworm and your Ragdoll Cat

Ragdoll Cat Treats

Ragdoll Cat First Aid

Ragdoll Kittens: Where Not to Find One

 Print This Post

The origin of the Ragdoll cat is not difficult to establish; this cat’s origin is surrounded by myth and controversy. The Ragdoll cat breed was created by a breeder in California named Ann Baker. The first Ragdoll cat was bred in the 1960s and was a white female name Josephine. The first Ragdoll was Persian and Berman cross.

The Ragdoll cat was promoted diligently by Ann Baker; she went so far as to trademark the term “Ragdoll” so anyone breeding the cat would have to pay her royalties. As the breed grew in popularity so did the wild claims Ann Baker was making about the cats. These claims included the strange, the supernatural and outright silly. Ann Baker claimed her cats had human genes, they never feel pain, and were created by aliens from another planet. Because of Ann Baker’s wild claims she began losing credibility with Ragdoll breeders and many disassociated themselves with her. It was these breeders that had the breed legitimized and recognized by major cat registries. If not for the efforts of breeders such as Denny Dayton, founder of one Ragdoll Association, this breed may have never been taken seriously.

A Ragdoll is a pointed cat. “Pointed” means they have coloration on their face, legs, ears, and tails. Ragdoll cats have light body colors in contrast to their points. There are four colors: Blue, Lilac, Seal, and Chocolate. Body colors are typically cream to ivory, or in some cases bluish grey. Points come in three colors. These colors are bicolor, colorpoint, and mitted. The mitted variety is like colorpoints with white socks and boots. They also have white coloring on their chin and chest area.

Ragdoll cats are affectionate, loyal companions. Ragdoll cats are often compared to canines when it comes to personality. These cats love to interact with humans and have friendly and warm personalities. Because of their docile nature Ragdoll cats should be left indoors exclusively. Most Ragdoll cats will not defend themselves when confronted by another animal.

Related Articles Other People Have Read:

No related posts

 Print This Post