I cannot cope with these kittens anymore

[raggeddolls]

I’m at my wits end. Please be kind because I am trying my best but just don’t know what to do for the best.

We used to have 2 male cats (brothers) who recently passed away within months of each other at age 15. They were Burmese and only ever went to the vets for their annual check which vets said had to be done to get flea/worm treatment.

We missed them so much that we got 2 new kittens, ragdolls. We have had them 3 months and I just can’t cope with the constant stress. They are house cats so can’t go out. Except they are both desperate to go out and sit at the door crying. We got them harnesses and took them out in the garden but that isnt enough they try to break free etc I don’t blame them why would they want to be on a lead when they want to be free!

They have so many interactive toys to try and keep them entertained but they get bored of them easily. I have another toy coming from Amazon today but they have a basket full already.

They are always trying to escape. We cannot leave the house and cannot get into the house without them trying to flee. They know the sound of the door & know putting our shoes on means we’re going out so the door will be open. Even hanging out washing is a nightmare as they sit waiting by the door for their chance.

We can no longer have any windows open. We had our bedroom window open a fraction and one of them got out and jumped. Luckily he landed in a tree and we were there at 1 in the morning on a step ladder rescuing him. Amazingly he had no injuries.

They are so fussy with their food. I have bought all the recommended Ragdoll wet food and dry food but sometimes they refuse it & then I keep trying different foods which they eat for a big then they go off it. It’s a nightmare as I get so anxious they are not eating enough.

Worst of all is that they seem to be ill
so often. They both had a sickness bug when they were 4 months old. Huge vets bill but worse was trying to get the medication down them. They look like ragdolls but neither have the relaxed temperament. Last week one of them had an eye infection, another trip to the vets. Trying to give him an eye drop twice a day is horrendous as he fights it and gets so distressed which distresses me. Just noticed the other kitten now also has picked up same eye infection which means another trip to the vets. I looked up the eye drop online which costs £4.50 but it is prescription only and the vets charge £20 just for the drop and £40 consultation fee. I have rung vets to see if they will just give me the drops without seeing him as he obviously got it from his brother but they said they need to see him. So all the stress of getting an appointment and the stress taking him to vets. They both cry and howl when they go.

I am just so stressed and wishing I’d never bought them. The vet bills are huge but more than that it’s the constant anxiety about them always being unwell, always trying to escape and trying to find something they will eat.

Ragdolls are meant to be placid creatures yet these ones are not. We visited the kittens mum and dad several times who are both friendly and viewed these kittens several times and again seemed friendly until we got them home!

Before getting these kittens I followed several Ragdoll owners on social media and their kittens are placid and gentle whereas mine are not and even cutting their nails is a struggle.

Will it get better? If I could give them back I would. The problem is I love them so much but they cause me constant anxiety. Never had this with my previous cats ☹️

You need to let them out. Cat proof the garden if you are worried. They are as capable as any other breed. If they are young and active you also don't need to clip their nails, they use them to climb trees etc. Get pet insurance.

My cat likes to sit right in the middle of the crossroads next to my house with his cat pals.

They're all idiots. Their brains are the size of tangerines.

They may be ragdolls but they're still cats. Let them live like cats.

Let them go outside. They will get stuck a few times up trees and each time you’ll get a ladder out and climb up it to see them climb down past you. Then you’ll stop worrying and you’ll be much happier.
I know several ragdolls and they are all outsiders.

They're all capable of going out and fending for themselves for a few hours and then coming back.

Except they're not, are they?

Because cats are killed on the roads every day. They get into delivery vans and end up miles away from home. They get themselves stuck up trees or locked in sheds. They get into fights and come home with wounds and abscesses, they get themselves hurt or killed because they enter other people's homes and get attacked by their cats and dogs.

Of course those things don't happen to every cat but they do happen. Cats aren't infallible - they regularly get hurt and killed outside.

This. No breed of cat is "bred" to be an indoors cat. It's bloody cruel

Could you create a catio away from the house and give them time in it when you are available to take them out and bring them in? There are loads of creative ones if you look on the pet forums, there is a sticky designed for cat proofed gardens and catios.

Could you have another bit cat tree as well as some cat shelves?

Definitely look at some kind of screens for the windows, my cats couldn't get them off.

I don't know how much money/time/house space you are willing to give to keep them happy as indoor cats but it's worth a try even if you start small and cheap.

I'm completely pro indoor cats but I've been there and failed. 2 of mine I tried to convert from outside to inside with a cat proofed garden after one got badly injured but they were miserable and kept escaping anyway. In the end we decided it wasn't worth it and let them out.

Another cat I had was supposed to be an indoor cat due to his breed but he had behavioural issues. We tried a catio to start with but ended up taking the plunge to fully allowed out because his issues didn't get better. We had to rehome him in the end because we couldn't cope anymore.

Things will calm down though, Kittens are just mental and it's easy to forget how hard they are!

If you try everything and they are still miserable then I think it's worth letting them out if you live in a safe enough area. It seems a shame to rehome them when the next person might end up letting them out anyway.

No such thing as “bred to be indoor” cats - as you can see from their desperation to get outside. They will be much happier and healthier once they’re let out.

Consensus here is that you should let them out.

Most cats survive into old age. Better to have lived a full happy and free life than a caged animal longing for freedoms. The % of cats that get run over or disappear is relatively small. (Unless you live on a main road).

Just let the poor things out! They're prisoners, no wonder they are depressed

There are lots of middle grounds between "keep them indoors forever" and "let them out to get hit by cars".

Personally, I see too many photos of dead cats on Facebook to ever let mine loose to contend with the roads. There are nasty people out there who will refuse to stop for cats and who will deliberately swerve and hit them. There are people who hit cats and leave them for dead without even bothering to call a vet.

Mine have access to cat-proofed garden instead.

Read the posts, loads of ppl have outdoor ragdolls. My cousin has one

I’ve got a moggie and a Ragdoll and the Ragdoll was desperate to get outside. I had my garden cat proofed and she is so happy and so am I as I can have doors and windows open and I know that she is safe.

I have 4 ragdolls. One doesn't leave the house, sits and looks out of the window and catflap, but doesn't like outside. 1 will play in the garden but only if someone is out there. So when we got 2 kittens we assumed they would be the same, they aren't. They love it outside. They are explorers and go out for hours but always home to sleep. They climb trees, they hunt and bring home leaves (weirdos). They are 5 now and have survived, no injuries or accidents.
I would give yours the benefit of the doubt. They want to be outside so let them, they haven't read the book about how to be a ragdoll and that's fine. Go out with them in the garden to start with keeping a close eye. Then let them do their own thing.

I mean what % of the whole do the FB dead cats - a very small minority. The answer is to stay off FB not barricade your cats.

I feel you've only got two options if you truly have these cats' wellbeing at heart.
You either catproof the back garden to allow them quality time outside or you rehome them somewhere more suitable.
Because having indoor cats with no access at all to even fresh air, as you say you can't even open the windows anymore, is not a quality life for these two kittens.
And the stress (cats stress) of being cooped up is probably contributing to more illnesses, as stress will compromise the immune system.

They're hardly "barricaded" when they have access to a garden, grass, several bushes/trees, a shed, a garage and an entire house to explore.

They have company, plenty of toys and enrichment and most importantly, aren't going to get run over on the NSL road that runs along the back of our property.

They’re kittens. Babies. If there’s one thing I learned having kittens and a puppy is you have to keep telling yourself this!!! It all gets easier, honestly, I’d bet money on it! Can I say on the food thing we tried to be regimental on the type of food but if they don’t eat it they just won’t. One of our kittens used to walk over, paw her bowl and miaow as if we were killing her. We soon learned that miaow meant ‘give me whiskas!!!’

Totally agree. It sounds like they have a horrible quality of life tbh, what’s the point?

And why on earth did you pay what was presumably a fortune for ‘designer’ kittens when there are plenty of very cute moggy kittens needing homes everywhere?

Sorry for being harsh but I’ve never heard anything but trouble about designer cats.

OP you might want this moved to littertray to get rid of the idiots

You’re really selling them. Sounds like a shit pet to me.

My indoor ragdoll is happy as Larry as are many other indoor cats

THIS!! There is some absolutely terrible advice on here from people who have no idea what they’re talking about. You cannot allow rag dolls to be free roaming, they wouldn’t last 5 minutes.

OP they’re kittens and kittens are cute little pains in the arse. They will calm down. A catio is a great idea or perhaps you could cat proof your garden? But loads of cats are indoor only and perfectly happy. It’s the norm in a lot of countries. Don’t let people tell you otherwise, they honestly have no idea.

Yes @Namddf terrible quality of life...