Indoor cat-ragdoll, Maine coon or other?

[buckeejit]

Hi all

I've had domestic cats before & always loved long haired but since my 20 year old cat died a couple of years ago & our next rescue cat was hit by a car & died a few months ago, I'm desperate for another but trying to avoid heartache by getting an 'indoor' cat. Love how beautiful some of the breeds are

Any advice? I'm in Northern Ireland so guessing Id have to travel for a breeder though there are a couple of breeders here. Also, is there a checklist of what to look for when you go and view & buy a kitten? When I did a search earlier a kitten had just come up for sale on gumtree but presumably this isn't a great way of finding a breeder even if they have papers?

Any help appreciated.

A word of caution on 'papers'. I saw a puppy farming operation on a recent TV documentary - ordinary looking suburban house and all - and they had boxes and trays of the things in a back room. (Easy enough to print out from a computer printer.)

Would you actually know what you were being given if they produced any?

We have 2 maine coons and they are an absolute delight. Affectionate, gentle giants. They are just gorgeous. We have 2 moggies that I love to bit she too, but the Maine coons are just big hunks if gorgeous fluff. I'll attach a picture of my two for you.

Please don't get any cat from Gumtree. Ever. I have seen so many cats labelled as "Maine coons" just because they're a bit fluffy. Same with tabby cats being "bengals".

No reputable breeders use it. Go to the Maine Coon Cat Club website, click available kittens, and even then double check the breeder name on the GCCF website.

I've heard of a lot of breeders and am in contact with a lot of Maine Coon owners on Facebook - if you find a breeder name feel free to PM me and I'll do some digging for you.

Expect to pay £400-500 and be asked to sign to say you won't breed from them. Ask about mother/father (you should be able to meet the mother cat).

Ask about HCM testing - it's a genetic heart condition and the parents should have been DNA tested.

Other than that, expect the visit to go both ways - my breeder has turned people down before for not having appropriate provision or having a funny feeling about them! They will ask you as many questions as you ask them, if they are good breeders. You will also be able to tell a lot just from visiting and seeing the cats.

Hope that helps - feel free to PM any questions.

Rag dolls I can't help you with!!

Sorry for typos...the stupid iOS update just tries to correct everything, grr.

One more picture just because...

Gorgeous cats.

There will be breed specific rescues with indoor cats who don't want to go out.

Out of 6 only one of ours was indoor only by choice, it was nice to be able to leave the door open & she'd still stay in.

I got a "Maine Coon" from a rescue this summer. She's a lovely cat (I suspect she's likely only half Maine Coon at best though). From what the rescue have said her previous owners seem to have been using her for backyard breeding before taking her into the rescue. She's beautiful but whilst the rescue had treated her for fleas etc she hadn't been there long and she still had flea dirt in places that needed grooming out and had clearly had ear mites. I'd find a rescue if you can and if you go through a breeder please find a reputable one as there are so many dodgy back-yard breeders selling "Maine Coons" on gumtree and pets4homes now.

Forgot the obligatory photo.

....They will ask you as many questions as you ask them....

Oh Boy. When I was trying to acquire Oneago, it was like being interrogated by Great Aunt Agatha over the supper table!

My stepdads mum had 2 gorgeous rag dolls. I got the females last ever kitten- half Ragdoll. I love him to bits. I know it's not the same because he's not full, but I still think they are gorgeous cats.

Oh wow, gorgeous cats! Thanks for the info, I'm happy to wait & travel a bit. You're right I would have no idea if papers would be 'genuine' although I'm not sure if I'd mind so much if it was a cross breed. Will have another search on the official website :)

Ooh, meant to ask if I'll be denied for the following negatives:- 2 children (3&7), both very gentle with animals. I work part time so 4 times a week cat would be home alone for 4 hours.

Buying overpriced cross-breeds from back-yard breeders only leads to cats like mine being used to breed kittens before being passed off to rescue centres. If what you want is a fluffy moggy or cross breed then there are plenty in rescues: kittens and adults. Please consider one of those. It's significantly cheaper too.

Yes I see what you mean, it's a vicious circle. There is a Maine coon breeder in the south that's registered on the Irish cat club site so fingers crossed they'll be able to help out.

Could you cat proof your garden? It is doable apparently!
How about a deaf or FIV cat from a rescue?

I have two Maine Coons.. but they go out. If I could I would have proofed the garden, but there is no way mine could be indoors only... they LOVE being outside rolling around in the sunshine, paddling in the pond and sloping off (in Obie's case for an extra meal two houses down!!)

Could you get a FIV cat ?
I KNOW indoor cats live longer (or may do... my other current 'goes outdoors' cat is 17 and still very much alive!) but it seems such a half life for a creature that is designed to climb, hunt, chase...

Also... with the ages of your children.. at some point someone is going to open a door at the wrong moment.. it is very tricky to keep a cat in if they want to escape!

TBH I've kind of got my heart set on a Maine coon or rag doll I think now-may need to cat proof an area of the garden either way, there seems to be conflicting advice on this! Would be great if I could get cat litter toilet area outside. My bro is a joiner so could build something ok but think I need to sit & have a talk to find out if it was feasible. Time to get to bed & stop obsessing over cats for now!

I have two ragdolls - they are beautiful cats with very relaxed temperament. The girl is very attached to us and does not like strangers, the boy is very laid back but also somewhat 'aloof' so they all have differing personalities.

I've noticed a lot of people selling 'ragdolls' for £400 on pets4homes and they don't have papers. They should be registered with TICA or GCCF. I think what happens is that back yard breeders often buy a pedigree cat(s) that were not deemed suitable to be sold on to be on the active register. That is why they don't have papers.

OTOH just because you get a cat from a breeder whose animals are registered and they have a prefix does not mean they necessarily treat the animals well. Our boy came from such a breeder. He is a legit pedigree cat but he had had only had one of his vaccinations and he was covered in fleas when I collected him. He's beautiful - show quality. But I think the breeder concentrated on type and when the kittens were born didn't take the best care of them that she could have because they were just a business to her. A hobby breeder is therefore better IMO.

A pedigree ragdoll now usually costs £600 Ime

Here are mine

I love the Maine Coons on this thread! I've tried to get ragdolls from a ragdoll rescue but they usually say no other pets or children :(

You can cat proof your garden as long a small you have fences etc to fit the fixtures too. It's like a mesh that comes out at an angle towards the garden because cats can't climb on it. Or you can build a cat run on the back of your house - that's what we did.

I'd hate mine to be out properly - they're incredibly daft and docile and a bit like dogs, so I suspect they'd just walk up to people, sit in the road and jump in car doors! I'd also worry about them being stolen for breeding (despite them being neutered). I have a run and take them out on a harness.

Also, I doubt breeders will turn you down for having children (unless they're clearly too much for a cat) and working. I work full time and it wasn't a problem.

Of course you could always adopt a rescue cat who can't go out for some reason... like my beautiful FIV+ boy .

He goes out on a harness so he's not totally restricted to the house, but can't come in to contact with other cats - or cars.

Got to be a Persian! Gorgeous, affectionate. Docile and very thick! Not at all bothered about going outside but will go into the garden for a while. You could get an exotic if you don't want to deal with long hair. There are specialist rescues sonyou don't have to go to a breeder.

Forgot photos.