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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

Indoor cat-ragdoll, Maine coon or other?

57 replies

buckeejit · 03/11/2016 20:20

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.

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Original poster

buckeejit · 04/11/2016 23:12

Aargh.more gorgeous cats! I don't want to be restricted to FIV cats as May want to get another one or two if we don't decide to get a dog in a year or two, though good to see they can be trained ok on a harness-when I had my cat on a harness, (for when we were moving countries) she went nuts & it was a bit stressful!

I've found a Maine coon breeder who should be having kittens in December so a good while to wait before they'd be ready but there are a few round Ireland of Maine coon & ragdoll. It seems obvious from websites & Facebook which ones look good, however I've now seen other breeds like the exotic & Persian and I want them all!

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 04/11/2016 23:37

Remember to check on general health issues with any potential breeder. Here's the ICC guidance on Maine Coons - and you should be able to use the same site for Ragdolls. 🙂

UptownFlunk · 05/11/2016 17:20

I have a beautiful Ragdoll and can honestly say she is the sweetest, gentlest cat I have ever known. She spends most of her day following me about the house, watching what I am doing - Ragdolls are very intelligent and she learns things very quickly. She gets up on her hind legs and taps my legs with her front paws when she wants me to pick her up for a cuddle. At night she sleeps on my husband's feet but not before she's come and laid on my chest and rested her face on mine for a while - which can be a bit awkward when I'm on the iPad!

We have two other cats and they both love her. She is so pretty but it is her nature that makes us love her. She is so laid back and loving and not the least bit destructive or demanding.

The only thing I would say is that Ragdolls love company and don't like to be left on their own. So if you get a Ragdoll but you work full-time outside the house you will need to have another animal (Ragdolls get on with cats or dogs) to keep it company when you aren't there. Ours got locked in the kitchen on her own for 20 minutes the other day and you'd have thought we had abandoned her for at least a year from the wailing and climbing up my legs for cuddles that went on afterwards!

UptownFlunk · 05/11/2016 17:23

Here she is.

Indoor cat-ragdoll, Maine coon or other?

lottieandmia · 05/11/2016 20:10

UptownFlunk - gorgeous cat. Ragdolls are my favourite. I agree they don't make good lone pets though. I got our boy because our girl would be pressed up against the door if I even went into town for a few hours.

ophiotaurus · 05/11/2016 20:16

Here's our Maine Coon. He's an indoor cat and quite happy to be. You can stand with the door open and he won't go out.
He's very chilled out and has a great temperament he is much less high maintenance than the ragdoll we had before.
We found a breeder on the Maine coon cat club site.
He's a great addition to the family. We love him!

Blackfellpony · 05/11/2016 20:19

I would love a Maine coon!! The ones I have met have all had fabulous temperaments and are gorgeous.

I have plain rescue moggies and DH spent a small fortune building a cat run and kitting it out. My cats hated it and spent the whole time screaming to be out and so they are outdoor cats now!

Deux · 05/11/2016 20:25

Wonder if I can barge in an ask a Maine Coon question. We are thinking of getting one as dear cat had to be pts in August and there's a big cat shaped hole here.

Do they fit through a normal sized cat flap?

FuzzyOwl · 05/11/2016 20:30

Deux our MC has a large cat/small dog flap.

We have three Ragdolls and a Maine Coon. They have very different personalities but the Maine Coon goes outside and can be destructive through boredom when kept in, whilst the Ragdolls are much more docile and stay indoors.

My parents have had Persians in the past and their cats had lovely natures as well. All three breeds are lovely.

RockinHippy · 05/11/2016 20:36

My DF has 2 amazing Rag-dolls & they are indoor only cats as like you he was heartbroken when he lost his last cat to a car

They are very affectionate stunningly beautiful, big floppy, fluffy cats. They have had some inner eyelid trouble & one is prone to allergies which his vet has said both of these are not uncommon with Rag-dolls. They were supposedly from a reputable breeder, which could be true as he's had to,sign not to breed from them, but they eye trouble was there with one of them when he picked it up, but he was fobbed off as it was getting better & would clear up soon, which it didnt. DF lives them both to bits though & they are otherwise happy, healthy cats & both too scaredy cat to want to go out. He spent a fortune on an outdoor pen for them, attached to the window, but they refused to use it Tom cat is a big dopey thing, but so cuddly. Female is very clever, naughty, cheeky, loving when she chooses & very entertaining

I used to be owned by an amazing Maine Coon, she lived to be over 21 & was huge, loyal & very, very clever. She even put herself at risk & attacked & saw off burglars in her younger days, she was a very special cat, nut she did love to be outdoors hunting too

This is DFs female ragdoll...

IHaveBrilloHair · 05/11/2016 20:39

I have a half Maine, he's beautiful, gorgeous temperament, big ball of fluff, but scared of everything and everyone until he gets to know them, then just demands cuddles like a big, fat crybaby.
He doesn't go out, never sized him for a catflap but he is huge.

RockinHippy · 05/11/2016 20:39

Do they fit through a normal sized cat flap?

Deu I would say NO, I had to get a small dog flap for mine, she was exceptionally big though

Potentialmadcatlady · 05/11/2016 21:49

Hi,I'm in N.I and got a fab run built that leads off a downstairs window so my cats can get out in fresh air/sun/wind/rain..if you get a cat you could message me and I will give you details...it was a third the price of other quotes I got and they travel in N.I...there's a couple of good cat shows that happen here- I went and used that as a good opportunity to meet breeders and get to know who was recommended and who wasn't. I had to travel down South to get my girl but with the newish road it was doable in a day there and back.

UptownFlunk · 06/11/2016 15:44

Lottieandmia Thank you. Your two are absolutely beautiful too. Is the seal point the girl and the bicolor the boy? I also have a British Blue (and a lovely moggy) and your boy sounds to have a similar character to my British. You make a very good point about the registration and also about registration itself not being the be all and end all - the ethics of the breeder that you buy from is just as important as the registration itself as some 'proper' breeders can be as unscrupulous as back yard breeders. I bought mine from a really good, ethical breeder after searching for a while. She has a Facebook group where all owners of her cats can keep in touch, ask questions and get advice - as well as post loads of photos of their cats.

Loving the photos of everyone's gorgeous cats. Aren't we all lucky slaves owners?

HappenstanceMarmite · 06/11/2016 16:30

This is my gorgeous Ragdoll kitten. He is so affectionate, cuddly and playful and he follows me around like a puppy. Can't say enough good things about Ragdolls and I speak as very much a dog person prior to getting this little monkey 😻

MissClarke86 · 06/11/2016 19:05

Oh my goodness that rag doll kitten is sooooooooo gorgeous.

ocelot41 · 06/11/2016 20:28

Are raggies OK if left alone in pairs then? They do sound gorgeous

UptownFlunk · 06/11/2016 22:11

Gorgeous kitten Happenstance.

ocelot41 they're fine in a pair, they're only lonely if they're left completely alone. They love human company best but enjoy being with other animals too in my experience.

lottieandmia · 06/11/2016 22:19

What a cute kitten. Uptown funk, yes the girl is the seal point and the boy is the bicolour. Dd calls him 'Mr Muzzle' because of his very prominent muzzle

They are so lovely. To all of you ragdoll owners - so your cats eat stuff they are not supposed to? My girl had a three day spell at the vets a few months ago. I had no idea what was wrong with her and I was devastated when the vet said it could be FIP but after a load of tests (which cost ££££!) and overnight stays, it was discovered that she had eaten some pink cotton and it was stuck in her throat and intestinal tract. I was so very relieved that she was ok - and that we have insurance!

Since then other people have told me that this is something ragdolls do in particular. String is particularly dangerous because it can damage the intestines. Our cat was very lucky.

lottieandmia · 06/11/2016 22:20

Ps, i have thrown every cotton reel away in our house and now use stick-on labels.

elvisola · 06/11/2016 22:39

Get one of these. Can't tell which way is up and converts to a rug!

UptownFlunk · 07/11/2016 00:37

lottieandmia no, my girl never really shows much interest in eating stuff other than the food in her bowl and Dreamies (or cat crack as we call it). I'll keep an eye on her from now on though just in case. She does have a very sensitive stomach though and I have to be very careful if I change her food. She also does the stinkiest poos - my husband says she has the 'face of an angel and the arse of satan!'

UptownFlunk · 07/11/2016 00:38

PS glad your girl was ok, that must have be very worrying.

lottieandmia · 07/11/2016 10:08

Yes it was scary but now I just remove anything that I think she might try to eat. And I think it was a reminder to me of how important it is to have insurance because even a young cat can do something random like she did. Dreamies - yes what is it about those things that send cats into a frenzy? our cat will carry them around in her mouth and bite and tear the packet to get it open!

Original poster

buckeejit · 07/11/2016 21:51

Sounds just like having another baby. I am so desperate for a ragdoll kitten right now!!

Potentialmadcatlady - that sounds fab, will pm you for details.. I'm going to end up with all the gear before I've got a puss. Ds (just turned 7 yesterday) was at my parents & blurted out the price in front of them. I thought my mother was going to have kittens at that point while I swiftly tried to move the conversation on!

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