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

Original poster

Ragdoll rescue cat - what do I need?

59 replies

BearAusten · 04/02/2023 15:32

We have just been accepted to adopt a Ragdoll. First time owners.

I know that we need litter tray, beds/ scratch/standing posts, toys, but where to get and which ones are best? (Big issues Amazon at moment )

Also Ragdoll food…should be a good quality wet? Is specialised breed ones worth it or acceptable? Should I avoid anything? (Grain free needed )

Panic setting in. Rescue not really advising us on above.

OP posts:
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Original poster
BearAusten · 04/02/2023 19:23

Bewlay is very handsome. Rheia’s two look like they have a certain attitude. Know their own worth.

Stupid question: Can you damage a Ragdoll’s by using certain brushes /combs like you can with certain dogs? Taking too much undercoat away?

OP posts:
TangoBrava · 04/02/2023 19:32

BearAusten · 04/02/2023 19:23

Bewlay is very handsome. Rheia’s two look like they have a certain attitude. Know their own worth.

Stupid question: Can you damage a Ragdoll’s by using certain brushes /combs like you can with certain dogs? Taking too much undercoat away?

I use a professional cat groomer every other month who gets a TON of fur off that I can't. It hasn't damaged her coat; it's all for the better.

The fur, the fur. It's never ending. I see it in my dreams.

It's a good job ragdolls are amazing 😁

Rheia1983 · 04/02/2023 19:43

You'll also need to get used to your ragdoll sleeping or hanging out in this position a lot😁

Ragdoll rescue cat - what do I need?
Original poster
BearAusten · 04/02/2023 21:09

Very kissable. Love the pink nose and toe beans.

OP posts:
mimiasovitch · 04/02/2023 21:57

I'm reading this and was wondering if my Ragdoll is faulty, as I don't notice any hair shedding at all. Then I considered that maybe it's because my extra large hairy beast of a dog sheds terribly, and cat hair from a 6 month old fluffball is nothing in comparison .

Didicat · 04/02/2023 22:02

Ragdolls take over your life as a heads up!

as a heads up lots of vets will tell you they are overweight if they are not used to large breeds. Ragdolls don’t mature until about 4 years old.

plus never sit on the sofa if you think you might need to get up again for a wee, a cat will climb on you fall asleep and leave you stranded!

Ragdoll rescue cat - what do I need?
Ragdoll rescue cat - what do I need?
Travelfan2021 · 04/02/2023 22:02

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Doyouthinktheyknow · 04/02/2023 22:13

I have a rescue ragdoll, came from what I think was basically a kitten farm, she was the queen.

In my experience you need to say goodbye to a full nights sleep, they are needy and Dcat wakes me for a fuss almost every night.

Dcat started on Felix which she was on at the rescue but has graduated through various different wet foods, she is very fussy. We have to leave food out overnight or we would be woken more regularly.

Cant be left downstairs either, she won’t go down the stairs alone at night so we have to bring the food up🤣

She shunned all the comfy cat beds I bought in favor of a cardboard cat scratcher which she slept on so we bought a super duper big long scratcher and a box with scratcher inside which she loves.

Our girl hates being brushed but I do try.

I highly recommend blunt ended grooming scissors for mini matted bits and poo stuck in fur. Yes, that is a thing🤣

Dcat is our first ever cat and it was pure luck we got a ragdoll, I wasn’t looking for one. She is an amazing cat though, very dog like in that she follows us and chirps at us for attention. She’s not a lapcat but does tolerate a snuggle and has the softest most glorious fur.

Enjoy your ragdoll, I’m sure the journey will be wonderful😻

Doyouthinktheyknow · 04/02/2023 22:15

Yes, Can agree with above, we can’t close doors anymore and Dcat is a bit of a voyeur when I’m on the loo. She loves to sit and watch🤣🤣

Our dc’s close their doors but they get meowed at until they open them🤣 Dcat rules with a furry fist😻🤣

Rheia1983 · 04/02/2023 22:23

Agree about the closed doors. My DCats take every closed door very personally and will bang/scratch away on them for hours.

Also agree about Ragdolls being your shadows. They follow you everywhere and one of mine will wail as if her little heart is broken if she gets stuck on the other side of the door as me, the boy will bang away. So I wait for the cats to follow me into the bathroom before I close the door.

A pair of scissors for poopy butts is also a good investment. I keep the DCats' furry butts trimmed short to reduce the chance of poopy bits sticking.

Danja2010 · 04/02/2023 22:54

One thing no one has mentioned, they are lovely docile cats that are nor meant for the outdoors where they would not be able to defend themselves. Sadly, I see many people in the UK let them outdoors. My sister has two and they are great family cats. Enjoy !

BestZebbie · 04/02/2023 22:59

A harness and lead if you want to take them outside for a walk, or a catio!

Be aware that if you are getting a rescue you don't know their background and they may have been kitten-farmed and taken from their mother too early - we suspect this was the case with our rescue ragdoll as she doesn't really understand quite a lot of "how to be a cat" and has instincts she doesn't know what to do with, which can take a bit of getting used to.

Original poster
BearAusten · 05/02/2023 08:51

Thank you to everyone. She is being adopted as an indoor cat, so no outdoor adventures.

I would not be surprised at all if she was a kitten farmed Ragdoll. I would not be surprised if she wasn’t 100% Ragdoll. I am not sure if I would know for definite a kitten farming place, thus the reason for getting a rescue.

OP posts:
WandaWonder · 05/02/2023 08:53

For my mums experience just hand over the keys to your house, simpler 🙂

My mums cat prefers totally random household things best as toys

GenuineKlatchianPottery · 05/02/2023 09:26

Expect to spend a fortune on toys that will be played with once and then ignored for evermore.
Big cat tree/scratching post.
Havelock loves the Iams furball dried food, he has turned his nose up at every single wet food (including tuna) except for Felix cat soup which he adores as an occasional treat.
I am completely and utterly besotted with him and he knows it. He’s my second shadow and loves nothing better than being curled up on or as close as possible to me.

Ragdoll rescue cat - what do I need?
Original poster
BearAusten · 12/02/2023 17:33

Molly’s mice were a godsend. Relaxed incredibly quickly after finding them.

She is underweight. She appears not to like wet food unfortunately. Any advice?

Ragdoll rescue cat - what do I need?
OP posts:
Original poster
BearAusten · 12/02/2023 17:35

Just got her today. I don’t know who is more overwhelmed. I wish catnip had the same effect on me because that really does help.

OP posts:
Blip · 12/02/2023 17:52

Ragdolls love to play and really need daily play to be able to relax.
Play with your cat! To quote Jackson galaxy.

You need XL versions of everything and definitely get her a cat tree.

Original poster
BearAusten · 12/02/2023 17:58

Mrs Bear Ragdoll is not typical I think. She is very slight, only 3.4kg. Possibly prefers company to active play.

OP posts:
Thatcatisdrivingmenuts · 12/02/2023 18:15

We were recommended Royal Canin, for what it's worth.

belimoo · 12/02/2023 18:15

She is beautiful 😻 Could you cook her some chicken breast? My ragdoll loves that. I think the fact it's warm and he's smelled it cooking helps.

I just boil it and then shred it and douse in cool water to stop him burning his mouth. It helps with his sensitive stomach too.

Doyouthinktheyknow · 12/02/2023 18:22

She’s beautiful 😻

Dcat was underweight when she came to us too, a bit bigger at 4kg for a 4 year old ragdoll but you could definitely feel she was underweight and she is a long cat. Only really see how ‘big’ she is when neighbours cats come in to the garden. She looks enormous next to them despite being all fur🤣

Dcat proved to be very fussy with food and still is but she likes pate style cat foods and lick e lix.

We leave wet food overnight as well and she always has dried food.

Hope your cat settles well 😻

Choconuttolata · 12/02/2023 18:31

She is beautiful. Give it time, she needs to settle in to her new home before she becomes more confident trying new things including food and play that she is unfamiliar with.

Definitelycross · 12/02/2023 18:33

BearAusten · 12/02/2023 17:33

Molly’s mice were a godsend. Relaxed incredibly quickly after finding them.

She is underweight. She appears not to like wet food unfortunately. Any advice?

Oh she's beautiful 😍

Parfortheparsnip · 12/02/2023 18:38

We have a flame point rag doll boy. He's 12 now. We love him ridiculous amounts. He rules in our house and is fantastic with our two kids. Congrats on your new addition!

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