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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.

Ragdoll advice

105 replies

Ellovera2 · 01/03/2024 06:51

Hi everyone. I'm looking for any advice from ragdoll owners. We're considering a cat and at the moment think they'd be the perfect breed for us. Some questions....

  1. Are they really much calmer and docile than your average moggy? We have a large house and a secure medium sized garden but I'm worried a 'house cat' will be climbing the walls to get outside.
  2. Linked to the above, tips on good indoor cat stimulation toys/equipment?
  3. I've found a registered breeder in a village 2 miles from me which is amazing as I live pretty rurally and the next nearest was 50 miles away! I've read all the advice on buying a kitten from the GCCF. There's a litter due soon. She has sent me pics of mum and dad and once kittens are born and vaccinated etc I'll be able to visit, any other tips about buying? She describes herself as hobby breeder and only has a few cats which live as part of the family.
  4. The mum and dad have different colourings. Is this an issue? Advice on what colour they are and whether they look a good example of the breed would be great.
  5. Litter tray. Is it worth buying an expensive one or will the basic do? It will need to be up high (perhaps utility counter top) as I have kids I don't want getting to the litter. Will this be ok?
Overall would you recommend the breed?
OP posts:
Thread gallery
11
Runninghappy · 06/03/2024 02:03

AppleDumplingWithCustard · 05/03/2024 22:56

@Ellovera2 I got her just before her second birthday. She’s now eight. Apart from attacking my legs and feet she is an absolute sweetie. She snuggles next to me and loves sleeping with her head in my hand. It’s baffling. 🤷‍♀️

when mine does that, it’s because he wants to play so as long as I pick up the feather on the stick straight away, he stops and plays with that instead. I’ve told him to just tell me when he’s ready to play rather that try to attack my feet!

Runninghappy · 06/03/2024 02:06

I would highly recommend Ragdolls and will definitely get another. I’ve never heard any hissing or seen his claws out - just the biting when he wants to play and only with me. It’s not aggression - he’s just not quite mastered the art of letting me when when he’s feeling playful! It’s only with me as it’s me that plays with him!

AppleDumplingWithCustard · 06/03/2024 10:45

Runninghappy · 06/03/2024 02:03

when mine does that, it’s because he wants to play so as long as I pick up the feather on the stick straight away, he stops and plays with that instead. I’ve told him to just tell me when he’s ready to play rather that try to attack my feet!

I wish mine did! Nothing distracts her. Nothing.

Ellovera2 · 11/03/2024 11:18

@delphi13 I have sent you a message, I hope you don't mind.
The kittens have been born 😄

OP posts:
delphi13 · 11/03/2024 11:47

Ellovera2 · 11/03/2024 11:18

@delphi13 I have sent you a message, I hope you don't mind.
The kittens have been born 😄

I replied. xx

user1471548941 · 11/03/2024 12:00

Have you considered FIV? My boys are FIV and therefore are recommended to be indoors for their health. I too was concerned about a road.

I was also concerned about getting a cat that was happy indoors and the rescue were happy to talk it over at length- they talked me through how from their time in the rescue they were confident he was a chilled character and just wanted to he able to sunbathe. I was nervous as he was found on the streets! They were exactly right- I have a beautiful chilled our ginger moggy who spends his days lazing in any patch of sun he could find. I could open doors in front of him and he would look at me like “why do I want to go out there?!” and take himself back to bed!

He’s had no other health issues, has no medication only regular check ups and has a normal life expectancy.

StopTheGreyness · 18/03/2024 19:23

I have two Ragdolls and they are absolutely gorgeous in every way. They were bought from a proper, ethical breeder after a huge amount of research though. They are the sweetest, gentlest cats and have never bitten or scratched me once even when I have to do things they don't like much such as clipping their claws.

They are like dogs and will follow you around all day just keeping you company. They run to the door when we come home and sleep on our bed. The female is so empathetic, she definitely knows if I am upset or ill and will stick to me like glue even more than usual, she is a real lap cat. The male (who is still quite young) is hilarious and cheeky and pretty bright for a cat - he can open doors, retrieve balls and soon works out anything he needs to work out. Both are really good cats and very loving.

As regards stimulation. They have a cat tree which they absolutely LOVE. They both sleep on it during the day and use it as a scratching post. The male is a climber and loves running up it and jumping down from it. They also have a tunnel and lots of other toys but they do get bored with toys so I rotate them - put some away for a while and bring them back out when they're bored with the ones they're playing with, that seems to work best. They don't need masses of stimulation though as they play with each other a lot. They do like playing with feather wands and with an LED pen in short bursts (LED pen is safer than a laser pen). They are very easy going.

I have a completely secure garden that they can go in and would NEVER let mine roam freely. Ragdolls are not supposed to do this, they are far too docile and will run up to dogs and people as they have no sense of danger or traffic sense. They are also very sought after and liable to be stolen. Mine show absolutely no interest in roaming and are not that bothered about going outside at all. I reckon if I stopped letting them out they really wouldn't care. They like to go and lie in the sun in the summer, particularly if I'm out there but that's it.

You don't need any fancy litter tray. We have a top entry one and use a corn based litter as that's what we find works best.

Different colour parents produce different patterned/coloured kittens. If you know what pattern/colour the parents are you can look up the possible types of colours/patterns the mix will produce.

The main thing is to get a Ragdoll from a reputable breeder. Ragdolls are generally a healthy breed but they do have two known genetic issues - a heart issue called HCM and a kidney condition called PKD. You need to make sure any kitten you buy has been screened for these. The breeder I used also made sure her kittens had echocardiagrams to check the condition of their hearts too.

Ragdolls do not like being left alone and really need other company. It's best to have another pet if you won't be with them for long periods of time. Even if you will, I think it's better for them to have company, mine really benefit from it. You don't have to have two Ragdolls, a non-pedigree kitten or a dog will do.

Ellovera2 · 19/03/2024 12:14

@StopTheGreyness thanks so much for all of that info!
Having looked at lots of breeders I'm confident she's an ethical one. Very small, only sells locally and has all the docs etc. I've spoken to people that have had kittens from her before which I've found myself (small town!)
In terms of testing, the TBRCC say that breeders should not be testing for PKD. So if that's not there, should I be worried or is she just following recommendations?
In regards to having another pet. We have just lost our 2 dogs very suddenly and although we miss them dearly, we are not on the right place to be getting a puppy or an older dog. I'm also reluctant to get another cat (of any breed) as despite living in a small town on a 30 road, so many get killed right outside my house (including one of ours a few years ago) and I'm not sure how well the average moggy would cope with being an indoor cat (though many on this thread saying theirs are fine with it). I can't find any rescue cats suitable for indoor only and am reluctant to buy a kitten online and contribute to unethical breeding practices. We could get 2 from this breeder but they are quite spenny.

OP posts:
StopTheGreyness · 19/03/2024 14:42

@Ellovera2 the TBRCC saying that breeders don't have to test for PKD just means that they aren't breaking any rules if they don't. From my point of view, there is PKD in the Ragdoll gene pool - only a low amount, granted, but the risk is there. Personally, I didn't want to risk buying a cat with such a horrible illness so I looked for a breeder who minimised the chance of that as much as possible.

You sound clued up about what to look for in a breeder and it's always good if you can find a decent one nearby as you will get good feedback from other people who've had their kittens, as you have.

So sorry to hear you recently lost your two dogs, it's heartbreaking to lose beloved pets.

If you can, I would get two kittens. Most Ragdolls really do need company and can pine if they are left alone. Having another pet with them stops this and they are also comfort to one another if they go to the vets etc. Mine still prefer us to be in the house with them but cope fine if we go out as they have each other. I got my second Ragdoll as my British Shorthair is getting older now and I was worried that if something happened to him my Ragdoll would not cope very well. A couple of times he's had to be away at the vets and she really wasn't happy being alone. Since I got the second Ragdoll she spends a lot of time with him and I often find them curled up together, it's very sweet.

Classic Ragdolls generally aren't aloof and can be a bit needy, but in a really nice way. They just like to be near you and will follow you about. They are much more like a dog than a cat in that way. I love them and will always have a Ragdoll now, my husband is equally smitten.

Ellovera2 · 19/03/2024 18:53

@StopTheGreyness thanks so much. I'll have to consult the husband and the bank balance on having two!
The TBRCC actively say not (in capital letters on their website!) to test for PKD as it's not an accurate test in Ragdolls? Perhaps the guidance on that has changed recently. I'll ask the breeder anyway and see what she says.
The kittens are a week old now 😻

OP posts:
StopTheGreyness · 19/03/2024 21:00

@Ellovera2 breeders should be doing ultrasounds on their adult breeding cats to check for PKD, not genetic tests on their kittens. That’s what my breeder did, sorry if I didn’t make that clear.

You deffo need to work on your husband about getting two kittens. Grin

Aww, they are like little mice when they are first born. They just get prettier and prettier as they grow and their colour comes in and they get all fluffy. Another thing I forgot to say is that they are quite slow to mature so it’s best that they remain with their mum until 12 weeks, but a good breeder will know that anyway. Good luck with it all. Smile

Ineedabiscuit · 25/03/2024 22:52

I have 2 Ragdolls both rescues (they came as a pair - 11&13 years old ) who I’ve had for nearly 6 years now . Older girl and boy, a chocolate and a blue . Both are sweet and very gentle . The idea that Ragdolls are agressive and bitey is such a shock to me to read because my experience of them is so much to the contrary .Both are lap cats and funnily enough weren’t in the beginning but since becoming older they now compete for my lap .My boy ragdoll is very talkative and the older girl has learnt that she gets my immediate attention if she talks to me ! Mine are as bright as buttons not dim at all !
I contacted Ragdoll Rescue when I first wanted to have my own cats after fostering for Cats Protection for some while . I only chose the breed as I didn’t qualify to adopt , as I lived near a busy road and needed a cat who would be happy to stay indoors .
Good luck with your new kittens, I definitely think you should get 2 !

Ellovera2 · 26/03/2024 10:34

Thanks so much @Ineedabiscuit , your ragdolls sound lovely! We're in the same boat re the rescues and the road which is why we're looking at this breed. Unfortunately for us the ragdoll rescue won't adopt where there are children under the age of 5 which is fair enough but does rule us out.
We really can't afford two at the same time but are considering perhaps introducing another in the future. I'm a bit worried about just having one after the comments here but I'm not really sure what to do. I do WFH so cat wouldn't be left for long periods.
The kittens are 2 weeks old now and the wait is killing me!

OP posts:
TT82 · 26/03/2024 10:41

@Ellovera2 hi, I also work mostly from home, and my son plays a lot with our cat. He is fully fine without another cat to be honest. I bet your kids will play with the kitten, and also ragdolls just like to observe and participate in anything you do - lego construction, tidying up etc.
My friend doesn't have kids and go more often to the office, introduced another ragdoll after 3 years. After 3 weeks of hissing and fighting they now play together etc. So see how it goes and I think with Ragdolls you can introduce later.
We are currently cat-sitting for 3 weeks our friends ragdoll too, they follow each other, jealous and hiss a bit, but fully fine too 😅

BroughttoyoubyBerocca · 26/03/2024 10:46

I have had cats all my life. Took in two Ragdolls, they were 3. From the off set they were high maintenance, didn’t want me to sleep, male cat pissed on my bed and attacked his sibling.
separated them, still have one of them, never known a cat to meow so much, won’t let me sleep, if in bedroom will sleep for a few hours then wake me every 15 mins, despite having food, water, litter trays and cat flap. Sooooooo needy, Wouldn’t recommend

Ineedabiscuit · 26/03/2024 10:59

Thanks Ellovera2, totally understand exorbitant cost of Ragdolls , maybe a rescue moggy later perhaps .
if you work from home that’s great, she/he won’t be on their own for long periods of time .
Regarding waiting, can you have regular visits (weekly )as your breeder is only in next village you say ? They should allow that especially as you are paying a lot of money or maybe zoom calls ?

lunar1 · 26/03/2024 13:39

I'd honestly be tempted to wait if you can only have one now, they need a lot of company, I cant imagine either of mine being happy as an only cat.

Ellovera2 · 26/03/2024 14:07

@BroughttoyoubyBerocca that sounds like a nightmare!! Do you think their behaviour is related to their prior experience?
@Ineedabiscuit she has been sending pics and I'm guessing we'll be able to visit in a few weeks when they're a bit more independent and it won't stress the mum as much.
Really in 2 minds now. This is the longest we've been without a pet and the house just feels empty.

OP posts:
Bradley11 · 25/04/2025 20:32

Ragdoll - I have a beautiful ragdoll Nala, She is a seal point, Mum was short haired and very small and dad was long haired and reasonable size. Nala is still very small and petite although not a worrying size after a Vet review, she has turned 4 this month.

My issue is she is so fussy regarding food, I have tried so many wet and dry foods and nothing seems to be a constant winner! The only things she will eat regularly is boiled chicken and Dreamies treats! Anyone have any similar experiences and can advise on a wet or dry food that i hopefully have not tried before?

Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks ☺️

Hereforthedramaz · 26/04/2025 13:01

My female ragdoll is fairly fussy about wet food, not dry though.

she tends to just lick the jelly etc which is obviously not uncommon in all cats and I assume just means they put the addictive stuff in the jelly!

it might not be helpful or relevant but I have found giving her very small amounts more frequently means she just gets on with it and can’t be quite so fussy!

she’s also on Bella & Duke raw food with access to dry the rest of the time And she is fairly reliable on that, but it’s not cheap of course!

Miketheknight101 · 03/02/2026 13:19

Hi,got a ragdoll/persian mix. She is very vocal in general.
Fussy eater, and just not settled at night. She constantly meows for few hours durin the early hours of the morning. We not sure if this is of the breed or just her being noisy for company. Any advice will be helpful

Ellovera2 · 03/02/2026 16:36

Hi @Miketheknight101
We have our gorgeous ragdoll now. She was also very vocal at night, and would have zoomies and jump all over the beds etc. So we started shutting her in the kitchen/playroom downstairs at night. She cried a bit the first night, and has been fine every since I'm so glad we did it. Obviously we make sure she is played with lots before bedtime etc, and now she trots off to her bed in the playroom and sleeps quietly all night. It's got her in a better daytime/night time routine.

OP posts:
FunkyMonks · 03/02/2026 17:08

I have two ragdoll kittens brother and sister as well as a 5 year old moggy.
They aren’t aggressive both don’t mind being picked up and touched and cuddled, they follow me around the house so I have to be careful not to step on them as they can get under your feet.
They are both placid with my young children, they have plenty of toys massive cat tower and we will be building an outdoor catio for them for the drier/warmer weather as they are all indoor cats.
I think it’s luck of the draw when it comes to a cats temperament despite its breed.
The brother is more energetic than his sister she is more eat sleep repeat with the odd burst of energy when she does play with her brother or older cat.

MathiasBroucek · 03/02/2026 17:36

Ellovera2 · 03/02/2026 16:36

Hi @Miketheknight101
We have our gorgeous ragdoll now. She was also very vocal at night, and would have zoomies and jump all over the beds etc. So we started shutting her in the kitchen/playroom downstairs at night. She cried a bit the first night, and has been fine every since I'm so glad we did it. Obviously we make sure she is played with lots before bedtime etc, and now she trots off to her bed in the playroom and sleeps quietly all night. It's got her in a better daytime/night time routine.

Yes, our raggy lives in a spare bedroom at night. She's very happy there as long as we, like you, fuss her before bedtime!

Gingerwarthog · 03/02/2026 17:46

We have 2 raggies. Both placid, happy, can be vocal
if they feel they aren’t getting enough attention!
Great with kids and affectionate. They will curl up next to you but they are not lap cats as someone else has also posted. Ex- breeding queens - got them from the breeder when they were 3.
We adore them.