I've heard that Ragdoll cats don't shed / mat is that true?

Ragdolls do not have the dense, wiry undercoat that other long-haired cat breeds do. Because of this, their hair is finer and softer than other long-haired breeds. They most certainly shed, although seemingly less than other breeds. Their hair is far more manageable as far as grooming and clean up because it's so fine. Ragdolls are not prone to matting, but some do, especially those with longer hair around the joints. The best way to keep the shedding down to a minimum and prevent matting is by brushing your kitty at least once a week with a pin brush, greyhound comb, or similar.

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Ragdolls are hypo-allergenic right?

FALSE! Ragdolls are certainly not hypoallergenic. How you react to a Ragdoll depends on the individual cat and it's dander. Keeping a dusted and vacuumed house will keep pet allergens in the home to a minimum. Anyone who says that Ragdolls are hypo-allergenic are not being honest and the last thing we want is someone to rehome their kitty because they were misled.

 

Are all Ragdolls floppy when held?

Again this depends on the individual cat's personality and it's level of socialization. There are always exceptions to the rule. Most Ragdolls are floppy, but there are a few who tense up - while others will go limp like a wet noodle when picked up. It just depends on the cat.

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I've heard Ragdolls do not meow is this true?

Each cat will have it's own personality and own individual voice. We have one kitty who never stops talking to us and is a total chatterbox and another whom we've never heard utter a mew. Most are in-between. Many are quiet, but there are always exceptions.

 

My kitten is playful, I thought all Ragdolls were mellow.

Kittens of any breed are playful until they reach adulthood. Play time is important for a kitty's cognitive and physical development just like in human babies. Ragdolls are incredibly social .... if your kitty is the only animal in the house, he or she will solely rely on you to be his or her playmate. In many cases our kittens are adopted along with a littermate so they can keep each other company. Always provide your kitten with plenty of toys and attention.

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Do all male cats spray?

No, the vast majority of cats that are neutered before 6 months old will not spray. Spraying is induced by hormones that become active when the cat is ready to breed -generally by 6-12 months. Those hormones are only active in males who have not had their boy bits snipped before reaching puberty. We have never had a neutered male spray in our years of owning cats because we always altered our pet kitties before puberty. Even boys who are altered at a young age recover from spraying after a few months once their hormones leave their system.

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When do Ragdolls reach their full size and coat?

Ragdolls will reach their full size and develop a longer coat when they are 3-5 years old. They are born completely white and gradually darken as they mature. Males can weigh anywhere from 15-20 pounds and some even get as large as 30 lbs. Females tend to be on the smaller side with average weights of 10-15 pounds.

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Do Ragdolls have any health problems?

Ragdolls are a generally healthy breed with only 1 known major health issue. HCM, which is short for Hypertrophic CardioMyopathy is a thickening of the heart muscle that can cause serious health issues or even death. HCM is not contagious but can be passed down genetically from HCM positive parents to their kittens. All of our breeding cats and/or both parents are DNA tested HCM negative. Since DNA testing is inexpensive and can be done by mail, we feel it should be every Ragdoll breeder's obligation to help eliminate this disease from the gene pool. Whoever you decide to purchase a kitten from, make sure they have tested their breeders negative and can provide proof. Many breeders claim to DNA test their cats but cannot provide proof. PLEASE ASK!

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Why can't I declaw my cat?

Because declawing is cruel and inhumane. In many countries it is actually illegal to declaw a cat. When a cat is declawed they surgically remove the tip of the toes. Imagine losing the tip of your fingers and toes down to the knuckle. In many cases claws can also grow back and become frequently infected. We train kittens as soon as they're mobile not to scratch our furniture but training should not stop when they leave our home. If you do not want your kitty to ruin your furniture, you must provide appropriate places for your kitty to scratch such as cat trees, scratching posts etc. If you catch your kitty scratching your furniture take the kitty over to her/his post and rub their paws on the area they are supposed to scratch. For more tips, please feel free to contact us.

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What is line-breeding? Do you line breed?

Line breeding is breeding animals that are closely related, also known as inbreeding. I.E. brother to sister mother to son, etc. Ragdolls are a relatively new breed and have only been around since the 60's. In the past, breeders were forced to use closely related relatives in breeding pairs. There are so many Ragdolls out there with diversified lineages now that it's very easy to avoid line breeding. None of our cats share ancestry to their mates within 6 generations. There are benefits and drawbacks to line breeding, but our stance is that the reward is not worth the risk. We believe line breeding could potentially jeopardize the overall health of our kittens.

 

What is a a "rare mink" or "solid" ragdoll? Do you have any?

We do not breed Minks and have no future plans to at this time. Minks are 'Ragdoll' cats bred to have darker coats and different coloring than the true traditional Ragdolls. In order to achieve this coloring, the Ragdoll is usually out-crossed with another breed which many breeders disagree with. Minks will usually have aqua eyes....but a traditional Ragdoll will always have blue eyes. They are not 'rare' but rather a way to market and trick buyers into paying exorbitant prices. Furthermore, minks and solids cannot compete for Championship status within The International Cat Association.