About Ragdolls: Soft, Lovable, Floppy Angels

"There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: Music and Cats." - Albert Schweitzer

Ragdoll cats possess the wonderful quality of being a very gentle, non-aggressive, sweet dispositioned cat. Legend tells that their name originated because of thier tendency to go "limp" when held in a human's arms. A Ragdoll's medium to long fur feels very soft and silky, much like the fur of a rabbit. Like all cats, Ragdolls do shed but shedding is comparatively low to that of other long haired breeds. Although their fur rarely mats, unlike some other long haired breeds, Ragdolls still do need occasional grooming, much to popular belief. We usually brush our cats as part of our morning bathroom ritual...I brush my hair...I brush their fur...I brush my hair...I brush their fur, etc. Ragdoll cats are little tagalongs who very much become your little shadow. They love to become a part of most of your household chores, even when you don't need thier help!

Male Ragdoll cats generally weight between 14-18 pounds (some grow much larger) with the females weighing somewhat less thus making them one of the larger breeds of domestic felines. Ragdolls are slow maturing, usually reaching full coat color at two years, and full size and weight at approximately four years of age.

All Ragdolls are blue eyed cats that come in various types of patterns...Colorpoint...Mitted...and Lynx among them. They come in gorgeous colors of Seal...Blue...Chocolate...Lilac...Red...Tortie and Cream.

The Ragdoll is a very easy going kitty cat. Unlike regular cats, most of our Ragdolls aren't even afraid of the evil cat eating machine...the vaccuum! Some of them just lay there and watch as it thunders right on by them. It is for reasons such as this that they are to be an exclusively indoors cat. In general, they will not defend themselves if confronted with danger. They either believe the offender is thier friend or they just freeze and make no attempt to flee to safetyl And by the time they do realize danger is immenent, it is probably too late. It is a known scientific fact that cats that live indoors are perfectly happy, content and will live much longer, healthier lives than those that are allowed to roam freely outdoors. In the long run, you will have greater piece of mind knowing you kept your sweet kitty safe from exposure to diseases, wild animals, stray dogs, being hit by cars, stolen, and even from the cruelty of some humans.

When adopting your precious Ragdoll, be sure you are buying from an established reputable breeder and not from a pet store. There are way too many unscrupulous breeders who breed in excess and the breeder cats along with their kittens are the ones to suffer the consequences. These poor cats and kittens have bee subjected to horrors unimaginable prior to coming to the pet store. There are those who think that if they buy their Ragdoll, or any other animal for that matter, from this type of source, that they are saving the life of that one individual pet. The opposite is true, it only encourages this type of inhumane practice to continue and thrive and causes so many others to suffer. If you are paying a "cheap" price for a Ragdoll cat, let's say a few hundred dollars or less, then you are probably not purchasing a purebred Ragdoll cat. Reputable breeders who take great pride in how they raise their cats put out an incredible amount of money for their health and well being. It is definitely not a cheap way to go by any means. But, those who stand by their principles of quality Ragdoll cats will go to any lengths to ensure that their Ragdoll babies are very well loved and taken care of. Their health and high quality food is on the utmost importance. Remember, when you are choosing this new member to join your family, you want to make sure you have made every effort to adopt a quality Ragdoll. And if you are so lucky to be able to adopt a Ragdoll kitten from a reputable breeder, then I wish you all the love and fun you could possibly have! If at the time I do not have what you are looking for, then I will happily refer you to one of the many reputable breeders that I have been fortunate to call my friends.

There are a number of steps you can take to protect your Ragdoll cat and your Christmas tree. For starters, purchase a Christmas tree stand with the largest base size to prevent the tree from tipping over if your cat jumps on it. Another step you can take to prevent the tree from tipping over when your Ragdoll goes climbing is to tie the top of the tree to a hook in your ceiling using clear twine or fishing line.

Do not leave the top of your tree stand open; by covering this opening you will prevent your cat from drinking the stagnant tree water that may contain bacteria, fertilizers, or plant food. Another step that might work to keep your cat away from the tree is to use metal foil as your tree skirt. Many cats hate walking on metal foil and you can purchase foils in a variety of holiday colors including red, gold, green, and silver from your local hobby supply store.

When decorating your Christmas tree do not hang glass bulbs or other breakable ornaments on the lower branches. Avoid decorations small enough for your Ragdoll cat to swallow or break by chewing. Be sure and attach all ornaments securely to the tree to prevent them from falling.

Avoid using tinsel or tinsel like garland on your Christmas tree. Cats love to eat tinsel and it can become lodged in their intestines and will require surgery to remove. Avoid using Christmas lights that twinkle on the tree. Twinkling lights can be mesmerizing for your Ragdoll cat and could lead to unfortunate tree tackling incident. When stringing your Christmas lights cover the electric cords whenever possible. Wherever you have exposed electrical cords treat them with a taste deterrent such as bitter apple spray; if you’re in a pinch you could use an aerosol deodorant or antiperspirant spray as a deterrent.

Avoid using ribbons with streamers on your gifts. These harbor the same dangers as tinsel and could become lodged in your Ragdoll cat’s intestine if swallowed. When cat proofing your Christmas tree remember that common sense is the best policy and if you have doubts about a location or decoration it is better to be safe than sorry.