Questions & Answers about Ragdolls and Our Cattery

Below are some commonly asked questions concerning ragdolls in general and also concerning some of our cattery business practices. If you are looking for more information specifically about the ragdoll breed, please check out our resource library. If you have other questions, please don't hesitate to contact us. We'd love to hear from you!

Is it true that Ragdolls don't shed?
Like most other cats, they will shed some as it warms up after a cold winter and they will shed if they are stressed for some reason (a trip to the vet, perhaps?). But we have found that they do not shed nearly as much as other long-haired cats. Their fur lacks the under layer that most long-haired cats have, meaning less shedding and no tangling and matting. Their fur is soft like rabbit fur and generally requires little to no grooming.

Is it true that Ragdolls are hypo-allergenic?
We have heard stories and have experienced ourselves what many claim to be the hypo-allergenic aspect of Ragdolls. There are members of our family with cat allergies (my husband and myself included), but our cats have not bothered us at all even though we handle them regularly. One thing to note is that many people aren't necessarily allergic to cats but to the pollens and other allergens they bring in from the outdoors. Ragdolls are meant to be indoor cats (see below) and so this could actually be a factor. We have spoken with others who have cat allergies and also have not had trouble with Ragdolls, though we cannot guarantee that this will be the case with everyone.

Is it true that Ragdolls shouldn't go outdoors?
Ragdolls are considered an indoor-only pet. They are naturally less cautious and less aggressive than other cats. This puts them at risk for injury if allowed to spend time outdoors. In addition, most ragdoll kittens will have never experienced the outdoors (having been raised inside) and this will put them at even more of a risk because they will be unfamiliar with the dangers that the outdoors may hold for them. Also, because Ragdolls can have severe reactions to certain vaccines, they are not vaccinated against some of the diseases that outdoor cats can commonly contract and pass on to other cats.

What does it mean for a kitten to be "show-quality"?
A show quality kitten is one that demonstrates the characteristics (or standards) that are looked for in a show ring. You can take any registered kitten to a show, but they are judged according to certain standards including, but not limited to, size, shape of head, ear placement, color-markings, fur quality, and personality. Our "show-quality" kittens will be picked to meet these standards giving you a better opportunity to compete well in the show halls. It should be noted, however, that these show standards are just that: "Show-standards". The show quality kittens will have what it takes to compete in shows, but our pet-quality kittens will be just as beautiful and will be great companions for those that are not interested in the show ring.

Can I come visit your cattery and see the available kittens?
Yes, we are pleased to have you come and visit the kittens in person so you can see what they are like before you choose which kitten you would like from a litter. We are usually available by appointment any day except Sunday.

We would ask that anyone who has signs of being sick or having a contagious infection (for example: pinkeye, ringworm, chickenpox, etc) not to come for a visit until you are fully recovered. These are infections that our kittens can catch from you and are very dangerous for a cattery where all of our cats have a great deal of interaction with one another. While it is not our intention in any way to be rude, we do reserve the right to deny visits from someone who is obviously sick.

Click here to contact us and set up an appointment to visit.

What should I expect to pay for one of your kittens?
Our prices will vary somewhat and can be found either on the kittens page or by contacting us. There can be a wide range of prices that you will see for Ragdoll kittens, so you may be wondering how to determine what is a legitimate or fair price. There are a few things to consider with respect to this. First, part of what you pay for when purchasing any pure-bred cat is the associated bloodlines. For Ragdolls in particular, you are probably looking for the large size, great temperament, and all the other characteristics that this breed is known for. Next, you are paying for the quality of care that goes into raising the kittens. This includes the time and money spent providing the kittens with a comfortable and clean living space, vet visits to maintain their health, proper immunizations, quality food, and investing time into socializing all of the kittens. There is also time spent staying up-to-date on the breed and making sure the kittens are up to breed standards. All of this takes time, which is part of the expense of a new kitten.

You may wonder why you have seen Ragdoll kittens listed for significantly less other places. Though a less expensive kitten does not always mean a lower quality, there are some things we would encourage you to look out for:

Of course, it is still very possible that you may run across a reputable breeder who is just simply charging less for their kittens. Our intent here is not to scare you away from other catteries but simply to help you be an informed buyer so that you are comfortable with your purchase.

We might also point out that the initial cost of a kitten is actually fairly small compared to the cost of food, litter, vaccinations, and vet checkups for the life of the cat. In light of all these things, we plan to stay at the lower end of the price range for our kittens in an attempt to make these great cats a little more affordable.

What forms of payment do you accept?
Our preferred method of payment is cash, money order / cashier's check, or Paypal. We usually do not accept personal checks, but Paypal will allow you to pay using either a credit card or checking account number.

Is a deposit required to reserve a kitten?
Yes, our kittens are sold on a first come, first served basis. So the first person to send us a deposit for a particular kitten will get that kitten. The amounts for the deposit may vary depending on the price of the kitten. The deposit amount will be applied toward the purchase price of the kitten. The remaining balance is due when you pick your kitten up.

Do you guarantee the health of your kittens?
Yes! We'll allow 1 week after the time you receive your kitten to have it checked out by a licensed vet. If any health problems are found, we will give you a full refund if the kitten is returned (we may request documentation of the health problem from your vet). Alternately, we can also offer to replace your kitten if any others are available or when another litter is born.

We also have a one-year genetic defect guarantee. If the kitten is found to have a fatal genetic defect, we will replace your kitten with a new kitten (when one is available). Again, we may require documentation of the problem from a licensed vet. The health of our cats is a #1 priority for us. Part of succeeding in breeding is paying close attention to potential health issues and breeding only ragdolls that have a clear health history and no known genetic problems.

Have you had any problems with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)?
No. All of our breeders come from lines that are consistently HCM-free. As an extra precaution, we have had every breeder DNA tested and all are double-negative for the HCM carrier gene. For those not familiar with HCM, it is a genetically inheritable disease common to main coons and ragdolls. Kittens that develop HCM can die at a very young age. Because of our DNA testing, we can guarantee that our kittens will not develop the genetic form of HCM.

How soon can we pick up our kitten?
The kittens are ready to go to their new home at about 12 weeks, depending on size and health (some might be required to stay a little longer). We will mainly be looking to make sure each kitten is fully weaned, litter trained, socially adjusted and healthy.

Do you ship kittens?
Yes, we do ship kittens to their new homes! Please check out our library article about shipping and contact us if you have any questions or would like an estimate for shipping costs.

What about vaccines?
Each kitten will receive 1 or 2 upper respiratory vaccinations. The first one is given at 8 weeks and possibly another at 11 or 12 weeks of age (they should then have one more booster around 16 weeks). In most areas it is also required for the kitten to have a rabies vaccination. This vaccination cannot be given until after 12 weeks of age and we would encourage you to speak about it with your local veterinarian.

There are 3 other vaccinations that veterinarians may offer for your kitten: FELV, FIV, and FIP. We generally reccommend against giving ragdoll kittens any of these 3 vaccinations. Please read our article about FELV, FIV, and FIP for more information and some of the risks and benefits associated with these vaccinations.

What is your declaw policy?
Our current policy is to highly recommend that people do not declaw their Ragdolls. There are several reasons for this. First, unlike other cats, Ragdolls have a more gentle nature and tend not to use their claws as often anyway. Second, there are many reasons why cats have claws including defense against an attacker, grooming and cleaning, and balance among others. To remove their claws will actually impact several areas of their life. Third, there are many ways that you can maintain a cat's claws so that they will not destroy your furniture or other property. Probably the most effective and cost friendly method is to clip the claws once every other week. This is actually fairly easy to do with some instruction (ask your vet to show you how). A more challenging and costly method is to use soft paws. This is a little plastic tip that you glue on to your cat's claws. We've found that they may not like these very much and some will immediately go to work trying to get them off! But still, that is an option and may work well with your cat. Another thing to consider is that cats use their front claws in the litter box to cover up their waste. Smelly litter boxes can be a result of cats who have been de-clawed. A final reason to avoid declawing is that it can cause permanent pain for the cat if not done correctly. This is especially common for bigger and heavier cats such as Ragdolls.

Ultimately, we leave this decision up to you as the new owner but if you are leaning towards declawing, we would very strongly recommend doing some research on this before having the procedure done.

Do you spay or neuter your kittens before sending them to their new home?
We have looked into early-alter options but have not found any veterinarians in our area who perform this procedure on kittens. This is primarily due to an increased health risk to the kittens. Our recommendation is to have your kitten altered between 4 and 6 months of age (before 7 months at the latest). The following is our altering agreement that will appear on all our pet kitten contracts: "This kitten is being sold with the understanding that it will not be allowed to breed with any other cat. As its buyer, you agree to have the kitten spayed or neutered before it reaches 7 months of age (preferably at the recommended 4 to 6 months). When we receive the receipt of a licensed veterinarian's written confirmation showing that an altering operation has been performed before the kitten was 7 months old, the above kitten's pedigree and registration application/papers will be forwarded if requested."

Do you sell "breeder quality" kittens?
At this time we are focused mainly on selling good pet quality kittens who are healthy and socialized. We may occasionally keep back a kitten who we think would do well as both a breeder and a show cat. If you are looking for a breeder, just send us a message and we will try to help you either ourselves or by putting you in contact with one of our breeder friends.

Didn't find an answer to your question? Just send us a note. We'd be glad to hear from you.