Bringing home your Ragdoll

I am very happy share this ~ Very well written & informative review Susan. This will help many pet parents searching for their new fur baby!

My experience (review/blog/post)
Bringing home my ragdoll kitten  &  the first week with my ragdoll

My experience with bringing home my ragdoll (plus the first week with my ragdoll)
I thought I would share with you guys my experience of bringing home a ragdoll kitten so it can give you an insight to the process of contacting the breeder. I was nervous and did not know what to expect when I contacted and reached out to breeders. I hope this post will provide a better idea of the process. I also welcome others to share their experiences in contacting a breeder as well.

I first fell in love with the breed when my friend showed me Animal Planet’s Cats 101 video of the ragdoll. I was drawn by their puppy-like personality.

Getting to know the Breed

I started to learn more about the Ragdoll through Facebook & Google (many Ragdoll fb groups) and have been lurking for about a year or so. Then waiting another year almost. The groups have taught me so many things about the ragdoll such as they come with toe feathers, understanding the coloring and patterns, and what it is like to live with ragdolls.

I was able to get a glimpse of what it is like to have a ragdoll in your life through the youtube channels:

Spoonful of Ragdolls – Hazel used to be a ragdoll breeder in Canada and retired before moving back to Korea. She posts videos of the shenanigans of her 11 ragdolls, such as trying new toys or giving them a bath. It made me aware that not all ragdolls are the same and each have their own personality.

Living the Life You Love – I only follow this channel for her day in the life of her ragdolls Echo and Rory. She also has videos of items she bought for her first ragdoll, Echo, and what it was like bringing Echo and Rory home.

The Cat Butler – He provides wonderful tips and tricks on how to care for your ragdoll, like how to get them used to water, brushing their teeth, clipping their nails, etc. He also has a video on How to Buy a Ragdoll Kitten from a Reputable Breeder video that I also recommend watching. He is amazing but like with everything referenced. Don't agree with all.

Make sure you learn that the ragdoll is the right breed for you. I’ll be honest that I thought for a moment, I wanted a Main Coon because my brother wanted that breed. After my brother brought his MC back home and seeing how his cat acted around him, I had doubts if I wanted one. I found someone on Facebook who has both a Main Coon and a ragdoll. After talking to her, I realized that the ragdoll was the right breed of cat for me after all: I wanted a lap cat that enjoys scratches, and just want to be around you all the time. Less active, less play  

If you are unsure if the ragdoll is the right breed for you, ask people on Facebook, Instagram,  (social media platforms) what it is like living with a ragdoll vs another breed of cat. They have their pros and cons.

Finding Reputable Breeders

I have read somewhere that you should start reaching out to breeders to join their waitlist when you know you WANT a cat, not when you are ready for a cat. I can understand this reasoning because some waitlist can be a year long! Not all catteries will have a waitlist though. Those that do not have a waitlist will post on their social media (i.e. website, Instagram, Facebook) when a cat or kitten is available.

It is through youtube that I have learned so MUCH on how to find a reputable breeder. Of course, I do recommend watching Pearl’s and the Cat Butler’s video on how to find a reputable breeder. Though I don't agree with all.

And here are my tips for looking for one:

The best place to start is on TICA and/or CFA. I believe TICA has a much more comprehensive breeder list than CFA.

You can see if the cattery is registered with TICA by calling TICA.

I have not tried this out myself as this was recent change on TICA as they used to have a list of breeders online, as noted in Pearl’s how to find a reputable breeder video

Im not sure about breeders who show their cats. I personally completely changed my mind on this subject after talking to a breeder with all of the medical knowledge & 15years like Jamie. Things can spread easily airborne & my kitty I want healthy above ribbons. Not all catteries show their cats.
You can also find more catteries through a reputable cattery by looking to see where the kings and queens come from.
 

Example: If we trust that the cattery CrescentCityRagdolls is reputable, notice that a few of her breeders are from so & so. Then logically, these other catteries are reputable as well because the breeder is including cats from these catteries into their breeding program. A reputable breeder will only breed ragdolls who are healthy, and uphold and promote desirable quality and traits of a ragdoll.

Reputable breeders should only breed their queens twice a year, my breeder does once depending on litter size.

Look at what the breeder promises you when you bring a ragdoll home. You want to look for the following in the contract:

Health guarantee for at least 1 year. The health guarantee means that the breeder strongly believes they provide healthy cats and kittens. Do note that the health guarantee is only valid if the kitten or cat is taken to a vet within a set amount of time (usually 48 or 72 hours) of bringing the kitten or cat home. This is standard with all breeders I reached out to.

Genetic testing. Ragdoll cats are prone to certain genetically link diseases such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and polycystic kidney disease (PKD). You want to make sure the breeders are tested negative for genetic diseases. My breeder uses the actual TICA panel for hers, so that was a plus, plus. She does additional testing as well.

Up to date on vaccines.usually 2 shots before leaving the breeder when a kitten. If possible, I would also ask to see if you can have a record as well. You don’t want the breeder to be the one who is administering the vaccines unless they're medically trained & get their supplies from their vet or reputable medical company.

Spayed/neutered before leaving the cattery. A good breeder will make sure their cats and kittens are not part of the growing cat population, and the only way to do so is to have their kittens and cats fixed before going to a new home.

Not all breeders will send home a kitten that is spayed/neutered. If that is the case, they will not provide the pedigree of the cat or kitten until they receive proof (i.e. a receipt of the spay/neuter procedure) of the procedure.
My breeder, all done before leaving & recovered which is nice, I was nervous about that.

Must notify breeder if the cat or kitten is to be relocated & up to date contact. A good breeder will make sure that their cats will not end up in a shelter and will have their homes open to have their cats return to the cattery. Or you find your cat walking up to the neighbors dog that he/she doesnt know, they're about to be a snack. Microchipping  

No de-clawing. Declawing is inhumane; it is like cutting off the first joint of each finger. Cats are prone to behavioral issues due to the pain.

A good breeder does not allow the kitten to go home earlier than 12 weeks, most ideal is 16 weeks. This is because if the kitten goes home any earlier than 12 weeks, they will not have enough time to learn socialization skills from their siblings and other cats. You are more likely to have behavioral issues as the kitten grows older.

Stay away from breeders that offer mink, sepia, and solids. A true ragdoll will have blue eyes, and the mink, sepia, and solids will sometimes not have those blue eyes. I know this is controversial in the ragdoll world, but the bad experiences with questionable breeders I have read are those who also breed for mink, sepia, and solids.Which will no longer even be called ragdolls by 2025 something like cherubs they'll be called. I almost got scammed not realizing my cat wouldn't have had papers or be called a ragdoll.

I question breeders who say the mink, sepia, and solid are “rare” and charge more when these colorings are not even allowed to be shown in TICA & will soon be an entire different breed. A questionable breeder might also offer a kitten that won't even be a true ragdoll.

If you do like mink, sepia, or solid ragdolls, I highly encourage you to look into the Cherub? and RagaMuffin breed. This is a breed of cats that are derived from the Ragdoll and offer more coloring and patterns than the ragdoll.

I personally, stayed away from breeders who require you to put in a deposit to be on the waitlist. I can see why some breeders do this, as it is frustrating when breeders reach out to the family about a kitten that is available only for them to know that the family already has a cat. From my (buyer’s) point of view, putting in a deposit on a waiting list locks you in on one of the catteries. Again, the few stories of bad breeder experience also had the buyer place a deposit to be on the waiting list, no more communication, not even photos.

Note that this is very different from placing a deposit on the cat or kitten. This deposit is reasonable to me as it tells the breeder that you are serious about bringing this cat or kitten home. This I understand now that I'm about to get my second , possibly third kitty from Jamie

If possible, try to visit the cattery in person and look at the cats. Are they well taken care of? This is something I would have done if I could (I was unable because of location), otherwise ask if you can facetime with the breeder. There were never any red flags with Jamie because facetime, videos pictures continuously looked great. I think meeting the kitten & a parent in person is extremely important if you are looking for a cat with the right personality. Our cats Dad was sooooo sweet & loveable, huge fluffball (we told Jaime we thought her cats looked fake) met them and wow they look fake in person.

Reaching out to a breeder

If you are serious about bringing a cat home, the best way to contact a breeder is by calling them if they have a number provided. I believe this shows that you are eager about bringing a cat home. Of course, you want to call them at reasonable times, maybe between 8 am and 7 pm and definitely not at 2 am in the morning. Do not be discourage if the breeder does not pick up the phone, as they have a life outside of the cattery and could be busy with that. I, myself, do not pick up unknown numbers thanks to robo-calls. If they do not pick up, leave a voice message and call them later in the day if you called them in the morning, or call them the next time at another time.

I would also send an email and an inquiry form as well. There are questions on that inquiry form that the breeder would like to know more about you. However, I have noticed that most breeders who I reached out to by email do not reply back. I believe this is because they receive so many emails, and it is difficult to tell who are serious in bringing home a furry friend or not.

So, to stand out when you contact breeders via email:

I strongly recommend reading articles to learn how to make a good first impression on the breeder.  I knew how to contact dog breeders, but I strongly believe most of these articles applies to contact a cat breeder as well. The articles taught me how to draft my emails and gave me an insight to the breeder’s side of the experience

If you would like to know how often you should contact a breeder, I recommend reading up on it. I think a good rule of thumb is to reach out to them once a week for a month. Be kind and gentle when you send a reminder email and give them a number for the breeder to contact.

Be honest with the breeder if you are on multiple waitlists or reaching out to multiple breeders. I believe most breeders will know that you are on waitlist.

Try not to overwhelm the breeder with many questions on the first email. The first email you send is to let the breeder know who you are, why you are looking for a ragdoll, what the environment the ragdoll will be growing up in, etc. If they do not mention the pricing ask gently by saying so you are prepared if you were to get a ragdoll from them when you get to talk, and encourage the breeder to ask you questions because you want them to feel comfortable they the ragdoll will be going to a perfect home.

My Experience with Reaching out to Breeders

I have emailed and filled out inquiry forms for multiple breeders. Most of them did not get back to me. A few did reply after I called them.

However, the one that did reach to me the quickest and I absolutely appreciate my interaction with her, is Jamie of CrescentCityRagdolls of New Orleans, LA. I cannot recommend her enough. She was quick with her replies, which was within 2-3 hours at reasonable times. And she went above and beyond in trying to connect me with other breeders who might have kittens available. Though there are a few, all of her reviews have been nothing but praise and I do whole heartedly agree. If you want bring home a ragdoll and close to the New Orleans area, please reach out to Jamie, even though I flew. Even though her website for CrescentCityRagdolls is still being updated, she is still actively breeding. I have chatted with Jamie via emails because she might have had a kitten available for me. However, they were within reasonable time and she did have family matters that she had to attend to first, which I completely understand. Do note that she does not feel comfortable video chatting often. Which now I understand with her family.
 

I did reach out to  ****Ragdolls, located in Mandeville area I  think, but I will be honest that her emails were short, and felt a little curt? Like it was bothersome that I had many questions & would need a breeder to help me with those questions once I got home with her. Was rude in different ways & was a turn off for me for sure. I did not feel welcomed as I did when I chatted with Jamie of CrescentCityRagdolls.

I called C***l at *******dolls, located in Tennessee past Nashville. It took me a few times to reach out to her and I got a hold of her on a Wednesday evening at 7 PM. She said that the evening was usually the best time to reach her because that is when she is done & turning down for the night. She asked me why I was looking for a ragdoll and why I wanted a cat from her cattery. Her prices are very high but what I paid for a Crescent City doll was exceptional for the amazing kitty & service I received.
I reached out to ***** in California, I would have gone with her as well. However, I found the perfect cat I was looking for with another breeder that I am now waiting on more kitties. Though I am leaning toward the benefits of having siblings.

My  Whole Experience with the Breeder I got my Ragdoll From

My heart was pounding when I saw the post on Facebook that the cattery, CrescentCityRagdolls (located in New Orleans, LA), had a ragdoll that was available in the early afternoon. It was only posted moments ago. My emotions were high as I thought I would need to wait until next year to bring a ragdoll home, and there was an available ragdoll with the coloring, marking, sex, and age that I wanted. I quickly jumped at the opportunity because what if someone wanted the cat before I did? Especially seeing this breeder listed as a reputable breeder on the website of my first pick breeder in Boston. (Its worth the flight to just go yourself) The Facebook post said to email or text for more information. I sent out an email as fast as I could. And for a good measure, a text message. Yet, the rest of the day went by and not a peep. I went on the website and saw that I needed to send an inquiry form since some emails get missed. I sent one the following morning at the crack of dawn. Afternoon came around, and nothing. I took my shot and called the phone number. Of course, no one picked up but I left a voice message telling her my name, why I am looking for a ragdoll, and that I reached out to her via email and inquiry form before. About an hour later, the breeder of CrescentCityRagdolls, Jamie replied back. Bam, okay she knows I'm a serious buyer! Heck yes. She was very easy to talk to and I felt comfortable talking to her. Her prices are not high or competitive, her cats need to be in a magazine(stunning). I strongly believe she is a reputable breeder & would recommend 10x over.

We texted back and forth. I asked more about the cat, and I encouraged her to ask me questions. I wanted her to feel comfortable that the cat she was putting up for adoption will be going to a wonderful home. Trust me after all year of KNOWING I wanted a ragdoll and ready, I've learned some tricks from my mistakes.  

Finally, I got the okay that the kitten will be coming home with me! I was over the moon! I was the one who asked where and how I can send in the deposit. She walked me through it, step by step. Even after getting scammed. That's another story in its own.

In the few weeks before I could pick up the cat, I was like a mother bird preparing the nest for a baby. Jamie texted me a list of the litter, litter box, and food she was using & much more info. She also said she would send me home with lots of canned cat food. Since I would be flying in to pick up the cat (I decided this was the best option compared to driving as the travel time would be much shorter), she also did give me advice on what I should do at the airport with the cat. For example, I will need to take and hold the cat to go through security. I should ask security to take me to a private room where I can take and bond with her

I do want to note that there were times I felt like I annoyed Jamie. She had only sent me a couple of videos of the cat I wanted to bring home, and as any anxious and eager soon-to-be cat parent, I asked I could see more pictures or videos especially since I could not meet the cat in person until the day of pick up. She did not send me any more videos or pictures after I placed the deposit until the end of week . Or, she might have been very busy and this was not a priority given that I already put in the deposit for the cat. I also asked for the weight of the cat and wanted to make sure I got a carrier that is an appropriate size for the cat. However, Jamie  never got back to me about the weight, so of course you panic a bit (I then realized she already sent it along with links for TSA approved carriers)face palm emoji like the kids say.  Additionally, the kitten I brought home was older, and I wanted to see pictures of her from day 1.  Jamie is a very busy gal so when shes able to talk, im there & I received many photos & precious short videos all at once then we would play phone tag for days . I did try to bond with Jamie by showing her pictures of the cat tower, food bowl, and water fountain I purchased for the cat. Then I would get many updates. So I was a little pushy, I'll admit but I admired the patience she showed along with her knowledge of all the questions & has already taught me oh so much.

A week before the pick-up day, I reached out to Jamie once more to confirm the day and time of the pick-up. I also asked for the pick-up location, contract, and records. She texted back saying that she will send me information regard to pick up, which she texted me the following day step by step directions & going back & forth texting making sure everything was setup & ready to go. Made it go seamlessly, on a team, this is a hefty process.

When I finally went to pick up the kitten, I could hardly contain my excitement. I finally got the cat of my dreams. Obviously, she was very scared, after all this weird woman abducted her from her home. However, she did very well in the car ride to and from the airport, and on the plane. Jamie provided me her vaccination records, genetic testing, folder of info, pedigree, and a copy of the contract. She also provided a goodie bag (galore) full of toys, a lovely scratching board fit perfectly , cat food (both dry and canned) dry food as treats, beautiful blanket that smelled like home & her family really helped, so much thought and love put into every detail.

And, since I have been in contact with other breeders and strongly believe in keeping the breeders in the loop, I have reached out to them to let them know I found a cat to bring home.

Preparing and Bringing my Ragdoll Home

In preparation to bring my ragdoll home, I set up the water fountain and filled the litter box the day before I left home, so I would not scare the kitten with loud noises. The breeder uses Cats Pride hypoallergenic litter that I absolutely love.  My ragdoll has been using the litter with no issues for this past week, and this litter covers the smell very well. I cannot tell when she pees or poops until I go in and find those “treasures”. I made sure to cover up any hiding spots, such as under the bed or drawers, with cardboard and painter’s tape. I also bought inaba churu (essentially a go-gurt for cats), as all cats go crazy for this. I went to Marshall’s, Ross, and TJ Maxx to find discounted cat treats, beds, food bowl, and scratching post. Sams also has wet cat food as well: Pure Cravings and the Kirkland Brand. So far, I have tried the Tuna Pure Cravings and it is like opening a can of tuna. I mix it in with the canned food Jamie has given me and my ragdoll has eaten it with no tummy issues so far. I am planning on introducing her to the Kirkland brand within the next week.

Regarding the airplane ride home, I went with Southwest as it is a $95 flat fee and includes tax, ( thanks Jamie for the recommendation) regardless of where you go to have a pet in the cabin I highly encourage you to call Southwest when you purchase your airplane tickets to make a pet reservation. You will need to arrive at the airport about 2 hours before departure to purchase the pet ticket. I didn't use the carrier link Jamie sent from Amazon because the one I liked could transform into a backpack as well, but it was slightly too tall for the seat and I had to squish the bag a bit to fit under the seat. I also sat at the window seat because there is more space under the seat in front of you. If you are going with Southwest, the middle and window seat has the most space under the seat in front of you. The aisle seat has significantly less space. We also wrapped the bottom platform of the bag with puppy pee pads Jamie set her carrier up with starters & the blanket smelled like siblings & mommy (also got Amazon link for charcol liners or absorbing cloth waterproof, 30 sheets for $6) just in case if she had an accident, which she did not thank god. When you go through security, ask to go to a private room. You will need to take the cat out of the pet carrier so they can have the bag go through security. Should the cat struggle out of your hand, at least they run away in a closed room and not the wide-open airport. She handled the airport and flight very well. Not a single mew, and I was little disappointed as no one knew I had a kitten with me.

I also took Uber for my ride home. I highly recommend looking at the fare at different times a week before you need to use Uber. For example, let’s say my flight lands at my destination at 10:00 PM, so it will be about 10:30 PM by the time I am able to reach the ride-share area of the airport. A week before my flight, I monitored the fare around 10:30 PM. The price dropped significantly, about $30, if I waited an additional 15 minutes which is around 10:45 PM. It is also more expensive to make a reservation with Uber, so if you are in no rush, I recommend waiting to purchase an uber once you get off the airplane.

The first night I brought my new furbaby home, I immediately put her in the litter box so she knew where it was. However, she laid down in the litterbox, so I had to coax her out because I did not want her to build a habit of hiding in the litter box when she is scared. She looked for any place to hide, which is understandable. Thankfully, I blocked the area under my bed and drawer with cardboard (I used the box I received for the litter box!) and painter’s tape (this should not leave a residue). I left her alone, as much as possible, so she could decompress after a long day, but she did not come out of her hiding spot below my desk. I also took off the door flap to the litter box so she is aware of where the litter box is. Looking back i should've started in the bathroom.

The following day, she continued to hide. She did not eat anything (I left a little bit of wet food and dried food out for her) nor use the litter box. What got her to relax and trust me was when I sat next to her, sniff my finger (that is a cat’s way of greeting each other), and talked to her in a tone that Jamie talked to her. She put her head out to let me scratch her neck and started to purr. However, she refused to eat anything. I enticed her to eat a little by putting a small dab of inaba churu on my finger and dabbing that onto her nose. She would like the inaba curu off my finger but did not eat out of the tube. (She slept like a baby on my chest that night)

On day 2, she finally used the litter box! I took her to the vet and updated Jamie that she was in good health. What I wish I had done earlier was purchase a Feli-way room diffuser to help her calm down. However, by day 2, she has started to become more relaxed and started to eat more. I boiled some chicken breast in water, gave her some pieces mixed with the wet cat food Jamie had given to me. A good way to entice cats to eat their food is to warm it up. Afterall, when cats eat their prey, they are still warm.

On day 3 and onward, this girl has been braver and more eager to explore her new home. She started to follow me around (when she is awake) in my room and asks for pets. I have noticed her tail would go up more often, especially when she sees me. She sits next to me in her safe spots in my room. She has been using her litter box daily since the second day. She has been very active at night, which is when she explores the room a bit more. I think in the next month or so, she’ll be comfortable with exploring the house more. Jamie did let me know that my new cat tends to be a couch potato, but I found out that she loves springs (those plastic spirals, ill admit I didnt know were toys ,in that bag. So, I tied a stretchy string I found at Dollar Tree (similar to the string used in hair ties) to a spring toy. She goes crazy for this, now fetches, very neat. (She has slept on my chest since then, follows me everywhere, even when I am in the tub you can find her asleep right next to me)  

Anyways, thank you so much for reading this very long post! I hope this has been a helpful post on how to find a reputable breeder, my experience with reaching out to the breeder, your relationship with the breeder you choose and what to expect the first week of bringing a kitten home, more to come with kitten number two & possibly three. Signing off