Is a Ragdoll the Right Cat for You?

You should always do your homework before bringing an animal home to live with you. The worst thing someone can do is take a pet home, let it get comfy then take it back to the pound or shelter. You can avoid this by studying the breed and making sure it matches up with your lifestyle.

The Ragdoll cat breed isn't for everyone. They are fantastic and very beautiful felines though. This breed is very affectionate and pretty relaxed. Their fur doesn't matt and it's very silky and long. You can count on a Ragdoll cat following you everywhere they can. Human interaction is something they need to keep happy. Ragdolls do grow to be quite large in size, possibly the size of a very small dog. They could possibly reach up to 15 lbs! Very loving and playful, Ragdolls  make wonderful companions.

If you want a furry little loyal companion that will be awaiting your arrival when you get home, the Ragdoll would be the perfect addition to your home. You can always count on him or her to be right by your side. If you are looking for a cat that is more independent and keeps to his or herself, this probably wouldn't be a good fit for you.

Ragdoll Cat Personality

The Ragdoll is gentle and laid back. Just like dogs, these cats need to develop good socialization skills so if it's an option, you want to start when they are young. They love attention and being held so don't be afraid to pick him or her up at anytime. That also helps socialize them.

A Ragdoll cat would be fine if they were the only pet in the house. They don't need another animal companion, they actually prefer humans over other pets. These cats almost become limp, just like a ragdoll when you pick them up. Ragdolls are welcoming to people and kids they don't know, they have quite a bit of patience with small children as well.

Ragdoll Cat Health

You need to know how to care for your Ragdoll cat or kitten before you bring one home. Do some research to see if it's even the right cat breed for you. Something really nice about the Ragdoll cat breed is that they are known for having many health problems like some other breeds. Just as long as you feed them right and they get their exercise, they can live up to the high teens or maybe even 20 years!

Ragdoll cats, like Siamese cats have a sensitive stomach so finding the right cat food that agrees with them is extremely important. Going into the pet store and picking out the most expensive or the cheapest food is not going to work. Many pet stores have breed specific foods, that would be a good option for your Ragdoll. You could even take the route of making your own after you find out what agrees with him or her. This way you know exactly what's going into their body and you can modify it if need be.

I suggest to anyone with cats to leave some cat toys laying around the house so that when you are not around or able to play with him or her they can entertain themselves. Cat trees are a great option as well. They need lots of love, attention and playtime with you so don't deny them of that. This is all they have so be loving and loyal to them and they will be the best companion you could ever ask for.

Cat Depression

It's true, cats just like people can fall into a depressed state of mind. You can usually tell if something is off about your cat if they are acting out or just not being themselves. If it isn't properly dealt with, they can become ill no one wants that.

A big change in their world can trigger depression such as moving to a new home, being put in a shelter, death of another animal or person in the family home or maybe something has changed in your life and routine to where you aren't around nearly as often as you used to be. These are all things to take into consideration.

If your cat has a loss in appetite, excessive sleeping, aggressive behavior or not using their litter box at all you may want to take them into the vet to see what can be done. These are just a few signs of cat depression and they need to be addressed immediately. Don't put these things off, you are all they have and they depend on you.

Cat Obesity

There are quite a few factors that contribute to cat obesity. A few of them are lack of exercise, free or over feeding, type of food and their age. The first sign of weight gain in your cat should not be ignored. This can lead to many other health problems so preventing it before it gets out of hand can save your cats life.

With many people the first thought is to put your cat on some kind of diet. It's important to speak with your vet before doing so to make sure it's the right one for your cat. It's never a bad idea to reduce the amount of carbs they intake and to increase exercise. You should start your cats out with good eating and exercise habits as kittens. By doing so, you won't have to work so hard to break the bad ones as they get older.

Just remember, it's up to you as the cat owner to make sure they exercise especially if they are strictly indoor cats. Keeping cat toys around the house and interacting with them on a daily basis is key to keeping your cats happy and healthy.

How to Deal with Fleas

If you're having a problem with fleas on your cat don't worry, you aren't the only one. This is a common problem especially for outside cats. Some cats don't even itch or scratch when they have fleas so you can't even tell they are infested. This is why it's important to check every once in a while by seperating there hair and looking through it.

When it comes to cat care, it's also important to provide your cat with some kind of flea prevention which in turn can prevent tapeworm. There are many different kinds out there on the market today but I suggest speaking with your vet to pick the safest option.

When you cat or kitten has been infested with fleas, you need to treat your house as well. The fleas spends most of it's life cycle in the living environment and not on your pet. Many people use flea bombs or foggers to treat the infected area of the house. If you don't do this, the fleas may still be alive in your home and pop up later on.

You can also vacuum up flea eggs from the carpet and then dispose of the bag right away. Putting flea powder in the actual vacuum bag is also helpful because it will kill them on contact.

Keep all of this stuff in mind especially around flea season which is from the early spring all the way to December.

Ragdoll Cat Breeders

If you are looking for a local Ragdoll Cat Breeder in your area, try these resources:

Utahragdolls.com

Ragdollcatbreeder.com

Myragdoll.com

Ragdoll Breeders at CatChannel.com

Raghill.com

Ragtimebluesragdolls.com

Remember, there are thousands of FREE Ragdoll Cats that need good homes at PetFinder.com - Click here to see some Ragdolls Cats who need some love.