hello all. I am very excited to hopefully be purchasing my very first Ragdoll very soon. I would love it if you guys could help me with some questions.
1) how do I know if im buying from a reputable breeder?
2) what is the usual price for a Ragdoll?
3) Im having a hard time deciding on the color/pattern i want. its a choice between getting a kitten sooner rather then later or waiting a good while and getting a color i love. lol.
4) what type of litter pan should i use? do those automatic ones really help or do they scare cats? what about covered ones?
thank you for all of your input.
im obsessed and addicted already i think. lol
1. You do it the way you select vets, doctors and other people. Getting a kitten locally means you will visit to select the kitten and also means you are more likely to be able to get information from Ragdoll owners and other breeders.
2. There is some geographic variability, but expect to pay in the $600 to $800 are for a pet. You will not find Ragdolls you want for $400 or less.
3. The breeder is most important. Then decide how that fits into the temperament (most important) and sex/pattern/color issue.
4. Automatic boxes work great, but are not for kittens. Start with what the breeder used. If you want to try others, most cats will accept changes, but be careful when removing current pans and litters. Some cats prefer covered pans and some owners prefer them too.
You're definitely asking the right questions, especially about finding a reputable breeder. Not as easy as you would think. When I got my girls I "thought" I had found a reputable breeder. They asking price was the "going" price, the house was clean, cats looked great..........and then I picked them up (they were retired breeders) and based on some things she said, I realized that she had never really socialized the cats!
I think one way possibly to find a good breeder is to join a forum like this and find out if there are any people in your geographical region who have purchased ragdolls from reputable breeders and ask them to PM (private message) you with their thoughts on their breeders.
thanks for your replies ladies. I believe i have found a reputable breeder as one of the links on her website was this place.
She says that her kittens are socialized, growing with her children , dog, etc. does anybody know of a good site where i can see different pictures of ragdolls? ive seen several pics but im looking for something that is pictures better explaining the colors and patterns. thanks.
Hi,
When looking for a breeder I would look at how many cats they house. Sometimes less is better as the pets get more attention. Check if the cattery is registered with TICA and/or CFA. Email the breeder with questions and see how she/he handles that as well. A fancy website should not fool you. Also see if other breeders recommend the breeder you are interested in as well.
As far as price see if that includes the alter (spay/ neuter), registration papers, shots, dewormings, etc. There is a range and that does vary by location as well.
Good luck in your search.
thank you all for helping me out! i appreciate it. the cattery is registered tifc but not cfa or if it is, i dont know about it. the asking price is $750 and that does include the spaying/neutering, 2 sets of shot, reg papers, sample of food/toys, etc.
i have emailed the breeder with several questions and she seems to be rather nice and gets back to me quickly with answers.
i believe she only has two males and 4 females that she breeds.
she is on that rfci site. does that mean she is definatley reputable? i would mention her name but i dont know if that is allowed here?
i live in south carolina and the place i found is in north carolina. thanks again.
I assume you mean TICA (The International Cat Association; not to be confused with TCA - Traditional Cat Association) and not tifc. TICA has more Ragdoll breeders than CFA, although many are active in both.
RFCI membership is not a proof of reputation, although most members are reputable (as are most Ragdoll breeders).
In general on forums, one can mention identities to get information (often privately) from those with first hand contact, such as having the breeder's cats.
Scottie Cone (Rags2Riches) is a very experienced breeder in North Carolina.
I went to lots of cat shows and talked to a lot of local Ragdoll breeders before deciding which breeder to get a kitten from. I had heard great things about Dillinger's breeder for several years.
She doesn't ship and told me when I contacted her by phone to come over on a certain date and see which kittens' personalities I liked. She put Dillinger into my arms as soon as I arrived and he just cuddled and purred up a storm. I knew that was my kitten. I had no intention of getting a red as my Charlie (my red bicolor) had just passed. When Dillinger turned 12 weeks, Marian (Mari) made the drive with me, and ended up adopting Aiden.
Good luck getting the perfect kitten for your household.
Victoria
JanH Wrote:I assume you mean TICA (The International Cat Association; not to be confused with TCA - Traditional Cat Association) and not tifc. TICA has more Ragdoll breeders than CFA, although many are active in both.
RFCI membership is not a proof of reputation, although most members are reputable (as are most Ragdoll breeders).
In general on forums, one can mention identities to get information (often privately) from those with first hand contact, such as having the breeder's cats.
Scottie Cone (Rags2Riches) is a very experienced breeder in North Carolina.
...and is also the breeder of Sir Snowman's grandad!