Being unfamiliar with ragdolls, could someone please answer a question for me? My husband and I have adopted my mother's cat, Dolly, after Mom's stroke. Mom now lives with us, but requires 24 hour care. Mom adopted Dolly's mother at an estate sale. Dolly's mom is a Snowshoe Siamese who surprised us a few weeks later with kittens. One developed all the characteristics of a ragdoll -- classic seal point color and pattern, short legs, docile, slow to develop, flops over and goes limp. Mom decided to keep her and try breeding. After Mom's stroke, we tried to include Mom's 2 cats into our house with 2 cats. Dolly's mom just couldn't get along. We tried everything and finally found her a new home. I feel very guilty giving away Mom's cat, but everyone was stressed and overwhelmed in the months after her stroke. Dolly was only 3 months old when Mom had her stroke and is now 13 months old. She's adorable and my husband and I love her dearly. But she is in heat every 3 weeks and pees everywhere during that time. My limited research on Ragdolls leads me to think Dolly is a "moggie". Is that a mixed Ragdoll without a pedigree? Is there any financial benefit to our breeding her as Mom wished -- like to replace our carpet (insert smily face here)? If not, I'd like to have her spayed. Poor Dolly has had lots of upheaval in her short life. She lost her cat mom and her people mom, got moved in with other cats who only tolerate her and her new daddy and mommy are stressed and overwhelmed. I guess I'm looking to have my guilt alleviated over Mom's second cat. Is there any reason why we should not have her spayed? I thank you for answering what is probably a dumb question.
For the health of Dolly do get her spayed ASAP. Constant heat cycles can lead to cysts, pyometra (uterine infection), and other health issues. The constant hormonal imbalance cant be good for her disposition as well. Some females to spray and pee when in heat. Once altered she will calm down a bit and the other cats may accept her more. She will also have an improved coat and gain some weight. Hormones can take its toll.
There is hardly a financial gain with purebred Ragdolls with papers so there is No gain with a mixed breed cat without papers. The shelters are full of them looking for good home.
I'm not a breeder, but I would advise spaying her. She's not purebred of any breed, and there are so many mixed-breed kittens crowding the shelters already that in my opinion the only reason to breed intentionally would be to continue and improve a breed (using show/breeder quality cats). Even with purebred cats from show quality parents, based on what the breeders on this board say it sounds like breeding is NOT a money-making operation if you do it properly. And the worst part of all would be if Dolly lost her place in your home because of her behavior while in heat!!! Like you said, she's been through so much already!
Moggie is the word from the UK/Australia to describe "mutt" cats - without any pejorative implication in the word. They are random bred cats and with NO breeds in their ancestry. You are right that Dolly is a very nice moggie and there is no financial benefit to keeping her whole. Spay her and you all will be happier. The sooner the better.
Ok, lets look at this from another perspective. IF the cat was pure bred to begin with here in the UK she would need to be tested for FIV and FELV 24/48 hrs before the stud owner would allow her in with her stud. In the UK this costs just over £100 I think that's around $200. The stud fee averages £250 ($500 ? ) The queen would need to be upto date with all her preventative flea/worming and vaccinations. The queen would also need to be fed a good quality diet while pregnant which can cost more than what she is fed now? There's the possibility of her needing assistance during the birth (extra vet bills) then the kittens will need to be wormed at least 3 times before they leave for their new homes (cost of wormer) they will need their own food when weaning and if you use a clumping cat litter, the kittens will require a non clumping litter because they may eat it (some kittens do) also shallow litter pans they can get in and out of. They will need to have a full course of vaccinations before leaving. The cost of bringing the kittens up to the leaving home stage soon adds up. I don't know how much kittens sell for in the US but here in the UK they average £375 (approx $750 - $800 ) The tests and stud fee alone exceeds this amount for 1 kitten before the queen is even pregnant. First litters tend to be small 1-2 kittens which would not cover the costs of bringing them into the world and raising them.
Then you have to consider if you have the time to look after the kittens. Their mum does a lot of it but what if mum rejected her babies? can you hand feed the kittens every 2 hours? You will need to teach them to eat when they are about 3 weeks and to use the litter pan. They will need to be fed 4 small meals a day until they are eating un moistened dry food.
And then comes the registration to show they are purebred (IF they were pure bred) added cost.
So in answer to your question NO there's no money to be made from breeding cats in general unless you have your own stud and several breeding queens. We do it for the love of the breed and wanting to produce the very best healthiest, sociable and quality kittens.
You have your mother to care for now, I would defiantly have the queen spayed asap. She is at high risk of getting very poorly with continued calls and not being mated.
Thank you all for your knowledge, wisdom and time. I will make the appointment to have her spayed and not feel guilty about Mom. Should make everyone happier. Thanks again so very much.
You're making a very wise decision. Dolly will be much happier (and healthier) and so will you.
