Ragdoll Cat Forums

Hi everyone!!!

I'm 23 years old, I'm a civil engineering student and I love animals. I'm from Portugal and my english isn't the best, but I can understand most of your messages, the worst is to write well!... So I apologize for any mistakes!

I don't own a cat now, I had cats when I lived in a house with garden, but when I moved to an apartment, my mother said she didn't want any pets. Not only because we never had animals inside (cats and dog were all outdoors), but also because my brother's allergies.

With time I could get a rabbit, because he could spend his time only in my bedroom and not in all the house. Some months later he was walking throughout the house, and then, with adolescence, he started to biting everything: cables, furniture and even tissues, he was moved to the kitchen, where he can be more free! To have more animals, can not be destructive ones, like my bunny! So, when I wanted more animals, it wasn't easy to convince my mother. With time, I got an hamster!

I love my bunny, Joli, and my hamster, Lili, but I still liked to have cats or dogs again!!! I think that for a dog, live in an apartment would be a prison and a cat can live well indoors, so it would be perfect to bring a cat!

I started to look portuguese information, but I have too many doubts, so I started to look in english too and the research about ragdools brought me here!

Why ragdolls? Well, it couldn't be a destructive cat, so I was looking for a laid-back cat, and we have neighbors, so it should be a non-vocal cat (he/she could make noise jumping around). The best cat breed seemed to be the persian, but my brother has some allergies and as the persian has much hair, not match! But me and my mother love cats with longhair, so I thought about the ragdoll! Ragdolls do shed, however, their coat sheds a lot less than other medium or long-haired cats, they are playful, and at the same time, reasonably not destructive, right?

But isn't only that. I never saw a ragdoll in person, but I was in love when I saw then on youtube! They are so beautiful (my favourite is blue bi-colour), sweet, docile, friendly, playful...

I would get scratching posts, lots off toys and I would give love and attention but if it is not enough and he/she becames destructive anyway, I thought in soft claws, but I am a little afraid about it, because I read that as the nail grows out it leaves a gap in-between the real nail and the fake one, so the cat could stuck his claws on stuff and that could hurt him! Anyone here have cats that use them?

As mentioned earlier, my brother has some allergies, so I thought about getting the furminator, but some people said it could cut the cat's hair (in the official page they say it doesn't happend). Do you use furminator? Brushing is not a problem, I love to brush my bunny, but he is only 1.9Kg (4.18 pounds) and this is nothing compared with ragdolls, so I never thought in a furminator before.

If I get a ragdoll, he/she will be alone during my classes only, because I live near the university, so I always eat at home, study at home... But I know that with a job I'll be probably less time at home and then I have to think in getting another cat! So, do you think I can make a good ragdolls owner?

Every kitten will have its own personality, but it's possible to know at 3 months old (the time I should pick him/her up) if he/she is shy or outgoing? And they really follow you around from room to room?

Wow, I've written too much... I'll leave the rest of my questions to put later.

Thank you for your attention and for your time!

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I forgot, here you have a picture of my bunny and other of my hamster:

Joli:



Lili:

Welcome!
Your English is great!!! Good luck in your quest to find a Ragdoll! Your hamster and rabbit are so cute

I think you can tell alot from their personality at 3 months. Dexter's personality has not changed too much from when he was a kitten. And Dex definitely follows me from room to room, I can't even go to the bathroom without him outside the door waiting and alot of the times crying to get in! (But of course it depends on the cat if they will follow you around or not).

Hi and welcome to the forum. It sounds like you've thought things through, and I don't think you have to worry about a ragdoll being destructive if you purchase from a reputable breeder that has trained the kittens to scratching posts. You will of course need scratching posts both vertical and horizonal and cats like to stretch and scratch both ways, then keep their nails trimmed too. Can't promise you they won't be vocal...I have one that is and one that isn't. If you can, try to get two if you aren't going to be home alot so they can keep each other company - they are very social cats.

Thanks for your answers, Lindz2785 and TeresaK!

Later, I'll show more photos from Joli and Lili in "Other Pet Galleries"!

About getting two cats, well... I love cats, so for me it wouldn't be a problem, but I'm not thinking moving for the next years and my mother don't want any cats (for now, lol! But it just take some time to convince, like it was with the bunny), so one is easiar to get than two! Now I have plenty of time and someday, because I'll be less time at home (or not, lol) I can try getting another cat!

Hello and welcome to the forum. Your pets are adorable. If you decide to get a ragdoll do lots of research for a great breeder and you won't regret getting one. I would recommend getting two if you can.

P.S. Mine follow me everywhere!

welcome! You will love a Ragdoll~

Welcome! A few things to consider:
(1) Ragdolls are sweet but are still cats, and as such are predators. It might not be safe to have one around your bunny and hamster (who, by the way, are SO cute!!!).
(2) Ragdolls are not hypoallergenic. It's not the amount of fur that matters, it's the amount of a protein called Fel-d1 that a cat produces which matters (Fel-d1 causes most allergies to cats). While this varies from cat to cat, any ragdoll that happens to produce low levels of Fel-d1 will be a random fluke, not characteristic of the breed. One breed that supposedly produces low levels of it are Siberians, but even there you should get a kitten from two parents with low Fel-d1 levels.
If you choose to get a Ragdoll anyway, make sure that your brother is willing to take allergy medication for however long he continues to live in the same house as the cat (I don't know how old he is), and consult with an allergist first. There are some things that can be done to reduce allergens, such as using a vacuum with a HEPA filter, damp-mopping all non-carpeted floors and damp-dusting all other surfaces, and bathing the cat every few weeks. But even that's not a guarantee. You might want to wait until you and your brother aren't living in the same house, because it would be painful for everyone (including the cat) if you got a cat and wound up having to later find the cat a new home because of your brother's allergies. But a visit to an allergist might help to clarify things.

Welcome to the forum!

Hi and welcome to the forum. Sounds like you will be a responsible parent for a ragdoll.

Catherine

Thank you all!

I didn't say earlier, but if I get a ragdoll, isn't before summer (June/July), but I have to do my research now, because it will take time to convince my mother!... I have to know everything I can long before I get the cat!

About the research for a great breeder, I'm already doing it! But there are few portuguese and spanish breeders in the "Clube Português de Fenicultura" (I don't know how to translate it right, but it is the official portuguese club about cats, is associated to FIFe)...

At the beginning it will not be easy to get two cats, but if I'll be less at home, I know I have to get another cat!

I already bought stuff to do a secure top of the vivarium of the hamster! With the bunny is different. He has a cage, but he is almost all day free in the kitchen! But when he is free there, the door is closed! When the door is open, he is in the cage. So, if I get the cat, it's easy to avoid a meeting between them. There will be times with them together in the kitchen, but I will always watching it, and if they can't be friends, the cat will be less in the kitchen and when he/she is there, the bunny will be in the cage. But I hope that they can be friends!

About the allergies, my brother was allergic "to everything" when he was little, but now he has 18 years old and he has far less allergies, but yes, he has to do tests before a cat come to our home. He didn't do already because I couldn't convice them (him and my mother) that it's a cat coming, lol! I have to be more persuasive... But I read a lot about alergies and I think that the problem is not with cats (levels of Fel-d1) but with the dust! So, I know that I have to give regular baths to any cat that comes to our home. Well, I'm studing the question about "regular" yet... maybe once a month it will be enough, what is your opinion?

I didn't tell you yet, but things I miss in my bunny: he doesn't depend on me, he likes our love and attention, but only for some short periods, he doesn't come much to say hello when we go to the kitchen, he is very afraid of visits, it's not easy to play with him (he plays, but by himself), he doesn't feel when we are down... Well, this is all things typical in a bunny and the opposite can be done for a cat, right? I want a cat who needs me and who likes people and ragdoll seems to be that type of cat! Oh, but I love my sweet bunny anyway, he even likes to lap (sometimes) and that is not so typical of bunnies.

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My sweet Joli: