BRINGING YOUR NEW RAGDOLL KITTEN HOME.

What do I need to buy?

Before you bring your Ragdoll kitten home, make sure you have all the necessary items it will need.

" Litter tray & cat litter. There is a wide variety of cat litters on the market these days, some better than others. It is best to avoid clumping litter with kittens. Litter trays come in all shapes and sizes, such as self cleaning, covered (or hooded), or uncovered.

" Scratching posts. Cats have a need to scratch & enjoy scratching. Providing your cat with its own scratching post will reduce the chances of your cat using your furniture or carpet.

" Food/ water bowls. You can buy cheap plastic ones, metal, pottery, automatic and drinking fountains. My personal favourite are the pottery ones as they are sturdier and less chance of being knocked over, plus they can be put into the microwave if you decide to warm their food.

" Cat carriers for those trips to the Vet.

" Toys.

" Cat Bed. Again there are a variety of beds on the market, depending on your pocket. A kitten will do just fine with a cardboard box with a blanket. You're only limited by your own imagination and purse.

" Cat Food. A premium quality brand is the best. Select only for the appropriate age. Ex: kitten food (Kangaroo mince, mixed with water and a sprinkling of "Pet-Vite" vitamin mineral powder and a bowl of kitten biscuits. This gives them a dry snack through the day and lets them know where there sleeping quarters are.

Before the Grand Arrival

" Make sure you have kitten proofed your home. There are lots of tips on kitten proofing your home as follows……….

" One useful way to visualize potential hazards is to look at your home from your kittens view, i.e.: 15 cm off the floor. Bear in mind kittens are very adapt at climbing & jumping, they are capable of getting into places you wouldn't think of several feet/ meters off the floor.

" Ensure all power & telephone cords are out of reach, as they love a good chew. It's a real dilemma, when you find your phones dead and you can't get any sound out of a speaker. You can paint them with a deterrent such as Bitter Apple. This will taste revolting to their taste buds...

" There are many species of plant that are toxic to cats, so keep house plants out of reach. A comprehensive list can be emailed to prospective interested parties.

" Keep all ribbons, ties, elastic bands out of reach. If you enjoy sewing, put your needles and cottons away.

" Candles and oil burners can easily be knocked over by your kitten & and be a potential fir hazard and severely scald/burn your cat.

Kitchen/laundry.

" Keep all cleaning chemicals & laundry powders in a secure cabinet. Be careful with your kitchen waste, it is possible for your kitten to become sick from scavenging. Ensure the washing machine and dryer doors are closed. There is nothing n\more disconcerting to see your kitten revolving around with the clothes in your dryer.

" Keep kitchen cupboards, walk in wardrobes and drawers closed, kittens just love these Hidey Holes.

Other Toxins

" Never administer medicine without your Vets advice. This is especially important with human medicines; these can be fatal to kittens/cats. Ensure all household medication is securely stored. People are apt to give their kittens/cats scraps from the table as a social need. This is ok as long as you know what is ok for your cat. Never give your cat CHOCOLATE, ESPECIALLY DARK CHOCOLATE. (Dogs included.)

" Christmas is a busy time for Vets as many have to deal with adults and children giving rich and wrong foods to cats/kittens as presents. A small treat is always welcome by any kitten, just as long as it's the right, i.e. meat, not cakes, ice cream, nuts, beer and vino. If in doubt check with your Vet.

Feeding Suggestions.

Supply meals daily at Breakfast and Dinner times. Always leave fresh water and "Purina Supercoat kitten "dry biscuits out. We at "Ragwell Ragdolls" always give our 4 legged family raw pet mince meat, stirred up with a cupful of boiled rice (cool down the rice before mixing)and water, together with ½ tspoon of "Pet-Vite. All this mixed up will give your kitten an all round meal with vitamins to assist with strength and their growth. As they become adults they can then go on to the Adult Purina Supercoat biscuits.

" Kittens are big eaters, as their bodies grow. They love cooked meat i.e.; chopped up chicken, pork, beef and lamb. Raw cut up chicken has a great source of calcium They are social animals and love to join in the food chain.

We (hopefully) train the kittens to respond to the call at feeding times of "Din Dins". This verbal interaction with the kittens, we feel helps with their transition to their new home, hearing the same comment.

Kitty litter trays should always be on hand. Put newspaper in the tray, prior to pouring the litter in. It assists the kitty litter in absorbing the urine and makes it easier when replenishing new litter. The chalk granules are good on the newspaper and are the least expensive, from your local supermarket.

Settling your new arrival in * THIS IS IMPORTANT READING.

" Remember your kitten has arrived into a new environment and may be unsettled for a few days, as she/he becomes accustomed to its new home. Here are a few pointers to help you settle your new arrival in. Confine your kitten to one room with its sleeping quarters, food and litter tray, so it becomes familiar with its new surroundings. Cats/kittens are fastidiously clean animals and it's necessary to keep food, sleeping quarters and litter clean. After a few days & when the kitten is well settled, you can gradually increase the area your kitten can explore. Love and plenty of cuddles go a long way to encourage bonding. Many families expect their new arrival to settle in immediately!This, of course is not the case, some do , but others do take a while. Especially if the children in the house are noisy and rowdy, as the kittens come from a very quiet environment. So much love and cuddling will bond the new arrival more quickly. Patience is required.

Introducing your kitten to other pets you may have.

" Let your new arrival settle in before you attempt to introduce it to other pets. The introduction needs to be slow and at the kittens own pace. Some pets will become firm friends almost immediately, however it is common for resident pets to be a little upset at a new arrival ( Sounds like an old peoples home) This is completely normal behavior and needs to be met with sensitivity and understanding. Rushing the situation doesn't help.

Veterinarian

" It is always a good idea to take your kitten to a vet near you in the first month of having your new arrival. This will be a great opportunity to have you kitten checked and discuss any aspects further to the info supplied here.

" N B.THE INFORMATION SUPPLIED HERE IS A GUIDE ONLY AND THERE IS NO OBLIGATION TO USE OR FOLLOW ANY OF THE HINTS. PLEASE, IF IN DOUBT ON ANY SUBJECT CONTACT YOU LOCAL VETERNARIAN.

THE RAGDOLL BREED.

The Ragdoll is best known for its docile and placid temperament. It is perhaps the gentlest and most easy-going of breeds. The name "Ragdoll" derives from the fact that many of these cats go completely limp when picked up. (Our Big neutered red boy will go to sleep across my neck and shoulders when sitting in front of the computer.) They love to be held and cuddled like a baby and absolutely love chin and tummy rubs. So affectionate and loving is this breed you can tell they really do cherish time spent with their owner. Ragdolls just love to show affection. A daily grooming, however small in time is suggested for the bonding process.You'll hear their little engines start to "Rev Up".

The breed had it's origins in California in the 1960's.

What is known is the breed has been selectively bred over many years for desirable traits, such as large size, docility and the ability to limp in the arms of the holder like a rag doll. Hence the name.

The Ragdoll is a large semi-long haired cat, exhibiting the pointed (Siamese) patterns in three varieties. COLOUR POINT, BI-COLOUR, and MITTED.They are available in SEAL (Dark Brown) BLUE, CHOCOLATE and LILAC POINT COLOURS, either with or without markings on the face and feet. In some associations, they are also available in non standard colours, such as RED and LYNX POINT.

The Ragdoll is the LARGEST fully domestic breed of cat. Adult males can weigh over 20 pounds. We hope this gives you some guide. We at Ragwell Ragdolls hope you have a PURRRRFECT day.