What you are about to read may save you a lot of

heartache. Buying a Ragdoll Kitten, even from a breeder, can

be a minefield. Here are 6 things you should look for when

going to a breeder for a Ragdoll kitten.

Ragdoll cats are one of the most popular breeds at the

moment. There’s good reason for that. The Ragdoll cat is

affectionate and a pleasure to have around. But you really

have to be careful about where you buy your kitten from

because not all breeders are created equal, and you don’t

want to end up with a kitten that has health problems.

1. Ask your breeder if the kitten is a full-bred Ragdoll.

It may seem like a silly question to ask, but it’s something

you really need to know. Some breeders are cross-breeding

the Ragdoll with other breeds in order to get new colours

and patterns. A Ragdoll cat is only considered to be a

fullbreed when its four generations out from any cross.

2. If a breeder is asking a much lower price than most

others in the area, ask why.

It’s possible that the breeder is cutting corners and not

telling you the full story. It’s a shame, but you have to be

on the lookout. It could be something as simple as they are

trying to attract more customers, or they have more kittens

this year than expected, but you should ask the question all

the same.

3. Is the kitten 12 weeks old or more?

If you want a well-adjusted kitten then its essential that

you wait until the kitten is at least 12 weeks old. This

gives the chance for the breeder to socialise the kitten, as

all good breeders will know how to do. In addition to this

the kitten’s immune system will be much stronger. Make sure

that the kitten has had at least one of its shots. Steer

clear of any breeder offering kittens up at 8 weeks. If they

are doing this it is to save costs, since a kitten grows

especially fast in the time between 8-12 weeks. You’re much

better waiting to get your Ragdoll. It will be easier on

you, and easier on them.

4. Get a health guarantee and contract.

Never buy a kitten without a health guarantee and contract.

This protects both you and the breeder. Remember to read the

contract carefully. Don’t just take their word for it. A

breeder will be more than happy to sign a contract if they

are certain that their breeding stock is disease-free. Make

sure it’s at least a two year guarantee, as some defects

don’t show up until a cat is fully grown.

5. Visit the cattery.

If it’s at all possible you should visit the cattery and see

the conditions the cats are bred under. There are several

things to look for: overall cleanliness; whether the males

and females are separated to prevent inbreeding; are the

cats with kittens kept separate from the other cats? Just

make sure that the cats aren’t too separate. If they

look like they are getting by with a minimum of human

contact this can be just as bad. They’ll be nervous around

strangers and you don’t want that.

6. Make sure the kitten is socialised.

If the kitten runs away from humans, then there is a good

chance it hasn’t been socialised. This will make for a

nervous kitten and maybe even a nervous or neurotic cat when

the Ragdoll cat grows up. If you buy a kitten that isn’t

socialised it’s going to be hard on them to move…and even

harder on you.

A Ragdoll cat is one of the most beautiful and loving cats

you can buy. When going to a breeder for a cat, you need to

be aware of the pitfalls, so that you and your new kitten

will be happy.