Links / FAQs

Breeder friends:

Articles on health related issues in ragdolls:

HCM:
vgl.ucdavis.edu/services/cat/HCM.php

PKD:
https://pawpeds.com/pawacademy/health/pkd/

Dwarfism, by the Scandinavian Ragdoll Club:
http://www.scandinavianragdoll.com/halsa/dvargvaxt-hos-ragdoll/dwarfism/

Updated info and recent statistical finds on dwarfism:
http://www.scandinavianragdoll.com/halsa/dvargvaxt-hos-ragdoll/update-of-the-problem-with-dwarfism/

About the negative effects of early weaning of kittens:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/28871130/

FAQs

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about my cats. This list will be continuously updated. If you don't find the answer to your question here, please don't hesitate to contact me!

Q: Do all ragdoll cats flop and go limp when handled?
A: Ragdoll cats are generally very relaxed and happy for the attention, and a lot of them go completely limp when being handled. However, this is not true for all ragdolls. Even though they belong to the same breed, two individual ragdolls can be completely different from each other!

Q: Is the ragdoll allergy friendly?
A: This is a very frequently asked question, and the answer is unfortunately a big no. Most of my allergic friends have had allergic reactions when handling my cats.

Q: Are ragdolls less sensitive to pain than other cats?
A: NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT! This is a _very_ dangerous myth running around on the internet, and it is one hundred percent not true.

Q: Are ragdolls exclusively indoor cats?
A: There is no right or wrong answer to this question. They are especially suitable as indoor cats, but if they live in an environment where it's safe for a cat to be outside, they can be outdoors just like any other cat. These cats are, however, very trustful and a little naive, and some of them can easily get into dangerous situations. I recommend all of my kitten buyers to keep their cats indoors.

Q: How old does the kitten have to be before leaving its mother?
A: Although 12 weeks is the recommended minimum age for weaning kittens, I keep my kittens for at least 14 weeks. You can read more about the reasons why in the linked article about negative effects of early weaning of kittens.

Q: Why do you choose neuter early? Is it true that cats should be at least 6 months before spaying?
A: That kittens must be at least 6 months old before neutering is a myth. There is nothing wrong with waiting, but there are a lot of benefits of early neutering. I will write an article to elaborate shortly, but until then, please don't hesitate to ask questions.

Q: Someone is trying to sell me a Ragdoll kitten without a pedigree. How do I know if the kitten is actually a ragdoll?
A: Unfortunately you can't know. A kitten without a pedigree is not a ragdoll kitten, no matter what the "breeder" tries to tell you. You should always buy a kitten from a reputable breeder, and never accept one without a pedigree. No pedigree = not a ragdoll.

Q: Is it true that mixed breed cats are healthier than purebreds?
A: No, and in some cases quite the opposite. Good breeders make sure their breeding cats are thoroughly health checked before breeding to minimize the risk of disease in the kittens. This is almost never the case with mutts. One of the reasons why purebreds appear to be overrepresented in some genetic diseases is that breeders and a lot of other owners of purebred cats get autopsies performed if their cats die suddenly, and are also more likely to make sure their sick cat gets the correct diagnosis and treatment.

Q: Is it true that kittens from purebred parents from different breeds are healthier than a purebred kitten? Is there any proof of the theory of hybrid vigour?
A: Hybrid vigour, the theory that offspring from two different breeds are bigger and sturdier than their purebred counterparts, has been thoroughly scientifically disproven in cats and dogs. Mixing two purebred cats doesn't make their genetic predispositions for certain diseases magically disappear. There is no reason to believe that mixing cats of two different breeds will only bring the best qualities of both breeds to the offspring, and people claiming this usually just want to try and sell you expensive "designer kittens" that are basically mutts with fancy parents.