The Ragdoll will benefit from a secure outdoor cat space to climb and play. They may need to be encouraged to do this, as the Ragdoll isn’t a fan of such horrors as ‘long wet grass’ or ‘nasty weather’ (i.e., ‘not sunny’) so do expect to be involved in their cat exercise, as they are unlikely to do much by themselves! Not suited to free access to the outdoors, the Ragdoll is too laid back to avoid danger, and a sufficiently attractive cat that theft is an issue.
This is a large, stocky breed and they are inclined towards laziness if not encouraged and motivated to play and move. This can cause cat weight issues, so plan on spending some time each day playing with your Ragdoll, inventing chasing and hunting games, and encouraging climbing cat trees and other play equipment.
Every cat is unique and each has their own particular likes, dislikes, and needs when it comes to food. However, cats are carnivores and every cat must obtain 41 different and specific nutrients from their food. The proportion of these nutrients will vary depending on age, lifestyle, and overall health, so it’s not surprising that a growing, energetic kitten needs a different balance of nutrients in her diet than a less active senior cat.
Other considerations to bear in mind are feeding the right quantity of food to maintain ‘ideal body condition‘ in accordance with feeding guidelines and catering to individual preference regarding wet or dry cat food recipes. Find out more about cat feeding guidelines with our article.
The Ragdoll will need daily cat grooming from kittenhood, as their coat can mat quite easily, particularly when changing from kitten coat to adult coat, and when they moult annually. Make this experience enjoyable by doing a little at a time and associating the process with treats and praise. Also take into consideration the fact that the Ragdoll cat size is large so it might take a bit of time.
Remember that a greasy coat can be evidence that your cat is no longer attempting to groom themselves, which can be indicative of poor or failing health. As with all cats, Ragdoll cats benefit from regular vaccination, parasite control and an annual veterinary cat health check.
Suitability for Family Life
The Ragdoll will enjoy a home with people who are around much of the day, a home with other Ragdolls, and with older children who understand a cat’s needs and space requirements.
Ragdoll Fun Facts
- All Ragdoll cats have lovely blue eyes, same as all purebreds. However, if you notice that your Ragdoll cat has different shades of green or yellow in their eyes, this might indicate that they’re not actually purebreds.
- The Ragdoll cat personality will give the impression that they’re nothing but a very cuddly dog. In fact, you might even notice them waiting patiently for their owners to come back home or carrying around in their teeth their favourite toys. Not to mention, they absolutely adore fetch time.
- There are definitely different types of Ragdoll cats as far as appearance goes but you’ll be surprised to know that all Ragdolls are born pure white. It’s not until after a week or two that they develop different colours and patterns.
- Ragdolls are slow-maturing cats, meaning that they are only fully grown at the age of 4 and some of them might even take more time.
