Ragdoll Care
Ragdoll Care
When you collect your new kitten, most registered breeders will provide you with a diet sheet detailing the foods that your Ragdoll has been weaned on, along with a kitten pack that includes that food. It is advisable to continue this diet for the first two weeks at the very least. Changes made too quickly combined with the adjustments associated with joining a new family, can result in a kitten unhappy and/or with an upset tummy.
it is not recommended to feed cats or kittens any dairy products, it will more than likely give your kitten diarrhoea. A kitten with diarrhoea can become dehydrated and deteriorate very quickly. feed only dry food and water to a kitten that has an upset stomach and seek vet advice if symptoms are no better in 24 hours.
If you do decide you want to change your Ragdoll’s diet then do this gradually, by mixing a little of your chosen food with your kitten’s usual food. If there is no adverse reaction then gradually increase the amount of new food that is mixed with your kitten’s usual diet until the switch is complete. Always have fresh drinking water available for your kitten/cat.
Kittens have very small stomachs, so need feeding little and often.
When your Ragdoll joins your family after at least 12 weeks old, they will need to be fed at least four times daily. This can be reduced to three meals a day once your kitten is about 18 weeks old. By the time they are six months old, most kittens will only need two meals a day. It is important to feed an PREMIUM QUALITY ‘kitten’ food, until your Ragdoll is a year old, as these are specially formulated to meet the nutritional needs of a growing kitten. Once your Ragdoll reaches a year old, you can change to an ‘adult cat’ diet.
DIET AND NUTRITION
DIET AND NUTRITION
Your Ragdoll kitten should be vaccinated once or twice by the time they join your family. You should also be provided with a vaccination record, indicating when your kitten’s vaccines are due. It is important to maintain the protection that vaccination affords, by ensuring that you take your Ragdoll to the vet for an annual booster. Taking your Ragdoll for their vaccination gives your vet the opportunity to give the cat a thorough health check and the potential to diagnose any problems early on. The leukaemia vaccine is not necessary for Ragdolls who are kept indoors, but please seek the advice of your vet.
Regular worming is another important part in keeping your Ragdoll healthy. Always try to use a worming product from your vet. Avoid using wormers available from pet shops as they are not always as effective as veterinary grade treatments. Kittens need to be wormed every two weeks until twelve weeks of age, then monthly until six months of age. Cats which go out should be wormed at three month intervals once they are over the age of six months.
SPAY/ NEUTER
Your pet Ragdoll should be neutered at or before 6 months old. Un-neutered adult cats both male and female may spray and once this habit is developed neutering does not necessarily stop it. Neutering also prevents infections, tumours etc. of the reproductive organs ana general loss of condition in the cat, caused by reproductive hormones. There is nothing to be gained trom leaving your Ragdoll entire and female Ragdolls da, 4 not ‘benefit from having one litter, so neutering is the responsible thing to do. A Ragdoll purchased through us at divinity dolls, will already be desexed.
WORMING
WORMING
VACCINES
VACCINES
Regular grooming with a suitable brush and comb is necessary to maintain a healthy, knot free coat. A Ragdoll who is not brushed regularly will develop knots and matting, which if left will cause discomfort and sore skin. Grooming removes dead, loose fur which reduces the risk of the formation of fur balls and helps limit moulting onto furniture and carpets. Grooming is also great way of bonding with a new Kitten and it is also important for maintaining a good relationship with an older cat. When grooming your Ragdoll pay particular attention to under the chin, around the back legs, the tummy and the arm pits.
Observe your Ragdoll’s coat regularly for any signs of flea infestation. Small black specks within the coat are likely to be flea dirt, but if you are unsure, place a piece of damp white kitchen towel beneath your Ragdoll as you groom. Any flea dirt will drop onto the towel and dissolve into dark spots of blood. If fleas are evident, then use a suitable flea treatment from your vet, such as Front Line.
Your vet will also be able to supply a spray for use around the home to kill fleas and eggs which may be living in furniture and carpets. Regular preventative use of a flea spray is advisable, apart from the discomfort these visitors cause to the cat, they are also intermediate hosts within the life cycle of the tape worm. Infestation with fleas can lead to infestation with tape worm.
if you need further information on grooming your Ragdoll, please feel free to message or call me. we offer lifetime support to our divinity doll baby’s.
GROOMING
KITTEN SAFETY
KITTEN SAFETY
-Household chemicals, such as dishwashing liquid, disinfectants, human medicines,
are all poisonous if ingested by a kitten or cat.
Store all chemicals away from your
Ragdoll.
Use cat safe disinfectants, to clean floors and trays etc.
-Dettol and bleach are toxic even when diluted, licking the cleaned surface can lead to serious illness, even death!
-Dettol and bleach are toxic even when diluted, licking the cleaned surface can lead to serious illness, even death!
-Indoor plants may be toxic and Ragdolls can chew leaves and flowers if given the
opportunity.
LILLIES are extremely toxic to Cats!
Ragdolls should not be allowed to roam freely, as the risks to them are too high. Risks include but are not limited to:
-Theft- yes people do steal cats!
-Injury/death from cars or other vehicles.
-Poisoning from garden chemicals e.g. rat poison/baits, fertilisers, plants etc.
-Poisoning from other chemicals such as chlorine, coolant, brake fluid etc.
-Infection with incurable, fatal diseases such as FIV (feline aids) and FELV (feline leukaemia)
-Fights with other cats or even dogs in the neighbourhood, leading injury abscesses etc.
-Ragdolls love to be in the company of their human and are happy to stay indoors.
-There are hazards indoors too, especially to a young kitten and so taking steps to keep your Ragdoll safe in your home is very important.
-The following list intended only as guidance.
-Ragdolls are fascinated by water, so an inexperienced kitten is at risk of drowning so keep the toilet lid down and take care when running a bath.
-Washing machines and tumble dryers may seem cosy, warm places to a kitten. Always check inside before use.
-Open fires must be guarded and be sure to use a guard which has a top, as a Kitten will climb and could easily fall.
-Hot ovens and pans of boiling liquids are also a hazard.
-Teething kittens may chew on electrical cords, so ensure they are not left lying around.
-Stray knives, plastic bags, Rubber bands, plastic, etc. All of these can pose a hazard to a kitten, who sees everything as a ‘toy.
-Kittens may become entangled in loose strings or cords, for example the pull cords on blinds, leading to strangulation. You would be surprised how often this happens!! Pieces of thread, or similar are also attractive to kittens, but if swallowed can tangle in the intestine.
WRITE A MESSAGE
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to send us a
message. We aim to reply asap
