This morning I was trying to think of something profound to say about my novel Evolution that was published a couple of days ago, but for the life of me, I can't think of anything but my psycho cat!
A few months ago we bought a Ragdoll kitten with Champion blood lines, from an award winning breeder as we had been told that they are the dog of the cat world.
They are supposed to be nothing but affectionate, loving cats that will go limp when you pick them up - hence the name Ragdoll.
Well I must have got the odd one out. Sure he has his loving times (which I cherish), but then he has a dark side that sometimes outweighs the good. Like this morning he attacked me on 3 separate occasions & 'time out' did nothing to alter his ferrel mood - and when I say attacked, I mean blood was drawn each time.
After reading multiple forums, I have discovered I am not alone. And yet, they are continuously promoted as the cat that will NEVER do that.
wow, i am surprised at this. I have a very loving ragdoll, named Arya, she is so lovable, without a mean bone in her body. She always sleeps on "her" pillow next to my hear, every-night. Always greets me at the door, and can take her on walks on a leash and harness. She is not afraid of strangers either. She is the best. She is from champion mom and dad, but i bought her as a pet, so she was spayed. I am sorry to hear you got a lemon, as they say. Mine is 5 years old now, got her when she was just a tiny thing.
ReplyDeleteMy ragdoll kitten Panthor is the same! I got him at about a month old from a crazy cat lady. He is inbred by one generation but I could care less. Everything about him is nothing but loving from his fluffy head to his extra toes haha. He greets me when I come home, follows me from room to room , sleeps cuddling with me or by my head on his own little pillow. He wakes me every morning with one front paw on either side of my neck and just licks me and purs until he falls asleep in my arms. He is perfect haha I think you may have gotten a bad egg OP. But I am pretty sure with love and persistent training your kitty could be just as loving. <3
DeleteIt's okay. He'll calm down; they do at about 2 years old or maybe one year, my cat was the same way.
DeleteIt's okay. He'll calm down; they do at about 2 years old or maybe one year, my cat was the same way.
DeleteI just got a ragdoll mix kitten.
DeleteSaid to be inside cat not agressive
He is 3mo old, growls when playing alone, fetches, traits like a dog. Sleeps by my head, follows me every where, gets into everything, only has 4 toes and he's very small,I just love him to death he is Kovack
Blu/gray with wht belly and paws.
I wonder do i have ragdoll or mix.?
He talks up a storm. Need when he weights over 2.4 lbs for a harnes and leash.
I just got a ragdoll mix kitten.
DeleteSaid to be inside cat not agressive
He is 3mo old, growls when playing alone, fetches, traits like a dog. Sleeps by my head, follows me every where, gets into everything, only has 4 toes and he's very small,I just love him to death he is Kovack
Blu/gray with wht belly and paws.
I wonder do i have ragdoll or mix.?
He talks up a storm. Need when he weights over 2.4 lbs for a harnes and leash.
Hi
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Ayra sounds exactly what a ragdoll is supposed to be like - you're lucky!!
ReplyDeleteI'm just hoping that he just has some testosterone pumping through him that will get out of his system sooner rather than later. I have read that it can take about 5 months for that to happen, but it has now been six months since he was spayed - I'll keep crossing my fingers though...
Mine was 7 weeks when i got him with big blue Paul Newman eyes. I named him Newman. He follows me, sleeps with me, fetches (so cute) and even turns on his battery operated toy whenever he wants to play (again, soooo cute). I thank God & my breeder for this amazing baby that I love so much!! carole.h.nelson@gmail.com
DeleteMine was 7 weeks when i got him with big blue Paul Newman eyes. I named him Newman. He follows me, sleeps with me, fetches (so cute) and even turns on his battery operated toy whenever he wants to play (again, soooo cute). I thank God & my breeder for this amazing baby that I love so much!! carole.h.nelson@gmail.com
DeleteSounds like your cat may have been inbred meaning bred with a relative this causes aggression in any breed and possibly other problems down I know I too was duped. This breeder needs to be investigated.
DeleteOops, I meant Arya : )
ReplyDeleteMy female is crazy ! I adopted her at 2 years from a registered breeder . She shivers when I pick her up and runs from me. I also adopted a 1 year old male. He is a lttle more affectionate but is not a cuddler. He mostly only comes around me when he's hungry . I feel I was misled by the breed characteristics. They're always breaking things too.
ReplyDeleteJasper is better behaved since I wrote this post. I no longer get daily puncture wounds to my legs but like your male, he's not that affectionate.
DeleteMy mum had a female Ragdoll that she adopted from a breeder that shivered & ran from her too (must be something about ex queens). She was told to give her 'Rescue Remedy' daily which calmed her down considerably. Eventually, she was able to stop giving it to her and she's been a beautiful cat since. Hopefully that'll happen with your girl too.
I read the "hype" too and got my Ragdoll from a breeder, brought her home and she was immediately scared of me- kept her distance. I thought this would end when she realized how much I adored her- but NO! I treat this cat like a baby but she wants nothing to do with me. Sleeps two floors away from me (as far away as she can be). All she wants to do is fight. I can't brush her. I can't slip those razor sharp nails of hers. When I walk down the hall, she arches her back up and does the Halloween Cat pose- as if I was going to attack her. I feel your pain!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I feel like a failure- it's all I think about.
ReplyDeleteWow, it's amazing how many of us have fallen for the 'Ragdoll cat hype'.
DeleteI must say however, that my one was ferrel until one day over the xmas period, he somehow opened the back door (while we were outside) and became insta friends with my HUGE Husky. We cat proofed the back yard, and he's been enjoying himself outside with our dog ever since (still comes inside at night time and sometimes during the day). But the really amazing thing is that as of that day, his personality changed and he's now a nice cat! He let's me pat him where he never used to let me, he hasn't bitten me or scratched me at all!
So my guess was that all the biting, scratching ect. was just his way of saying that he wanted out. So much for 'Ragdoll Cats' being content with being inside & not having hunting skills because I can tell you, he's scared the Water Dragons way that used to live around our pool by guess how?? You got it, hunting them!!
I really hope that you're able to work out what you little one needs. Oh another thing we were told about that might help you is that you can give a cat 'Rescue Remedy' which will help them calm down. It worked for a Ragdoll cat that my mum had (She was a sweetie).
Good Luck!!
shana is 7 yrs. old had her since she was 6 wks. She has never been loving, sweet or cuddly. She is beautiful but always has been aloof. I've had 2 other new cats since her. Just cats, but sweet affectionate and all this gorgeous cat is not.
DeleteMy ragdoll was a really mean kitty. He didn't like anybody and would scratch anyone that touched him. Now that he's 4 years old though he's suddenly become much sweeter. He cuddles up with a few select people and only bites if you catch him in an especially bad mood. He even lets you pick him up and curls up beside you. At least a few times a day hell come upto me purring and rubs his head on my leg and just chills with for an hour or two. Maybe some kitties need lots of time and affection to grow into their ragdoll characteristics.
ReplyDeleteVery true. I just wished that we were given the correct information from the breeder instead of being told they would never bite, scratch, claw at furniture ect. But at least we now have a happy cat that does follow us around the house (when he's inside) and he now takes out his feral moods on my husky. The other day I saw Jasper (cat) hiding from my dog then he pounced on top of him as he ran past - Jasper actually stayed on top of him for a few metres. Funny thing to see. Wish I had it on video :)
DeleteI have four Ragdoll cats from the same breeder. They are all awesome cats. They are perfectly socialized when i get them at 12 weeks old. The breeder also keeps up with her kittens and is there to help anytime you need her even in adulthood. I have two 8 year old males, one 5 year old female and one 4 month old male. She has a process to socialize her cats. They are loving, lovable and funny. Kittens can be ramrods, but they are toddlers so they need plenty of affection and playtime. I think there are breeders who do not take the time to socialize their kittens and the problem may start there. It is also helpful to get two kittens at once so they have each other. My 4 month old kitten Auggie is tearing it up with the other cats and learning his place in the group. I am sure even with the best of intentions there will be a cat not up to the breed standard and personality, but I would make sure to get references on the breeders.
DeleteI have just brought a lovely little ragdoll female kitten, she is petrified of us :/ i dont know weather to take her back as i feel terrible for the kitten and my 2sons, as my 2boys have adhd :/ so are quite noisy, they r both big animal lovers and are trying there very best but i dont think its a good match. We brought the kitten to replace another 13wk old kitten that we unfortunately had to have pts :( we got her 8wks she 3/4 persian and the most adorable, loving, playful kitten we have ever had but also the smallest ill'ist, kitten. She drooled alot but the vet said it was due to being a persian as she constantly purr'ed which caused her siliver glands to over work, anyway at 13 wks she collapsed we rushd her to the vets and they said she had a disease where her body released a toxin that made her feel very drunk and was killing her, he said the kindest thing to do was put her to sleep :( my kids were devastated and my husband as they got very close 5wks we had her. This is why we brought the ragdoll as she has exactly the same markings (sorry i trailed from saying about my ragdoll lol) anyway do u think its fair on my ragdoll that we keep her or send her back to the breeder as my sons are very noisy and boisterous which the kitten doesnt like at all. Xx
ReplyDeleteWhat I have found to be true is that these kittens have to be socialized when they are young and that is up to the breeder they cannot just be left alone they have to be handled a lot I got mine from a reputable breeder that handle mine a lot and he is the most affectionate kitten I've ever had in my life he walked in my house was afraid of no one not the other cats not the dogs not people not even a two year old toddler so it's really how they're raised by the breeder I truly believe that they need to be socialized and many breeders don't do that they just pumped out kittens but I think in time if you spend the time and the love your kittens will come around
DeleteWhat I have found to be true is that these kittens have to be socialized when they are young and that is up to the breeder they cannot just be left alone they have to be handled a lot I got mine from a reputable breeder that handle mine a lot and he is the most affectionate kitten I've ever had in my life he walked in my house was afraid of no one not the other cats not the dogs not people not even a two year old toddler so it's really how they're raised by the breeder I truly believe that they need to be socialized and many breeders don't do that they just pumped out kittens but I think in time if you spend the time and the love your kittens will come around
DeleteI have just brought a lovely little ragdoll female kitten, she is petrified of us :/ i dont know weather to take her back as i feel terrible for the kitten and my 2sons, as my 2boys have adhd :/ so are quite noisy, they r both big animal lovers and are trying there very best but i dont think its a good match. We brought the kitten to replace another 13wk old kitten that we unfortunately had to have pts :( we got her 8wks she 3/4 persian and the most adorable, loving, playful kitten we have ever had but also the smallest ill'ist, kitten. She drooled alot but the vet said it was due to being a persian as she constantly purr'ed which caused her siliver glands to over work, anyway at 13 wks she collapsed we rushd her to the vets and they said she had a disease where her body released a toxin that made her feel very drunk and was killing her, he said the kindest thing to do was put her to sleep :( my kids were devastated and my husband as they got very close 5wks we had her. This is why we brought the ragdoll as she has exactly the same markings (sorry i trailed from saying about my ragdoll lol) anyway do u think its fair on my ragdoll that we keep her or send her back to the breeder as my sons are very noisy and boisterous which the kitten doesnt like at all. Xx
ReplyDeleteHi Kylie,
ReplyDeleteSuch a sad story! It's so hard on little ones when they loose a pet!
I would contact the breeder and ask for their opinion. Every kitten has a different personality and maybe they'll suggest that you bring this one back and they might have another more outgoing kitten that isn't frightened of loud noise. Or they might have another suggestion to help your kitten happily adjust to the noises.
Hope all goes well :)
I am so heartbroken for each of you that have had bad experiences with Ragdolls. I am a TICA registered breeder of Ragdoll Kittens - BroadwayRags.com Before I decided to breed these lovely cats that I had read so much about I traveled around the country and internationally to visit various breeders before deciding who to work with. A HUGH difference in the temperament that I found among them was HOW they were raising their cats and kittens. My personal observation was that catteries which were very large, caged all of the cats, and did not handle the kittens appropriately produced the cats that you wrote about. The cage-less catteries such as I have where the cats were part of the family was where I found the true Ragdolls: loving, social, easy-going, and engaging. I was so glad that I set a high standard for picking my breeding queens and kings. Any cattery that would not allow me to visit and see how they run their operation I did not deal with. I also do not ship my kittens. They must be picked up in person or we provide personal delivery to our clients. This seems to make a difference as well in the transition and how the kitten adjusts to their new environment. I would strongly recommend to visit a breeder before choosing a kitten, require references of other adoptee families (I happily give references since I have highly satisfied clients), and be sensitive to your "gut" instinct before making a decision. I am very glad to hear Kelly that you were able to work out your issues with Jasper. Bravo! There is always something that can be done to help your kitty if you take the time and sometimes expense to learn how they communicate and what they need. Love and patience go a long way! - Purrs & Hugs, Claire
ReplyDeleteHi Claire,
DeleteYour cats look adorable!
My one did come from a breeder who kept the kittens inside (well at least that's where they were when we went to pick him up) but the remainder of the cats (except for one) were in the cages out the back. I had no idea how many she actually had until that day I picked him up.
Jasper's still going well and loves being outside with my dog. I'm just glad that Jasper managed to open the back door that day otherwise I'm sure I wouldn't have the nice cat I have today.
Claire,
DeleteWe bought our Ragdoll kitten last year from a very reputable breeder here in California. We did a lot of research on breed and breeder. Our little Luna isn't quite as affectionate as we would hope but she seems to be growing into it as she gets older (10 months old now). She is very people centric and wants to be in same room with us always. I can pick her up with no issues. She does bite in the mornings if I rub her belly (but she NEVER breaks skin and it is more about letting me know she doesn't want belly rubbed at that time). I of course am working with her to get this behavior modified. I find that she is most affectionate when I have spent quality time playing with her. My understanding is that these breeds mature slowly so play is so important. I adore our little Ragdoll and know that by working together and lots of play time that she will only get more affectionate with time.
Kelly: Just checked in to see how your Jasper is doing. So happy to see your last post was positive! Chris: Doing your research is key to finding a reputable breeder. Chris: Sounds like you are very sensitive to your kitty's needs and doing a great job. Some Ragdolls will "mouth" which is actually to them an affectionate way of marking you as belonging to them. Belly rubbing is very intimate and she may be letting you know that she is not completely comfortable with it. Again, this relates back to how the babies are handled from birth. Yes you are correct that Ragdoll develop slowly. Maturity for girls is about 2 years and for boys 3. Kittens do settle in between that time period. So happy to hear that you are being patient with your sweet girl. Cats Ragdolls included can tell us what they need if we are willing to "listen" Best wishes to you both!
Delete- Claire
Every kitty has a different personality, a lot of which is shaped when they are babies. I have a female ragdoll which is very shy. She was left alone a lot it seemes when she lived with her breeder, and probably that shaped her as well. Shes crazy and energetic but has her loving moments. I love and respect her for the way she is. Too many people give up on their cats because its not what they "expected". All kittens bite, especially hard when they are teething and their mouths are itchy. I also have a male raggie from another breeder, a breeder that loved her litter to death. This kitty boy is laid back, not afraid of anyone or anything. Limp when held, textbook ragdoll. I believe its a lot due to his upbringing. We got to follow his life from birth to the day of him coming to live with us, on weekly updates which included photos and more. When buying a ragdoll from breeder, make sure its z good one. Champ parents mean little, if the breader doesnt take good care of litter and gives them all love and attention. A lot of breeders do this for money, find one who breeds raggies out of pure love for the breed! I still love my crazy female and wouldnt trade her for the most posh champ rag in the world.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is, breeders can lie. And I was sucked in by someone who I believed loved their cats. I was told they were part of their family and they raised each and every kitten to achieve the true Rag Doll personality. Their website and Facebook page showed numerous people thanking the breeder for their wonderful cats. I now realise they could have been sock puppet reviews.
ReplyDeleteI understand that kittens bite when their teeth are coming through but there's a difference between normal teething and right out vicious attacks. I have had four kittens as I grew up and one I raised from birth. We found it on the street with her eyes still shut. That kitten was the best cat I ever had. So loving and affectionate, never once bit me even while teething. Which only goes to prove what you said, it's how the kittens are raised to how they turn out! We live and learn :)
"My one did come from a breeder who kept the kittens inside (well at least that's where they were when we went to pick him up) but the remainder of the cats (except for one) were in the cages out the back. I had no idea how many she actually had until that day I picked him up."
ReplyDeleteYou bought your cat from a BYB and that is why your cat does not meet the standard for ragdolls. You get what you pay for. I'm pretty disgusted you support BYB in the first place.
I'm sorry for the confusion but you can rest assured, I did purchase my Ragdoll from a registered breeder not a BYB (I have the pedigree papers for my cat). I just wish I got what I paid for ($850 for a pet - show or breeder would've been in the thousands).
DeleteAnonymous posts they are disgusted with you. Anonymous...
DeleteIf it makes you feel better we are going through the same thing with our kitten, looks like the 'ragdoll hype' is just that.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis comment was removed by me at the request of weloveragdolls because she / Leah Keeran did not want it to ruin potential business.
DeleteThe only reason I removed it, was to not hinder the receipt of my kitten purchased through weloveragdolls.
Please read my new comment on weloveragdolls.
Unfortunately, there are good and bad breeders out there. They charge enormous fees for a papered animal, but might not be managing their breeding program to minimize inbreeding or aggression. What is also unfortunate is that it's not always easy to tell the good from the bad. Some people have what looks like a perfectly good breeding program in their home, and they might have healthy animals physically, but if they don't have a pretty solid background in genetics they can make some bad mistakes. I was lucky and purchased a Ragdoll at Christmas this year. I also fell for the hype, but our little girl has lived up to everything we expected. She follows us around like a dog, lets anyone and everyone pick her up and cart her around, she loves to sit on laps and cuddle, and is basically a big ball of lovable fur. She's a terrible hunter, though. ;) I'm a geneticist, and have a background in animal genetics so I made sure to ask a lot of questions about the breeding program and I learned a lot about the parents before I purchased. I hope your baby has calmed down a little and is a nice, lovable Ragdoll now!
ReplyDeleteGeez, I wish I had a background in genetics when we bought our Ragdoll, lol. I think it's safe to say that the breeder who I purchased my cat from didn't breed for temperament as I was originally told. My cat calmed down a lot when he escaped from the house one day and spent some time out doors. He actually became a loving cat but then we found out he likes to hunt and ended up taking on a snake. One trip to the animal hospital, $1k later and he's a indoor cat again, back to his old ways of following me around the house, sneaking up on me and drawing blood when he attacks. During the colder months I can wear jeans which he doesn't get through but during the summer months… I'm not so lucky :(
DeleteI have no idea what to do to get him to change, he has plenty of food, water, toys, large house to roam, places to hide, a comfortable lap to sit on (if he ever decided to) but non of that compares to his love for the outdoors!
Kelly have you considered training him to walk on leash? Lots of ragdolls are trained to go on leash for walks, including mine. Of course you'd have to dedicate yourself to it, once they get used to their walks, it's very hard to break their habit of going out. Also might be why he's unhappy now after getting taste of outdoors. I'd also try feliway, it worked quite well on my cats during introduction time. It can calm them a bit too. Playtime is super important, it burns their energy. Use long dangers. Ithink could be that he has crazy amount of energy built up since he doesn't get to burn it outside.
DeleteI bought him a harness and leash when we first got him and have tried numerous times for days on end to get him to walk or just wonder but he doesn't like it. He's happy to have the harness on but the moment we step outside, he hates being on that leash.
DeleteI play with him, i have danglers which I pop in and out of his tunnel, let him chase it around the house etc but it still does little to change his temperament. Like a few weeks ago he nibbled on my ankles to get me to feed him but i thought i would finish my coffee first. He didn't like it so he jumped up on the lounge and bit my head - hard!
We've resorted to letting him outside again & again he's happier. But he does have a curfew where he has to be inside before dusk.
I'll definitely look into Feliway though. Thanks for the tip :)
DO NOT PURCHASE A KITTEN / CAT from WELOVERAGDOLLS !
ReplyDeleteThe INFAMOUS JESSICA PERRY sells sick kittens.....some have died from FIP, HCM and other FATAL genetic and viral diseases.
Google jessica perry weloveragdolls.
What you will read is very disturbing !
LEAH KEERAN is JESSICA PERRY'S sidekick who also sells these sickly kittens.
These two characters are forces to be reckoned with.
They have no love for animals....their bottom line is the almighty dollar.
They are crafty business women who know all the ins & outs of scamming their buyers..... i.e. you purchase a kitten through Paypal. Paypal does not protect the buyer for any animal purchases.
They most likely paid a fraction for the kitten I foolishly paid $1300.00 for.
Plus my almost 4 month old kitten shows no personality characteristics of the ragdoll breed......POOR BREEDING !
There are buyers who never even received their kitten(s) / cat(s)
I've made an acquaintance with a woman who paid $3700 for 3 Breeders.
She never received the Breeders and lost her $3700.00 to these scammers. This woman knows another woman who went to pick up her kitten. It was caged in a filthy, smelly garage.
I was told my kitten lived in the breeder's house....HA !
No wonder she was sick from a bacterial based cold with thick stringy yellow mucous coming from her nose.
No wonder she felt boney and was under weight with a dull coat.
No wonder she had a worm belly.
My Vet said all these conditions are commonly seen in kittens that come from shelters and inferior catteries.
She said it is a wait and see to find out if / when she might develop the FATAL FIP and any other diseases.
I was told by the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) that it is now ILLEGAL to ship kittens / cats sight unseen at the premises.
I could go on and on with all the information that I have educated myself with since my dealings with these 2 unscrupulous scammers.
I hope I have educated you through my hellish experience with them.
UPDATE : BEWARE ! ! ! JESSICA PERRY of weloveragdolls.com has changed her name since YESTERDAY to loveragdollcats.com.
ReplyDeleteLOVERAGDOLLCATS.COM is the EXACT SAME SCAMMER ! of a business as WELOVERAGDOLLS.COM (was). Nothing has changed but the name. It is still run by the same two UNSCRUPULOUS SCAMMERS, JESSICA PERRY and LEAH KEERAN.
Please read my lengthy comment above if you have not, as it ties into what I have to say here.
You should know that my kitten shows NONE of the well known very desirable personality traits of the Ragdoll. She is very sweet at times but a lot of the time she is hell on wheels ! I have never owned a kitten that is so high strung !
To calm her down, I pick her up by the scruff of her neck as her mother would have done with her mouth. I hold her in my lap when I do this. She instantly becomes still, calm and purrs beautifully ! She loves it as do I....I am able to kiss her face and show my affection towards her so easily. It's really wonderful to experience such a transition. However, calm, floppy and very approachable is how a ragdoll kitten / cat
is expected to be. I know this first hand as a friend of mine owns a textbook ragdoll. My Vet thinks she is a ragdoll mix....
I would not be surprised !
My point ???
JESSICA PERRY & LEAH KEERAN NEED TO BE STOPPED from continuing their perpetual HEINOUS ACTIVITY ! ! !
Come on people - there are red flags all over their website.
ReplyDelete(1) No physical address given of the breeder, also refusal to provide.
(2) No local phone number provided. They only provide a 1-877 #.
(3) Are you kidding me? Why would you be buying a cat on the internet, without seeing the cattery 1st hand.
This is not a computer you're buying.
You can hang a shingle outside your house tomorrow and call yourself a cattery.
-Did you sign a contract? No. You have absolutely no recourse when it comes to getting your money back. No address / phone number.
Do you even know what the breeders (Leah et.al.) look like?
All of these questions are important.
A full investigation should be carried out, yet first and foremost their P.O.Box needs to be court ordered for ownership identification.
If you can prove cruelty to animals, then perhaps you might actually get somewhere.
Until then, you're lining the pockets of these criminals. This could be one of many scams they have going.
Uh.... My 4 I've had aren't like them\were not. Who is your breeder?
ReplyDeleteI wish mine were like yours! He's getting better though & I'm hoping that he was just going through, teens / early adult hood & now he's settling down. At least that's what I'm trying to tell myself, lol.
DeleteRegarding the breeder, I'm sorry but I don't feel comfortable giving out that detail as I don't want to have them contacting me about this post. The breeder has won many awards and the father of my cat was awarded supreme grand champion and had also won many 1st place in basically every show he was entered. The mother wasn't a show but one of their breeder cats. Maybe that was what went wrong?
I'll have to say that unless you want an eternal child who begs to be played with throughout the day, you'd be better off getting a Persian cat. I think Ragdoll cats, at least the one's I've seen can be sweet and turn around for no reason and be aggressive. I got mine from a reputable breeder, parents won awards, registered with TICA, but it didn't make any difference. When my vet said that Ragdolls can be real "firecrackers", alarm bells started to ring. The Ragdoll is listed as a quiet, sweet cat which simply is not completely true and the breed description MUST be changed to forewarn potential buyers. To sum up, I for one have a "love-hate" relationship with Ragdoll cats and much prefer Persians hands down.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree! My boy seems to have a love-hate relationship with me as well. When he's nice, he can be really sweet and then turn on me a second later.
DeleteI have had the pleasure of owning 2 ragdolls - one male and one female. I just lost my female to a cancerous tracheal tumor and I am devastated. They were both exceptional cats in every way, but my female was the best. She was truly the sweetest, most gentle cat I have ever known. I can say that I know she was properly socialized because I picked her up from the breeder's home. I think socialization is the most important part of getting the perfect ragdoll, so do your homework! You've heard of puppy mills - kitty mills, exist, as well.
ReplyDeleteI could use a little help! Just last night I rescued a 2 year old Ragdoll male and his eyes have been saucers ever since. Poor thing seems so scared he just hides behind the toilet. He didn't eat the food or drink any of the water I put out for him. I came in and sat several times without pressuring him, just talking softly or even singing, played with one of his toys... Apparently he also has a urinary tract infection but I could not get him to take his pill last night, so I'm sure he's also uncomfortable. Ive been doing a lot of research since I agreed the day before yesterday to take him in, but I'd love to hear some advice from anyone who know what I might try to get him to relax, know that I just want to love him and take care of him, and EAT!
ReplyDeletePoor thing! Do you know if he was previously mistreated? All i know is what I've been told which is that you need to put the cat in a small room (they get a little nervous in larger rooms). They can take a few days to adjust. Go in there and spend a little time with them. Cat's are really skittish in new environments. About the tablet, I used to have a cat that I needed to give tablets to every day. The only way that we could get him to swallow them was by a tablet dispenser / pusher that our vet gave us. It makes it so quick and easy to get them to swallow the tablet.
DeleteHope your new cat is doing better now. :)
When I wanted my ragdolls I didn't want to spend that much money of them and found a breeder who had too many cats on her hands. She had an enclosure and a shed in her backyard and seemed to genuinely love the cats and knew their personalities and would tell me about them as I walked through them
ReplyDeletethem. Some were in cages some were roaming around. She had some in bad shapes that a previous breeder gave her. I took hours to choose my cats. I picked a lot up to see if I could flip them in my arms and tested the flops lol after a few hours I took a break and came back and there was the most beautiful cat in the world. I picked him up and he flopped like a charm
Then this female brushed against my leg and I said she's the one. I got scared at first because the breeder was obviously shaken that I took her favourites (and for the price I suggested of 450 for both) and while trimming her nail in the dark.mistakenly cut too short and my cat bit her (not that hard) and I thought might be an aggressive cat but she is anything but. She had feline herpes and sneezed a lot but I got her to good health and now she gets a runny eye once in a while but she is very healthy
They both are sometimes too loving and I trip on my one male as he follows me everywhere lol he falls asleep on his back in my arms under the blanket
Lol I am sorry your experience has been less than perfect... But top notch breeder doesnt mean good cat and vice versa
I have a seven-year-old ragdoll male cat. He was purchased from a breeder. He's absolutely gorgeous but he hate anybody that drops by to visit. If anyone tries to touch him he will bite them or he will swipe at them. It's unfortunate because everyone says why do you have such a nasty cat. It's absolutely impossible to cut his nails he growls and bites. I was hoping I would get a cuddly floppy ragdoll not a big vicious grumpy cat. Is this behavior because of his breeding?
ReplyDeleteI'm relieved to hear other people have had bad experiences with their Ragdoll cats, I thought I had gotten the only crappy one. We have a lot of cats in the house because I foster and rescue and they were all free and they're all wonderful cats...except for the one cat I paid for, my blue mink Ragdoll. He is the worst cat I've ever been around. He wakes us up every morning screaming outside the door and ripping at the carpet (there would be NO carpet left if I hadn't taped a bath mat down in front of the bedroom door). I have no idea why he wants to come in the bedroom because when he does he wants nothing to do with us, just hides under the bed and beats up my cat who is in the bedroom. He actually beats up all of the cats and even displays sexual aggression still despite the fact that he was neutered at six months. He hates being picked up or carried and cries the whole time and struggles and kicks at us - so much for the whole going limp thing. I am exhausted always breaking up the fights he causes, protecting the carpets from his shredding, and being woken up by his screaming every day. He has no interest in us at all except for food - he is not affectionate at all. Really the worst cat ever, I will never again have a Ragdoll and I am seriously thinking of adopting him out to another home at this point despite the ridiculous price I paid for him.
ReplyDeleteSame here!
ReplyDeleteWhen I first got my cute as a button seal mitted ragdoll male kitten at 12 weeks, I thought what could go wrong? The breeder claimed that he slept in her bathrobe and loved watching TV.
A week later, he's playfully nipping and scratching at anything that moves on me, including my lips, eyelashes, ankles, knees, toes, hands, etc. I have multiple scars from this playful kitten. I know he means no harm, but still. And I do play with him for at least 30 min per day.
Another point - he absolutely refuses me picking him up so good luck trimming his nails! I scheduled a grooming appointment tonight to take care of that.
I'll admit... I didn't know there was such variability in personality within a breed. I also didn't know that cats will be cats. I definitely went for his cuteness. After closing the deal, I did find out that he was the runt and his littermates were picked off a long time ago. Not that I cared when he was in my hands!
Now I'm thinking to add another kitten to get his energy out during the day, buy Feliway, and take him to a cat behaviorist. He was a decent value but I kept thinking if I went for personality or if I went for a more expensive show quality, etc., I could have gotten a docile disposition.
I don't see how anyone other than a 5 year old can keep up with their energy. I'm hoping I can still correct it because I love my little kitten. :-*
Any advice is greatly appreciated in how to deal with a playful and fickle kitten!
Aww, I'm sorry you got one with a little attititude. I had a tortie shell calico who acted like that. She had a horrible attitude when you did anything she didn't like. I would pick her up and she nuzzle me for hours. Then I put her down and she hissed at me for piss in her off lol. I liked to think of her like a spoiled princess, lol. Even the odd ones like that have sweet moments. Just be careful punishing cats. They aren't like dogs. They will remember if you yell too much or scare them and be worse. Not that you are doing anything to scare the cat, but I was just mentioning. Good luck with your kitty!
ReplyDeleteAww, I'm sorry you got one with a little attititude. I had a tortie shell calico who acted like that. She had a horrible attitude when you did anything she didn't like. I would pick her up and she nuzzle me for hours. Then I put her down and she hissed at me for piss in her off lol. I liked to think of her like a spoiled princess, lol. Even the odd ones like that have sweet moments. Just be careful punishing cats. They aren't like dogs. They will remember if you yell too much or scare them and be worse. Not that you are doing anything to scare the cat, but I was just mentioning. Good luck with your kitty!
ReplyDeleteOh I'm so sorry. I had a Ragdoll for 15 years and it never bit or scratched me once. He would get a cranky face and bare his teeth but if you put your finger or hand near he'd lick it. He was a big floppy, loveable, gentle gianat and a doofus. Made me laugh every single day. He passed away 3 weeks ago and I am lost without the loveable lunk.
ReplyDeleteOh I'm so sorry. I had a Ragdoll for 15 years and it never bit or scratched me once. He would get a cranky face and bare his teeth but if you put your finger or hand near he'd lick it. He was a big floppy, loveable, gentle gianat and a doofus. Made me laugh every single day. He passed away 3 weeks ago and I am lost without the loveable lunk.
ReplyDeleteI've had the same issue with my ragdoll, Luna; the Babbitt in my particular situation could be attributed to her being the runt of a large litter. I was doing some research on the subject and have found that this can affect their behavior with this breed, among others; that being said she is still very affectionate when she's in the right mood and as she's gotten older (she's now 2 years old, I adopted her at 8 weeks) the swatting and biting behavior has almost all but vanished, she still isn't a fan of being held though. I hope your situation improves and hearing that age has played a factor in a few cases gives you some ease of mind.
ReplyDeleteI've had the same issue with my ragdoll, Luna; the atypical behiors in my particular situation could be attributed to her being the runt of a large litter. I was doing some research on the subject and have found that this can affect their behavior with this breed, among others; that being said she is still very affectionate when she's in the right mood and as she's gotten older (she's now 2 years old, I adopted her at 8 weeks old) the swatting and biting behavior has almost all but vanished, she still isn't a fan of being held though. I hope your situation improves and hearing that age has played a factor in a few cases gives you some ease of mind.
ReplyDeleteThanks all for the education in rags. I thought I'd brought the odd one out. Was expecting floppy, affectionate, lazy. Got highly active funster who doesn't like to be picked up nor sit on laps but has a head fettish, likes to sleep near noggin.Not a huggy cat like my previous 2 Burmese cats.
ReplyDeleteI have a male three and a half year old ragdoll and he is nothing like how a typical ragdoll. He dislikes all people other than myself and dislikes the other pets. I best describe him as simply being very irritable, as the little things set him off and even will snarl at me when I take him off the cupboard (that he is not suppose to be on) and I am oh so gentle, no yelling or abrupt movements. The breeder seemingly was reputable as the cats were her life along with her family. He was the first in the house and the second cat came six months later, a year later our poodle who both are nice to the ragdoll. I love him dearly but am sad he isn't happier. Thanks for your input
ReplyDeleteI realize most people with Ragdolls that are affectionate aren't going to post here, but wanted to add my experience. First, we bought a Ragdoll for our daughter after researching the personality. We had a "mutt" cat for 14 years that must have been part Ragamuffin, so floppy and sweet. Anyway, the one we got my daughter has never liked being held. Her cat has recently also started hissing and growling at strangers. When she moved out, we got another Ragdoll from a breeder in another state. In a nutshell, we never got paperwork that proves he's purebred - we couldn't even get a shot record. Although we love him, we recently adopted a cat that's much friendlier and loving. After several months, they finally accepted each other completely and love to play. Every Ragdoll breeder promised they love to be with you, but usually that means under the bed or under the chair you're in. I have a feeling they must be mixed with Himalayans, since I've heard they are fearful. He's not mean, but usually runs away when I try to pet him - I'm definitely disappointed but see I'm not alone.
ReplyDeleteI purchased my Ragdoll kitten at 11 weeks old from a reputable breeder. At first, he let me hold him, cuddle with him and I could carry him anywhere. But.....he is now 5 months old and is afraid of everyone, only lets me carry him, won't sit on my lap every and only cuddles with me in the morning. He used to sleep with me all night. I play with him several times a day for about 15 minutes each. I do everything I am supposed to. I am home all the time. He barely is home alone. My biggest concern is, why did he quit sleeping with me? He is getting worse as he gets older instead of better. I treat him like a prince. I am so sad because I love him to death. Please offer suggestions.
ReplyDeleteOur family rescued two male Ragdoll Siamese mixed kittens. We were told they were a bonded pair and they do do better going to the vet together (whether each one has an appointment or not!) Like everyone else here, the crazy kitten hood was adorable, but testosterone developed around one year; it took over. We have been battling intimidating behavior from our 24 lb. male (towards his 15 lb. brother and our 15 yr. old female Russian Blue/mix), over active sensitivity to ALL outside stimulation (by both males), and maddening of all...elimination issues!!!(by both males). I've driven my vet bonkers. She finally sent us to a cat specialty hospital. That vet put the boys on Clomipramine (anti-anxiety/cat aggression) liquid, which the boys have figured out how to start hiding to avoid med's or vomiting if we humans win! The males are now 3 yr. old and BIG. My one son discovered that the males seem to appreciate a "heavy hand" when showing our affection. They even calm down when I hold/tug their tale at the base. I've never treated a feline like this, but the aggressive play/affection has slowed quite a bit. There seems to be less bloodshed (on my part!). We share a large apartment with our 3 cats so there's no going outside, but according to some responses, I would like to try the method when conditions are safer. Our males seem to be getting more and more standoffish with age and seldom sleep with humans anymore. The vet said the males may need this med off and on for life if they can't seem to manage without it. We've seen a major decrease in bad behaviors while medicated. It's such a relief to find that other individuals are having similar questions. I've blamed myself for 2 1/2 yrs.,I'm so relieved to know I've hung in there.
ReplyDeleteI rescued a 2 yr old male Lilac Point Ragdoll and I re-named him Simba. I was told by the rescue place that he is full of piss and vinegar so I knew what I was in store for. They also said he is the most loveable at the same time. All of this is true. I just never expected the running right under my feet and I can't begin to tell you how many times I almost fell. He just didn't want to be alone. I work from home so he just loves to sleep by my feet at the computer, but during those crazy days when he would just go bonkers I would just shake my head. He figured out that the tile floor can make him "skate" so he makes a run for it and at the end is a large bookcase with all my candles that I hand make like my champagne glasses, wine glasses and mixed drink glasses. All of a sudden I hear a crash and thank goodness only one wine glass candle fell from the floor. I gave him a time out - yes, this does work. He goes into my large master bathroom for 5 minutes and I then pick him up and hug him and talk in a lower tone voice and hope he understands that he can't be so skitso. I've only done 2 time outs and I couldn't be more happy. He is still a young cat at 2 so he still wants to play. When I adopted him I was worried about who in the world would give up a purebred ragdoll but then I thought I bet it was the high strung personality that I have come to love. He sleeps with me, he lets me pick him up and he loves it when I sit outside and rock him like a baby. That is our cuddle time. I will always be grateful for the person or persons that gave him up because he has helped my depression in so many ways. I hope he lives a long and happy life. I know as him "mum" I will do anything in my power to provide for him and give him all the love and attention he needs and/or wants.
DeleteIt really is caveat emptor with these cat, sadly. I don't think it matters whether you get one from a reputable breeder, a rescue shelter or friends. Seems that it's luck of the draw what you end up.
ReplyDeleteI briefly owned a ragdoll kitten from one of the top breeders here in the UK. Saw him several times during his early weeks there, right up until I took him home at 13 weeks. Always seemed gentle, loving, playful but not hyper, and laid-back.
Sadly, after a few hours at mine cautiously scoping out my place he spent nearly all his waking hours as a crazed lunatic (and I don't mean normal kitten playfulness when I say that). Constantly going for my feet with claws and teeth, tearing around the place at 100mph and then into me with claw swipes more often than not.
Smashed up and knocked over his water/food bowls repeatedly.
Trying to sleep with him in the room meant continual snapping, biting and clawing at feet and face. Putting him outside meant howling at the door and thundering around the hallway all night.
You'd think I had a feral, badly socialised or mistreated kitten by his behaviour. Nothing could be further from the truth in terms of upbringing and pedigree.
I wasn't prepared to, in fact I couldn't have, put up with this so he was returned to the breeder who narrowed her eyes and cleared viewed ME as the one at fault.
Prior to him, I owned a rescue shelter cat who had been on the streets and from day one until she sadly passed many years later she was everything the ragdoll wasn't. So to go back to my first point, I'm not sure the reputation Ragdolls have is at all appropriate or to be expected from the kitten you might acquire. I would recommend people to go to their local shelter or several and just look for the cat who comes to see you, purrs and is friendly. Forget their background or looks, those traits are the priceless ones. Ragdoll? Never again.
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ReplyDeleteI adopted a beautiful female kitten from a trusted feline rescue organization a year ago. They thought she was a siamese mix in the description given her white coat with some dark ear and paw markings at 6 weeks old. She was beyond adorable and I just kept going back to her picture and bio. When I went to meet her at 8 weeks old, she climbed right up my body and snuggled on my neck. Love at first sight. I started some net searches on Siamese having never had this breed (athougth I've had cats all my life) and discovered she was either pure breed or mix Ragdoll. She had some serious health issues in the first week and was the sweetest most loving kitten while she was trying to recover with vet care. Then she got healthy and became a real bully with my other cats and the humans in the house - blood shed and all. My staff at work wondered why I had so many scratches all over my arms. I chalked it up to too many rescue kittens in the foster home (15) but after a year, shes's still pretty aggressive in a very gentle experienced cat home and I'm getting concerned. I've read that ragdolls don't fully mature for 3 years so maybe this has something to do with this but I've never had a cat like this in 30 years. I don't ever give up on an animal - I think we humans are the problem if there is one but wow, is this cat strong and somewhat mean. Help?
ReplyDeleteI ended up putting my 15 lb & 25 lb Ragdoll/Siamese mix males on Clomipramine from my vet. My 25 lb was regularly giving me "love bites" and aggressive play scratches like you described. I'm finally healed!
DeleteMy purebred Ragdoll cannot get along with my Chinchillas would it be that she wants to play and then they hiss, so the fight starts
ReplyDeleteA ragdoll has been my dream cat for a very long time however after reading everybody's posts and getting more educated about them I'm not sure that I want one now thanks for all the advice and information to everybody I really appreciate it
ReplyDeleteI got my male purebread ragdoll when he was 3 months old, he is now 6 months old. I was used to extremely loving cats because i have an 8 month old domestic long hair cat who came from an outdoor/indoor cat family... she is the most loving thing ever, especially to my boyfriend. Then when we got red (the ragdoll) we paid a boatload of money for him and we were a little disappointed because we wanted him to be a cuddler, but he just wasn't! always running around, wanting to play, i would try to pet him and he would just run the other way, did not like being picked up, the only thing he would do was sit next to us, and follow me specifically wherever i went. we were reassured that he would calm down but it was highly doubted... in the past month his change has been night and day. He still follows me, purrs every time he sees me, meows until i pet him,
ReplyDeletemeows until i pick him up, jumps on the couch for cuddle time, let's me lay him upset down in my arms to where his tummy is up and then he will fall asleep like this in my arms. he plays like a dog, whenever something is thrown he chases it, he growls at his toy mouse, carries it around everywhere with him... he is this way with me and not my boyfriend. he chose me, and it was obvious since day 1 that our girl cat chose my boyfriend... so it evens out. i absolutely love my ragdoll... wouldn't trade him for anything. it acts like my little baby.
I think this author's comments about a "cat" not living up to a "human" description is the reason why people should NOT adopt pets they know nothing about. A cat is a cat. I would never adapt a tag line of a "breed" that emphasizes nothing but human traits or "dogs" and take it seriously! Serious enough to hold the "animal" accountable? I have had cats that go limp that are not a ragdoll? did God make a mistake when humans were giving out breed descritpions? If you read up on the ragdoll history the lady was a quack in my opinion. The cat she bred that has the first "ragdoll" was hit by a car so she went ont to say that ragdoll's never feel pain? She was a real lune. But back to this article. ALL ANIMALS have unique personalities and have INSTINCTS that drive their behavior as well as environment, genes, stress. Ive personally had cats all my life and now own a ragdoll. I considered him a "clearence cat" as I got him so cheap that I thought the breeder was not for real. But i didnt care as I fell in love with him. He is all a ragdoll and then some if the descriptions were true but I also believe that even if he lashed out, chased me around my house and was extremely unique that is HIS RIGHT as an individual. I love cats with personality. I love cats that cuddle. Both are great. My ragdoll does fetch, he does go limp but so does my shorthair "mutt" cat that found me. so whatever. If you are blaming a defenseless animal for acting on instincts shame on you for getting a cat. I also question if your household is loud, do you have other animals, small children that may be scaring the cat? My ragdoll is mellow but he is very shy to sounds. The door rings he runs for cover but my other cat goes and and greets the people. They are all indiviudals.
ReplyDeleteMine is 1yr old now. She started out very sweet and corky. Not very smart lol. Now she only likes me and my daughter and she is very protective of us. She has not really been around company, we keep the house pretty quiet. But when there is company she will growl and hiss at them. Funny part is she won't look at the person when she does. She lives running water and fights with her water bowl. But them nails!! She hates closed doors and will panicky tear at the rug. She is a trouble maker, always into something or knocking something over.
ReplyDeleteBut I wouldn't change her for the world!!!
ReplyDeleteLest you forget, cats are animals, just like us; they're going to vary. So many homeless cats out there, perfectly happy and healthy, euthanized every day. I'm sure you could find a little friend who you can appreciate for it's unique characteristics... not one inbred to be dumb and defenseless enough to serve your needs. Adopt, don't shop!
ReplyDeleteTotally agree with this comment. And imo non-feral stray cats make excellent pets.
DeleteMost are so grateful and happy just to have a roof over their heads, a warm place to sleep and regular food that they will adore whoever gives them that.
Pedigrees can be somewhat spoilt and demanding - they've never experienced anything else so not their fault. But coupled with their tendency towards more health problems and shorter liefespans due to small gene pools, they never made sense to me. Surely people don't buy a cat for what it looks like? They are all beautiful anyway.
Thank you very much for this blog i actually wish i found this before we bought our ragdoll kitten. Just like many others i made the mistake of not researching as well as i thought i did. We have recently had to part with our rag doll kitten we had him since he was 10 weeks old. He was despite my daughter and i being attached to him a complete nightmare. I grew up with all different kinds of animals. Mostly dogs and cats. Ive always been a person more preferred towards dogs but my family thought the ragdoll cat would be best suited to us but unfortunately we were wrong. Years ago the first pet that i owned was a persian mix she was beautiful and loving but i would nickname her bipolar cat within good reason. Unfortunately she had her moments where she would get very cranky without any real reason and swipe at you. She was also extremely jealous of my partner at first. Despite that she had a gentle side but she was never hesitant to let you know she had enough. She was distant and laid back, but would come up to you when she wanted attention. All in all she was actually perfect because i dont like animals that demand my attention all the time. Unfortunately our ragdoll kitten did as this is apart of the breed, but i was never able to give him enough. It became to much for us i have a 6 month old and a 4 year old i can only give him a certain amount of attention even my partner and eldest daughter would give him attention but it was never good enough. We experienced a lot of behavioral issues with him to the point where we really had just had enough. This continued after desexing him too. For ages despite being toilet trained he continued to poop outside of his litter box and piss outside of his litter box. This was happening constantly his favorite place was the bath tub for ages. However it did eventually stop for a few weeks though so we thought. It then started up again only he would proceed to pooping in front of the litterbox when no one was watching and peeing in front of it. He was completely spiteful at everything. Before i would go to bed at night and shut the door he would go crazy if he knew where i was going so id try to slightly change my bed routine. But why the hell do i have to for a cat its crazy?. Anyway he would try and trip me over scratch the rug slam into his scratching post at speed when he jumped on it he would do anything to get my attention and stop me from going to bed. Every morning we would wake up to a shit presumably because i was not aloud to go to bed. And every morning he would go straight to the rug and start scratching it. After constant discipline did not work we trying ignoring unfortunately to no avail. One day he proceeded to try and bite my 6 month old on the head while she was on the floor yes i get he is a kitten but thats just not okay with me. He also would demand us for attention when we could not give it to him. Then when we could give him attention he would ignore us. Then there was the begging for food that was a nightmare he was so persistent he just would not wait. At first the tantrums seemed funny but eventually you just get sick of it. And yes they definitely wont stop following you. We had no choice but to re home him as despite desexing him he started spraying in front of the litter tray on the wall. We couldn't risk getting evicted because of cat urine. We will just stick to our guinea pigs for now.
ReplyDelete