Ragdoll Kitten care

Taking the proper steps to prepare for your new Ragdoll kitten(s) before they are brought home is necessary for a seamless transition. The following should be in place and taken care of prior to pick up:

Proper Kitten Care:  Your new kitten’s veterinarian should be chosen, and first appointment scheduled within 14 days of pickup.

Adjustment Time: When you arrive home, please don’t overwhelm your kitten with a lot of visitors. There will be plenty of time to show off your kitten after he/she has adjusted to its new family and surroundings. It is best NOT to make the entire house available to the kitten immediately. Start with putting the kitten in one small room (preferably the room where the litter box will be) and as the kitten adjusts, start making other rooms available. Ragdolls are very adaptable to their environment so all of this should only take a few days.

Grooming:  We recommend using a steel comb to comb your kitten daily. They love the attention, and this regular grooming will keep them used to being combed, which will be nice when they become adults and need that grooming.  Clip nails on a weekly basis to keep your kitten from unwanted scratching. Please, Please DO NOT Declaw your kitten. Declawing can cause behavioral and litter problems!

Supplies

Cat Carrier: A medium sized carrier is very important for any trips out of your home. You don’t want to get a small carrier that your kitten will soon outgrow.

Bedding: This means comfortable bedding where the kitten or cat will be comfortable and safe. Raise it off the ground, preferably, somewhere where the kitten will feel safe, away from any drafts or areas where there is too much coming and going. 

Litter boxes: This needs to be deep enough and with a small shovel to remove the stool, although not too deep that kittens are dissuaded from using it.   The general rule of thumb is that you need one litter box per cat plus one. One cat will need two boxes, two cats will need three boxes, etc. 

Food & Water: A constant supply of dry cat food and fresh water should be left out for your kitten at all times throughout the day.  Food and water bowls should be either stainless steel or ceramic. Although plastic bowls are common and popular, they can cause inflammation (“feline chin acne”) in cats.

Cat Tree: An accessory that is both fun and useful for your cat and will allow them to scratch, climb and hide safely, and will contribute to the positive well-being of your kitten by respecting their natural instincts.

Toys: Plenty of toys.  Kittens LOVE toys!!  Playtime for a kitten is not only fun but also necessary for their development. Ragdolls are very smart cats. They will need things to keep them occupied when you are not there. While you are there, they will be happy following you around and “helping” you with your work. However, if a kitten gets bored then they will find fun in the wrong places.  

Cats are usually the most active first thing in the morning and again late in the evening. Their favorite toys seem to be the small, lightweight toys that they can carry in their mouths.  Ragdolls can learn to play fetch quite easily. Another favorite toy is a stick with feathers or an actual wand toy (can have mylar strands, feather, leather strips etc.). Please make sure to put these types of toys out of the reach of your kitten/cat when you are not there to supervise the play. Feathers and strings can pose a choking hazard.

CAUTION:  Recliner Chairs are very dangerous around kittens. They think they are fun places to hide and when the recliner comes down, they can be seriously injured.

Additional helpful information from Royal Canin: (https://www.royalcanin.com/us/cats/thinking-of-getting-a-cat/how-to-care-for-a-kitten-or-cat)