Very likely you’ve made plans to adopt a ragdoll cat or kitten and have some queries bouncing around in your head. How do you adopt one? How much is it going to cost? What does the application process look like? How do you create safe space for him/her? What nice-to-haves do you need to pick up ahead of time? They might sound overwhelming at first though we’ve prepared this step-by-step guide to adopting a ragdoll cat to help you all the way through!
9 Steps For a Successful Ragdoll Cat Adoption
Kitten vs Adult Ragdoll Cat
Decide whether to adopt a Ragdoll kitten or an adult cat and whether you want one Ragdoll or more than one, at a time. Kittens require extra care, attention, and training, though they adjust to the new environment way more easily compared to adult or senior ragdolls.
Conversely, adult or senior ragdolls are more likely to be already trained for things like grooming, baths, and vet visits and may require less supervision. Aside from that, ragdoll cats come in six recognized colors (seal, blue, red, lilac, cream, chocolate) and three distinct patterns (bicolor, mitted, and colorpoint).
Mink ragdolls are also the offshoots of purebred traditional ragdolls, so it’s safe to say, you could never get enough of these fuzzy felines!
Browse Local Listings
A great way to start your search is by browsing local listings of rescue organizations, shelters, or breeders in your area. You can either type the keyword “ragdoll cat adoption near me” or “cat shelter near me” to find potential adoption centers.
If you don’t want to do it manually, sites like Petfinder let you search for various shelters and rescues in your vicinity and around the country more quickly to find the right match with a specific breed, sex, age, and color. On the off chance, you won’t find ragdoll kittens for adoption right away, you can set up alerts to catch future postings.
Arrange a Visit
Once you’ve found the kitty for adoption you think is right for you and mashes your personality, book a time to meet the cat in person. Sometimes a kitten that looks cute in an online listing might not be the same in person. Turns out, it’s all right to visit the rescue facility on your own to see the cat and shelter conditions and to confirm you’re adopting from a legitimate source.
Fill Out All The Paperwork
Your specific adoption organization will ask you to fill out an application and a questionnaire. They require details about you and your household, including the ages of people there, what sort of space you have set up, and whether you’ve had pets before. The Ragdoll adoption fee varies from location to location, though on average, you can expect to pay somewhere around $400 to $1,000. It btw covers spaying or neutering, initial vaccines, and microchipping for cat ID.
Buy Important Supplies
Before your new ragdoll cat moves in, stock up on supplies you’ll need to have at home. You’ll need a litter box of the right size (aim for one 1.5x the length of your cat), litter, water bowls, a comfy bed, a scratching post, grooming brushes, nail clipper, cat-friendly shampoo, and interactive toys (feather wands, crinkle balls, and laser point would work since ragdolls are so easygoing & friendly to play with).
You may be tempted to go all out for a smooth transition though it’s completely okay if you can afford all items in two steps or maybe three. At the start, it’s good to go with the same food and brand your breeders or shelters were feeding them. If you adopt a ragdoll kitten, make sure to only feed them vet-approved food specifically made for kittens during their first year.
Create a Safe, Dedicated Space For Your Ragdoll
When you adopt a ragdoll cat, whether a kitten or an adult, it may feel jittery, shy, or tense since they aren’t accustomed to their new surroundings. Creating a dedicated safe space ahead of time helps ease their natural response and make them feel prosperous.
You can choose your spare room (big or small works!) outside of noise, crowds, and active pets in the house, and set up a temporary, cat-proofed sanctuary. Stock it up with necessities you’ve had purchased for your adopted ragdoll, including a litter box, bed, food, water bowls, toys, hideouts, etc.
Besides, kitten-proof the space by removing potential hazards like items that can be chewed up, pulled down, or toppled over. Get rid of poisonous houseplants, if you’re not aware of which plants are dangerous, we’ve written a detailed guide about it and even given safe alternative plants that you can put on display alongside.
If it’s your first cat and you don’t have other pets around you may only need to use the safe room for one or two days since ragdolls are so laid-back family pets and get along well with humans. In case you have other pets, we recommend keeping the new ragdoll you’ve just adopted in the safe room for at least a week or two. After that, take gradual steps like short visits and supervised interactions to help your pets get used to one another.
Pick a Veterinarian for Your New Ragdoll
Having a vet picked out for your adopted ragdoll in advance is a worthy idea that we highly recommend. The right vet for your Ragdoll should have ISFM certification, a calm disposition, upright after-hours work policies, and make you feel comfortable.
Do some research and you’ll surely come across the right veterinarian for your ragdoll. This way, you can easily follow up on their vaccination schedule and get a regular checkup if needed, especially in the first few weeks after adoption when your ragdol is still settling into its new home.
Bring Your Adopted Ragdoll Home
So, you did it! You’ve got the most adorable, fluffy ragdoll breed and all the pieces are finally together. You’ve been approved, and now you’re bringing your new family member home. If you follow our instructions, this transition should go smoothly. In the beginning, talk to them slowly, and don’t force interaction as this could scare off your new ragdoll kitty.
Let them explore their safe space, and get familiar with you and other house members slowly. In no time, your adorable co-worker (yes, ragdolls love to sit on desks, and sofas, and cuddle up next to you) will be your best friend.
Ragdoll Cat Adoption vs. Buying From a Breeder
The debate on whether to buy a cat from a breeder or adopt one from a shelter has been ongoing for years now. Although both options have their perks, either way, you’re bringing a cat into your home and giving it the love, care, and attention these majestic creatures are deserving of.
Pedigree Ragdolls have tough breeding standards set by TICA (The International Cat Association) and CFA (Cat Fanciers Association) and to buy from reputable breeders you may have to pay between $1500-2500. So, what we think is, that if you’ve found a rescue shelter that seems legitimate, has thorough paperwork, and is transparent about the ragdoll cat vaccination, medical health condition, and history, then you should go for it.
Ragdoll cats are a pretty famous breed so act fast if you’ve come across a rescue shelter that has one and come up with a way to verify their legitimacy. On the flip side, if you suspect anything shady, back off since it’s far better to save up for your kitten than to buy one cheaply and end up with a sickly pet that you have to keep returning to the vet.
Summary
Ragdoll cat adoption is a fulfilling experience and one of the finest ways to give a home to an endearing, placid pet. If you do follow up on the 8 steps we’ve listed above, we are sure, you could have a sound transition and the onset of an exquisite bonding with your ragdoll. Make sure to double-check the legitimacy of a ragdoll rescue shelter before adopting, stock up on essentials to make your new cat feel comfortable, and choose the right veterinarian for regular check-ups.
Written By: Usman Malik | Reviewed By: Ali Abbas | Fact Checked By: Aqib Zulfiqar
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