Being one of the largest cat breeds, Ragdoll cats are beloved family pets, prized for their prominent vivid blue eyes and semi-long downy coats that come out in multiple color patterns. To a large extent, these cute kitties love to be empathetic and in tune with their owners’ emotions.
The floppy cat might not be too demanding, but a little extra care goes a long way! Regular grooming, a good diet, fun playtime, vet checkups, and loads of love are all their basic needs. If you’re a first-time Ragdoll owner looking to seek out tips on how to care for a Ragdoll cat, this “Ragdoll cat care guide” is just for you!
Ragdoll Cat Breed Overview
Height – 23-28cm
Weight – 15-20 lbs
Life Expectancy – 12-17 years
Personality – Placid, affectionate, and docile
Fits Well With – Solo, families with kids, and couples
Setting Up Ragdoll-Friendly Home Environment
Ideally, ragdoll kittens adapt promptly to their new environment within a week, better than most cat breeds (Siamese, Sphynx). They initially need a little extra love and care (don’t petting overdo, though, as it could scare them) to feel safe in your home and around you.
In the first place, get rid of poisonous houseplants, secure loose wires, close off small spaces where your cat might get stuck, and remove any small objects they could swallow. Besides, give them cozy little box, and scratching post, and make sure to place bedding, food bowl, and the little box at a fair distance to avoid unsanitary.
Ragdoll Kitten Needs Undivided Attention
Ragdoll cats love soaking up all the attention and being the star of the show! These overly-friendly gentle giants are best kept as indoor cats. Outdoor street cats are clever but often don’t live as long since they catch diseases early on. In a way, leaving ragdoll cats outside could bring unfortunate accidents.
Ragdolls are a slow-maturing breed. Normally, they hit maturity by the time they’re around 4 years old. For a long time, they’ll hold a kitten-like manner, and demand huge attention, cuddle time, and play. Yet, during cuddling, approach from the side rather than above their head.
They do fine when being left for a few hours, but you can’t just leave them alone for more than 8 hours a day. When petting as a first time ragdoll owner, try to avoid long direct eye contact, as it can be perceived as a confrontation. Instead, blink slowly and try to build trust through positive reinforcement.
Keep an eye out for signs of stress in your Ragdoll, such as a swishing tail, arched back, cowering, or body twitches during petting. To help your cat feel at ease, always let them sniff your hand before touching it.
In short, ragdolls would love to get your company for an hour or two daily, and they’re very much affectionate when it comes to spending quality time with their owners.
Playtime & Training Is Part Of Caring
Ragdolls, whether seal point, chocolate, or black and white, aren’t the most nimble cats. Full grown big ragdoll cat weigh between 15-20 lbs and favors slow-paced living. And that’s what leads to obesity issues if not addressed lately.
Put time aside each day to engage your Ragdoll in interactive play. They are rarely vocal, you’ll know they’re having fun when you see their tail raised as they roll onto their back. You could buy them a bunch of toys, from fetch toys and balls to wands and laser pointers, to wear them out and prevent boredom.
Rotate different sets of toys to keep playtime fresh and exciting. If you have kids in the home, be sure to teach them the proper way to pick up Ragdoll with support under the hindquarters.
Fulfill Their Nutritional Needs
Ragdolls get big (23-28 cm) as they age, and this has an impact on what they need to eat. Simply put, these cats are meat-eaters by nature, which means they do best on diets high in protein from animal sources. Their food should have top-quality animal protein as the main ingredient to keep up with their large appetite.
To make sure they get nutrients completely, feed them canned or wet food. These foods have lots of protein, water, and fats, but not many carbs. Carbs are a real danger to ragdolls since they could lead to obesity, stomach sensitivity, and kidney stone issues later on.
Your male Ragdoll needs 250-400 calories a day to keep up his charming, floppy-cat vibes, while the female ragdolls need 180-300 calories to maintain their queenly grace. It can easily be varied based on your cat’s activity level, age, weight, and metabolism. Baby cats, on the other hand, need kitten formula food, so it’s most okay to consult your vet for the best diet plan (whether you’ve got a kitten or adult cat).
Ragdoll Cat Grooming & Coat Care
Brushing
Time-to-time grooming sessions are part of ragdoll cat care. Unlike Maine Coon, ragdolls have a single coat with no undercoat. As they have much less fur (compared to long-haired double-coat cat breeds), they shed less, but, unlike short-haired cats, they do still shed extra, especially during summer and spring seasons.
You should brush their hair twice a week to keep their mane soft and obviously, silky. It’s worth starting early on with grooming sessions so your ragdoll kitten can get used to the sensation. Use a slicker brush with soft bristles along with a comb for the best results.
When grooming your Ragdoll, start with the stomach & legs, then work your way to the back, head, and down to the tail. Don’t miss out on the difficult parts like behind the arms and the backs of the legs.
Bathing
Bathing them once a month is more than enough since they’re usually indoor cats and Ragdolls groom themselves pretty well. If you’re considering bathing your Ragdoll, it’s best to begin starting in kittenhood so they grow accustomed to it.
Use lukewarm water and apply shampoo everywhere except the head – use a damp towel for the face instead. Always use Ragdoll-friendly shampoo to avoid damaging their skin and rinse thoroughly.
Trimming Their Claws
A portion of ragdoll cat care, claw trimming helps avoid painful scratches and tears. The frequency of trimming claws normally varies, mainly depending on your cat’s activity level, age, or how much cat furniture or scratching posts you have. On average, think of it as a bi-weekly manicure they didn’t ask for but definitely need!
To get started, hold your Ragdoll gently but firmly on your lap (First-time owners prefer to do this with two people, one to hold and one to trim). Gently squeeze the paw to get their claws out. Don’t force it if they aren’t fond of this idea.
Trim off a small portion at a time, just enough so you can see pink in the center without cutting it. Again, be careful not to cut too much or you risk hurting them. It’s totally okay to seek help from a professional groomer at the start if you can’t able to do it on your own, and that thing wouldn’t put you off.
Schedule Annual Vet Check-Ups
At the outset, we mentioned ragdolls do need vet visits from time to time. These floppy cats are pretty sturdy and live quite long (12-17 years) if well cared for. Since some conditions may not manifest obvious symptoms early on, vet visits help screen your pet for potential health problems.
To be on the safe side, schedule annual vet check-ups to monitor for serious problems like obesity, gastrointestinal disorders, heart disease, polycystic kidney disease, and urinary tract disease.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are Ragdolls good for first-time cat owners?
Ragdolls are extremely placid, tend to go limp when held, and often follow you from room to room. If you’re looking for lap-cat that’s easy to care for, very much healthy, and looks super adorable, ragdoll is without all doubt a great first-time cat!
Do Ragdolls get along with kids and other pets?
As a people-oriented cat breed, Ragdolls typically get along with everyone and remain snug around kiddos & pets. Although they’re easygoing cats, you need to teach your kids about how to properly pet these cats early on to avoid accidental scratches during playtime.
Are Ragdolls low-maintenance cats?
Compared to Maine Coons & Norwegian Forest Cat, they’re pretty low maintenance. But if you match them to short-haired cats, they still need to follow up on basic grooming. Since they’ve semi-haired coats with no undercoat, you need to brush their hair twice a week, bathe them only once a month, and trim their claws bi-weekly.
Conclusion – A Few Final Words!
For proper ragdoll care, get rid of toxic houseplants (Lilies, Aloe vera, sago palm, pothos), follow grooming sessions routinely, and schedule annual vet visits for early detection of potential health problems. With proper love, training, and care, these floppy cats can bring joy and companionship for many years to come! Hopefully, this ragdoll cat care guide for first time owner covers most of the aspects and helps you get started and care for your raggies in a secure way.
Written By: Usman Malik | Reviewed By: Ali Abbas | Fact Checked By: Aqib Zulfiqar
