How to Care for a Ragdoll Cat: A Beginner's Guide

For beginners looking to raise a healthy Ragdoll cat, it's crucial to regularly groom your cat, engage in plenty of interactive play, feed them specialized cat food, and ensure they receive regular vaccinations and deworming treatments. These steps are essential to guarantee your Ragdoll maintains a healthy constitution.

How to Care for a Ragdoll Cat as a Beginner

1. Regular Grooming

Ragdolls are a long-haired breed, and while they don't shed excessively, they do require more grooming than short-haired cats. Aim to brush their fur daily. This not only promotes blood circulation but also allows you to check for external parasites or injuries. Regular grooming also helps reduce cat hair around the house.

2. Plenty of Interaction

Ragdoll cats are known for being very affectionate and clingy. They love to follow their owners, cuddle, and even sleep with them. Therefore, you need to dedicate time to interact with your Ragdoll. Talk to them, play with them using toys. They tend to be sensitive and need reassurance, so allowing them to stay close will make them feel loved.

3. Feeding Specialized Cat Food

Like all cats, Ragdolls require specialized cat food. Newborn kittens primarily rely on their mother's milk. Once they reach adulthood, in addition to cat food, you can feed them cooked and boneless meats like beef, pork, or fish. Always make sure the food is thoroughly cooked and free of bones and thorns.

4. Regular Vaccinations

Ensure your Ragdoll cat gets their core vaccinations including the feline panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis, and calicivirus vaccine, as well as the rabies vaccination. The feline vaccine can be administered when the kitten is 9-12 weeks old, with a booster 3-4 weeks later. Annual boosters should follow. Rabies vaccinations are usually given at 12 weeks, then once a year thereafter.

5. Deworming

It’s generally recommended to deworm cats after 6 weeks of age to control internal and external parasites. External parasite control can be done monthly, or every 3 to 6 months if the cat is indoors. Internal deworming is generally recommended every three months, or every six to twelve months for indoor cats. Cats are prone to tapeworms, so avoid feeding them raw meat or fish.Read more here:Pet Breeds