FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Question:I heard that Ragdolls do not shed. Is this true?
Answer:No, Ragdolls DO shed! Although Ragdolls shed quite a lot less as kittens, they do shed quite a bit. We have plenty of lint rollers around our house! We tend to choose lighter colors for every day wear because cat hair really shows on black!

Question:I heard Ragdolls do not mat. Is this true?
Answer:Yes and No. Some Ragdolls mat a lot. Others only mat under the armpits or during coat changes due to seasonal changes in the weather. Other Ragdolls do not really mat at all. Although we do try to breed for coats that do not mat, there will be the occasional Ragdoll that grows up that will mat to some extent. Grooming your Ragdoll once a week will help keep his/her coat in good condition.

Question:I have allergies to cats and heard Ragdolls are hypoallergenic. Is this true?
Answer:NO! There are plenty of myths about the Ragdoll and this particular one makes me the saddest. I hate to see a kitty re-homed because someone heard misinformation. If you have cat allergies, you will not likely be any less allergic to Ragdolls.

Question:I heard Ragdolls are all lap kitties. Is this true?
Answer:Not all Ragdolls are lap kitties. They do, however, prefer to be with you. Ragdolls tend to follow their people from room to room. Many enjoy a good game of fetch with their people! They tend not to like to be shut out of a room you are in.

Question:I heard all Ragdolls are laid back. Is this true? Why is my Ragdoll kitten so hyper?
Answer:Ragdolls do not get their laid back demeanor until they are adults. A kitten is a kitten, and kittens just want to have fun! To expect your kitten to be laid back is like expecting a toddler to sit still.

Question:I heard Ragdolls do not meow. Is this true?
Answer:Yes and No. While some Ragdolls are very quiet and you can hardly hear their voices, others are quite talkative. I've had some big talkers and have very much enjoyed our conversations. Others can hardly be heard, so make sure they don't get shut in a closet or pantry! You may not be able to hear them calling for your attention.

Question:I heard males are much more affectionate than females. Is this true?
Answer:Each kitten, regardless of gender, has his or her own personality. You can't really pin a prejudice on boys or girls. We've had both affectionate males and affectionate females. We've also had more independent males and more independent females. It's best to go by the individual kitten's personality!

Question:I heard if I got a male kitten, he'll spray. Is this true?
Answer:No. It is very rare for a kitten that has been altered before 6 months to start spraying. This usually only occurs when a cat is altered as an adult and has already learned to mark his territory. Many people do not realize that female cats can spray as well. They, too, should be altered young.

Question:Is it better to get two same sex kittens or a male and a female?
Answer:It really makes no difference. Although two cats may end up with personality differences, regardless of gender, most all will get along when introduced as kittens. An adult cat will adjust to a kitten, regardless of gender, a lot faster then it will to another adult.

Question:Ragdoll kitten's coat isn't very long or full. Is this normal?
Answer:Ragdolls start off with their kitten coats and you may not see their longer, more plush coats until around the age of eight months. While Ragdoll coats vary from cat to cat and some are longer or fuller then others, their coats can take some time to develop into a nice plush coat. Give it some more time!

Question:Should I bathe my Ragdoll?
Answer:While many Ragdoll owners never have to bathe their cats, you can bathe them about once a month. This keeps them used to the bathing routine just in case they ever need a bath and it will be much less of a hassle if they are used to bathing. This also will help remove some of the loose hair. Make sure they do not have any mats in their fur before their bath because water will make it much worse! Brush your kitty out well and then bathe. Be careful not to get any water in their ears or soap in their eyes.

Question:Should I brush my Ragdoll's teeth? If so, why?
Answer:Yes! Just like we need to brush our teeth to keep them healthy, our kitties depend on us to do the same for them. They can build up plaque and tooth decay just as we can. You should use a brush and paste made specially for pets. They also make little wipes to wipe down their teeth if that is easier for you and your kitties to use. That will help keep their teeth in good shape! Starting brushing their teeth early on is a good idea so they are used to it, but it's never to late to get started!

Question:Will my Ragdoll cat scratch my furniture?
Answer:While we do everything possible to train our kittens to use a scratching post, the training does not stop with the breeder. You will need to continue working with your kitten at home. Providing multiple scratching posts and at least one climber with sisal rope is a good beginning. If you see your kitten scratching in an inappropriate area, pick the kitten up and place the paws on the scratching post. Most catch on rather quickly! Keep your kittens nails clipped and that will help as well. They do make nail caps that can be glued on if you are having problems with your kitten scratching. Your vet should be able to show you how to put them on.

Question:Is it true that Ragdolls feel no pain?
Answer:Ragdolls Do feel pain! There is no truth to this myth in the least.

Question:On No! My cat has gotten fleas. What should I do?
Answer:Even indoor kitties can get these little buggers because they can hop a ride on a person and invade your home. We use Revolution and it has worked well for us. You can get Revolution from your vet for your kitten's/cats age. Keep in mind that whatever you use can cause a reaction. Just like with people, different cats can be sensitive to different medications. What works for one may not be good for another. Make sure you vacuum your home and furniture well. We only use flea medications as needed. We do not treat them monthly.

Question:My cat wants to go outdoors. Should I let him?
Answer:No! So many cats are harmed or killed from being let outdoors. There are so many dangers, such as wild animals, dogs, other cats, vehicles, etc. There is also a chance of your kitty contacting diseases outdoors and also parasites. There is also a high chance of someone seeing your pretty Ragdoll and taking him home. Other people will not take kindly to your cat using their yard as a litter box and may capture him and take him to the Humane Society. We highly recommend that you raise your cats indoors only!

Question:Should my Ragdoll wear a collar?
Answer:While some of our kitty owners put collars on their kitties, we recommend not using them. If the collar is too large, it can get caught around their jaw and can also pose a hazard with hanging. Also, collars can come off and be lost. A collar can also wear down the fur at the bib or cause knots. Never use a collar on your show kitty because even when the collar is removed, you can still see where it had been. We recommend micro chipping your Ragdoll. It is not too costly.

Question: What is TICA and CFA?
Answer:TICA stands for The International Cat Association. CFA stands for The Cat Fancier's Association. Our kittens and cats are mostly registered through TICA. They are both cat registry associations. The only way to guarantee the kitten you purchase is really a purebred is to have a registration slip, which can only be gotten if the parents are purebred cats. While CFA is the largest cat association in the US, most Ragdolls are registered through TICA, the second largest cat registry in the US. This is because CFA only accepted our bicolor Ragdolls for competition. This has only changed recently and now our mitted and colorpoints are accepted for competition in CFA shows as well! We expect more Ragdolls will be registered through CFA now! Your registration slip will allow you to register your new kitten’s name, as well as being proof that your new baby is a purebred cat.

Question:What is HCM?
Answer:HCM is a heart disease that can be found in ALL cats. Many breeders have been donating to research HCM in the Ragdoll cat, hoping to find the gene/genes responsible for HCM in Ragdolls. WSU has found one mutated gene that causes HCM in the Ragdoll cat. Here is what Washington State University has to say about the "known" mutation that cause HCM in the Ragdoll cat:

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common form of heart disease in the cat. In many breeds it is an inherited disease. Our laboratory has identified a mutation responsible for the gene in some cats. However, it should be noted that in human beings with the same disease, there are many different genetic mutations which can cause this disease. It is likely the same in the cat.
Very importantly, the absence of the mutation in this cat DOES NOT mean that it will never develop the disease. It means that it does not have the only known mutation that can cause the disease in the cat at this time. In the future, additional mutations may be identified that may be tested for as well.
Cats that are positive for the test will not necessarily develop significant heart disease and die from the disease. Some cats will develop a very mild form of the disease and will live quite comfortably. We recommend annual evaluation by an echocardiogram and discussion with a veterinarian for treatment options if hypertrophy develops.
Importantly, breeding decisions should be made carefully. At this time we have observed about 23% of Ragdoll cats that we have tested carry at least one copy of the gene. Removal of all of these cats from the breeding population could be very bad for the Ragdoll breed. Remember that HCM affected cats also carry other important good genes that we do not want to lose from the breed. We recommend not breeding the homozygous cats and, if needed, breeding heterozygotes to unaffected cats to decrease the risk of producing affected cats. As we move forward we should try to select more and more negative kittens from these lines to use for breeding. Keep in mind that we are continually learning about this disease and recommendations will be altered as we obtain more information.
Keep in mind that though some of the pos/het cats (carrying ONE copy of the known Ragdoll HCM gene) may have a shortened life, many others may never exhibit any signs of HCM or mild signs later in life. We do not know why some show signs early and others not at all. Much more research needs to be done before we can begin to glean the answers we all want, if at all.

Question:What is FIP?
Answer:FIP is a viral disease of cats that can affect many systems of the body. It is a progressive disease and almost always fatal. It is found worldwide and affects not only domestic cats, but many wild ones as well, including cougars, bobcats, lynx, lions, and cheetahs.
FIP is caused by a virus. Cats can be infected with feline coronavirus (FCoV). There are two types of this virus which cannot be distinguished from each other in laboratory tests. One is avirulent (does not cause disease) or only mildly virulent and is called feline enteric coronavirus (FECV). Infection with this virus does not produce any signs other than maybe a very mild diarrhea. The other type is virulent (produces disease), is the cause of FIP, and is called feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV). It is believed that FIP occurs when FECV mutates to FIPV in the cat and starts to replicate in the cat's cells. What causes this mutation is unknown.
Studies have shown that approximately 25-40% of household cats, and up to 95% of cats in multi-cat households and catteries are or have been infected with FCoV. The development of fatal FIP occurs in 1 in 5000 cats in households with one or two cats. In multi-cat households and catteries 5% of cats die from FIP.
The largest number of FIP cases occurs in young cats. Kittens are often infected when they are 4 to 6 weeks old, when the antibody protection they received from their mothers through the milk is declining. Kittens usually start showing signs of FIP when they are between 3 months and 2 years of age. Most of the kittens with FIP die between 8 and 18 months of age.
One of the most difficult aspects of FIP is that there is no simple diagnostic test. The ELISA, IFA, and virus-neutralization tests detect the presence of coronavirus antibodies in a cat, but these tests cannot differentiate between the various strains of feline coronavirus. A positive result means only that the cat has had a prior exposure to coronavirus, but not necessarily one that causes FIP.
Cat breeders face a painful dilemma with this disease which has no prevention, no test, and no cure. Increasingly, responsible breeders have found that the possibility of FIP developing in any kitten placed in a pet home is worthy of discussion with prospective pet buyers. For now replacement is the best the breeder can do.
Coopercatz has a 2 year FIP kitten replacement policy. If your kitten should die from FIP under 2 years of age we will replace it with another kitten. We ask you to provide vet records for our review.