Frequently Asked Questions
Reserving a Kitten
What’s included in the cost of adoption?
The price of adoption includes spay/neutering of your kitten, age-appropriate distemper vaccinations, flea treatment, multiple deworming cycles, microchip implant, three separate health guarantees, one month of free health insurance through Trupanion, a kitten kit (food, treats, toys), a kitten carrier, training/socialization of your kitten, breeder support for the life of your kitten, and, of course, your kitten!
How old will my kitten be upon pick-up?
We aim to send kittens home with families when they’re around 12 weeks old.
Could I get my kitten delivered?
Yes, we do offer delivery with our trusted courier at an additional cost. Please mention this in your inquiry if interested.
Taking Care of my Kitten
What brand of food should I feed my kitten?
We feed our kittens Purina Pro Plan Kitten dry and wet food. We also typically stick with poultry formulas. For pictures, see our page “New Kitten Necessities”.
When and how often should I feed my kitten?
The dry food should be left out at all time for your kitten to free feed on. Offer your kitten a small 3 oz can of wet food 1-2 times per day.
What if my kitten suddenly stops liking the brand of food I use?
If your kitten decides they no longer like the Purina Pro Plan brand wet food, you can absolutely experiment with other brands. Some kittens prefer cuts with gravy. If this is your kitten, you can try Royal Canin Kitten “Thin Slices in Gravy” (some of past customers have had success with this food). Other good brands include baby blue (blue buffalo) and Hill’s science diet. Just make sure whichever you buy is specific for kittens until he or she turns 1.
Can I feed my kitten dry food only?
Feeding your kitten dry food only is not a good idea. Adult male cats can be more prone to kidney stones and urinary blockages, and feeding a dry-food-only diet increases these risks. Keeping your kitten on wet food in addition to the dry is important to keep them hydrated and prevent those things.
What types of food and water dishes should I buy?
Please purchase either metal or ceramic water/food dishes. We prefer gravity feeders, but any metal or ceramic dish is fine. Flowing water dishes are also a great option to encourage your kitten to drink. See our page “New Kitten Necessities” for picture examples.
Do you recommend the “Litter-Robot”, “Purana”, or other self-cleaning litter boxes?
We do not use any self-cleaning litter boxes, therefore cannot recommend them. You may try them out if you would like. However, be aware that your kitten will be accustomed to a large and open standard litter pan, and may have a learning curve if introduced to a different style litter box. Please see our page “New Kitten Necessities” for an example of the litter box your kitten is used to.
What brand of litter do you use?
We use World’s Best litter in various scents. See our page “New Kitten Necessities” for a picture of this litter.
Grooming
Do I need to bathe my kitten?
You can spot clean your kitten to remove anything visible if desired, but you do not need to bath your kitten. Cats will clean themselves on their own. Sometimes, if your kitten hasn’t yet mastered the skill of grooming themselves, you can trim the fur around their behind (butt cut), to help avoid a messy area. As kittens mature, they typically take care of grooming themselves more adequately. If you like a fresh smell, there are many non-toxic dry shampoos and/or grooming sprays to freshen up your kitten with.
How often should I clip my kitten’s nails?
Every two weeks. Please see our page “New Kitten Necessities” for an example of a nail clipper to use.
Should I brush my kitten’s teeth?
Yes, brushing your kitten’s teeth is extremely important. We begin brushing our kittens’ teeth when they are about 4 weeks of age- please continue to do so at home regularly while they are still young so they will remain accustomed to it. We recommend that you brush your kitten’s teeth daily. Use a kitten toothbrush and kitten toothpaste, or you can purchase finger covers that come “pre-pasted”. This will only take a minute or two- simply swipe all of their teeth once over. Do not use human toothpaste to brush your kitten’s teeth, it is toxic to cats. If your kitten’s teeth are not cleaned, they will (like us) begin to develop tarter and bacteria which leads to bad breath, infections, and possibly gingivitis.
Behavior
My kitten is having litter box issues. What should I do?
Litter box issues can definitely be frustrating, but the good news is it’s usually something that can be resolved with a few adjustments.
One thing to keep in mind is that Ragdolls are large cats, and they often need very spacious litter boxes to feel comfortable. Boxes that are too small can make them reluctant to use them consistently. I typically recommend a large, uncovered litter box so they have plenty of room to turn and dig.
Here are a few additional things that may help:
- Cleanliness: Ragdolls can be very particular about cleanliness. Make sure the box is scooped at least once daily and fully cleaned weekly.
- Litter box type: our cats are used to a large, open litter pan. If you want to try out a new type of litterbox, you should first ensure your kitten knows where to do their business in their new home with the type of box they’re used to. Once that is established, you can begin the transition. Keep in mind, the transition should be gradual and done with patience- you should not expect him or her to master it right away.
- Litter type: Some cats are sensitive to scented litters or dislike certain textures. A soft, unscented clumping litter usually works well.
- Location: Place the litter box in a quiet, low-traffic area — but not too hidden or hard to access.
- Number of boxes: A good rule of thumb is one box per cat, plus one extra. If you have multiple cats or a multi-level home, more boxes may be needed. Cats also don’t like to use boxes that have another cat’s scent on it, so you should buy a new box for a new kitten in a multi-cat home.
- Medical check: If this behavior started suddenly and nothing has changed in the environment, it’s worth ruling out a medical cause (like a urinary tract infection or constipation).
- Stress or change: Changes in household routine, new people or pets, or even furniture rearrangement can stress a cat out. A calming spray or pheromone diffuser (like Feliway) can help.