Checklist For Bringing Home Your Ragdoll Kitten
Whether you are going to the next town to get your new Ragdoll kitten or if you are having your kitten flown to you, here are some items you might want to make sure you have before you bring home your Ragdoll kitten.
o Pet Carrier – If your kitty is being shipped, then your kitten will come with one. If not, then you will want to get one to bring your kitten home in as well as use when going to the vet. Be sure carriers are large enough for when kittens get older- Medium size should be fine. If you are looking at carriers for their size, then you want to get one that is for about 20 lbs. And this is something you will have the entire life of your pet, so don’t worry too much about spending a lot because you’ll have it for a long time!
o Towel – Have a towel absorbent cloth for your kitty to rest on, and in case of a potty accident, if he is in the carrier for a long time.
o Food – Get whatever your breeder recommends or is feeding them now. If you do not like their choice in food, you will still need to have the food s/he is used to and then you can switch to what you want later. There are guidelines on how to transition cats to different foods and it’s very important to follow them.
o Water and Food Bowls – I recommend stainless steel or ceramic ones for easy cleaning. Plastic ones have been known to cause acne in cats, so best to avoid them altogether.
o Litter Box – Might as well get a big one since your kitty will need it when s/he grows up.
o Litter – You will want to have the litter that your breeder has been using, so that your kitten recognizes it immediately and wants to use the litter box. Of course, you can also transition to another litter later on – but starting out, you want the same kind your breeder is using.
o Cat Toys – Think about getting cat wand toys, catnip cat toys and even interactive cat toys – here are some to consider:
– Neko Flies
– Yeowww! Catnip Banana
– Bergan Turbo Scratcher
o Scratching Post – Again, see what the breeder has in their home and then see if you can find something similar. This allows your kitty to scratch vertically.
o Scratcher – A horizontal scratcher, like a cardboard one, allows your kitty to also scratch down, rather than up (vertically) – there are many toys out there that are multi-purpose in that they are a scratcher as well as a toy like the Bergan Turbo Scratcher
o Brush and Comb – Many Ragdoll cats don’t require a considerable amount of grooming, but it is important from a young age to get your kitty used to being brushed so that when they are 19 years old, then don’t hate the feel of it. Brushing your cat creates an excellent opportunity for pet owner and cat bonding time as well.
o Nail Clippers – Your breeder might have a recommendation as far as which kind of nail clippers to get. It is important to get them used to nail clippers and the feel of having their nails cut from a young age.