Ragdolls Totally Terrific – In 2012 RTT started a very small cage-less ragdoll cattery (meaning no cats enclosed in cages as a lifestyle) … I do contain kittens in play pens or their own room when unsupervised. When I am supervising, they are allowed to roam freely at our home. In 2019, I expanded. Now just Superman, Violet and the expected moms and kittens are housed as pictured below.
(Click any photo to enlarge!)
The kittens have three nurseries. One in the room that was my dining room, one in the guest bathroom and the birthing suite in my closet. Pasted below are a few pictures with descriptions.
Here is the dinning-room nursery when the kittens are still quite young. As the kittens get larger the play pen expands and the desk has to go away and the 45 degree angle cardboard sides get attached. Pictures are worth 1000 words.
It is always a good idea to visit the cattery from which you buy your kitten or cat and Look For:
the number of cat boxes per cat. Jackson Galaxy, cat behaviorist suggests 1 cat box per cat + one. So for four adult cats there should be at least five cat boxes and if there are 30 cats in a cattery there should be at least 31.
cat furniture that will give cats the ability to exercise and feel at home
a cattery that does not have a smell of urine or feces
cat and kittens eyes that are bright and discharge free. Any watery or pus discharge could mean medical problems.
look at the cat and kittens ears. Hair missing could also mean medical problems.
look closely at the adult cats. Stroke their fur are they balding? This could mean medical problems.
look at the kittens rectum. Hair missing around the anus could mean a kitten that has been suffering with chronic diarrhea. A kitten whose rectum protrudes could mean the kitten is suffering from constipation. Look at the kittens litter box. Look at the poop. Correctly formed poop looks like a tootsi role. Too much fiber or bone looks like sausages tied together, too loose a stool looks like a pile of pudding. Well formed stool is an indicator of good health.
When you pay for your kitten you should receive a breeder slip that can be sent to The International Cat Association (TICA) or The Cat Fancier’s Association (CFA) to receive the cats Certificate of Registration
Plan on taking your kitten to the vet within 24 hours. The only exception I would make to this is if the breeder will provide a receipt from the veterinarian showing that the kitten has been seen by a veterinarian within the last month.
Make sure to receive a written contract as well as health records.