When you first bring your kitten you should be careful to remove any hazards in your home. Examine your home from a kitten's perspective. Getting down on your hands and knees will help you to realize what may present a hazard to your Ragdoll. Your kitten is full of curiousity and will leave nothing unexplored so it is your responsibility to assure that your home is safe.
Some hazards to be aware of are elecrical cords, open toilet seats'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">toilet seats, unattended stove burners or flames, candles, hot liquid in potpurri bowls, open refrigerator doors, open trash compactors, open dishwashers, clothes dryer'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">clothes dryer or washer, unattended dish water and bath water, all cleaning supplies, any tiny objects that could be swallowed, open fireplaces, windows or loose screens, balconies, electric paper shredder'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">paper shredder set on auto thread, string, rubber bands'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">rubber bands, ribbon, yarn and sharp objects such as broken glass, staples, needles, pins and small pieces that can come off of store bought kitten toys. If you have any doors on rollers be especially careful that your kitten is not in between them or has his paws in the track. Electrical cords should be covered with protective tubing to prevent accidental shocks from biting into the cords.
The most important purchases are the litter box and litter scoop. Start with a small, low-sided box that your kitten can climb into easily. Your choice of litter can be regular clay or clay clumping or anyone you personally prefer. Kittens generally prefer the finer sand type litter as opposed to chunky litter. You can ask your breeder what type your kitten has been using to make the transistion to your home easier. A small mat placed in front of the litter box can lessen tracking.
A scratching post will prevent your Ragdoll from grooming its claws on your sofa. Get a post that will allow a full grown cat to stretch out completely and pull vigorously without causing the post to tip over.
Your kitten should have its own food and water dishes'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">water dishes. Get three bowls: one for water, one for dry food and one for wet food. Bowls should be glass or ceramic. Plastic bowls'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">Plastic bowls retain food odors and many cats are not fond of metal. Be certain to clean your kitten's water bowl at least daily.
You will want to buy a flea comb, a metal slicker brush, a high quality nail clipper, cotton swabs, cotton balls or cotton squares for cleaning nose, ears and eyes, a toothbrush and toothpaste made expecially for cats and a gentle shampoo. Your Ragdoll will enjoy the personal interaction of being groomed by you. All cats have thin skin and fragile ribs and need to be fully supported when lifted up for grooming and loving. Due to the nature of the Ragdoll's coat, little grooming is required. However, your Ragdoll will enjoy the personal contact that brushing and combing affords. A weekly grooming session can be fun for both of you. Routing grooming includes trimming of nails, combing, cleaning eyes,ears and nose; and brushing the teeth. Your veterinarian can give you pointers on how to groom your kitten.
You
should
follows your breeders instructions as to what
type
of food to feed your kitten. You should try
and
maintain the same diet to avoid unnecessary
upset to
your kitten's system. If you want to change
the brand
of food that you feed your kitten, go to a
large pet
supply store and read the labels on lots of
different
brands. You should select a food with the
highest
protein that you can find. Protein should be
at least
30 percent, preferably higher. Since your
Ragdoll
must have lots of quality meat and fat to
reach its
characteristically large size, I would
recommend that
you feed mostly a high quality, palatable dry
food.
This type of food is more highly concentrated,
so
more nutrients are delivered per bite compared
to a
similar quantity of canned food.
