A Ragdoll Cat looking up

Ragdoll Cat Insurance, Care and Health Advice

With those big blue eyes and all that bunny fur, the Ragdoll is the ultimate spooning partner. They’re known for being super affectionate, and their obsession with following you around and willingness to learn new tricks has earned them the name “puppy cats”. But this soppy nature can make them a little needy - and they don’t like being left to their own devices for too long.

Ready to welcome a Ragdoll into your home? Well before you do, it could be worth a minute or two of your time to continue reading. Here's what you need to know looking after a Ragdoll Cat.

Ragdoll Cat Facts

Cat breed type icon
Type
Domestic
Cat breed lifespan icon
Lifespan
12 - 15 years
Cat breed size icon
Size
Medium
Cat breed weight icon
Weight
4 - 6 kg
Cat breed height icon
Height icon
22 - 28 cm
Cat breed temperament icon
Temperament
Affectionate, gentle, playful
Cat breed exercise icon
Exercise
15 mins 2x per day
Cat breed grooming icon
Grooming
High maintenance

Is a Ragdoll Cat Right for Me?

Whether it’s a busy family home or just you and your buddy, a Ragdoll will soon settle right in. They love being picked up and cuddled - and this easy-going nature makes them a natural playmate for the kids. Just make sure children know the difference between playtime and teasing! Even the most laid-back Ragdoll could lash out if their nap is rudely interrupted or if someone bothers them while they’re eating!

These guys love to socialise so they get on well with other pets - especially if they’ve grown up in the same house. In fact, having a playmate around can reduce the likelihood of pining if you’re at work all day. Always take the time to introduce your buddies properly and make sure they get along well before leaving them alone together, and everything should be fine.

A Ragdoll Cat ready to pounce

What Are Ragdoll Cat Kittens Like?

Ragdoll kittens are giant balls of furry energy. They are really lively and playful and love to have fun. These traits often follow this breed through to adulthood. They might be crazy at times, but they are gentle and loving and enjoy nothing more than cuddling up on the sofa for quiet time too.

This breed matures very slowly compared to other breeds. Your Ragdoll probably won’t be fully grown until they’re about 4 years old. Most other breeds mature at a year old or even younger.

A blue-eyed Ragdoll Cat lying down

Life with a Ragdoll Cat

Low aggression levels and a low prey drive might be good news for your local bird population, but it also means that a Ragdoll doesn’t make a very good outdoors cat. Apart from the traffic risk, bear in mind that these guys can sometimes be too ‘nice’ for their own good - making them targets for more aggressive local moggies.

While they generally cope well with the hustle and bustle of a busy home, these guys also like an element of routine. So feeding should ideally be at the same times each day, and you should also make sure there’s a special quiet place for your buddy to slip away to, come nap time. Regular playtime and interaction helps to keep your Ragdoll stimulated. It also reduces the likelihood of furniture scratching and other types of destructive behaviour.

Caring for Your Ragdoll

When you pick your new kitten up, make sure you make a note of how much food, what food, and how often your kitten is being fed, from the breeder. Ragdolls love a routine, so feeding times should be around the same time each day. This will hopefully avoid tummy upsets. As you increase their portion size, and when they move over to ‘adult’ food, do it slowly to avoid any tummy problems.

If you need help and advice on how to feed your Ragdoll, your vet will be happy to help. Remember to keep an eye on their waistline, it’s one of the best things you can do to ensure your cat stays happy and healthy.

A Ragdoll’s long, dense, silky coat is something to be proud of - and keeping it looking fresh needs a lot of attention. A twice weekly comb and brush helps keep tangles and knots at bay. Ramp it up to once a day in Autumn and Spring when shedding is at its heaviest. As well as helping you to keep hoovering to a minimum, brushing also helps stop fur balls. Unlike some other breeds, Ragdolls are happy to sit on your lap for their daily grooming sesh.

If the coat feels greasy or stringy to the touch, it’s time to give your buddy a bath. For a typical indoors cat, this could be once every two to three months. If the coat turns greasy quickly after bathing and there’s no obvious reason why, it could be a sign of an underlying health condition, so it’s worth having a word with your vet.

Once a week, wipe around the corners of the eyes with a soft damp cloth - and do the same for the ears. This is to clear out any debris and to reduce the chances of infection. Redness and discharge are signs that infection has set in, so report this to the vet if detected. A Ragdoll’s nails generally need trimming back every couple of weeks.

Ragdolls love to play, especially when they’re kittens so it’s not difficult to get them to do some exercise. Playing with your cat for 15 minutes a couple of times a day is all they need to keep them fit and happy.

You could even train your cat to play ‘fetch’. Keeping your Ragdoll entertained won’t be difficult, especially if you give them lots of toys to play with and a scratching post or cat tree to jump around on. Using positive reinforcement will make toilet training easy too.

Ragdoll Cat Insurance

Everypaw's Cat Insurance is all about covering those claws. That's why when it comes to looking after your Ragdoll, we're in it for the long haul with Lifetime Cat Insurance. For any new illness or injury, you can be comforted that Everypaw will be there to look after your Ragdoll.

We have a variety of Lifetime cover levels to choose from, and there's all the additional benefits every policy comes with, including help finding your cat if they're stolen or stray. That's not all, the Everypaw Pet Portal is there to help you manage your policy. Petcall is there whenever you need to reach out and speak to a vet nurse or vet about your pet's health or well-being.

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Common Ragdoll Cat Health Problems by Vetstream

There are several common health problems that Ragdoll owners should be aware of. Everypaw has got together with vet experts Vetstream to explain some of them and what you need to look out for.

Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) is an inherited condition in Ragdolls. Cysts form in the kidneys, growing bigger as the cat gets older, ultimately leading to kidney failure. Many cats won’t show any obvious signs if they this condition, but they might be more thirsty than normal, be off their food, get constipated or lose weight. Cats tend to start show signs of disease when they’re around 7 years old.

It’s possible to identify PKD using ultrasound scanning and genetic testing. As the gene (known as PKD1) causing this disease is dominant, affected cats only need to inherit one copy of the gene to be affected. The International Cat Care runs an AD-PKD Negative Register that lists cats that have tested negative for the condition.

Bladder Stones, also known as Urolithiasis, are mineral deposits that can form anywhere in the urinary tract. Factors that influence the formation of stones include the type of food the cat is eating, urine infections, metabolic disease, or just the breed of the cat. The mineral deposits irritate the bladder and cause blockages. If your cat is straining to wee, has blood in their wee or can’t go for a wee at all, they may well have stones. 

A change in your cat’s diet and making sure your cat drinks enough might help to resolve the problem. If the stones are already causing a blockage, emergency surgery may be needed to remove them. When they’ve been removed, they can be analysed in a lab. This will help your vet decide if your cat needs to be fed a special diet and/or given drugs for the rest of their lives to help prevent the stones from developing again.

Problems with teeth and gums are common in Ragdolls. Over 75% of cats over the age of 4 have periodontal disease. This is disease of the areas surrounding and supporting the teeth. You might notice your cat has, red, swollen or bleeding of the gums. This can progress to receding gums and tooth loss. Check your cat’s teeth regularly and keep an eye out for any of these signs. If notice bad breath or your cat has trouble eating, these can be signs of a problem.

If you can get your cat used to having their brushed from an early age this can reduce the risk of them getting problems with their teeth and gums as they get older. Dental disease can be treated, but prevention is best!

Unfortunately, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a relatively common heart condition in Ragdolls. It’s a serious, life-threatening condition that affects the heart muscle. The heart muscle becomes thickened and doesn’t work properly. HCM can lead to blood clots and heart failure.

Your vet can test to see if your cat has HCM using ultrasound to measure the heart muscle. If HCM is recognised early, long-term medication and other measures can help to slow the disease down. There isn’t a cure, but with ongoing treatment your cat can live a happy life.

Quick Ragdoll Cat Q&A

Ragdolls have a pretty average lifespan for a cat living around 12-15 years old. If your cat has come from healthy parents with no health issues, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t live a long and happy life well into their teens.

Unfortunately not! All cats shed, some more than others, which means no breed is 100% hypoallergenic.

Ragdolls are average shedders and because they have quite long hair, you’ll soon see balls of fluff floating around the floor. As with most breeds they tend to shed more when they change their coat in the Spring and Autumn. If you’re allergic to cat hair, this might not be the best breed for you.

The Ragdoll is a colour point breed. This means their main body colour is pale with a darker colour on the points of their ears, end of their tail and around their face and eyes. They also have beautiful bright blue eyes. They’re a very pretty looking breed known for their calm temperament and loving nature.

Originally from America, the Ragdoll appeared in the 1960s and was brought to the UK in the 1980s, so it’s a relatively new breed. And their name comes from their tendency to go all floppy when they’re picked up for a cuddle!

As with any cat, Ragdolls can be let outside, but the majority of owners tend to keep them indoors. This is mainly because the breed is so laid back and chilled out, they don’t always recognise danger.

But there’s no reason why you can’t take your Ragdoll out into the garden when you’re there to keep an eye on them. Using a harness and teaching your cat to walk on a leash can allow even more freedom for them to go out and about safely.

Yes, Ragdoll cats shed moderately, with increased shedding during seasonal changes. Regular grooming helps manage their soft, plush coats.

Ragdoll cats are large, typically weighing between 10 to 20 pounds, with males often being larger than females.

That’s All You Need to Know About Ragdolls

Ragdolls are large, beautiful cats with docile, friendly and undemanding natures. They’ll get on with everyone and make great family pets. They’re easy to care for but will need regular grooming to prevent their semi-long, silky coats becoming tangled. Sociable and laid-back, they love cuddles - if you’re looking for a feline companion, the Ragdoll is purrrfect.

Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Felis.

Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.

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