IIPTF PET FESTIVAL PUNE Vol 12 Issue No 10 October 2019 | Page 19

a moderate energy level and are
usually quite laidback and chill. They
love to play but are not aggressive.
Shedding Level:
Ragdolls are
known for their silky, rabbit-like
fur made of long guard hairs. They
have surprisingly low shedding
and matting levels, which is mainly
attributed to the absence of a dense
undercoat.
Affection Level: Ragdoll cats are
known to be gentle, docile, calm
and sociable. Affectionate without
being demanding, Ragdolls have an
almost dog-like devotion to their
owners. Some people also say they
are more attuned to emotional needs,
a characteristic which makes them a
purrfect companion animal.
Social Needs: Ragdolls are among
the most social cats you may fi nd.
They are demonstrably affectionate
like meeting you at the door when
you come home, fi nding a favorite
spot where they can rest next to you
or on your lap.
Child Friendly:  Ragdolls are so easy
going and affectionate that they’ll
let a child carry them around the
house like, well, a rag doll. Ragdolls’
docile personalities make them a
purrfect choice for families with
little children. Ragdolls are even
sometimes called “puppy cats”
because they like to follow people
around and even play fetch.
Stranger Friendly:  Ragdolls welcome
all in their human homes, unless a
brat doesn’t trouble them.
Pet friendly:  Ragdolls are known as
a breed that is great with cat-friendly
dogs. They also get along well with
other cats. However, you will need
to make sure that you spend time
with the pets monitoring them at the
beginning, but usually, they settle in
relatively quickly.
Intelligence: Just because the ragdoll
does not chase mice and hunt other
little prey but prefers to spend time
with their owner doesn’t mean they
have less intelligence than other
breeds.  Ragdolls are quick learners,
who are relatively easy to train. A
domesticated Ragdoll will pick up
many tricks and good behaviours
when provided with positive
reinforcement in the form of praise
and food rewards. They also learn
to recognise their names over time
and respond appropriately whenever
called.
Potential for Playfulness: Ragdolls
like doing anything that involves
being with their humans, including
playing fetch, coming at a run when
called and exploring the outdoors on
a leash. They also love to play with
stuffed animals and little toys which
they can carry around the house.
Ragdolls who have access to an
outdoor play area have been known
to chase squirrels and hunt bugs.
Tendency to Vocalize: Ragdolls are
not excessively vocal creatures and
this makes them the purrfect pets for
apartment living. Ragdolls need extra
care and monitoring as these quiet
kitties may not vocalize themselves
when in pain or distressed.
TEMPERAMENT AND
PERSONALITY
Ragdolls are one of the most
affectionate cat breeds. They love to
be cradled in arms like a baby and
cuddled. They lose no chance to leap
into a waiting lap or snuggle up to
you in bed.
GENERAL HEALTH
Ragdoll Cats are generally very
healthy with a life span of 15-plus
years. Bladder stones and a heart
condition known as Hypertrophic
Cardiomyopathy (HCM) are among
the conditions that have been
reported in the breed.
CARE
Ragdolls should mostly be kept as
indoor animals to avoid attacks
from dogs and aggressive cat breeds.
They are also more predisposed to
being stolen due to their docile and
friendly nature. They crave constant
love and affection and should not be
left alone for long periods of time.
Ragdolls need big litter boxes due to
their larger frames. Make sure you
have plently of food available to fuel
their several growth spurts till they
achieve full maturity.
GROOMING REQUIREMENTS
Ragdoll cats have a lot of hair. It
is important that you brush them
regularly and watch for mats.
Bathing once a month is highly
recommended.  Daily dental hygiene
is a must to prevent periodontal
disease.
* Dr. Irfan Ahmed is a professor by
profession. He is a self-confessed cat
slave who has loved cats all his life.
He is a pet parent to 3 ragdoll cats. He
runs Mallika’s Cattery – a cat boarding
service in Bangalore.
October 2019 • Vol. XII • Issue 10 • Noida
19
| Creature Companion