How to Breed Ragdoll Cats

Ragdolls are a large-boned cat with a laid-back personality. Ragdolls are prized for their long non-matting coat. Referred to as "gentle giants," Ragdolls make excellent family pets because of their relaxed nature.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Prepare for Kittens

1. Obtain good breeding stock. Locate a reputable breeder through breed fancier clubs or national websites such as the Ragdoll Breed Club. Look for breeding stock that is of a champion bloodline, solid temperament and is free of infection, illness and hereditary diseases.
2. Register your cattery with the CFA. A registered cattery is important to promote your work with the breed and to make champion bloodlines easier to trace.
3. Establish connections with other breeders in your area. Fellow cat fanicers can be an invaluable source of information, tips and tricks.
4. Select a local veterinarian. Take time to get to know your vet's treatment style. A good relationship with your vet could save lives in a crisis.
5. Decide on a mating pair. Select a tom and queen that are likely to produce the color, markings and traits that you desire.
6. Breed the cats when the queen is in estrus, which typically occurs between December and August. Though she may appear a bit hositle when introduced to the tom, this is normal feline behavior. Your queen will indicate she is ready to breed by standing in front of the tom, with her hindquarters raised, tail swept to one side.
7. Prepare for the birth. Your vet will be able to tell you how many kittens to expect, either through abdonimal palpation or x-rays. A typical Ragdoll litter is six to eight kittens. Prepare a a warm, quiet area for the birth by furnishing it with a "nesting box" lined with towels, newspaper or straw.
8. Monitor your queen closely. Feline gestation typically lasts 60 to 67 days after conception. As she nears the end of her pregnancy, prevent your queen from giving birth in a closet or under your sofa by confining her to your pre-prepared nesting box. Once active labor begins, alert your vet that labor has begun. This will help your vet be prepared in the event of an emergency.
9. Assist with the birth. Though rare, if the queen in unable to expel a kitten with your assistance, shows signs of severe distress, or if labor stops completely before all the kittens are born, consult your vet immediately.

Bringing up Kittens

10. Wean the kittens beginning at four weeks of age. Supplement their diet with soft kitten food or simple proteins such as de-boned chicken or tuna, increasing the amount of kibble or meat until the kittens are no longer nursing by eight weeks of age.
11. Socialize the kittens. Kittens require frequent handling and interaction to bond with humans. Help them understand what is expected of them by integrating the kittens as members of your family, exposing them to all the sounds and sights of a busy household.
12. Vet your kittens. You and your vet will determine the best time to begin administering shots. It is widely accepted that purebred kitten will have had at least some, if not all of their shots before being placed with a new owner.
13. Find homes for your kittens. Use word-of-mouth, the internet and print ads to advertise your kittens. As the breeder, you have the obligation to safeguard your cats and ensure their future happiness by selecting responsible, stable homes for them.

Tips & Warnings

• If you choose to mate your tom or queen with a Ragdoll in another cattery, be prepared to share your Ragdoll's medical records with the partnering cattery owner. This is done to safeguard against spreading disease.
• To protect the health of your Ragdolls, you should wait until the tom and queen have reached full maturity before mating them.
• Some queens may show a drop in body temperature just prior to nesting. However, it is a myth that all queens will experience this. This phenomena is more commonly exhibited in dogs.
• Estrus cycles in queens can vary from cat to cat, as well as by geographical region.
• Cats sold to you for the purposes of breeding will cost more than cats sold to be family pets. To protect their cat's bloodlines, reputable breeders will require you to sign a spay/neuter agreement and provide proof of the surgery before they will give you the documents necessary to register your cats(s) with the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA.)
• Never purchase your breeding stock from a pet store or "kitten mill" as their cats are often inferior due to the poor conditions the cats are kept in.