Sadly the pandemic has caused an increased demand for kittens, which in turn has resulted in some breeders raising their prices significantly or selling unregistered kittens, and scammers have also taken advantage of the situation.

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Please be very careful when looking for a kitten and do not pay a deposit unless you have seen the kitten via video call (please do not just accept photos and videos, as unfortunately some breeders have found their photos have been stolen by scammers and used to advertise kittens which do not exist - this is why I watermark all my kitten pictures). Deposits should also not be put down on as yet unborn or very young kittens as new life is very delicate and anything could happen. The majority of breeders will wait until the kittens are at least nine weeks old (after the first vaccinations and vet check) before taking deposits. Deposits should also be of a reasonable level (usually up to approximately £150), and not £500 plus as we are seeing being charged in some cases. 

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There has also been a big increase in "backyard breeding", where people are breeding from either unregistered cats, or Ragdolls which are registered non-active (not for breeding). For a Ragdoll to be registered active with the GCCF they must test negative for the known Ragdoll HCM gene which can cause serious heart conditions, but a non-active cat will not normally have undergone the same tests, and with an unregistered Ragdoll you have no idea whether the cat is actually a Ragdoll or a combination of many breeds, which each have their own related health conditions which would be tested for in a proper breeding programme. In order to prevent backyard breeding many registered breeders now early spay and neuter their kittens before they leave for their new homes, but not all do. Please be very wary of adverts on selling sites as many of these will advertise "pedigree Ragdoll kittens" but when you look closely they say the kittens will not be registered. If the kitten is not registered you have no way of knowing if it is a pedigree or not. If a breeder is doing things properly and breeding from two active registered cats then there is no reason why all of their kittens should not be registered. 

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Ensuring you have found a breeder who has a prefix registered with the GCCF is a great start (although some newer breeders may not have yet been able to obtain their prefix, particularly since the pandemic has halted shows and seminars, etc.) and ideally a Ragdoll breeder should be a member of one of the Ragdoll clubs to show their commitment to the breed. They will also ideally take their cats out to shows so that they have a full understanding of the Ragdoll type and characteristics. There are also other cat registries such as The International Cat Association (TICA) and Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFe), so it may be that a breeder is a member of one of these organisations and therefore their kittens are TICA or FIFe registered instead of GCCF registered. Please ensure you double check the suspension lists for each organisation, as it has been known for a breeder to be banned for life from one registry and to then set up as a breeder again with a different registry. I have included below a useful checklist for those looking to purchase a new kitten: 

 

• Does the breeder hold a registered prefix with the GCCF?

• Is the breeder a member of one of the Ragdoll breed clubs? 

• Are both parents registered active and tested negative for the known Ragdoll HCM gene?

• The kittens should receive their full course of vaccinations at 9 and 12 weeks (occasionally they will be vaccinated at 8 and 11 weeks, depending on the brand of vaccine used). 

• The kittens must then remain with the breeder for a minimum of 7 days following the second vaccination (a GCCF rule) meaning they will normally be at least 13 weeks of age before they can leave for their new homes. 

• Kittens should be wormed before leaving, and many breeders will also have given a flea treatment. 

• Many breeders also early spay or neuter (ESN) their kittens to ensure that their babies will not be used for backyard breeding in the future, and this also means less worry for the new owners as this operation has already been taken care of before their new kitten comes home. Some vets like the kittens to be a certain age or weight before neutering, meaning sometimes kittens will be older, perhaps 16-18 weeks before they are ready to leave for their new homes.

• Many breeders will also microchip their kittens before they leave. This is often done at the same time as the neutering operation as it’s quite a big needle so it is more comfortable for the kitten to be done whilst under general anaesthetic. The new owner must remember to change the details on the microchip into their name (if the breeder hasn’t already done this). 

• The kitten must come with their GCCF registration card which enables the new owner to transfer ownership of the kitten into their name. Previously some breeders would withhold the registration card pending receipt of proof of neutering from the new owners, but a GCCF rule change means this is no longer permitted and this must be provided at the point of sale along with the kitten’s pedigree showing a minimum of three generations. 

 

Of course it goes without saying that all kittens should be healthy and free from visible parasites (fleas, mites, etc.), with bright clear eyes, and there should be no discharge from the eyes, ears or nose. Sadly the perpetual cycle continues because potential pet owners feel sorry for a poorly kitten and want to “rescue” it from its terrible circumstances, but this only serves to fuel these people who continue to breed for financial gain without regard for the cats’ health and wellbeing.

 

I hope that the above helps you in your search for your new Ragdoll kitten but please feel free to contact me if you need any further guidance. 

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