Ragdolls are large, adorable, fluffy, cats that are easy to fall in love with. You may be about to buy one but before you do, we strongly advise you to read this article to see if there are any reasons why you should change your mind.
As you read, bear in mind that we adore Ragdoll cats. We think they are beautiful (as are all cats). We give one very important and compelling reason to perhaps not buy a Ragdoll along with several other things to consider carefully before you do.
Why You Should Not Buy a Ragdoll Cat
1. The biggest reason not to buy a Ragdoll is that you could adopt a cat instead
The most compelling reason not to buy a Ragdoll is that you could adopt a cat from a rescue center.
Here are a couple of facts:
- In the US, shelters receive over 3 million cats every year – some of these are Ragdolls looking for forever homes.
- Every year, shelters resort to euthanizing up to 40% of the cats they receive because of the lack of adoptions – that’s up to 1.3 million healthy cats tragically put to sleep.
- Could you help to alleviate this situation and rehome a needy cat?
2. Ragdolls are too beautiful as kittens
Surely you agree? One look at that little fluffy face with bright blue eyes and you will be totally smitten! Before you know it, you will be on your way home with a bundle of fluff to which you will become a slave.
Your life will never be the same again – not for the foreseeable future anyway. Are you ready for this?
3. They grow into even more beautiful adults
Their looks only improve with age and they grow more beautiful and fluffier with every passing day. If you’re wondering when a Ragdoll develops its full coat, you can read my article about when Ragdolls get fluffy by clicking here. You will constantly be distracted from what you are meant to be doing.
You will find yourself wasting hours staring at your cat and taking photographs to share with whoever will take notice.
4. They shed a lot of fur
If you are allergic to cat fur then you may suffer. Ragdolls have a lot of fur to shed. Be aware, they are not hypoallergenic – no cat is.
So unless you want to live with the symptoms of your allergy permanently, spend some time close to a Ragdoll first to see how you react.
There’s nothing more heartbreaking than finding you can’t keep a kitten or cat because it makes you feel ill every day.
Keep shedding under control with regular brushing. This slicker brush (on Amazon) works well on a Ragdoll’s coat – use it little and often to prevent your home from getting covered in hair.
To help prevent allergens from being recycled by your vacuum cleaner and for ease of use, a cordless vacuum with a HEPA filter such as this Dyson V10 Animal is exactly what you need.
5. They don’t all have blue eyes
If you believe your Ragdoll will definitely have blue eyes you could be disappointed. All kittens have blue eyes and most of the time a Ragdoll’s eyes remain blue as they mature. To find out all about Ragdolls and blue eyes, click here to read my article on the subject.
But their eyes can change to other colors such as blue-green or gold. Eye color is related to coat color.
So if for any reason you want a blue-eyed Ragdoll only, you should adopt an adult cat whose eyes are blue.
6. You’ll waste so much time cuddling one
They turn into big floppy, soppy cats whenever you pick them up. When you sit down you’ll invariably end up with a Ragdoll on your lap. They love to snuggle up to their owners.
What this means is that you’ll never be able to get on with anything as you won’t want to disturb your cat.
You will lose hours of your life in this way and never get anything done! Do you have time to spare like this?
7. They are large cats
If it’s a little lightweight kitty you’re looking for, a Ragdoll may not be the best cat for you. Females often weigh between 10 and 15 pounds and males between 15 and 20 pounds.
8. They can be quite quiet
A Ragdoll is often not as vocal as other breeds. So if you’re used to chatty cats you may be disappointed.
You will have to keep a closer eye on a Ragdoll as it may not inform you if it is in pain or hungry by meowing as other cats do.
9. They are not an ideal outdoor cat
If you like a cat that can go in and out whenever it pleases be aware that Ragdolls are not really suited to the outside world.
They are very trusting cats and their beautiful appearance makes them a target for thieves.
Ragdolls don’t seem to have much savvy when it comes to danger outside. They are not aggressive enough to defend themselves and are better suited to indoor life or to outside life in a very secure garden or catio.
Think about whether you can keep a Ragdoll safe in this way before you commit to becoming an owner.
Make indoor life more fun for a Ragdoll cat by investing in an Armakat Cat Tree. Here’s a link to see the current price on Amazon.
10. One might make your dog feel redundant
A Ragdoll sometimes behaves more like a dog than a cat. It can display a dog-like loyalty to its owner and may even play games of fetch.
It will possibly make a dog feel a little jealous and unwanted as it steals your attention away.
11. They steal the best seats
These laid-back cats love to relax, especially on your favorite chair. So if you are used to sitting wherever you choose, you may have to settle for second best when you own a Ragdoll.
And you will also find yourself covered in Ragdoll fur wherever you sit in your home as the cat is bound to have already slept and shed all over any seat you choose.
You could buy your Ragdoll a PetFusion Ultimate Cat Scratcher Lounge to lay on (and claw at) to save your seat for yourself! See more details on Amazon.
12. They need regular grooming
Though their fur is medium length and looks quite manageable you should really groom a Ragdoll twice a week at least.
This reduces the amount of fur shed around your house and prevents mats from building up.
You will have to pay particular attention to their bellies and areas where their legs join their undercarriage! This can be quite time-consuming.
Also, because of the length of the fur on their bottom area, they may get ‘cling-ons’ from time to time after using the litter box.
You will have to keep an eye on this and clean up as necessary – not very pleasant, but necessary for obvious reasons.
So, if you can’t see yourself caring for a cat’s fur and cleanliness in this way, perhaps you need to buy a sphynx – though these are rather expensive and you can see why here.
13. They don’t like to be on their own
A Ragdoll is a very sociable cat. This breed does not cope very well when left alone for long spells. If you have to go out all day every day it’s not fair to have a Ragdoll – you should get two instead!
They will be the perfect company for each other and will entertain each other too. If you can’t afford two cats and have to work, then a breed that doesn’t mind being home alone might be a better choice for you.
14. Their toys will clutter your home
As Ragdolls are usually indoor cats, they need lots of toys to keep them entertained. And these toys need to be readily available not tidied away out of reach.
So if you like a home that’s perfectly tidy all the time you probably shouldn’t own a Ragdoll cat.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many things to consider before committing to becoming a Ragdoll owner (or being owned by a Ragdoll).
As long as you are happy you can make allowances for all of the above you should be able to live in perfect harmony with one of these beautiful cats.
Here are some of my favorite products for cats
Thank you for taking the time to read this article. I hope you found it helpful whether you own a cat or are considering it. I thought I’d share a few of the cat products I love which you might find really useful too.
The following are Amazon affiliate links, and if you decide to use them, I’ll earn a small commission from Amazon at no cost at all to you.
An indoor cat tree: This is an excellent item to satisfy a cat’s urge to climb and scratch. There are several sizes to choose from so you can pick the right height for your home. Our cats love this Amazon Basics tree with multi-levels, scratching posts, and a little hideaway.
Drinking fountain: Cats love to drink from flowing water. Many don’t seem to drink enough so a fountain is a good way to get them interested. This Orsda Fountain is quiet, has a large capacity, and looks stylish too.
Scratcher Lounger: The more cat-scratching posts you have the better. Many cats like to claw horizontally which is why we chose the PetFusion Ultimate cat scratcher. It has seen quite a bit of action from 4 Maine Coons but still looks great.