How to Buy a Ragdoll Kitten in the United States | PetzLover

Is a Ragdoll the right cat for you?

CFA describes Ragdolls as docile, placid and affectionate, loving without being demanding, and rarely aggressive, which makes them good pets for children and generally good with other animals. They are moderately active, can learn to fetch and adapt to most homes without needing much space. The name comes from Ann Baker's claim that her foundation cat, Josephine, went limp when held; CFA notes this is not typical of most of today's Ragdolls, so do not choose the breed expecting a floppy cat.

A Ragdoll suits families, first-time owners who want a calm indoor cat, and apartments with room to play.

Where can you find Ragdoll kittens for sale?

• Registered breeders. Many register litters with CFA or The International Cat Association (TICA). CFA suggests visiting a cat show to meet breeders, and warns that wanting a specific color or sex can mean a wait.
• Ragdoll rescues and shelters. Breed rescues such as Ragdoll Rescue USA place Ragdolls and Ragdoll mixes, and Petful puts rescue fees at about $75 to $600.
• Retired breeding cats. Petful notes that catteries also place retired adults, typically for $400 to $900.

You can browse Ragdoll kittens for sale on PetzLover, filter by location, save the search to get alerts for new litters and message the breeder before arranging a visit. If an adult would suit you, read how to adopt a Ragdoll or how to take in a rehomed Ragdoll.

Which health tests should a Ragdoll breeder show you?

Cornell's Feline Health Center calls hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) the most common heart disease of cats and names the Ragdoll among the breeds where it is more frequent. Many affected cats show no obvious illness. CFA says Ragdoll breeders now routinely test for it.

The Ragdoll HCM DNA test

The Ragdoll has its own HCM mutation, R820W in the MYBPC3 gene. Langford Vets, a UK veterinary laboratory, estimates that around 13% of Ragdolls carry it and reports that more than half of the Ragdolls with two copies did not survive to 5 years; cats with one copy are also at greater risk than clear cats. Ask for both parents' lab reports. If both are clear (N/N), the kitten cannot inherit the mutation; if one parent has a single copy, ask whether the kitten itself was tested.

Heart scans

A DNA test checks for one known mutation only. Langford warns that clear cats can still develop heart disease from other causes, and Cornell describes echocardiography, an ultrasound scan of the heart, as the gold standard for diagnosis. Ask when each parent last had one.

Kidneys and the kitten's own checks

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) appears uncommon in Ragdolls: two published screening studies found it in under 3% of 244 healthy Ragdolls and in none of 133. Some breeders still offer PKD1 DNA results or a kidney ultrasound. Ask too for the kitten's vet record, vaccines, deworming and, ideally, an FeLV/FIV test.

What should you ask a Ragdoll breeder before you buy?

1. Can I visit, or see the kitten and its mother on a live video call?
2. May I see both parents' MYBPC3 R820W results and their latest echocardiogram reports?
3. When will the kitten go home? International Cat Care notes pedigree kittens often leave at about 13 weeks, after their first vaccines, and Petful lists kittens offered as ready before 12 weeks as a red flag.
4. Which registry, CFA or TICA, and is the kitten sold as a pet or with breeding rights? CFA registers kittens as Not for Breeding unless the breeder supplies the litter's PIN, and it is common to hold papers until you prove the kitten is spayed or neutered.
5. What does the price include: vaccines, microchip, spay or neuter, and a health guarantee?
6. What are the kitten's pattern and color? CFA recognizes colorpoint, bicolor, mitted and van patterns in seal, blue, chocolate, lilac, red and cream, always with blue eyes, and says coat color takes two to three years to develop fully.
7. Will you take the cat back at any age if I can no longer keep it?

A good breeder will also ask about your home and other pets.

How much does a Ragdoll kitten cost in the US?

Prices depend on the cattery, region, pattern and whether the kitten is sold as a pet or with breeding rights. Petful notes that rarer colors such as chocolate, lilac and cream cost more, and that California, the Northeast and the Pacific Northwest run higher than the Midwest.

Budget too for a sturdy cat tree, a large litter box and measured meals: CFA notes the breed loves food and can become obese.

How do you spot a Ragdoll kitten scam?

The Federal Trade Commission warns that fake pet sellers advertise animals far below normal prices, rush you and ask for money up front. Consumer reports on the Better Business Bureau's Scam Tracker describe Ragdoll "catteries" and even fake "Ragdoll rescues" that took a deposit, then asked for more money for travel, insurance or a flight crate.

• The seller will not do a live video call or let you visit.
• Payment only by wire, gift card, cryptocurrency or a payment app; the FTC says only scammers insist on these.
• New fees appear after the deposit.
• A reverse image search finds the kitten photos on other sites.
• "Rare" mink, sepia or solid Ragdolls at premium prices. These cats are not pointed, so they do not fit the CFA description of the breed.

If a listing looks wrong, use the Report Scam button and report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Sales rules are mostly state and local: Massachusetts, for example, bars selling a cat under 8 weeks, and New York has a pet lemon law for purchases from commercial sellers. Breeders can read how to sell Ragdoll kittens for the other side of the deal.