How to Post a Ragdoll Wanted Ad and Get Replies in the United States
To post a Ragdoll wanted ad that gets replies in the United States, describe the cat you want (kitten or adult, sex, pattern), your household, your city and how far you will travel, a realistic budget and your timeline, and say that you will meet the cat and see its health records before paying. Specific, friendly ads draw genuine owners and breeders, while that last line quietly turns away many scammers.
Fake sellers advertise Ragdoll kittens too, so this guide also covers which health questions to ask and how to check replies safely.
Key points
- Be specific about age, sex and pattern, but stay open enough to get replies; colorpoint, bicolor, mitted and van are all Ragdoll patterns.
- Set a realistic budget: Petful puts pet kittens typically at $1,000 to $2,800 and rescue fees at $75 to $600.
- Ask for heart records: the MYBPC3 R820W DNA result for the cat or its parents, and echocardiograms.
- State your city and how far you will travel; local pickup is safer than shipping.
- Never pay a deposit, shipping, crate or insurance fee to someone you have not met or video-called.
What kind of Ragdoll should you ask for?
Decide what matters most before you write. The Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) describes Ragdolls as docile, affectionate and good with children, and as one of the larger breeds, reaching full size at about four years.
| Option | Good to know |
|---|---|
| Kitten | Final size and coat color still developing; pedigree kittens often go home at about 13 weeks |
| Adult | Size and personality known; often rehomed because of a move or allergies |
| Retired breeding cat | An adult that has finished breeding; Petful lists $400 to $900 |
| Ragdoll mix | May have the pointed look at a lower price; no pedigree papers |
Pattern matters less than health and temperament. CFA recognizes four patterns (colorpoint, bicolor, mitted and van) in six point colors, all with blue eyes, so naming two or three you would accept widens your replies.
What should you put in a Ragdoll wanted ad?
- Age range, sex and the patterns or colors you would accept.
- Your household: adults, children, other pets, and whether you rent.
- That the cat will live indoors, as PetMD advises for the breed.
- Your city and how many miles you can travel.
- Your budget and timeline.
- What you need to see: vet records, FeLV/FIV status and heart test results for the cat or its parents.
- That you will meet the cat, or see it on a live video call, before paying.
Keep your phone number out of the ad text and ask people to message you. When it is ready, post your Ragdoll wanted ad on PetzLover; you can also browse current Ragdoll listings and save a search to get alerts for new kittens and adults.
How much should you budget for a Ragdoll in the US?
| Source of the cat | Typical cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Pet-quality kitten from a breeder | $1,000 to $2,800 | Petful, 2026 |
| Kitten from a reputable breeder | $1,800 to $2,500 | TICA Ragdoll Breed Committee chair, quoted by PetMD (2023) |
| Retired breeding adult | $400 to $900 | Petful, 2026 |
| Rescue adoption fee | $75 to $600 | Petful, 2026 |
| First year of care for any cat | About $1,904 | ASPCA (2021 figures) |
Put a range, not a single figure, in the ad. A budget far below these figures will draw few genuine replies and invite scam offers; Petful calls a registered, tested kitten for well under $1,000 a major red flag.
Which health questions should you ask sellers who reply?
- Heart: Cornell's Feline Health Center lists the Ragdoll among breeds prone to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Ask for the MYBPC3 R820W DNA result for the cat or both parents, and the date of the last echocardiogram.
- Age at handover: International Cat Care notes pedigree kittens often leave at about 13 weeks, and Petful flags kittens offered as ready before 12 weeks.
- Vaccines and tests: the vaccine record, deworming and FeLV/FIV status.
- Weight and bladder: for adults, ask about diet and any urinary problems; PetMD lists bladder stones and obesity in the breed.
- Papers: the registry (CFA or TICA) and whether the cat is sold as a pet.
How do you avoid scams after posting a Ragdoll wanted ad?
Consumer reports on the Better Business Bureau's Scam Tracker describe Ragdoll sellers and fake "Ragdoll rescues" who replied to buyers quickly, took a deposit, then asked for more money for travel, insurance or a flight crate. The FTC warns that fake pet sellers advertise low prices, rush you and ask for money up front.
- Never pay a deposit, shipping, crate or insurance fee before you have met the seller or seen the kitten live on video with its mother.
- Reverse-search the photos you are sent.
- Pay only in traceable ways; the FTC says only scammers insist on wire transfers, gift cards, cryptocurrency or payment apps.
- Never share a verification code sent to your phone, whatever reason you are given.
- Be wary of mink, sepia or solid kittens sold as rare Ragdolls; CFA describes every Ragdoll as pointed with blue eyes.
Report any suspect reply with the Report Scam button and at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
How do you check replies to your Ragdoll wanted ad?
- Ask for the cat's age, sex, pattern, photos and why it is being placed.
- Ask for vet records and heart test results before you travel.
- Arrange a live video call, then a visit to see the cat where it lives.
- Sign a written agreement and transfer the microchip at handover.
To compare routes, how to buy a Ragdoll kitten covers breeders and contracts, and how to adopt a Ragdoll covers rescues. Owners who reply may follow how to respond to a Ragdoll wanted ad.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I write in a Ragdoll wanted ad?
The age, sex and patterns you want, your household, city and travel distance, your budget and timeline, and that you will meet the cat before paying. A short, specific ad gets better replies than a vague one.
How much does a Ragdoll kitten cost?
Petful's 2026 guide puts pet-quality kittens from breeders typically at $1,000 to $2,800, and PetMD quotes the chair of TICA's Ragdoll Breed Committee advising $1,800 to $2,500 from a reputable breeder. Rescue fees are usually far lower.
Which Ragdoll pattern should I ask for?
Any you like: CFA recognizes colorpoint, bicolor, mitted and van, in seal, blue, chocolate, lilac, red and cream. Being flexible about pattern and color gets more replies, so focus on health and temperament.
Is it safe to pay a deposit to someone who answers my wanted ad?
Only after you have seen the kitten live with its mother and checked the seller. BBB Scam Tracker reports describe Ragdoll deposits followed by fake fees for travel or insurance. Never pay by gift card, wire transfer or cryptocurrency.
Should I ask for an adult Ragdoll instead of a kitten?
It is worth considering. Ragdolls take about four years to reach full size, so an adult's size and personality are already known, and rescue or rehoming fees are usually lower than breeder prices.
How far should I travel for a Ragdoll?
Say how many miles you can travel in the ad. Local pickup lets you meet the cat and the seller in person, which is safer than shipping.
Helpful guides
Pet WantedHow to Respond to a "Ragdoll Wanted" Ad in the United StatesAnswer a Ragdoll wanted ad by describing your cat honestly, checking who the requester is, meeting in person, refusing overpayments and shipping, and handing over with a signed agreement.
Pet for SaleHow to Buy a Ragdoll Kitten in the United StatesBuy a Ragdoll kitten in the US from a breeder you can visit who shows both parents' HCM DNA results and heart scans; pet-quality kittens typically cost $1,000 to $2,800 (Petful, 2026).
Pet for SaleHow to Sell Ragdoll Kittens in the United StatesSell Ragdoll kittens in the US by screening the parents for the R820W HCM mutation and by heart scan, keeping kittens until vaccinated, pricing against local listings and handing over in person with a contract.
Pet for AdoptionHow to Adopt a Ragdoll in the United StatesAdopt a Ragdoll in the US through a breed rescue, a shelter or an owner's listing; expect an application, references and a home check, and fees that Petful puts at about $75 to $600.
Pet for AdoptionHow to List a Ragdoll for Adoption in the United StatesList a Ragdoll for adoption in the US with full health records, honest notes and a fair fee, then screen adopters, sign a contract with a return clause and transfer the microchip.
Pet for RehomingHow to Take In a Rehomed Ragdoll in the United StatesBefore taking in a rehomed Ragdoll in the US, ask why it needs a new home, check its vet and heart records, meet it where it lives and agree the fee and handover in writing.
Pet for RehomingHow to Rehome Your Ragdoll Responsibly in the United StatesRehome your Ragdoll in the US by checking your breeder contract first, preparing vet and heart records, writing an honest ad, screening homes in person and handing over with a signed agreement.
Pet for MatingHow to Find a Mate or Stud for Your Ragdoll in the United StatesBreed only healthy, tested Ragdolls: check both cats' R820W DNA results, heart scans, blood types and FeLV/FIV tests, confirm breeding rights and sign a written stud agreement first.
Pet for MatingHow to Advertise Your Ragdoll for Mating in the United StatesBefore you advertise a Ragdoll for mating in the US, finish the R820W DNA test, heart scan, blood type and FeLV/FIV tests, confirm breeding rights, then list the results and clear terms.