[ilovekittens]

I was thinking of a getting a Ragdoll kitten, not had cats before and from researching some breeds, think that the Ragdoll would be nice.

They do seem cost a bit of money, with common reputable breeder prices at around £400. I also saw a kitten being offered at 11 weeks for around half that from what I presume is a backyard operation as no papers/registration given. There is also a 3/4 cross moggie from a reputable breeder that I had contacted at a price a bit lower than the backyarder.

The two are near each other relatively speaking, I can make a trip to see both of them in one day next week. Pros and cons of either option? What should I look for to make sure I don't pick a lemon?

Thanks.

 

[rcmadd]

my opinion... stay away from cheap so called pedigrees.. they are usually crosses anyway to unsuspecting prospective new owners,
i would also not get a cross from a supposedly reputable breeder.. if they are then they wouldnt cross their pedigrees with moggys..

save up and buy a propper pedigree from a decent breeder.. or even contact a rescue/rehome place to see if they have any raggies..

you could also try emerisle ragdolls she was one of the cheapest for pedigree raggies.. we used her "polar flow" for stud.

 

[Aurelie]

To be perfectly honest, if it is genuinely a Ragdoll you are hoping for, them neither option. There is no guarantee that either will be a Ragdoll so you could very easily end up with a rather expensive moggy. Have you thought about a Ragdoll from one of the breed rescues? Far less expensive that the regular price of a Ragdoll kitten.

 

[spid]

How is a 'reputable' breeder offering crosses?

Have a look at the sticky at the top of the breeding forum which will tell you why good peds cost more.

Personally you get what you pay for - a byb offering a cheap ragdoll - without registration is possibly not even offering a real ragdoll but a cross anyway, you will get it too early at about 8 weeks so will need to do vacs - that's another £65 for you to pay the vet, they are quite often unhealthy - more £££s at the vet, and not well socialised.

 

[Lel]

Personally I wouldn't go for either!

If I wanted a pedigree, I would expect it to come from a loving home, pets well cared for, kittens to stay with mum for the recommended 13 weeks and kitten come with papers. If I got the impression the cats were being overbred or multiple litters for sale at one time I would be put off.

I would not be prepared to pay any money for any cat that did not meet the criteria above (I'm not counting rescue adoption fees in this by the way).

To be honest I don't really know how you judged the one breeding her cat seemingly indiscriminately with a cross to be reputable?! But obviously I don't known the situation!

The thing is, without the papers, you can't really say what you have as you do not know the parentage. If you want to pay for a pedigree make sure that is what you get.

 

[ChinaBlue]

Concur with comments above. If you want a Ragdoll do not go for a "cheap" one - cheap will ultimately prove more expensive in the long run! Save up a little more and buy one froma reputable breeder - do a bit of research first (you have already made your first step by asking on here). If you give me a rough idea of where you are I, or any of the other Ragdoll breeders on here, could perhaps advise you of any reputable breeders in your area.

Also a bit of a "no no" is visiting two "breeders" in one day without at least going home and changing your clothes!

Have you considered a rehome Ragdoll? There are several groups helping rehome Ragdolls. There is the Ragdoll Rehome Group, The Traditionalist Ragdoll Cat Society who have a rehoming section. The British Ragdoll Cat Club who also have a rehoming section...to name but a few....

The Ragdoll Rehome Group ragsrescue operate from the Midlands up to Scotland. We do undertake a homecheck (as do most rehome groups) and usually ask for a donation of £100 for any cat. All the cats are neutered and vaccinated.

 

[jill3]

I think if you go to a byb you are just encouraging them to breed more.
Also there are a few health problems to be aware of. Kittens can have FIP. Heart problems, Gardia and worse.
Probably no insurance with a byb breeder.
I personally would save up and go to a good breeder.
Far better than buying one cheap and then having your heart broken because the kitten has died.
I am not trying to scare you but it does happen.
The cat supreme show is on this month at the NEC Birmingham. It is a good idea to go there and look at the breeds you are interested in and speak first hand to the breeders.
Also why not go for a Ragdoll rescue. There is a special web site for them.
They won't be kittens but they will be health checked and you will know what their personality is like.
Having adopted an 11 month British I know that you will fall in love with them just as much as getting a kitten.
Hope this helps.

 

[ilovekittens]

To be honest I don't really know how you judged the one breeding her cat seemingly indiscriminately with a cross to be reputable?! But obviously I don't known the situation!

No... given the opprobrium from what I said, I'm not going to explain the situation either on a public forum.

 

[RabbitMonster]

No... given the opprobrium from what I said, I'm not going to explain the situation either on a public forum.

Not sure what this means but I agree with all the other advice you've received - if you're going to get a Raggie, you're better off paying the extra for a healthy, well-socialised Raggie that has proof of pedigree. If there's no proof of pedigree, you're essentially paying for a very expensive moggy.

 

[messyhearts]

Are you really saving money if you have to do your own vaccinations, flea/worm treatment & neutering? Worse still, I suspect the kitten would be more expensive if they are found to have a bug & need treatment because they weren't raised ethically.

 

[ChinaBlue]

If you go for either of the choices you outlined then you will be buying a "moggie" not that there is anything wrong with a moggie(!) but you will not be buying a Ragdoll! Any Ragdoll without its registration papers is just a moggie to all intents and purposes and you will be encouraging a back yard breeder.

 

[ilovekittens]

If you go for either of the choices you outlined then you will be buying a "moggie" not that there is anything wrong with a moggie(!) but you will not be buying a Ragdoll! Any Ragdoll without its registration papers is just a moggie to all intents and purposes and you will be encouraging a back yard breeder.

Yes, OK I get that . The option to buy a fully registered ragdoll from a registered breeder etc is always there, the best of all possible worlds choice is usually obvious. Hence I asked for an opinion on 2 sub-optimal choices.

 

[spid]

opprobrium = harsh criticism or censure

Hmmm - I consider what we all wrote as advice not opprobrium! Don't ask if you don't want an answer. And yes, don't visit two breeders in one day you could carry an infection from one home to the other.

I am out now.

 

[Aurelie]

I don't understand what you want us to say, people have offered their opinions on the two choices offered - unanimously that they are both a bad idea, what else are you hoping to hear?

 

[ilovekittens]

opprobrium = harsh criticism or censure

Hmmm - I consider what we all wrote as advice not opprobrium! Don't ask if you don't want an answer. And yes, don't visit two breeders in one day you could carry an infection from one home to the other.

I am out now.

No I didn't mean opprobrium to me personally. I meant it when I said there was a 3/4 cross from a reputable breeder that I contacted and there was an outcry of ohnoeshowcouldthishappen.

I think the cat world is a small one and I have no wish to ruin someone's reputation when I've not even met them or know their specific circumstance. You will just have to take my word that they are indeed reputable.

 

[ChinaBlue]

Have just been on TBRCC website - the following breeders have some "older" cats looking for new homes - are any of these close to you. I would expect they would want something for them but not full price.


Mitted
5years
Female
Margaret McGurk
Greenock Renfrewshire
01475 880084
Rubicatz

Blue Tabby Mitted
4.5years
Female
Christine Redmayne
Darwen Lancs
01254 773177
Rosyposy


Seal Mitted
2.2 years
Male
Sue Allen
Bury Lancashire
0161 7641899
Spiritdancesrs

Blue Colourpoint
7 years
Male
Debbie Wood
Billericay Essex
01268 711207
Woodypaws


Seal Colourpoint
2 years
Female
Debbie Wood
Billericay Essex
01268 711207
Woodypaws

 

[ilovekittens]

I don't understand what you want us to say, people have offered their opinions on the two choices offered - unanimously that they are both a bad idea, what else are you hoping to hear?

I initially wanted to see what people would think was the better choice between 2 not the best choices, that was all :001_unsure:

 

[Lel]

I didn't really know how else to respond other than to say I wouldn't go for either option!

I have a few friends who have paid for moggies and cross breeds. As I know how I think breeding should be done, I know I'm not prepared to give these sort of people any more financial incentive to carry on. That's just my view.

Is there a reason why these two "sub optimal" (as you put it) options are the two you have to choose from?

 

[Aurelie]

I initially wanted to see what people would think was the better choice between 2 not the best choices, that was all :001_unsure:

Well then I would go for the breeder that was being honest about the kittens parentage, treating the animals properly and not cutting any corners.

 

[buffie]

Please believe me,Ive been there,done it,and have the evidemce curled up on my couch.
I knew no better when I got my Raggie Meeko,no excuse I should have research and didnt.
I had no end of bother with him ,he was vicious and very unpredictable,he is a lot better now but it has taken a lot of blood/sweat and many tears,not to mention ripped and bitten skin to get him where he is now.
My advice is as the others have said,avoid both and save up until you have enough to buy a properly reared and socialised kitten from someone who has their kittens welfare at heart.