I have just aquired a 'Ragdoll' cat from an Aunt, he's nearly 4 yrs old. It's an absolute gorgeous creature, larger than an ordinary cat. He can't go outside, has to stay in. He's settled with my boistrous dog wonderfuly. Does anyone else have one of this fab cats? He's beginning to be quite cheeky and naughty, jumping on us in the night and darting about the house, I love him. Has anyone took theirs out on a lead like it says you can?

As far as I know, 'Ragdoll' cats were bred to be 'indoorsy', non-predatory, child-friendly, non-vicious and pretty cuddle but ultimately kind of listless and passive, so as to be 'the perfect cat to own'.

It seems to me that they bred out any traces of actual cat-ness.

have you got a pic.

I have a friend with one of those cats, they are so adorable. She can literally pick hers up by the back legs and swing him, and he'll just lie there and accept it. Beautiful cat he is. They're also very expensive. She used to breed them, and wouldn't accept less than £800 per kitten. But of course, they were show quality.

http://www.kittykitty.com/cat-breeds/ragdoll.jpg

Originally posted by MovingOn
I have a friend with one of those cats, they are so adorable. She can literally pick hers up by the back legs and swing him, and he'll just lie there and accept it.

And that's a good thing is it? Jesus.

Cats should be free to come and go as they please, not locked indoors by owners who see living beings as a specially bred commodity to be used as some kind of status symbol or novelty item.

Originally posted by noseyrosie
And that's a good thing is it? Jesus.

ROFLMAO!!!:P

Originally posted by t020
Cats should be free to come and go as they please, not locked indoors by owners who see living beings as a specially bred commodity to be used as some kind of status symbol or novelty item.

.....or swung around the room by their back legs! Unbelievable!

Originally posted by MovingOn
I have a friend with one of those cats, they are so adorable. She can literally pick hers up by the back legs and swing him, and he'll just lie there and accept it. Beautiful cat he is. They're also very expensive. She used to breed them, and wouldn't accept less than £800 per kitten. But of course, they were show quality.

http://www.kittykitty.com/cat-breeds/ragdoll.jpg

Can you really not see how what you've said is disgusting?

Originally posted by t020
Cats should be free to come and go as they please, not locked indoors by owners who see living beings as a specially bred commodity to be used as some kind of status symbol or novelty item. Like children :rolleyes:

Originally posted by Strix
Like children :rolleyes:

No, not like children. Children have to remain supervised and then are gradually allowed out on their own and granted freedom...... rather like, say, kittens. Grown cats however should be free, not imprisoned in a house and traded as a commodity with specially bred (to the point of sometimes being harmful) features for human amusement.

Originally posted by t020
Grown cats however should be free, not imprisoned in a house.... And permitted to get squished by passing traffic?

The sooner this neglect stops the better. We used to believe the same nonsense about dogs, but that became out-dated years ago.

Originally posted by Strix
And permitted to get squished by passing traffic?

The sooner this neglect stops the better. We used to believe the same nonsense about dogs, but that became out-dated years ago.

Why is it nonsense? Granted that on a main road, owners should be careful, but on most residential roads I don't think owners should imprison their cats. Cats become pretty streetwise and if I was a cat I'd rather live free and die early from being hit by a car than living a long life imprisoned (and most free cats never get hit by cars anyway).

As for breeding specially and trading like commodities, I find it quite repulsive, especially if the owners see the cats as being a status symbol as opposed to a living creature. Some breeds suffer terrible discomfort (at best) as a result of their artificial gene pool, all for the sake of human amusement.

Originally posted by t020
Why is it nonsense? one rule for one :rolleyes:

We don't like children or dogs roaming the streets, but cats?

The former are prevented from doing so for their own good. The latter are disregarded by irresponsible owners.

I'm not commenting on the breeding issue. I don't know enough about the problems of cat breeding

Originally posted by Strix
one rule for one :rolleyes:

We don't like children or dogs roaming the streets, but cats?

The former are prevented from doing so for their own good. The latter are disregarded by irresponsible owners.


As I have already stated, children is a flawed analogy. The feline equivalent of a child is a kitten, and (responsible) cat owners don't let kittens out, but they gradually release them to the wider world as a parent would with a child. Why should a cat be imprisoned? I'd hardly call it irresponsible to grant a semi-wild animal its freedom.

Originally posted by t020
I'd hardly call it irresponsible to grant a semi-wild animal its freedom.
Your statement suggests that these animals are therefore unsuitable as pets.

Originally posted by Strix
Your statement suggests that these animals are therefore unsuitable as pets.

No it doesn't - note SEMI-wild. They use houses for shelter and food, and seek attention from humans when they desire, but other than that they should be as free as they would be in the wild.

Originally posted by t020
No it doesn't - note SEMI-wild. They use houses for shelter and food, and seek attention from humans when they desire, but other than that they should be as free as they would be in the wild.

Same as dogs 20 years ago, before we decided it wasn't acceptable.

Originally posted by Strix
Same as dogs 20 years ago, before we decided it wasn't acceptable.

Dogs and cats are different animals. Cats are much more adept at handling themselves in urban environments. I guess we won't ever agree on this one, but my opinion is that imprisoning a cat is cruel and is denying them the freedom they deserve. I have a cat (and I do take offense at you insinuating I'm irresponsible) and it enjoys being outdoors and having freedom whilst being provided with food and warm shelter when needed. I'd never have it any other way, unless I lived on a road that was really heavy with traffic. My family have had several cats all their lives. Number of deaths through car accidents? 0. Quality of life/freedom experienced by all cats? Very high.

Originally posted by t020
Dogs and cats are different animals. Cats are much more adept at handling themselves in urban environments. I guess we won't ever agree on this one, but my opinion is that imprisoning a cat is cruel and is denying them the freedom they deserve. I have a cat (and I do take offense at you insinuating I'm irresponsible) and it enjoys being outdoors and having freedom whilst being provided with food and warm shelter when needed. I'd never have it any other way, unless I lived on a road that was really heavy with traffic. My family have had several cats all their lives. Number of deaths through car accidents? 0. Quality of life/freedom experienced by all cats? Very high.

Bloody well said!!! :thumbsup:

When I read the first post on this thread, I really couldn't believe what I was reading. "Rag doll" says it all really... It is not a toy. Swinging it around by it's legs??? Is that supposed to be fun?? Sounds like animal cruelty to me.

Whatever the animal, how can someone profess to love, or even like, them when you've got some half baked, imitation of the real thing?

If you want a bloody toy, go out to the early learning centre and buy one.

Some people should be ashamed of themselves.

Ha ha ha... The person who started this thread, has the tagline (or whatever it's called)...

"If you love something, set it free. If it comes back to you, it is yours. If it does not, it was never meant to be."

Oh. The irony.:D

Phew, never imagined this thread to cause such controversy. I never believed myself that a cat should be kept indoors I've always had outdoor moggies and would never get an animal for a status or symbol, that's rediculous. Mine died last year and I was reluctant to get another as our road is a busy bus route and my friends cat has had several road accidents, the last leaving it's leg in a fixator for months.
An Aunt, who is unwell, already had 4 of these cats and needed to find homes for 2 as she was struggling to care for them. I decided to take one and give it a home, it has the full run of the house and seems happy to sit and purr with us and run round the house and play with his toys. I don't ignore the fact he would be happier with outdoor freedom but my vet says he must stay in as they get stolen for their fur and will get attacked by other animals as their fighting instint is very passive. He will have an outdoor area in the summer to play.
Thay are called ragdolls as they go incredibly floppy and relaxed when picked up.

We've got a ragdoll,stunning cat.
With regard to it being an outdoor or indoor cat,they are more comfortable indoors,we let ours out into a secure garden,but she prefers being indoors.
One of the reasons you are advised to keep these cats indoors (apart from theft) is their lack of fear,they would literatly lay in the road and let oncoming traffic run over them.
As for the "catness" being bred out of them,that is ridiculous,iv'e had many cats,this one shows all the hunting skills,playfulness and other cat like qualitys as my other cats did,(and she bites)
I believe the breed came about by accident,a woman had a long haired cat which was in a traffic accident and was partially disabled,anyway this cat had kittens and it was noted the kittens were calm and placid,and when held "flopped" like a ragdoll,hence the name.
Our cat is fairly placid,and to a certain extent "flops" like a ragdoll,but if she doesn't want petting she will let you know!(she certainly wouldn't let you swing her around by the legs,not that we ever would!!)
We choose this breed,not as a status symbol,but because it is such a gorgeous cat.

Originally posted by deano
I believe the breed came about by accident,a woman had a long haired cat which was in a traffic accident and was partially disabled,anyway this cat had kittens and it was noted the kittens were calm and placid,and when held "flopped" like a ragdoll,hence the name.

Not sure I fully understand this... If a cat was in a car accident, and was left disabled, how would this have altered the genetic makeup of the cat?

Originally posted by Miss
Not sure I fully understand this... If a cat was in a car accident, and was left disabled, how would this have altered the genetic makeup of the cat?
Iv'e no idea,maybe it was just a coincidence that the mother was "disabled"and the kittens happened to be placid,or maybe because of the mother cats injuries the kittens copied her behaviour,maybe it's just a story concocted by ragdoll breeders.

This thread really made me chuckle...maybe it's the Lemsips I dunno :D

£800 sounds a bargain for a fully swingable cat, glad she's gone for a higher figure to make sure only loving swingers purchase from her :D

and the quote "If you love something, set it free. If it comes back to you, it is yours. If it does not, it was never meant to be."
surely should read :
"If you love something, set it free. If it comes back to you, it is yours. If it does not, it was never meant to be, or buy a genetically modified version that doesn't know how to run, let alone be able to"

Maybe they could give these cats to the arm-band wearing free-gym going fat squad mentioned on the other board, they could use them as a kind of beginners frisbee.


*chortle*

Ive got a cat that you would perhaps consider an 'expensive' cat. Shes a pedigree and shes a lovely colour. She loves the outside world and if we didnt let her out shes meow the house down - especially as her 'sister' - a non pedigree incidentally - is outside all the time as she prefers it out there than in the house. Shes never been stolen even though shes worth a lot of money and its obvious to look at her that she is. I wouldnt have a cat that needed to be kept indoors as its no life for a cat. They love the outside world. They socialise and they run around - its in their nature. Unless you live in a particularly busy or rough area i would advise against keeping the pedigree cat indoors. Having said that, if the cat has spent all its life indoors it would be very dangerous to let it out as it wouldnt have the same instincts as a 'normal' cat.

On another note - its not nice to swing cats by their back legs! Theyve only got thin little bones compared to ours and are fragile creatures with tiny hearts that wont withstand as much stress - im guessing you already know this but just incase any idiots are reading who want to see if their cats are placid enough to withstand this.

IMO there are three things to consider when deciding on your cats lifestyle :-

: The local area (especially traffic issues as the other 'problems' mentioned are rare)
: The cats personality
: Your opinion

Don't forget inside only cats have their own dangers that inside/outside cats do not have or rarely encounter. For Example. Being trapped in house fire, trapped in white goods (washing machines etc) and eating posion house plants as they have no access to grass needed to throw up hairballs.

Toto is right about kittens younger than 6 months should be inside at all times as they are too young to have any sense.

Here is a calculator to see how mature in human years your cat is.
http://www.piftails.com/calculatorcatage.html

This is a draft article on inside/outside cats
http://www.piftails.com/insideoutside.html

And here is the way I introduce my cats to the outside world.
http://www.lostmycat.com/introcatoutside.html

My seven of my cats are inside/outside and they love their outside life and the garden at this time of year :)

And two are inside only. Annie is too jumpy and shows no interest in going outside and Spot because he was a foster kitten but we have failed and are going to keep him, so at 10 months he'll be let outside this weekend on a harness.

But it is not just a case of inside only or inside/ outside, there are other options, like enclosed garden, cat run or walking your cat on a harness and I think all cats deserve walks at the very least.

As for breeders, if anyone is going to buy a cat from a breeder make sure you are dealing with a responsible breeder not a back yard breeder. Here are the differences to look out for, and if they don't blood test run a mile. http://www.whyneuter.com/breeders.html

If you want to make a difference to a cat already born who needs a loving home, why not contact one of the Sheffield Cat Shelters at the bottom of this link.
http://www.piftails.com/adoptingnewcat.html

Lastly the Ragdoll breed does not have any special nature/personality or resistance to pain etc and all the other rubbish told to cat owners from the Ragdoll breeders.

Recent scientific studies on Ragdoll showed all claims were false and that they are just the same as any other cat.

Ragdolls are also quite capable of being outside it is the breeders who spread these stories to keep their cats inside only.

My friend had a pure bred ragdoll from a good breeder, he was inside/outside and had a killer streak. Likewise another friend has a healthy moggie cat with no trace of Ragdoll, that sleeps in the middle of their road every day.

And lastly anyone who swings a cat by its legs should be have all animals removed from their 'care' and be banned for life from owning any other animal, unless they learn how to handle a cat properly :(

We have two cats and they have a cat flap to do as they please. They're rescue cats and after our first, Adolf, got run over, we weren't going to have any more, but these kittens were going to be put down.

I have to agree with T020 on this one, I resent the remark that we are irresponsible. I have to confess when I hear a car screech on their brakes outside, I immediatley look for the cats, but Smudge is very streetwise and looks before crossing the road (Yes she does!) and I do worry about Smitch, when she was younger she didn't understand the road and used to sit in front of cars who had stopped to beep at her, but she only sits on the quiet road where you don't come down too fast to stop and she tends to stick to the garden now.

I don't believe that being imprisoned in a house is any life for a cat, however in the case of the person who started this thread, if your aunt has kept the cat in, you can't start sending it out now, and it's admirable that you have taken this cat in so good on you!

My cats would go mad if they had to stay in (but I would get a lot less 'presents' from Smudge!)

Dogs are completely different animals as T020 said, for a start, they can't survive on the road as well as cats can otherwise, cats would have had to be kept in by now too, and secondly, larger dogs can scare people on the roads whereas, not so many people get scared by cats out on the streets!

If you drive a cat away from home, it will find it's way back, a dog will not as easily (watch someone contradict me now with a personal anecdote!)

Don't, please don't, start calling people irresponsible for the way they love their animals, I think it's cruel to keep an animal locked up but I'd have never said that cat owners who keep their cats locked up all day were cruel! (at least not til you said I was irresponsible!)

oh and also, can everyone please stop having a go at the poor sod who said about swinging a cat round by the back legs. I'm sure it was written to sound literal, but actually wasn't meant to be, we can pull Smudge across the floor with hers (she does drag herself too, so it's not just brute force!) so I suppose that could be what was meant instead of actually picking it up!

I've posted things before that have been taken far too literally and people have got het up about it, and it's so annoying - everyone now knows, you CANNOT swing a cat round by the back legs so please, leave it be!

She can literally pick hers up by the back legs and swing him, and he'll just lie there and accept it.

Obviously she isn't cruel to the creature. She isn't rough with it, she doesn't grab it by its paws and swing it around the room.

All I meant is that she could pick it up by its back legs and the creature is so placid it would accept it. In the 10 years I've known this particular woman, I've never seen her mistreat any of the cats in her care.

The only thing I've seen the woman do was hold the moggy by his back legs and he himself uncurled down her chest, dangling free. If he was unhappy he'd bite and scratch, of that I'm quite sure. But he's a really friendly cat.

Lotti,

I do understand what your point of example versus literal, however some people will read a quote like that and then try it on their own cats.

We have outlined how stupid this would be in the hope of preventing this actually happening to a cat.

Originally posted by MovingOn
The only thing I've seen the woman do was hold the moggy by his back legs and he himself uncurled down her chest, dangling free.
This is the cat struggling to get to the safety of the floor.

The correct way to hold or carry a cat.

Never scruff an adult cat, this is only appropriate on very young and light kittens.

Place one hand under the cats chest near the front legs. Pick up the cat using your other hand to support the back legs and or bottom, depending on is the cat is sitting or standing when you pick him up.

Bring the cat to your chest and hold the cat across your chest still support the cats body and rear. Your cat may move into a comfortable position for them. My George places both front paws on one of my shoulders and licks my cheek whilst I have an arm supporting his back end.

If the cat struggles or dangles off your arm, they do not want to be picked up, so place them gently on the ground.

It is important to be able to pick your cat up in order to place in a carry case for a vets visit or to medicate the cat. However some cats prefer to keep their paws on the floor and this choice should be respected :)

You haven't seen it PIF so you can't say that.

I'm not the cat owner so please stop slating me.

Originally posted by MovingOn
You haven't seen it PIF so you can't say that.
No I have not seen your friends cat, I am basing my comments on your description. So if your description was inaccurate, my comments will be and vice versa.

Originally posted by MovingOn
I'm not the cat owner so please stop slating me.
I have no idea what 'slating' means ? Assuming it is a negative term, I am not being negative in my comments and if they read that way, it is not intentional.

I have simply outlined the correct way to hold and pick up a cat for those cat owners who might need the information, if you don't own a cat these comments are not aimed at you.

PIF tails and Moving on, I understand that some people would have taken the message literally and it is important that other people don't take it as an acceptable way to pick up a cat.

Moving on, I have to confess the way it was written did look bad, but nobody is slating you now, it was just because there are people who would read it, take it the wrong way and hurt their own cats.

I know that's the proper way to hold a cat - but who does? I mean, who drives like they did when they passed their test? etc etc

When I pick my cat up, she puts her front legs on my legs, standing on her back legs and I put each hand under her front legs, across her shoulders - you know what I mean? And then she sits with her bum around about my stomach area, and her front paws on each shoulder, and I put my hand under her bottom! Absolutely gorgeous! It's like she's hugging me! She will lay across my arms as if she wants to go to the ground and look around, but actually when I put her down she asks to be picked up again! She just enjoys the world from that view point I think! So, although what you said is true, the experts do say to pick up a cat like that, my cat wouldn't agree!

Happy cat ownership! and Moving on, please don't feel that people are personally arguing with you - I know it's not your cat and I bet you wish you'd never made the comment in the first place! I know how you feel - the same has happened to me in the past!

Lottie x

oh yeh - and we also have another cat that used to absolutely refuse to be picked up and but my mum (completely mad hatter she is!) picked her up anyway (the cat was not happy!) and used to sit down with Smitch across her chest stroking her and soothing her and she is now a lot more tolerant of being picked up - so, despite the pain at first (and she never let the cat get distressed by the way) you can train a cat to tolerate being held!

Well I've had my ragdoll nearly 4 months now and he is actually enjoying going outside. I let him out when he meows at the door but do keep an eye on him. He seems very happy to chase round the garden and jump on leaves and flies and watches the birds flying over head. I don't leave him out when I'm not around and so far he hasn't ventured out of the garden. He also shows signs the same as any other cat so I don't really believe the stories either now, about them being different. He does go all floppity when he's picked up though, maybe this breed are more placid and trusting perhaps.
This is a pic of Runty, he has less fur than this now though as he's been moulting and had lots of brushing.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/chezlyn/Feb0574.jpg

Your link doesn't work chezlyn. :(

Yep I just gathered that! Took me ages to do it, never done it before. Think I've done it right now, try again. Would liked to have put 2 on but that's getting a bit daring!
Infact I'll try again here for 2nd pic.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/chezlyn/Jan2629.jpg

Beautiful moggies aren't they?

Originally posted by MovingOn
Beautiful moggies aren't they?
Ditto, Very beautiful cats. :D

Oh Chezlyn, just a hint if you remove the 'th_' from the start of the path, you can post a big picture, the th_ makes it a thumbnail.

Like this...
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/chezlyn/Jan2629.jpg
...what a beautiful kitty cat.

He is very beautiful!

glad the outside thing has worked out! I bet you've had to hoover the carpets more with a cat like that malting! Wherever you go in our house, there's bits of Smitch in the carpet!

this is my ragdoll charlie-hes month old now...and goes out all the time...he refuses to stay in and loves it outside!! he has a ball!!! no reason a ragdoll should not be let out..i understand he is very trusting..but i live on a nice calm estate..

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h2/shefyaldbitch/chaweeeee.jpg

This is the cat struggling to get to the safety of the floor.

The correct way to hold or carry a cat.

Never scruff an adult cat, this is only appropriate on very young and light kittens.

Place one hand under the cats chest near the front legs. Pick up the cat using your other hand to support the back legs and or bottom, depending on is the cat is sitting or standing when you pick him up.

Bring the cat to your chest and hold the cat across your chest still support the cats body and rear. Your cat may move into a comfortable position for them. My George places both front paws on one of my shoulders and licks my cheek whilst I have an arm supporting his back end.

If the cat struggles or dangles off your arm, they do not want to be picked up, so place them gently on the ground.

It is important to be able to pick your cat up in order to place in a carry case for a vets visit or to medicate the cat. However some cats prefer to keep their paws on the floor and this choice should be respected :)

omg are these instructions on how to hold a cat? :loopy:

lol my mums cat lets you do silly things with it, he loves it. Comes back for more so proves he doesn't see it as cruelty.

omg are these instructions on how to hold a cat? :loopy:

lol my mums cat lets you do silly things with it, he loves it. Comes back for more so proves he doesn't see it as cruelty.

Ever heard the term 'brainwashing' :loopy:

Ever heard the term 'brainwashing' :loopy:

No FFF, don't think i've ever heard that term before.