Hi all,

I would like 2 buy a cat. I hope to get one by March. Ive been reading about cat breeds. I find that Ragdoll cat best suits me because i live with 2 toddlers in d house. So, i read that its very good with little children, and they are non-aggresive. Also they dont really shed that much.

Where should i buy it from?... pls advise me
Ive been to some of the petstores in KL such as Pet Safari in Ikano & Pets Wonderland. However, they do not hav any Ragdoll cats at the moment; and will only arrive by end of this month. so, i dont mind waiting..
Ive read some comments that its not advisable to buy from petstores, why is it?

Ive also been to the SPCA, but had a bad experience there. As someone got clawed and bitten badly.. so im a bit worried. ( i would really love 2 get adopt a cat from them,.. maybe later )

What kind of food should i feed my cat? i see alot of people in this forum feed your cats Royal Canin. Maybe should get this first?


thank u
lisa

First of all...congrats..and welcome tu cat fanciers world!

DO NOT BUY cats from those pet-shop...believe me!, there are few reasons why:-

i) They never provide pedigree cert..So, you can't be sure that your cat is really Ragdoll. Even they look the same..it can't be proven.
ii) Expensive!!!. Even they sold DLH to my brother (I was unaware) RM1500!!!.
iii) Most of their cats comes from BackYard Breeder (supplier)..so, you have known better..

IF you really wanna a Ragdolls...do contact Alicia..I believe her sister, Olivia (Ragdolls Breeder) is expecting litters very soon.

I believe Royal Canin will do good...however, If you contact Alicia she will tell you more about Ragdolls..ie their temperament, eating habits..etc...This kind of advice you can;t get at pet-shop, only a good breeder will tell you all of this...

So..gooood luck...

Hi arisham

thank u so much for yr advise.
Yes, i actually called d PetsWonderland and asked d price for a Ragdoll, and they said its about RM1500-1700. ( its quite expensive )

do u yrself have any Ragdolls? how r they like?..

Ok, i will contact Alicia. I have visited her page at http://petepicure.multiply.com its a very nice shop.
I would like to visit her shop after CNY holidays, if possible

lisa25

Your toddlers.. are they ok with cats.
Any allergies or asthma?
Because many throw away they cats because their children get sick, sometimes their husband is sick.. so you may one to aquaint your kids first.

This is very important

Actually asthma and allergies can be managed.
The cats are beautiful but compatibility depends person to person.
You may even want to try short hair or hariless cats.

But also note that besides the fur, the actually asthma / allergies is coming through the cats saliva. Because they lick themselves much it will look like the fur that is the itchy.

Hi there. Besides SPCA, there is also PAWS as well as countless rescue organisations/ individuals with cats looking for loving homes. There are also reputable breeders who have kittens to let go to good homes as well as adult cats they want to rehome. Reputable breeders will provide you with help and information after you buy a kitten/ cat from them because they care about them.

Cats will only claw and bite if they feel threatened. Most cats will display signs of agitation before they attack.

Please, where ever you eventually get your cat, don't get it from a pet shop.

Here are some facts about the dangers and less savoury aspects of buying from pet shops. Pet shops sell pets for profit. They don't care about where the pets come from and how they are bred, about their health or anything that should concern genuine animal lovers.

1. Where the pets come from? Probably ppl who breed for profit - backyard breeders. This means that to them, every kitten born is seen strictly in $$$$$ terms. The mothers are kitten-producing machines.

The mother cats are kept in basic conditions - anything more is a waste of money. That usually means no toys, very little affection (just enough to make sure the cat doesn't reject human contact) and bare metal cages to make any cleaning as fast as possible. Very little time is wasted on grooming for long haired cats which are usually shaved to save money on airconditioning (little hair = cooler). The cats also have little exercise because cats loose may result in fights and injuries which would be another waste of time and money having to treat.

2. Every heat is seen as another opportunity to make money. The cats are bred every heat for as long as possible, without concern for the cat's health because a heat wasted is profit lost. Yes, stray cats breed every heat but this cat is not living stray. The cat is bred from without concern for the cat's health. In the event that cat has birthing difficulties, more concern is shown for the safe delivery of the kittens (ka-ching! with every live birth) than the survival of the mother cat.

3. Male and female cats are bred without regard to genetic health. As long as the genetic problem is not immediately visible (lack of limbs or other physical deformity), they don't care. A weak heart may not be detected until your much loved cat drops dead out of the blue within weeks of being with you.

4. The thousands that the unsuspecting buyer pays for a purebred cat is only as good as the word of the breeder. Would you trust the word of someone who looks at life in terms of profit? A so-called purebred cat - for which someone would pay a premium - may actually just be a lucky combination of genes that produces a non-purebred cat that LOOKS like a particular breed but in actual fact is not. (My sister has a domestic short hair cat, Fatboy, that she picked up as a stray kitten along with his sister, Bandit. Bandit is like any tuxedo black and white cat. Fatboy looks just like a Snowshoe.

5. Pets in pet shops have a "shelf life" - the duration of their sellability is the duration of their cuteness and appeal. The longer they stay cute and appealing, the better their chance of being bought. For the backyard breeder, the most "effective way" of keeping them small and kittenish is usually to underfeed them. For the pet shop to increase their shelf life is to put them "in the window" as young as possible. This usually means weaning them off their mothers to solid foods as soon as possible. Usually before they are physically and mentally ready to be separated from their mothers. It is also a means for the backyard breeder to make the kittens emotionally needy for affection. This can, however, have the opposite effect of a cat that is cold to affection.

I could go on considerably longer about the cruel practices of backyard breeders but I'm sure by now, you have a good idea of what goes on in the world of commercial pet breeding. These are just things off the top of my head - I'm sure there are countless other things beyond our imaginations that backyard breeders get up to in the name of profit.

Since this is a kitten/ cat website, I've talked in terms of kittens but the same indifferent treatment is meted out to dogs/ gerbils/ rabbits - any companion animal that equates profit to ppl who see animals as commodities, not living, breathing beings.

Good luck in your search for your cat. Maybe, your cat will find you instead.

hi Kulstud2,

Thanks for yr advise too.

I live with my aunt's family together in d same house.
Her toddlers dont have any asthmatic problems.

But we have thought about that, we actually want them to have a pet, and have already prepared a little room with some toys and bed for her; to sleep and also play. ( thought that it would be better if the cat had its own room, & We dont want them to spend too much time with d cat, till they get older and are much stronger. )
Of course, we would bring the cat out around d house everyday to walk around a little. Is this ok for a cat?

thanks
lisa25

Hi GusGus,

Thank u. both u and arisham hav explained to me very well. ( must be experts on cat.. )

So, i will NOT get a cat from PetsWonderland / PetSafari.
Ive actually informed them to contact me immediately once they arrive; so if they call i'll just tell them that i dont plan to get it from them already.
I guess, i just have 2 look for ragdoll breeders like e.g. alicia..

Wow, luckily i found www.kitten.com.my before i get a cat. ( cool, would recommend people to go here, before getting a cat too )
Lots of people give advise, and discuss on cats. that nice!


lisa25,

yeah it quite expensive when it comes without cert...actually I saw one they claimed to be Birman...sell at 2500..without cert!!!...

I don't have ragdolls...I'm more to Forest Cats...such as Nowegian Forest Cats (NFO), Maine Coons (MCO) and Siberian Forest Cats (SIB)...all those big cats take spaces...so, I can't have too many cats...even though I wanna add Persians, Birman, Ragdolls, American Shorthair....arghh..

Just contact Alicia...visit her shop...talk both to her and Olivia...and their mum, Amy...they should give you more information on Ragdolls before u actually get one..