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I refer here to Ragdolls in general
terms and by that I mean that they are individual creatures and it is possible that you will get a Ragdoll cat that doesn't
exhibit each and every Ragdoll trait to the highest degree. Each Ragdoll has its own personality and when referred to
here, I'm speaking in general terms of the 'bulk' of the Ragdoll breed, not specifically that every Ragdoll cat will be exactly
like the 'breed standards' describe. And I strongly
urge you to read as much as you can about the Ragdoll breed prior to purchasing your Ragdoll cat or kitten. Ragdolls
are wonderful animals, but they are not like other cats in many respects. They require alot of human companionship
and that means a commitment on your part to not just fill up the food bowl and the water bowl and scoop a bit of poop
here and there, they NEED you to love on them, play with them, talk to them, etc. Ragdolls have been called the
'dogs of the cat world'. They are not aloof, independent, or only seek attention every once in a while like
many other cats you may have known or had....they meet you at the door, are underfoot all the time, go into the restroom
with you, get up on the washer and dryer every time you're doing the laundry, etc. And it's like this every
day. Rarely do they not follow me around and when I sit down to watch TV, my lap is full. They are like kids
that follow you around and I cannot stress that enough with people. If that is going to bother you, then you should
seriously re-think getting a Ragdoll cat. They are, by their natures, very curious and very loving creatures, and by
the time you get one of my cats, or kittens, they will be VERY attached to humans and the love and companionship that
humans can give and they will actively seek it out from you. So, think long and hard about what you're expecting because
Ragdolls will rarely disappoint when it comes to what I've described above. And I say rarely because the advice I give
comes with this caveat.....Ragdolls are live creatures and no matter what you may have read, they do feel pain and they do
need love and companionship, or they can grow up to be aloof and unsociable cats, if they are not loved when they're young,
or if their abused and aggravated by out-of-control children. Ragdolls have what I would call a great propensity towards
being loving and affectionate with humans, more so than any other cats I've seen in my lifetime, but you can ruin a Ragdoll. I
know this because I've had several Ragdoll rescues in the past that I've had to love and love and love....and be very
patient with, to 'un-ruin' them. They're all in their new adoptive homes and doing well from what I hear from their
new owners and see in the pictures they send me and that's the best I could hope for, but it sure wasn't an easy job
and it took years of work on my part before I ever felt that they were 'adoptable'. All I can do is love the
cats and do what it takes for them to trust me and hope that over the course of time, they will respond to the love I give
them, but sometimes it does takeyears to un-do the damage. So, rest assured that if you do not nurture that loving and
affectionate bond between the cat and the human, you can ruin that 'propensity' towards humans that Ragdolls have. I
can pretty much guarantee that if you take a Ragdoll and you don't love on the cat and you don't play with it and spend time
with it, you're not going to have a Ragdoll cat like the Ragdoll cats I've raised up, that's for sure. Any kind
of animal must have love and affection to grow close to humans and Ragdolls are no exception to that rule. So please
don't think when you purchase a Ragdoll cat from me, or from any Breeder, that you will be getting some "innate love
bug' that will just be loving and caring towards you even when you are not loving and caring towards the cat, because that
is not going to happen. And while Ragdolls are generally laid back and non-aggressive, also rest assured that if you
hurt the cat, or you have a child who mistreats the cat, the cat will fight back and you, or your child, will get hurt.
I think when Ragdolls are young, they want to love everyone, but some of them learn during their lives that some humans
aren't very lovable. Just don't get a cat, or any other animal, on a whim. Think it over carefully and make sure
you're in the right place..... mind, body, soul, finances, housing, relationships, etc. to get an animal and the commitment
that goes with an animal. Buying the kitten, or cat, is the first step of that proverbial million mile walk and with
Ragdolls, bred by reputable Breeders, that are well cared for by their Owners, you're looking at an average of 15 - 18 or
more years this cat will be your companion....and therein lies your million mile walk......
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