A little baby brother was born on August 25, 2011. A cute little seal bi-color Ragdoll kitten. The addiction had already started after I fell head over heels for my first Ragdoll, Newman. You know, there is a saying that you just can’t have one Ragdoll and I’m living proof that it’s completely true! Once you bring one of these little darlings into your home you really and truly become addicted to their purrsonalities and crave more of their companionship. Their plush fur, fluffy little ruffs and innocent blue eyes just steal your heart away before you even know it’s gone!

Now, those of us who are Ragdoll admirers all have our favorite patterns and colors.  For me, I wanted a bi-color kitten, preferably a seal. Nothing else was going to satisfy me! After getting my feet wet with Newman, it wasn’t long before I got wind that my breeder had another litter on the way.  I felt like a momma hen waiting for her chickadees to hatch! Does the time ever pass slower when you are waiting for something awesome? When I saw the precious little “baby” pics I knew it was meant to be. He had a charming and sincere, sweet face that just melted my heart. So it was quickly settled that this little boy had to come down to Georgia to hang with his big brother and other kitty siblings.

You would think that after going through the naming process once before that I would have had a list of favorite names that I could pick from, but again, I struggled with a name for this little fella.  I wanted something different and again, thought I would let his purrsonality dictate the name.  Little brother gave me the impression of being a little more needy and his wimpy little “mew” made me think of the Peanuts gang. So the name “Linus” struck a chord and on his CFA papers he’s known as Sir Linus Fluffingham of BeCharmed Ragdolls.  He’s quite the dapper little guy and ironically for being a little brother he’s a few pounds heavier than Newman and has earned the nickname “Beefcake”.  He’s got a lot more fluff and a big plushy ruff that I can’t keep my hands off of.  He’s my cuddly snuggly baby and I couldn’t possibly love him any more than I already do.

Again, Linus is the epitome of the breed. He’ll be 2 years old this year and he’s still just as playful, yet docile and sweet natured as ever. Not a mean bone in his body and I’ve never heard him hiss at anyone or anything. It’s amazing that even though he’s from a different litter, he has very similar markings to Newman and some can’t tell them apart. But of course mama can, haha. Linus has two “sleeves” and Newman only has one. Plus he’s got a fluffier coat than big brother.  He has a very sweet and soft meow and when it comes to cuddle time he climbs right up on the bed and butts his head against my hand or cheek and demands to be petted and snuggled.  No one loves food more than this guy and he’s always the first to head towards the kitchen when it’s snack time.  I even caught him in my bowl of raviolis once when I walked off for a moment!! Like Newman, his favorite toy is “Da Bird” but he prefers the kitty hammock cat-napper that’s in the window sill instead of the cat tower. He gets what I call the “crazy eye” when he’s in the mood for play and he lets out a yowling meow and darts through the house like something is chasing him when all of us are just sitting around and relaxing.

Again, if you are considering a Ragdoll don’t hesitate!  They are truly a wonderful breed and are one of the most beautiful examples of the feline species you can have as a pet. Mine adapted so well that you would honestly think they were born in my home. They are very kind, very patient and extremely easy going creatures that will capture your attention and your heart like no other kitties. The best advice I could give to someone considering adopting one of these beauties would be to do the research on breeders in your area and make a list of questions. Don’t ever settle or be pressured to adopt from a breeder! And remember, once you bring your first raggie home, it probably won’t be your last!

Photos courtesy of Lee Burns

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Post tags: featured, Ragdoll of the Week

Merlin – the cat behind Merlin’s Hope: A Ragdoll and Maine Coon Rescue

This morning, as I went to put on my shoes, I found that I couldn’t get my shoe on. One of my wonderful cats had left me a present in my shoe. A bright green furry mouse was stuck in the toe. It made me remember some of the many presents my cats have left me over the years.

When I moved into my first home in Roswell, New Mexico, in 1998, I quickly discovered that my house had been built on a scorpion bed. I discovered this when my Ragdoll, Merlin, and my then 6-week-old Snowshoe, Taliesin, backed one into the corner. I didn’t even know what it was, but my boys saw predator and went right after it. After much screaming and shoe stomping on my part, the scorpion was dead and boys the mighty warriors. Over the next two years, my cats found and/or killed over 18 scorpions. I managed to not be stung even once due to their diligence.

When I moved to Ennis, Texas, I thought I was safe. Oh, how the mighty fall. Within days, I discovered we had a rather nasty mouse problem. Merlin was already deceased by that time, and none of my cats was even remotely interested in helping me out. Finally, I brought home Prince Charming, a magnificent Snowshoe. He promptly took care of my problem; however, his “presents” were often to be found throughout the house, mostly in the most inconvenient places: a water bowl, the kitchen sink, and strangely enough the toilet. I guess he was trying to drown them? Problem solved.

Though we are firm believers in cats being indoor-only cats and our indoor cats are allowed out only in the outdoor enclosure, I have to admit I have one outside cat. Caedmon was a 5-7 year old unneutered male Ragdoll mix who had apparently lived his entire life outside. After months of trying to make him into a house-cat and the second round of major wounds I suffered from trying to keep him happy in the house, Caedmon and I compromised by him moving outside. He learned quickly to live right around the house. His gift to me has been keeping the predators away from my house. Over the years, he has gifted me with copperhead snake bodies, dead rats, and a multitude of mice. The first time I opened the door and found a thankfully dead copperhead snake on my front porch, I screamed, slammed the door shut, and left out the back door.  Thank goodness, Caedmon quickly learned that the further the gift was from the front door, the more appreciative I was. He now leaves his presents in the driveway. In addition to being a mighty hunter, though I must admit that even he avoids the fierce opossums that come to steal his food, Caedmon is extremely tolerant of outside visitors.

We once had the rare chance to host a momma fox and her two kits. Since foxes are known to attack and kill cats, I was quite concerned when this emaciated fox moved into our storage room. I tried to keep Caedmon in the house until I saw momma fox and Caedmon eating out of the same food bowl at the same time.  I never could get a picture of them, since momma would run anytime I opened the door, but we fed momma and her babies all summer long, and I even managed to work flea-treatment and dewormer into their food. Caedmon was the proud host to this predator, nay, even enemy, and I will always treasure that summer.

Caedmon is also really good about allowing other neighborhood cats, mostly ferals, come eat at our house. Apparently, the neighborhood cats have a map with a dot on it for my house.  One of my favorite guests was a huge, red domestic short-haired boy. I tried unsuccessfully for months to trap and neuter him, but he was a wonderful hunter. One morning, I opened my door to discover an enormous, dead rat. My neighbor kindly came and removed the rat, but we made the mistake of dumping it out in the pasture behind my house. Unfortunately, big red boy realized that I had not appreciated his present to me. So, the next morning, I found the same dead rat, now without the head, on my front porch. The red boy was waiting just outside the door for me to find his present. I learned my lesson. I picked up the rat with a piece of cardboard, made yummy eating noises to show him that I was enjoying his present, and disposed of the rat far, far away.

Cats are predators, and their way of showing appreciation is by providing for us, including providing food. I learned a really nice lesson from the many gifts my cats have left for me.  Our cats leave us gifts for a reason. They are trying to feed us, help us survive, and please us. So, the next time, your cat leaves you a present, please remember that she is really doing you a favor and be grateful for her gifts, and whatever you do, don’t forget to show your appreciation or you never know what you will find next.

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Watching me get ready in the mornings

Three years ago I saw a video from Animal Planet about Ragdolls. I was fascinated by what I saw. I grew up having cats, then I married and had two boys, which meant puppies. Now that I am in my empty nest years I really wanted to get back to a cat. I got my wish for Christmas from my fiancé.

Once I got my wish I started searching the Internet and found a couple of breeders in my home state of Louisiana.  I emailed them and when I didn’t hear back immediately I searched neighboring states and I found my baby in Jackson, Mississippi, over two hours away.

It took weeks for us to decide on a name and finally decided on Amos Moses. It is from a song by Jerry Reed about a boy raised in south Louisiana hunting alligators. Old, old song. Amos is now four months old and in very short order has taken full control of the house.

Amos every morning in the bathroom sink

Amos loves the bathroom. He plays in the tub and sink every morning while I get ready to go to work. He even sits on the side of the tub while I bathe or shower. He is with me every step of every day.  He also enjoys going into the sunroom (dog’s room) and run the two old big dogs out of their houses and bite their legs. Luckily for him and me, they are old and forgiving with him.

I think I bought every toy recommended on Floppycats.com and could find on Amazon. I bought the nice AlphaPooch bed that he flips over and lies on the bottom side, not in it. He really enjoys the Looney Loops from Amazon, because he is able to carry them in his mouth and play fetch with them. The one toy that has kept his attention is the Hagen Catit Play Circuit. Otherwise, he is playing

Amos playing in the tub

with every box and sack that come into the house, ice cubes and paper towel rolls. The one thing he hates and gets angry when I get it out is the red dot toy.  It really angers him that he can’t catch the dot. His most favorite game is chase.  I walk away and when he starts after me, I walk faster. When he catches me, I clap my hands and he jumps up for me to catch him and we love for a minute then do it again.

Amos is a celebrity at the vet’s office and has more company then we do. My favorite thing with him is bedtime. When he gets ready to go to sleep he will stand on my pillow and chirp till I pick up the covers. He will get underneath, turn around and lie down with his back against my stomach and his head on my arm.

In the short time I have had him, I cannot imagine a day without him. He is an amazing little fellow and I am so thankful I found Bentley’s Rag Miss Dottie in Mississippi. She refers to him as Amos, The Who Dat Cat, since we are huge Saints fans and of course, LSU.

My favorite – grabbed my mascara out of my hand one morning. Notice the black foot?

Amos on his Saints blanket

Watching me leave in the mornings. Breaks my heart

Amos drinking from the sink

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Post tags: featured, Ragdoll Kitten of the Month

The treat maze is exactly what it says it is – a maze to put cat treats in.  And then your kitty has to put their paw through the side holes to get the food out of the maze.

I am always game for these sorts of cat treat puzzles because I believe that cats need that extra stimulation, as they would have if they were hunting their prey.

I also like that you can rotate the discs on one level to increase the difficulty level.

Buy Catit Design Senses Treat Maze on Amazon for $15.47.

There are also other products in the Catit Senses line that you can purchase with the Catit Senses Treat Maze:

• Hagen Catit Design Senses Play Circuit, Original
• Catit Design Senses Massage Center
• Catit Design Senses Scratch Pad
• Catit Design Senses Grass Garden Kit

Here is our arrival video:

Click here to view the embedded video.

And our final review video:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Join Catit on Facebook and YouTube!

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Post tags: Catit Senses, featured

He was born on October 21, 2010. He is a Seal Bi-Color Ragdoll. His name is Newman. Blue eyes, pink nose, bunny-soft fur, long and curly whiskers, a dashing purrsonality to die for: who wouldn’t swoon??

My adoration for the breed began when I had a subscription to Cat Fancy magazine. I loved the look of these kitties with “raccoon looking eyes”. Those “raccoon eyes” are known as the bi-color pattern and I have always admired them from afar. In 2010 I was lucky enough to welcome one of these beautiful, sweet and loving little creatures into my home. I travelled nearly 600 miles to pick up my newest family member and I couldn’t have been happier! I searched and searched for the purrfect kitty and I had actually placed two deposits on two other kittens, but as they say, the third time is the “charm” and I happened upon BeCharmed Ragdolls’ website where I found my baby! I immediately fell in love with “Jack Frost”, a seal-bicolor boy waiting for his furever home. I brought him home when he was nearly 16 weeks old and was at a loss for a name. Did I want a regal name? Did I want something cute? I couldn’t decide and thought I’d let his purrsonality dictate his name. Half goofball and half sweetheart I finally settled on “Newman”. It served a dual purpose: a somewhat distinguished name and he truly was the new man in my life, ha! Newman bonded with my other two kitties right away and had no trouble fitting in and stealing my heart away.

Newman is special because for me, he epitomizes all that a Ragdoll is. He is docile, gentle and extremely sweet-natured. He’s very well behaved and is extremely loyal and loving. And best of all, I think he is the most handsome seal bi-color Ragdoll I’ve ever laid eyes on! It’s been wonderful watching him grow and see his color darken as he gets older. He’s a goofball and playful and has the cutest meow and this quirky little purr/meow/growl when he gets frisky. He has silly a habit of bringing his furry mice toys to bed and he likes to do what I call a kitty “bum rush”. If I’m leaning over the bathroom sink or bending over to pick up something off the floor he comes running up behind me and jumps up to tap me on the behind with his paws and takes off like a lunatic. It’s hilarious because I never know when he’s going to “attack”. His favorite toy is “Da Bird” and he enjoys napping on the top spot of the cat tower. Yes, he’s claimed his rightful spot on top of the “throne”. Newman will be 3 years old in October and it’s been such a dream come true to own a Ragdoll. From his adorable pink nose to his long curly whiskers, Newman is the king of the house and I tell him so every day.

Ragdolls encompass everything I had ever hoped for in a kitty. They are extremely well adapted, very loving and sweet, docile and gentle and above all else – EXQUISITELY BEAUTIFUL. If you were ever unsure about adopting a Ragdoll or “raggie” as us owners affectionately call them, all I can say is that they are truly a one of a kind cat. My advice would be to do your research on the breeder and don’t be afraid to ask questions! I searched for about 9 months before I found my Newman. I knew I had picked the right breeder when we exchanged 4 and 5 paragraph emails back and forth. I fell so deeply in love with Newman that I adopted another kitten from the same breeder and it’s amazing how much they look alike even though they are from different litters. Baby brother is a little chunkier than big brother, but we won’t hold that against him! Don’t you need a kitty with raccoon eyes too?

Photos courtesy of Lee Burns

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Post tags: featured, Ragdoll of the Week

My mom and Skittles

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All Siamese are loud; all Bengals are hyper; all Persians are sweet and gentle; all Ragdolls are floppy. These are stereotypes cat caregivers deal with every day. The problem is what I tell my writing students, “Not ‘all’ is ever anything.” In other words, you cannot determine a cat’s personality solely based on its breed. Yes, certain breeds tend to have certain personalities, but you cannot just say, “I want a Ragdoll because all Ragdolls love other cats, love dogs, love children, love all people, sit in laps, sleep in the bed with you, flop over when you touch them, and do not shed” and expect your Ragdoll to conform. Ragdolls, like all cats, in fact like living beings, are individuals with their own personalities and their own quirks. To condemn them to be one way or another because of their breed is to seriously shortchange this magnificent breed.

Over the years in rescue, I have seen Ragdolls dumped at shelters and surrendered to rescue because they were not what their owners expected. “He’s not friendly enough,” “he doesn’t get along with my children,” “he swats at my dog,” and my personal favorite, “he sheds, and I was told Ragdolls don’t shed.” These cats are being just what they are: cats. In fact, I have found in a number of situations that cats that are surrendered for these reasons actually go into homes with dogs, or other cats, or children and do exceptionally well. They may even become lap-cats, and yes, cats that are not lap cats in certain situations can definitely become lap cats, but it sometimes takes effort on the part of the owner. You can’t expect your cat to immediately become what you want; you have to help her become what you want. Now, that does not mean you can force her to become anything. A cat that has a very independent personality is not necessarily going to become a lap cat, but she might actually become friendlier with incentives; yes, you reward cats to get them to do what you want them to do.

You want your Ragdoll to get along with your other cats; then, you need to be sure you introduce them correctly. You have to expend the effort to make the right environment for your cat to get along with its other companions. You want your cat to get along with dogs; then, make sure you spend the time you need to make sure your dog makes the right impression. It might include training for your dog. Galaxy Jackson recently did an episode on My Cat from Hell where he encouraged the people to work with their dog as much, if not more, than with the cats to make the situation work, and it did, but only with the effort to make sure the cats were comfortable in their own home. Amy Shojai has written a book called Competability: A Practical Guide to Building a Peaceable Kingdom Between Cats and Dogs available at Amazon.com. She also has a book called ComPETability: Solving Behavior Problems In Your Multi-Cat Household also available from Amazon.com. There are also a multitude of other books discussing how to integrate cats with other cats and dogs with cats. There are also a number of wonderful articles available at http://www.littlebigcat.com/category/behavior. Please don’t assume that your Ragdoll can’t get along; give her a chance and be sure that you actually give everyone an equal chance.

If you want your cat to sleep with you or sit with you, then you need to give her encouragement. She can only have treats when she is on the bed or she can only have treats when she sits with you. If you want her to spend time with you, then make sure you are spending time with her. Are you playing with her? Jean Hofve talks about the importance of interacting with your cat in her article “Indoor Enrichment for Cats”. Are you actively giving her the attention she needs? Galaxy Jackson in another My Cat From Hell episode talks about what he calls: “Eat, play, love.” You feed your cat, you play with her, and then you spend time loving on her. Your reward for the extra time you spend with your Ragdoll is a true companion whether she sits in your lap or sleeps on your bed with you. Isn’t that what you really want? A truly happy cat?

If your Ragdoll and your children are not getting along, ask yourself if you spent time making sure your children knows to respect your cat and her boundaries. There are a number of wonderful sources discussing how to create a bond between your Ragdoll and your children. There is an awesome article about introducing children to cats. Children, no matter the age, need to respect your cat. Additionally, be sure you include your children in your “eat, play, and love” time. If your cat does not love your child, she isn’t forcing you to choose your child over her; she is asking you to share equal time.

The excuse I find the most offensive for people who are giving up their Ragdolls is the hair. Yes, of course, Ragdolls shed. Cats shed. It is a fact of life. However, you can minimize the problems caused by shedding with diligent cleaning, dedicated grooming, and a good diet. You’ve heard that you are what you eat; well, that literally applies to your Ragdoll. The higher the quality of the food you feed, the better coat your cat will have, the less shedding you should expect. Regular grooming is also essential, but it doesn’t have to be a chore. Make it part of your routine; give your cat a special treat or time with a special toy as a reward each time you groom, and she will learn to love it.

The fact is that Ragdolls are awesome cats and they can be good companions for dogs, other cats, children, and you, but you must be willing to invest equal time into this relationship. The more time you spend, the more you will receive, and the better the chance you have at finding the perfect cat for your home.

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Post tags: featured, Ragdoll Cat, Ragdoll Cat Stereotypes

Prize Package details – 1 coupon good for a FREE 14lb bag of Swheat Scoop
# of winners – 3
Open to Addresses in – Continental USA and Hawaii Only – No Alaska – sorry Alaskans!

If you’d like to enter for a chance to win 1 coupon good for a FREE 14lb bag of Swheat Scoop:

1. leave a comment on this post telling us why you’d like this litter, for an additional entry!
2. For an additional chances to win (up to 5 more chances), share this giveaway Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Google+ or YouTube, and leave a separate comment for each social network that you post it on – to let me know that you shared. Be sure to use the following hashtags: #floppycats #giveaway #catlitter and these Twitter handles: @floppycats @SwheatScoop when you post!  Here’s an example of what you could post: “BONUS Giveaway!  Swheat Scoop Cat Litter http://ow.ly/kN6BW @floppycats @SwheatScoop #catlitter #floppycats ”

This giveaway ends on May 31, 2013 at 11:59 CT. A random winner* will be chosen in a drawing on June 1, 2013.

Please consider liking Swheat Scoop on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest as a thank you for sponsoring this giveaway!

*No purchase necessary to enter. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Winners will be alerted via e-mail. The winner(s) of the giveaway are required to give Floppycats a physical address (to which the prize will be mailed) within 72 hours. If a reply email containing the physical address where the prize should be mailed is not received within 3 business days, alternate winner(s) will be chosen again by random. Winners may or may not be announced in a separate post following the drawing.

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Post tags: cat litter, featured, giveaway, Swheat Scoop

Here is a recent episode:

I have watched all 4 episodes and love learning about cats and their health care, so that I am more knowledgeable about where to direct people.  Not to mention saving cats is cool!  I am excited to see future episodes and have to thank Dr. Neely and Nicole for doing this and putting it on the Internet for FREE!

Here’s the link to the most information about the show.

New episodes are released every Saturday at 7:30 p.m. (EST) and they’re available on demand.

It’s all hosted at http://tailsfromthecatdoctor.ewave.tv .

Right now there are 4 episodes in the series.

You can join them too on Twitter and Facebook.

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Post tags: Ask The Cat Doctor, Dr. Neely

The Zoom Groom was fine, but it isn’t a product like Whole Life Pet Treats or Neko Flies that I will praise and praise.

As you can see in the videos below – some of the cats liked it (Caymus and Murphy) and some didn’t (Trigg and Charlie).  Also, I wasn’t a fan of how the hair went flying everywhere – seems like it would be best to use this brush outside.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Zoom Groom sells for $3.86 on Amazon – Kong Company Cat Zoom Groom Czg $3.86

Do you have a Zoom Groom?  How do you like it?  How does your kitty like it?

I bought the KONG Zoom Groom from Amazon.com. Buying the product did not influence this post.

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Post tags: cat brush, KONG, Zoom Groom