Frequently
Asked Questions
Is
the Ragdoll the right cat breed for me?
What traits does Hallmark Ragdolls
specialize in?
What sets Hallmark Ragdolls
apart from competitors?
Why should I buy from a breeder?
Is
shipping stressful for the cat?
Why is Hallmark Ragdolls against
declawing?
Is there a contract? A health
guarantee?
Why doesn't Hallmark Ragdolls routinely
alter kittens before sale?
How much do Hallmark Ragdolls
cost?
Is
the Ragdoll the right cat breed for me?
If you want a large, quiet, super-friendly, less active
underfoot indoor lap cat (whew!), then the answer is
an emphatic YES. If you want a vocal cat, you may not
be happy with the quiet Ragdoll. Frequent travelers
may find this attention-seeking breed unsuitable as
an only pet. Expectant parents have no need to worry
about a jealous new feline addition to the family; Ragdolls
are easygoing and not given to jealousy over rivals
for affection. There are no special health concerns
for this breed, so expect to devote a good 15-20 years
to this loving companion.
What
traits does Hallmark Ragdolls specialize in? Hallmark
Ragdolls specializes in breeding for the easygoing affectionate
personality that is the hallmark of the breed, appreciated
in both our show-quality and pet-quality cats and kittens.
I focus equally on breeding for excellent health and
the appearance which exemplifies the breed: large
size; deep,
brilliant blue eyes; broad,
full faces; solid bone
structure; and
perfection in markings.
I love all patterns and colors,
and I breed many of them. Pet-quality Ragdolls may lack
the perfection in markings or eye color that are the
hallmark of show-quality cats but still retain that
magnificent Ragdoll personality and intelligence.
What
sets Hallmark Ragdolls apart from other breeders?
Hallmark
Ragdolls has over 20 years of experience breeding Ragdolls
and produces cats that exemplify the breed without sacrificing
the vitality of our breeding stock. We are NOT a kitten
mill. Each kitten is raised underfoot with lots of love
and attention, and kittens are only allowed to leave
their mothers after they have matured sufficiently and
learned critical social skills (about 12-14 weeks),
such as socializing with others and using litter boxes
and scratching posts. Breeding cats are allowed sufficient
time between litters to put their best efforts into
grooming each litter for adulthood and maintaining their
own best health. Cat breeding is not something that
those motivated solely by money should attempt. I do
it for love of the Ragdoll breed, and spreading the
joy of Ragdoll ownership among as many people as wish
to be "owned" by one!
Why
should I buy from a breeder? As a loving
owner, you want your cat to be with you for as many
years as possible and free from the trauma of disease
and defects. Buying from a breeder
ensures that the cat's health history is known and gives
you greater security in knowing that your beloved companion
will be free from common problems such as Feline Leukemia,
Feline AIDS, heart and kidney disease, and parasites.
Adopting a cat from a shelter is commendable, but the
animal's health history is a mystery. You may find yourself
losing that pet early to hidden disease or spending
more on vet bills over the cat's lifetime. Buying from
a pet shop also has its dangers; many shopping mall
pets are bought as impulse buys, and such buyers often
haven't given much thought to looking after their new
pet's long-term welfare. Additionally, many shopping
mall pet shops buy their animals from "kitten mills"
who inhumanely exhaust their breeding stock and don't
properly socialize their animals for eventual buyers.
Such animals are often caged and not raised with the
consistent love and attention that a breeder offers
their animals. Buying
from a breeder is a process, not an impulse. There are
often waiting lists for kittens,
as demand may exceed supply due to more humane "refreshment"
periods between litters. Breeders also often require
a contract with the new pet-quality cat owner stating
that the owner must remain committed to the cat for
its entire life, not declaw the cat, provide adequate
medical care, spay/neuter the cat, and even be subject
to occasional visits from the breeder to ensure that
the contract is being adhered to. In short, buying from
a breeder ensures you are paying for a healthy pet whose
welfare remains paramount.
Hallmark
Ragdolls ships worldwide. Is shipping stressful for
the cat? Not as much as one might think.
Because of the Ragdoll's friendly, easygoing nature,
they suffer less stress than other breeds during shipping
and travel in general. Great care is taken to ship humanely
and minimize any stress the cat may feel. Your cat may
arrive slightly anxious but ready to attach itself to
your heels per true Ragdoll nature!
Why
is Hallmark Ragdolls against declawing cats?
Hallmark Ragdolls believes that declawing is unnecessary
and inhumane. Many countries worldwide have banned it
for exactly those reasons. Declawing is not like clipping
a cat's nails; it is the amputation of the entire last
joint of the cat's toe. You are essentially cutting
off half the cat's toes and destroying the muscles,
ligaments, tendons, and nerves there. These take many
months to heal. Cats walk on their toes and need their
whole toes for balance. Declawed cats suffer terrible
pain during healing and can become extremely sensitive
about their paws even long after healing. Some may exhibit
undesirable behavior, like refusing to use the litter
box, because their damaged toes never feel right again
digging in the litter. All the same goes for cats who
undergo a newer procedure called tendectomy, where the
joint is left intact but the tendon is cut. Most cats
can be quite easily trained with positive reinforcement
to use scratching posts, and clipping nails is likewise
easy. For more stubborn cats, there are other humane
alternatives, such as Soft
Paws®. Learn more about declawing in general
here,
and don't be afraid to ask your breeder about alternatives
when purchasing.
Is
there a contract I must agree to? Is there a health
guarantee? Yes and yes. You may view the
text of the Hallmark Ragdolls Pet
Purchase Guarantee and Agreement here.
At time of shipment, pickup, or delivery, your new cat
or kitten is guaranteed to be
free from FIP, FELV, FIV, parasites, and genetic or
congenital defect. If
for any reason you are not satisfied with your cat or
kitten, you may exchange for one of similar quality.
Note that because their immune systems are often not
yet fully mature, some kittens do get sniffles or watery
eyes once exposed to their new homes. That will pass
as their immune systems mature and adjust. If you need
reassurance, by all means call us.
Some
breeders alter (spay/neuter) their kittens before selling.
Why doesn't Hallmark Ragdolls do this?
Many customers want their kitten as soon as it's ready
to go to its new home (beween 12-14 weeks of age), and
we believe that is simply too young to stress the animal
with altering. Ideally a male can be neutered at 4 months,
while we prefer to wait longer to spay females. If a
customer is willing to wait until we deem the kitten
ready for altering, we will do it at an additional cost.
Please note that Hallmark Ragdolls reserves the right
per its contract to require proof of altering of a pet
or show quality kitten from the customer within 6-9
months after purchase or the customer may be liable
for the difference in price between those and a breeding
cat.
How
much do Hallmark Ragdolls cost?
It depends on the quality.
| QUALITY |
COST |
DESCRIPTION |
| Pet |
$600-750 |
Standard
colors with slight imperfections in markings and
eye color. |
| Show
|
$850-1500 |
Better
markings, eye color, conformity to breed standards.
Rarer colors and patterns. |
| Breeder
|
$1600
to over $3000 |
Bred
to carry specific bloodlines for breeding purposes. |
Our
prices are competitive with other Ragdoll breeders.
We sell males for the same price as females. Cats with
rarer colors and patterns
will cost more. Your new Ragdoll cat or kitten comes
with the above-mentioned health guarantee.
Buyers
do bear shipping costs
if applicable, which vary. We
ship worldwide. Be sure to ask us about them.
We
accept Visa, Mastercard, Paypal, personal checks (within
the United States), and cash. You may use your credit
card to pay online using PayPal; see our Pay
Online page.
Last
but not least, keep in mind that Hallmark Ragdolls cares
intensely about the future welfare of our cats and does
not sell a cat to just anyone who can pay. Be prepared
to answer questions about your past pet ownership as
well as your future plans for your pets and their family.
And of course it's a two-way street. We are happy to
answer any questions you may have, so do feel free to
contact us.
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