<p>@poetsheart, just a fair warning–one Ragdoll leads to another, pretty much inevitably. Mine are half brothers, six months apart. (That’s how long it took to realize we really needed two!) Best of luck with the new Raggie.</p>
<p>Ragdolls have great personalities, very affectionate.</p>
<p>@poetsheart - congrats on your baby. I’m not familiar with ragdolls. Our new baby is the same age! We are getting a Maine Coon. We already have two cats so I’m researching now how to introduce them all. But I’m of the belief that two cats are better than one. I love that middle of the night rumbling through the hallways. Since our other cat died one of them is a little lonely without a more active buddy. The other cat is 16 and not really into horseplay as much.</p>
<p>Hey with a Maine Coon you probably don’t have to go to the gym! (smile) </p>
<p>Thanks, MammaJ. I’m hoping to keep the cat population around here at one for the foreseeable future. I have been told by some that ragdolls need another cat to keep them company, but I want to bond with my new buddy and not have it form a primary attachment to another cat starting out. I’m an extreme night owl, and increasingly becoming a bit of a home body. I wouldn’t have seen myself doing this several years back, but there are times when I can go days on end without leaving the house once :-O. I’m counting on the fact that cats are largely nocturnal to help with the kitten’s need for companionship. I’ll be up and puttering about, watching Kdramas on the Roku, or peicing a quilt, or organizing a closet, so I hope I can count on the ragdoll’s reputation for following one from room to room, and generally wanting to be near and petted.</p>
<p>Eyemamamma, I was at a local cat show recently, and saw some of the most spectacularly beautiful Main Coons. One in particular had gorgeous tabby markings, emerald green eyes, and amazingly dramatic ear tufts. His gaze seemed to say, “don’t hate me because I’m beautiful, darling.” B-). I know they can get even slightly larger than Ragdolls. The one at the show was certainly a big boy. I’ve read that the Maine Coon is a very affectionate breed as well. I love an affectionate cat. I don’t think I’m very computable with the idea of merely functioning as “the staff”, ie., “don’t talk to me unless there’s food involved.” 8-| </p>
<p>Ragdolls are purely indoor cats (at least they should be). Is that true of the Maine Coon as well? </p>
<p>ALL cats should be indoor cats! At least if you want them to stay alive and well. It’s true that some breeds are more passive than others and would be worse at defending themselves, but no cat can defend itself against a car
or larger animal. </p>
<p>True story: One night we suddenly realized one of our Ragdolls was nowhere to be found and must have somehow gotten outside. We were frantic and searched for hours. I was in the process of making up flyers to post around the general universe when my husband discovered that our boy was huddled deeply under one of the foundation plantings right by the front door. He’s a big boy, but had smooshed himself into a small, trembling ball, absolutely terrified of finding himself outdoors with no idea how to get back in. We’d been calling for him, wandering for blocks, and there he was, a foot from the door, too freaked out to make his presence known. He’s never ventured anywhere near the front door since.</p>
<p>Well this breeder makes you sign a contract that your cat will be indoor only. Which I would anyway - and apparently maine coons tend to get catnapped. My old man cat will go on our back porch and sun himself when it’s warm out, but otherwise I’m not a fan of letting cats outside. Our guy can apparently get up to 24lbs - woohoo that’s a big one! lol Apparently you can train them to do anything a dog can do. (can you just imagine the kitty litter situation I’m about to face?) </p>
<p>I’ve never bought a “designer” animal before - it’s always been the shelter for us. But I want one of these so badly I figured out of all the animals I’ve rescued, just once I can get a designer baby. </p>
<p>@MommaJ - without fail once it turns warm our indoor cat attempts to make a run for it - runs right for our shed and hides underneath it until we send our old man out there to get him out and escort him home. </p>
<p>I totally agree that all cats should be indoor cats. They live much longer that way, and are far less prone to flea and tick infestation, not to mention the myriad dangers encounters with cars and other animals pose. My breeder also requires a signed contract which mandates that the cat be kept strictly indoors. I have absolutely no problem with this, because I would keep any cat in my care indoors. One of my greatest fears would be experiencing what MammaJ did. The panic would just about do me in, not knowing where my baby might be, whether he might be hurt or killed, etc. Of course Ragdolls have a reputation as a passive breed, so they might not have the first clue as to how to defend themselves in a fight with another animal. They are also prime targets for catnapping. I’m also totally on board with the No De-clawing clause of the contract. If people only knew what that entails…(Shutters…) Additionally, I’m a bird enthusiast. Lots of song birds are killed each year by house cats. Certain bird species populations are already experiencing serious decline. Best to let cats enjoy birds from the safety of a window perch inside. </p>
<p>My church treasurer back in WI once decided to bring one of her kitties along to her cottage up north. The poor thing was carried off by a bald eagle.</p>
<p>My daughter just had someone build her an enclosure for her cats that extends from the window out onto her back porch. Her cats can sit “outside” and enjoy the warm sun and fresh air. </p>
<p>I have had two rotating cats for decades now, one dies, we get a new kitten. We did a careful separation and then introduction when we first got our now younger cat. Number 1 cat is a 14 year old, a grumpy lady, and when the now 3 year old whippersnapper moved in, old lady was nasty hostile, and still is at times. There is an interesting companionship developing however, a little more every year. They sleep on the bed, in separate and distinct spots. They often eat together, go downstairs together, and I’ve caught a few games of tag in recent months, though a little hissing still occurs, mostly when my affection is being solicited. The point, is that even if there is some long lasting hostility, gradual improvement can occur. </p>