^{Responsible breeders put a lot of time, effort and money in order to take good care of their Ragdolls and raise the kittens properly. Breeding cats is not a profitable business but an expensive hobby.}

^{When you purchase a kitten, part of what you are paying for is the quality of a pure bloodline, the veterinary visits, the vaccinations, the cost of registration papers, health certificates, quality food, keeping up the cattery and all the other expenses that help having healthy kittens such us the medical costs for testing the parents for genetic diseases, DNA test etc. Some breeders also include the expenses for neutering your kitten or they neuter the kittens before they go to their new homes.}

^{All these costs plus the unexpected costs are a respectable amount on a yearly basis. Nevertheless, when buying a kitten from a correct breeder you can be confident that all the necessary steps have been taken to breed correctly and that the kitten has grown up in a healthy environment which focuses on the well being of the cat.} 

^{It might be tempting to buy a kitten without pedigree or from an unknown destination at a lower price but remember...a cheap buy is an expensive buy in the long run, both financially as emotionally.}

^{"Don't let the price of a Ragdoll kitten hold you back from getting one. Any present Ragdoll owner will attest to you that they are worth their weight in gold!"}

^{For additional information you can visit the following websites:}

^{http://rfwclub.org/fbargain.htm}

^{http://www.ragdoll-cats.com/Intro.htm}

^{Also read question 6 (professional versus backyard breeding)}

There is absolutely nothing wrong with stray cats. On the contrary, they are adorable, loving and fantastic companions. I am the first one recommending the adoption of cats from shelters and I have often saved abandoned kittens and tried to give them a home or keep them. Our dog Rosa is a dog that was abused and abandoned by her previous owner. We are very happy having her and we cannot miss her as she is giving us so much love and affection.

These are some of the kittens we have saved

^{A kitten for breeding is a kitten sold with breeding rights, which means that the owner is allowed to breed with it (according to the rules of a cat club). The price is much higher than a kitten sold as a pet (usually double or more). Please not that I do not sell cats for breeding in Cyprus but I am willing to give you all the advice needed if you are planning to start a cattery. In other words, all kittens sold by Aramis de Neria in Cyprus are neutered.}

^{The definition of a kitten sold as pet or breed is not really known in Cyprus. Some breeders are selling their kittens for a certain amount with a pedigree and a bit less without a pedigree. The result is that people might be tempted to breed because it is fun, because it would be a nice experience for the children or they end up having kittens without wanting them or without knowing how to deal with a pregnancy just because their cat was not sterilised and at the end even if they have might have had the best intentions, they create problems in their ignorance and end up with kittens which can not be adopted and end up in shelters or the streets.}

^{Almost in all European countries kittens are sold as pets or for breeding and I hope my fellow Cypriot citizens will understand and respect this rule.}

^{It is in the nature of a cat to scratch. In order to make your cat happy and if you do not want your cat to destroy your furniture then you absolutely need a scratch tree/post.}

^{Our kittens learn to use it from a very young age and only a small effort is necessary from your side once the kitten is at your place.}

^{Where to put the scratch tree in the house?
It has to be placed close to the living area where you spend most of your time. Ragdolls always like being around you so if the living room is used more often and you place the scratching tree in the bedroom, it will not work. The scratch tree is like their domain in the house and the higher it is the better as they can observe everything from there.}

<sup>What is a good size for a scratch tree?
There are different sizes on the market. Out of my experience I recommend you a high scratch tree with several levels. Do not buy the very small ones as it will never be used by your cat. The minimum size should be around 150cm.

- Scratch Posts
It is in the nature of a cat to scratch. In order to make your cat happy and if you do not want your cat to destroy your furniture then you absolutely need a scratch tree/post. For more information see question 9.</sup>

^{- Cat Litter Trays
Invest in a good cat litter tray. There are several models and shapes available. Chose a litter tray that is user friendly as you have some that do not open/close easily. Ragdolls are rather big cats so do not buy the smallest litter tray as your cat will not fit in.}

^{- Cat Bowls
Stainless steel, porcelain or plastic?
It is much better using porcelain or stainless steel bowls as plastic bowls as the smell of the food remains in the bowl (even after washing it) and cats do not like this. Never use the same ball for food and afterwards for water. Cats have a sensitive scent of smell and they will not appreciate this.}

^{- Pet Carrier
A pet carrier is a must. Please never put the cat in your car without a pet carrier, it can be very dangerous both for you as for your cat. In general they are not expensive but do not buy the cheapest one. Prefer a pet carrier with strong and durable plastic and you will have it for many years. Do not buy the smallest one as they are too small for Ragdolls.}

^{- Brushes
Contrary to Persians (who almost need to be brushed daily) Ragdolls' coat rarely makes knots. Brushing is particularly important during changes of season as cats shed more hair during this period. A cat can remove a lot of loose hair for herself when she licks her fur. When a cat gets hair in her mouth, it swallows it. So when cats groom themselves, they can ingest a great deal of hair, which is later vomited out as hairballs. Hence, brushing will remove this loose hair before the cat does it for herself and so reduce the production of hairballs.}

<sup>Two kinds of brushes are mainly used:
1.A brush is used for removing dead hairs from your pet’s coat.
2. The Anti Comb brush allows knots and tangles to be removed from all coats leaving your pet with a healthy, shiny coat.</sup>

^{- Pet Food Container
It is very important to keep the food in sealed containers as it keeps the food fresh and it keeps the moisture out.}

^{- Cat drinking fountains
There are several fountains in the market. It is not really necessary to buy one; this is an extra luxury for your cat. The Drinking Fountains constantly circulates water through its filter to ensure that the water is pure and fresh.}

^{Here you can find a list with poisous plants}