The Ragdoll cat is an animal that belongs to one of many breeds of giant cats that originated in the United States. It arose from crosses between other classes such as the Siamese, the Persian, and the Sacred Cat of Burma. This breed was legally recognized in the 1970s.
Over the years, these cute cats became pets for many families due to their loyalty and love. That is due in large part to the adorable features that they present, such as their blue eyes, large size, abundant fur, etc. Another aspect that has motivated people to adopt them as a pet is the ease of care.
Ragdoll cats are quite resistant to diseases, and their care is relatively easy. However, we must bear in mind that, like another living being, it can be exposed to conditions due to poor diet and little care. One of the negative aspects that these pets suffer is being overweight, which is mainly due to the unbalanced diet that their owners provide.
Frequent Diseases Suffered by Ragdoll Cats
Obesity
Obesity is the most frequent disorder that Ragdoll cats suffer. It is because they are very meek and enjoy living a quiet lifestyle. That is why, most of the time, they are lying on the floor or in their cat bed.
Obesity is due to many things. One of them is the lack of physical activity since many people do not play with their pets. That, over time, can be detrimental to the health of cats.
The other factor is poor diet. Feeding cats excessively and without the necessary nutrients is a serious mistake. The feeding of these pets must be balanced in nutrients and vitamins.
Digestive Problems
The cat’s fur is one of the fascinating aspects they have, but it is also one of the most harmful to their health. Ragdoll hair loss is moderate. That causes one of the most common problems in cats: fur balls.
All cats, especially those of the Ragdoll breed, tend to ingest their fur when they lick to sanitize their own body or when it falls off. Some of the problems that arise when a cat swallows its own fur ball are liquid vomiting, regurgitation, apathy, and more.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
It is one of the main diseases that Ragdoll cats suffer. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a cardiac problem caused by the thickening of the myocardial mass, preventing the cat’s heart from being unable to pump blood properly.
Some of the symptoms are weight loss, depression, apathy, vomiting, loss of appetite, difficulty breathing, and in the worst case, death.
Urinary Tract Problems
Felines are very prone to urinary tract problems that can affect their bladder, kidneys, urethra, or ureters. Some of the most common diseases related to this problem are urine infection, FUS (Feline Urologic Syndrome), and cystitis. Each of them presents specific symptoms that include pain when urinating, problems to expel the urine, urinary incontinence, and more.
Ragdoll Cat Care
All pets must be taken to a veterinarian to be vaccinated and dewormed when they are puppies. That does not mean that later they should not be treated when they are adult cats since every month they gain weight, and therefore, their body changes. Those changes can expose the pet to other diseases.
There are many things that we must take into account when caring for this type of pet. One of them is that they are very homey and calm cats, and that is a problem. Why? Because they are not capable enough to defend themselves when attacked or mistreated.
Its size and robustness should not fool us. Although these cats are large, they are incapable of harming a person or animal.
Some of the most basic vital care to consider are:
Hygiene
Staying clean is one of the most effective ways to have good health and avoid contracting a disease. It is necessary to regularly clean the ears of Ragdoll cats and trim their nails.
Grooming the feline is another good way to maintain its hygiene. It is essential to brush the cat’s fur at least twice a week. That will reduce hair loss and, therefore, the chances of the pet swallowing its fur balls.
Brushing its teeth is also essential to prevent any oral infection or problem. It is a breed that must be cared for as much as a human being.
Balanced Diet
Properly caring for any pet in the world requires providing a good diet.
Ragdoll cats grow larger than most cats and should be fed larger amounts of food in a controlled way. It should be noted that this breed of cat eats more food than the average cat. That does not mean that it has to be fed with any food.
It is important to provide foods that contain balanced amounts of protein and carbohydrates. These foods should be served along with fresh water.
Adhering to the letter with a proper diet will help prevent one of the most common problems in these cats, which is obesity.
Exercises
As we have previously said, Ragdoll cats are characterized by being large and quite calm. Although they like to play, they physically need to be lying on the floor much of the time. That is why it is necessary to help it to carry out physical activities, either playing with it or taking it for a walk.
In this way, the feline will be able to stay active and have a moderate physical condition, helping a lot to prevent future illnesses.
Summary
Ragdoll cats are pets that are generally in good health, but like other animals, they can get sick from poor care. Helping them maintain good health through a balanced diet, hygiene, and constant physical activity will prevent certain common illnesses.
With all that we have seen previously, a good idea would be to continually take the feline to the vet for a checkup and determine the state of health that it has.
Caring for these beautiful animals is extremely important since they are not only pets but also part of the family.
