Bringing a new Ragdoll kitten into your home is an exciting journey, and understanding their developmental stages is crucial for providing the best care. At RegencyRags, our commitment extends beyond breeding beautiful kittens; we focus on nurturing their health, temperament, and overall well-being from the very first moments of their lives. This guide offers an in-depth look at the first 10 to 12 weeks of a Ragdoll kitten’s life, highlighting our dedication to raising exceptional feline companions.
Early Socialization and Birth
The socialization process for RegencyRags kittens begins at birth. We ensure a warm, clean, and quiet environment for our mothers to deliver their litters. I am present during each birth, assisting the mothers and ensuring the newborns are cleaned and kept warm. This immediate bond with both mother and caregiver establishes trust, transferring a sense of security and love to the kittens from day one. My husband has also stepped in as a midwife on occasion, ensuring continuous care. We prioritize a peaceful birthing process, though emergencies like tubal pregnancies sometimes require a C-section.
Daily Care and Identification
Once the kittens are born and settled with their mother, daily weighing begins to monitor their milk intake and weight gain. Each kitten receives a “birth name” using an alphabet system for each queen, along with an iodine mark on their shoulder for precise identification, especially useful when kittens have similar coloring. This meticulous record-keeping allows us to track their development closely. We aim to send pictures of newborns to those on the waiting list within the first week.
Developmental Milestones: Weeks 1-4
- Weeks 1-2: Kittens resemble baby mice or hamsters and are difficult to photograph due to their wiggling and closed eyes. We prioritize keeping them with their mother. Pictures are typically sent out weekly once they reach three weeks old.
- Week 3: Kittens begin to venture out of the birthing box, exploring their surroundings and following their mother to food and water. They start recognizing my voice, showing their natural curiosity. By this age, they begin to look more like baby kittens and their eyes are open.
- Week 4: Kittens are actively toddling around, though not yet running or jumping. This is a period of significant bonding and cuddling with both mother and caregiver. They begin to sample canned food, typically Nature’s Variety Instinct frozen raw chicken, though they initially find the texture unusual.
Toilet Training and Dietary Introduction: Weeks 5-7
- Week 5: Litter box training commences. Kittens are becoming more sure on their feet and are introduced to solid food more consistently. We use pine pellets and low-profile litter boxes, often observing a “mass potty experience” as kittens follow each other. At this stage, they also start nibbling on their mother’s Royal Canin Persian dry food, supplementing their raw diet. Introducing different flavors of Nature’s Variety, such as Duck and Rabbit, is also part of this week’s routine.
- Weeks 6-7: Kittens have largely mastered the litter box, with occasional accidents. They can now jump, run, and play with toys, becoming miniature versions of adult cats. This is an entertaining period filled with playful wrestling and affection. It’s also around 7 weeks old that we can begin to assess whether a kitten is pet or show quality. Individual pictures are usually sent out starting at 6 weeks old.
Health, Temperament, and Beauty: The RegencyRags Standard
The health and well-being of our Ragdoll cats and kittens are paramount, on par with temperament and beauty. As a hobby breeder, maintaining a small cattery size minimizes the risk of diseases like FIP. Unlike dogs, cats have less robust immune systems, making them susceptible to stress-induced illnesses when kept in large groups.
The Corona Virus is common in cats, akin to the common cold in humans, and is usually harmless in healthy individuals. However, under stress, it can mutate into FIP. To mitigate this risk, we maintain strict hygiene, scooping litter boxes twice daily and sterilizing them weekly with a bleach solution. Our nine cats are housed in three separate “colonies” of no more than four, each with their own facilities. This ensures diseases are kept to a minimum, especially crucial for kittens with underdeveloped immune systems during their first eight weeks. Kittens receive their first vaccine at eight weeks old, after which they are permitted to have visitors.
The health of our breeding cats directly impacts the kittens. We provide a diet of Royal Canin dry food, various grain-free canned foods, and Nature’s Variety Instinct Raw food. The benefits of raw food, including improved health, shinier coats, and reduced odor, have been remarkable. Most of our breeding cats are retired by three years old to enjoy family life as pets.
Finally, beauty is a key element we strive for. We actively show our cats in TICA for confirmation, aiming for a sweet doll face, medium-length soft coat, sparkling blue eyes, long fluffy tails, and a well-muscled body. Our breeding program focuses on achieving specific conformational traits like an excellent modified wedge head, a pronounced change of direction from nose to forehead, strong chins, correct eye shape and placement, and medium-sized ears.
We invite you to explore our galleries to see the beauty, health, and temperament that define RegencyRags Ragdolls. Our kittens are truly exceptional, embodying the best qualities of this beloved breed.
