1. The Registration Number for purebred TICA registered Ragdolls starts with "SBT". Ask the breeder if you can see the papers for the parents to be sure your kitten is purebred. "AOT" means one parent is another breed. You will not be getting the floppy, melt in your arms personality of a Ragdoll, with an "AOT" parent. Also, there are now fake registries that will register any cat without pedigree for a small fee. Many backyard breeders now use these phony registries to trick people into thinking they are buying a purebred. Research the registry the breeder registers with, to make sure.
2. Reputable breeders do not allow their kittens to leave home until they are at least 12 weeks old. Many wait until 16 weeks. Yes, they eat a lot between 8 and 12 weeks, but kittens need the extra time for proper socialization. They still need their Mommy and their littermates and getting your kitten any younger will not help you bond with it.
3. If the breeder does not register their cats, the cats are NOT purebred. Any colourpoint, medium haired cat could pass for a Ragdoll to the untrained eye, but you will notice the personality of an unregistered cat is not what it should be.
4. Purchase only from registered catteries. You can check with the associations to make sure the breeder is registered.
5. Ask to see the breeder's contract before you agree to purchase. The contract should include clauses such as "no declaw" and "indoor only". You should also get a health guarantee and your breeder should give after-sales support for any help you need. The contract may seem tough, but reputable breeders care about their babies for their entire lives.
6. Ask for references from families who have purchased a kitten from that breeder.
7. Be prepared to wait for your perfect kitten. Good breeders have waiting lists, usually from repeat customers and referrals. Good breeders don't over breed their cats and only breed when the queens are in perfect condition. When you think about the length of the cat's life, it's worth waiting a few months for a healthy kitten. A good breeder will refer you to another reputable breeder if they know they won't be able to help you.
8. Never buy a kitten that has been raised in a cage. Kittens need to be raised with other animals and people. The busy day-to-day happenings in a home and handling by people will help ensure a properly socialized kitten. Stay away from catteries with ALOT of cats. You can bet those cats live in cages.
9. Look for breeders with Champion Lines. Backyard breeders and kitten mills see the expense if champion cats as unnecessary to their profits. Reputable breeders don't profit from their cattery.
10. Newspapers are probably the worst source for kittens. Reputable breeders have websites with lots of photos. We are very proud of our cats and want everyone to see them. Backyard breeders advertise in newspapers since the condition of their cattery is usually nothing to brag about.
11. If a breeder offers you a discount if you take your kitten "unregistered", DON"T fall for it. It costs a breeder $10.00 to register an entire litter, regardless of the number of kittens in that litter. The breeder is just gambling that a discount will be enough incentive to keep you from discovering that the kitten is NOT purebred. Also, if a breeder says they don't register their kittens because they don't show their cats, don't believe them. They don't register because their cats are not real Ragdolls and they can't register them.
12. A reputable breeder will ask you lots of questions. Please don't be offended. We want the best for our babies and how you answer our questions will show us how committed you are to the life of our cat. We take the future of our kittens very seriously. Be wary if a breeder doesn't ask you questions. They won't be there to give you answers either after you take your kitten home.
13. Ragdolls are not cheap. If you see an ad for kittens that cost less than the average cost of other breeders, those kittens are not Ragdolls. If it seems too good to be true, it is.
14. Do not purchase from breeders who do not give at least two sets of shots to their kittens before allowing them to leave. The immunity that a kitten gets from it's mother milk starts to wear off at 7 or 8 weeks. The first shots should be given at 8-9 weeks. The second shots should be given at 12-13 weeks. Only after the second shots, will the immune system be functioning properly. Taking home a kitten that has had only one set of shots will cost you big in vet bills.
15. Reputable breeders early spay/neuter their kittens before allowing them to go home. Altering a kitten is less traumatic than altering an older cat. Please read the Winn Foundation's article on early alter.
It may seem like a bargain at the time but buying from a BYB will soon cost you in vet bills and heartache.