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Understanding Ragdoll Cats and Heart Disease

One of the most sought-after breeds of cats, the Ragdoll developed in the 1960s in California, earning its name because of the way it goes limp when held. The genetic heritage of these cats incorporates some of the most desirable qualities of Burmese, Persian, and other breeds. Most owners are drawn by two stand-out characteristics of the Ragdoll: the breed’s friendly, easy-going nature and its beauty.

In addition to their soft, full coats that don’t shed, Ragdolls are renowned for their gentle but playful temperaments. This breed is typically calm and loving, and makes friends easily with humans and other pets. When properly socialized, Ragdolls are an especially good choice as a companion animal for children, senior adults, or people with allergies. Along with the Siberian, the Ragdoll is one of the few purebred cats whose fur is least likely to provoke allergies.

Overall, Ragdolls tend to be healthy cats. They can, however, be prone to specific health conditions, including one especially serious one: the heart disease known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). This condition requires long-term attention from an experienced vet. HCM results in a thickened heart muscle, which eventually becomes unable to adequately pump blood. This can lead to severe blood clots or congestive heart failure.

Signs of HCM include excessive thirst, listlessness, and rapid, open-mouth breathing. Blood clots can also result in extremities that are cold to the touch or extreme pain in the back legs. While HCM can’t be cured, prompt diagnosis and treatment can potentially extend a cat’s lifespan for two years.

Experienced Ragdoll breeders understand how to screen for the genetic patterns that predispose a cat to HCM. That’s why it’s important for anyone considering a Ragdoll as a pet to deal only with breeders who run genetic tests on their animals and are transparent about the results.

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Common Ragdoll Cat Diseases

The Ragdoll cat is a type of cat known for its unique colorpoint fur and striking blue eyes. It has a large, sturdy build and a semi-long, silky-smooth coat. It is also a gentle and sociable animal. The Ragdoll is the product of Ann Baker, an American breeder who developed this breed in the 1960s. Ragdoll cats can have some health problems, such as heart disease, kidney disease, and obesity.…

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Tips to Keep Your Cat Warm During Winter

Most cats are often averse to extremely low temperatures. Extreme cold might result in frostbite or hypothermia in cats. Hence, it's advisable to pay attention to safety measures to keep your cat warm during the extreme cold of winter.

Cats love a snuggly environment; they love their bed warm and cozy, especially during winter. So, one key way to care for your cats during winter is to ensure their bed is soft. You can layer it with enough blankets.

Elevating their bed will protect them from drafts and give them access to warmer air. Also, you could place a pet-safe microwavable heat pad under a blanket to ensure their bed stays warm longer than usual.

Similarly, a sedentary lifestyle might make your cat more susceptible to cold during winter. Creating time daily to engage your cat physically will increase their body temperature and keep them warm in the coldest periods of the year.

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About the Feline Herpesvirus

About 80 percent of the upper respiratory diseases in cats living in shelters emanate from the feline calicivirus and the feline herpesvirus. The feline herpesvirus (FHV) is transmitted among cats through direct contact with fluids (saliva and nasal secretions), inhaling of sneeze droplets, and exposure to contaminated environments such as food bowls, bedding, litter trays, and grooming…

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Polycystic Kidney Disease in Ragdoll Cats

Dr. Jennifer Creed is an experienced veterinarian in St. Charles, Illinois, with a DVM in veterinary medicine from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. As a cat expert, Dr. Jennifer Creed specializes in treating various health conditions, including polycystic kidney disease in Ragdoll cats. Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a common condition occurring in cats, which can…

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Symptoms and Diagnosis of Laceration in Cats

Dr. Jennifer Creed, a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, is an experienced veterinarian with extensive knowledge of the particular veterinary concerns that purebred cats, especially Ragdoll cats, encounter. Dr. Jennifer Creed is committed to offering them top-notch medical attention, which encompasses the repair of lacerations. In cats, laceration is…

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An Overview of Feline Respiratory Tract Infections

A graduate of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Jennifer Creed has been caring for companion animals throughout the state since 1982. Dr. Jennifer Creed is particularly experienced when it comes to the care of purebred cats and has spoken on various feline health matters, including respiratory conditions. Cats may develop any number of infections or diseases that…

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Feline Calicivirus Symptoms and Treatment

An experienced veterinarian, Dr. Jennifer Creed works at A Plus Petvet. In the past, she also worked as a veterinarian at the Emergency Veterinary Services. Dr. Jennifer Creed mostly specializes in respiratory diseases that affect catteries. Feline Calicivirus is a virus that results in respiratory or oral disease in cats. While many cats may resist the virus and infection and recover completely, versions of the virus can cause death. Symptoms associated with the virus are similar to flu, sneezing, cold, and nasal congestion. Cats can also experience high fevers and even heavy hair loss in more severe cases. Tutors that believe that their cat suffers from the Feline Calicivirus can take the cat to a veterinarian who can give a diagnosis. The veterinarian analyzes a cat’s symptoms and can take sways out of their eyes and mouth to be tested in special labs. Treatments for Feline Calicivirus include antibiotics and IV fluids. Veterinarians may also recommend strong-smelling and soft foods for cats as cats often lose appetite when they suffer from the virus.

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Tips for Adopting a Healthy Ragdoll Cat

Tips for Adopting a Healthy Ragdoll Cat

An experience veterinarian, Dr. Jennifer Creed is committed to rescuing, breeding, and caring for Ragdoll cats. Throughout her career, Dr. Jennifer Creed has shared knowledge of the special veterinary issues that purebred cats sometimes exhibit through continuing education programming for other veterinary services professionals. Though Ragdoll cats do not present idiosyncratic diseases, they can…

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Dr. Jennifer Creed Profiled in Online Publication

Dr. Jennifer Creed Profiled in Online Publication

Dr. Jennifer Creed is an experienced veterinarian from St. Charles, Illinois. With decades of experience helping animals, Dr. Jennifer Creed was interviewed and profiled by Voyage Chicago’s online publication. Dr. Creed grew up with a younger brother who had severe asthma, and therefore pet choices were limited. Regardless, she was determined to care for animals and had several low-allergen pets…

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Ragdoll Cat Exercise and Training Needs

Ragdoll Cat Exercise and Training Needs

a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Jennifer Creed is highly experienced in animal surgical care. In addition to her decades of experience in emergency care, Dr. Jennifer Creed specializes in the medical and care needs of the purebred Ragdoll cat breed. Registered with the Cat Fanciers Association in 1993, Ragdoll cats were first bred in California during…

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Clinical Emergencies for Domestic Cats

Clinical Emergencies for Domestic Cats

Experienced veterinarian Dr. Jennifer Creed specializes in small companion and exotic animal care. While employed with Emergency Veterinary Services, Dr. Jennifer Creed delivered urgent medicine and surgical procedures for dogs and cats in distress. While most cats can maintain good health through annual checkups, emergency situations can arise that require a visit to the emergency veterinarian.…

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What Is Bordetella Bronchiseptica?

What Is Bordetella Bronchiseptica?

A graduate of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Jennifer Creed has accomplished a great deal in cat care, breeding, and rescue. Among her accomplishments, Dr. Jennifer Creed has provided continuing education instruction to cat show judges on preventing respiratory disease in breeding catteries. A bacterium that commonly causes upper respiratory tract infections in…

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CFA Tracks Most Popular Cat Breeds

Dr. Jennifer Creed is an experienced veterinarian in Illinois. Between 1998 and 2013, she served the families and pets of Lisle as an emergency veterinarian. Dr. Jennifer Creed is particularly familiar with the care of felines and has spent time as a purebred cat breeder, including breeding Ragdoll cats.

According to the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA), the most popular breed of cat in the…

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Tips to Keep in Mind When Buying a Ragdoll Cat

Dr. Jennifer Creed, DVM, currently resides in Elburn, Illinois, and has treated canine and feline patients at A Plus Petvet as a locum veterinarian since 2013. An experienced ragdoll cat enthusiast, Dr. Jennifer Creed actively breeds and rescues ragdoll cats. Ragdoll cats can be affected by the same common diseases as cats without pedigrees, including upper respiratory disease, feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Therefore, purchasing a kitten from a breeder with a good reputation and a long track record of successful breeding is one way to help ensure your cat will be healthy. Reputable breeders typically also provide instructions regarding the proper care of your kitten along with a written guarantee. When adopting a ragdoll cat, be wary of discounted kittens listed on general websites, since breeders who produce well socialized and healthy kittens cannot do so inexpensively. Adopters should also bear in mind that it is generally less costly to spend more money to buy a healthy kitten than it is to buy one at a lower price but that will require veterinary care to improve its health.

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What Makes Ragdoll Cats Unique?

A graduate of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Jennifer Creed performs emergency medicine and surgery on pets in Illinois. Dr. Jennifer Creed maintains a special interest in rescuing and breeding Ragdoll cats. Developed in the 1960s by a California breeder named Ann Baker, Ragdoll cats are a “pointed” breed. Their points - face, ears, tail - are darker in color than their bodies, similar to Siamese cats. By carefully selecting cats with endearing, friendly temperaments and white fur, Baker created the Ragdoll breed. Today, Ragdoll cats are prized for their uniquely relaxed temperaments, fluffy white fur, and blue eyes. Ragdoll cats tend to be more interested in humans than other cat breeds, often greeting their owner at the door and following them closely through the house. Ragdolls are also known to play fetch and come when they are called. The Ragdoll's plush coat is low maintenance, and they are known as floor cats, not jumpers. Overall, the Ragdoll breed is well-behaved, affectionate, and intelligent, making it an ideal pet.

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What Diseases are Prevalent in Ragdoll Cats?

What Diseases are Prevalent in Ragdoll Cats?

  Ragdoll Cats Image: vetstreet.com

A graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Dr. Jennifer Creed has built a successful career as a veterinarian through her work at A Plus Petvet and the Depaw University Canine Campus. Currently a locum veterinarian, Dr. Jennifer Creed specializes in the care of Ragdoll cats, a breed prone to developing several medical conditions.

Like all pure…