HEALTH
Breeding healthy kittens
DNA TESTING AND MORE
We take the necessary steps to ensure our kittens are healthy and stay healthy, starting from pre-conception.
We complete DNA genetic health testing with Langford Vets, and blood tests for infectious disease prior to mating, amongst others preventative health steps. See below for more info.
HEALTH PLANNING
We take the necessary steps to ensure our kittens are healthy and stay healthy, starting from pre-conception:
Our cattery is FeLV / FIV clear. We keep it this way by keeping our cats inside and completing FeLV/FIV blood tests prior to mating.
We complete genetic testing at Langford Vets, University of Bristol for all of our breeding cats. The relevant test for Ragdolls is RD-HCM (Ragdoll Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy). PKD is eradicated in Ragdolls and therefore no longer relevant to test for.
Our queens do not have a litter before 1 year of age and do not have more than 3 litters in a 2 year period - aligned to GCCF good breeding principles.
We check matings via Pawpeds to ensure a very low inbreeding co-efficient. We are also PG free, ensuring not to replicate the defective dwarfism gene.
Our females are checked by the vet for good health prior to pregnancy.
We feed our cats high quality, fresh food with a high % of meat. More details.
We periodically treat our cats for fleas and kittens are wormed at least twice before going to their new home.
Kittens have two courses of vaccinations at 8-9 weeks and 12 weeks old, and their health is checked by our vet.
If a kitten is slow-developing, we will hold them back longer.
Feel free to ask us about any of the above.
Further Information
FeLV (Feline leukaemia virus) is a virus that weakens the cat's immune system, making them more susceptible to other diseases. FeLV can be spread via saliva and median survival time is 2.5 years following diagnosis.
FIV (Feline immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that weakens the cat's immune system, similar to the human HIV disease, and is spread mainly through fighting or mating. It is not curable and is a slow and progressive disease. Median survival time is 5 years from diagnosis.
RD-HCM (Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) is the most common form of heart disease in cats, with affected animals at risk of developing congestive heart failure and occasionally sudden death. It is a progressive disease so more likely in older cats. It is present in younger cats only due to genetic defect.
PKD (Polycystic Kidney Disease) is an inherited disorder characterised by the growth of cysts in the kidneys and other organs.