Adoption Processes & Logistics

How does the kitten reservation and pickup process work?

Once you submit our online adoption application, we will review your details. We screen every family thoroughly to ensure a safe, loving, and ideal fit for our home-raised Ragdoll babies. If your application is approved, you will be formally notified via email, at which point we will invite you to place your reservation deposit via Interac e-Transfer. Deposits are accepted on a strict first-come, first-served basis to secure your chosen kitten. To share in the excitement as your kitten matures, we will keep you updated with pictures every 2 to 3 weeks so you can watch the growth and development of your baby. Finally, on your officially scheduled kitten pickup day, you will arrive at our designated location to sign the final adoption agreements, review official veterinary health booklets, and take your new companion home.

What are your business hours, and can I visit your Ragdoll cattery in Ontario to see the kittens before adopting?

Our digital business hours for inquiries and adoption applications are Monday to Sunday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (EST); however, our private residence in Ontario is not open to the public for casual visits, tours, or kitten viewings.

As an ethical Ragdoll breeder in Ontario, our top priority is the health and well-being of our cats. Due to the high volume of adoption inquiries we receive from across Ontario and Canada, it is impossible to host public viewings. To maintain a safe, disease-free environment and protect our active family home, in-person visits are reserved strictly for confirmed families on their scheduled kitten pickup day.

While we do not host an open-door facility, we process applications all week long during our standard operating hours to help you find your perfect kitten. We appreciate your understanding and support in keeping our home and kittens safe!

Who is responsible for the kitten’s spaying or neutering surgery?

Under our adoption agreement, the spay or neuter procedure must be completed by 6 months of age at the adoptive family’s expense. While some breeders alter kittens as early as 10 to 12 weeks for administrative convenience, peer-reviewed veterinary studies show that pediatric altering can be detrimental to slow-maturing, large-frame breeds like the Ragdoll.

Sex hormones are biologically necessary to regulate skeletal maturation and signal exactly when bone growth plates should close. Altering a kitten too early delays growth plate closure, causing their limbs to grow unnaturally long and structurally weak, which significantly increases the risk of lifelong joint issues and severe long-bone fractures as the cat gains weight. Furthermore, allowing kittens to reach 6 months of age ensures their natural, confident, and affectionate personalities fully stabilize. Once your licensed veterinarian completes the standard surgery at 6 months, simply submit the official veterinary receipt to our family to release your kitten’s TICA registration papers.

When and how will I receive my kitten’s official TICA registration papers?

Aden Ragdoll Cattery is proudly registered with both The International Cat Association (TICA) and the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA), and we strictly abide by the TICA Responsible Breeder’s Code of Ethics. Your kitten’s official TICA registration papers will be gladly provided to you upon receipt of official veterinary proof confirming that your kitten has been spayed or neutered by 6 months of age.

Is sales tax added to the price of a Ragdoll kitten?

Yes, applicable sales tax is included in our pricing. As a legally licensed, registered, and ethical Ragdoll cats breeder in Canada, we operate in full compliance with Canadian tax laws. All of our listed kitten adoption fees for Canadian residents are completely all-inclusive of applicable GST/HST based on your specific province of residence. Please note that international adoptions or purchases shipped directly to the United States are exempt from Canadian sales taxes.

What is your stance on declawing cats?

We strictly oppose the practice of declawing. Declawing is not a simple nail trim; it is a major surgical amputation of the last bone of each toe that causes lifelong chronic pain, nerve damage, and severe behavioral problems. We require all adoptive families to sign a contract agreeing to never declaw their cat. Ragdolls are highly intelligent and learn very quickly how to use scratch posts when encouraged with sisal rope posts and catnip.

Do you offer kitten pickups for families across Ontario? 

Yes, we welcome families from all over the province of Ontario. While our Ragdoll cattery is home-raised, we regularly accommodate scheduled kitten pickups for families traveling from Toronto, Ottawa, Mississauga, Brampton, Hamilton, and the surrounding Greater Toronto Area (GTA). 

 

Health, Health Testing & Genetic Guarantees

Are your breeding cats tested for genetic diseases?

Yes. To ensure the lifelong health of our litters, all of our parent breeding cats are DNA tested and confirmed negative for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). Because we invest heavily in advanced genetic screening, we proudly stand behind our kittens with a written 2-year health guarantee against lethal genetic and congenital defects.

What veterinary care and supplies do the kittens receive before leaving your home?

Every kitten raised cage-free inside our busy, active family home receives exceptional preventative medical care. Before your scheduled pickup day, your kitten will be fully litter-trained, will have completed four routine preventative deworming treatments, and will have successfully received two full sets of core age-appropriate vaccinations. You will receive a complete veterinary health booklet detailing these records at pickup.

 

Breed Evolution & Development

How big do Ragdoll cats eventually get?

The Ragdoll is a large, slow-maturing breed that takes three to four years to reach its full physical size and weight. Neutered adult males typically grow to be quite substantial, averaging between 15 to 20 pounds (6.8 to 9 kg) or more. Spayed adult females are slightly smaller but still impressive, usually weighing between 10 to 15 pounds (4.5 to 6.8 kg).

How do Ragdoll coat colors and patterns develop over time?

Ragdoll kittens are born completely white. Their signature point coloration and intricate patterns begin to slowly develop on their ears, nose, and paws within the first few weeks of life. Their coat color will continue to gradually deepen and darken as they mature. It generally takes up to three full years for a Ragdoll to reveal its true, deeply rich adult coat color and pattern markings.

 

Nutrition & Home Preparation

What should I feed my new Ragdoll kitten?

To prevent digestive upset, maintain optimal health, and support rapid bone and muscle growth, our kittens are raised strictly on a premium, nutrient-dense dry kibble diet. As long as your kitten maintains a high daily water intake, a high-quality dry food provides completely balanced and comprehensive feline nutrition. We will gladly share our exact premium brand recommendation with you prior to your scheduled pickup day so that you can purchase the correct food in advance. Any future dietary updates or brand transitions should always be introduced very slowly over a period of 7 to 10 days to protect your kitten’s sensitive digestive system.

Are Ragdoll cats suitable for small apartments or condos?

Yes, Ragdolls adapt exceptionally well to smaller living spaces like condos and apartments. Because they are a calm, quiet, and low-energy breed that prefers staying close to the ground rather than scaling high curtains, they do not require massive running spaces. As long as they have vertical scratching posts, interactive toys, and regular daily play sessions with their owners, they are perfectly content in compact layouts.