First timer

Well, in spite of my interest in technology I have never participated in a group like this. I'm not sure exactly how to get started here but Ill give it a whirl.

I might as well get the caveats out of the way; I'm not really a cat person lol. I have had many dogs in my lifetime but due to severe allergies , no cats. I am also a supporter of and volunteer at our wonderful shelter. And yet, I own and breed Ragdoll Cats lol. Go figure!

All I can say is Ragdolls don't trigger my allergies and the breed's unique characteristics , being quite canine, fascinate me and appeal to the scientific/behaviorist side of me.

I firmly believe many things with regard to dogs and cats some of which are: there are many to be adopted from shelters, all furry pets should be altered and zero de-anything (from de-barked to de-clawed), there most certainly is a place for pure breeds, and irresponsible breeders and owners should be held accountable for mistreating animals.

I am also a researcher, artist, writer and animal behaviorist. One of my favorite activities is making in-home visits when people are unsure of what is going on with a new Ragdoll in the family.

I am not a vet or vet tech , but I devote a great deal of time keeping current with feline medical issues, research and treatments. While I am happy to share my experiences and opinions a sick animal always , first and foremost , needs to see a vet sooner than later.

I believe in the power of sharing experiences, listening with an open mind and speaking from a place of objectivity, careful observation and credible evidence; its the only way to grow, learn and make a difference.

Hi and welcome to TCS! I think you will like it here. This site is very pro spay/neuter and very anti declawing. And while we do share our experiences and hope to help people with all sorts of cat-related issues, there are many instances when nothing can replace competent vet care.

Out of curiousity, as a breeder, what do you feed your cats? What is the diet you recommend to the people who purchase your Ragdolls?

My background is research so I'm very careful about what claims I believe. As a result when a groomer/friend with whom I had just reconnected after many years told me great things about a particular brand I was skeptical. I agreed to try it but did so in a controlled setting putting 1/2 of kittens, queens, etcetera on the new food and keeping the other 1/2 on the high end pet store brand we had been using.

The diff was impressive; sorry if I sound like an ad- I just believe in this food and it's story. I have used it for 7 years now.

It's Life's Abundance, formulated by Dr. Jane Bics. She uses network marketing which makes it FAR more affordable and better than anything a mfgr could make. You see, the advertising and middleman expenses that large mfgrs have to pay out prevents them from putting the highest quality ingredients into the product. Mfrgs could NEVER bring a food like Life's Abundance, to market; it would cost WAY TO MUCH- no one would buy it.

The website is a wealth of information.

Welcome to the site, I'm sure you'll love the EXPERIENCE all these people can contribute regarding cat care and behavior. I really think you ARE a cat person, how can you not be with all those cats around? I love Ragdolls, they are truly a wonderful breed. It's odd that different breeds can bring about different allergic reactions in people, maybe you could research that and match people with the appropriate breed. My brother can only be around Siamese! Good luck and keep posting.