Adopting a purebred ragdoll can feel like a chore. And you’re right. There can be minor  hurdles to finding your dream kitty. You may think that securing a place on the waitlist is the way you want to go. It can be a great option for ensuring you can take home a ragdoll kitten from the breeder of your choice. But there are reasons you may NOT want to.

You need flexibility to shop around.

You prefer the flexibility of continuing to search for your ragdoll kitten. If your deposit/commitment is tied up with a breeder, will you feel restricted? Maybe you want to be able to check with other breeders and adopt one directly should one become available.

Timing is everything.

Maybe you hope to acquire a ragdoll kitten on a particular date – a birthday, for example. What if your kitten is not ready by that date? How will you adjust?

Hoping for a specific look.

Perhaps you envisioned a seal mink without any white, but the whole litter produced mitted kittens.

Sometimes we have ideas about exactly how our new kitten will appear, such as a symmetrical blaze or a perfectly aligned V in a bicolor. Such markings are ideal—these are show-quality features!

Maybe you are really hoping for such features, but Mother Nature selected other features to showcase.

Expecting a specific sex.

Females are in higher demand. Many seem to prefer a female over a male ragdoll—including breeders. Queen retention is vital to the breeding program. It makes sense that breeders continue a good lineage and where else will he find that but within his own cattery?

Note: Male ragdolls make FABULOUS pets. They are generally larger (more fluff to love), less expensive to alter, and according to many breeders, less prone to pick favorites within a household. And allow me to dispel any rumor that male felines necessarily “spray” or “mark their territory.”  If neutered as recommended—before the age of six months—male ragdolls will not have developed the hormones which prompt this behavior.

Consider the facts.

• There is a distinction between a pet-quality and a show-quality ragdoll. 
• Mother Nature has plans of her own. She works on her own schedule and according to her own selection.
• Breeder’s rights to her own litters can periodically limit waitlist member’s selection. 
• The ragdoll is more than what the genotype presents. He is inquisitive, friendly, and sweet. And this is why we call them Masterpieces.

The Bottom Line.

The more selective you are, the longer you should expect to remain on the waitlist. That’s not necessarily a bad thing – you are, after all, awaiting your purrfect family pet!