1) Nail trimmers-- For cats/dogs or human nail clippers work great too!

2) Styptic Powder or swabs--- just in case the quick of the nail bed gets cut (it happens to the best of us sometimes). ALWAYS have this on hand when trimming their nails. We recommend a weekly nail trim, if needed. Cats can accidentally scratch their own eyes and this is what our Vet sees the most cases of.

3) Stainless steel comb--- We use the ones that are wide toothed on one end and medium toothed on the other end. About $8-10 at pet stores.

4) Brushes--- We have used several brushes and find that most any type will do.

5) Palm comb--- At Walgreen's in the human hair section they have these black or red plastic comb/ scalp scrubbers that slip onto your hand. They average about $1.50 and the cats LOVE them! Gives a great massage!

6) Shampoos--- Blue Dawn original (NOT the Ultra or anti-bacterial varieties) dishwashing liquid. This is THE mildest and best cleanser and degreaser that we have found for bathing animals! This makes a great shampoo and is one of the show secrets of the Cat Fancy! It is also used to clean up animals from oil spills, etc.

Mink Oil Shampoo by Jerob is a great shampoo! We really like all of their products. You can find their items here:

http://www.jerob.net/products.html

NOTE: Be VERY careful at home and with groomers on which kind of shampoo and conditioner is used on your cat! We prefer to just use the Blue Dawn and Mink Oil. We have had NO problems with them and LOVE them!



RED, CREAM , FAWN and CINNAMON colored cats can be more sensitive to shampoos and conditioners too. I always recommend mild ones for them period!

We recommend bathing every 2-3 months. Touchups can be done for any part, as needed. Just make sure to trim those claws FIRST! . Cats are experts at using their claws to grab and hold onto things.

7) Toys--- Our cats LOVE pipe cleaners! You can find great ones at the Dollar stores or at craft stores! We prefer the metallic-like ones at "Hobby Lobby". Just be sure to fold the ends under. Most any toy will work! Cats do have preferences so go off of what they like. Just make sure there is nothing that can come off and be swallowed or materials are not long enough to wrap around a kitten/ cat's neck.

8) Cat beds--- We have had several beds in the house and they loved all---but one. For some reason most of ours do not like the plush chenille beds. I think it feels weird to them for some reason. Their favorites are the egg crate bed that had the cotton cover and the faux fur ones. There is always someone laying claim to those beds!

9) Cat towers--- We recommend the ones from Wal-mart that go from the floor to the ceiling. They are $29.99 and that is the best price we have found, for the same quality as other pet stores! The cats love them and use them to scratch and climb!

10) Cat Trees-- These freestanding trees can be quite pricey! If you are handy they can be made from the cement forms found at Home Depot type stores--- with carpet, sisal rope, etc. It's very reasonable to make them! Either way---they are great to have for your cats! If your store bought one comes with any toys make sure they are not long enough to wrap around the kitten/ cat's throat.

11) Litter boxes--- We used covered litter boxes. With a Ragdoll always buy a larger size. They need those few added inches.

12) Litter---We use the Tidy Cats scoopable litter which you can find most anywhere. We have tried several litters and found these to be the best for odor control!

13) Cat Food-- We are using a mix of Iams kitten food and Iams hairball. At around 12 pounds or 1 year of age we recommend decreasing the amount of dry kitten food and just using Iams Hairball. We have tried several brands and have seen the best results on our cats with this combo. We do recommend Eukanuba, Iams, Royal Canin and Nutro brands.

Ragdolls have a fat pad on their bellies that is in their makeup. However, at anytime they do become overweight (NOT including this fat pad) they may need their food changed. We do not believe that there is just one cat food out there for all cats. Some may be too rich for one cat and fine for the next. Just watch how the food does with your cat! We leave the Dry food out all the time for free feed and use Iams canned food on occasion as a treat (NOT fish).

14) Water---We highly recommend filtered (level 3 or higher) or bottled water. Going from one water table to another can cause digestive upset and bottled or filtered water should prevent that.

15) Household Plants-- Main ones to keep away from your cats are: Lilies, Azaleas, Sago Palms and Oleander. Be careful with ALL living plants around your kitten/ cat!

Check out the list by the ASPCA:

Toxic plants for cats