Kerby: A Tribute to Our Beloved Ragdoll Cat

Kerby – Ragdoll of the Week

In June of 2103 we lost our 15 year old cat to cancer. Lucky had been with me since my 16th birthday and it happened quite suddenly. We still had two cats and two dogs so there was no immediate plan to get any more cats. The next summer I got hit by the kitten bug and rekindled my love of the Ragdoll breed. I remember being a teenager with a subscription to Cat Fancy and learning about this wonderful breed. My husband was a harder sell but after learning that they are a bigger breed and very people oriented he agreed.

We found Wild Rose Farm Ragdolls which was less than an hour away so we could go visit some Ragdolls in person. We decided it was the breed for us and upon a later return visit chose our first choice kitten-a seal mitted male born June 2nd 2014.  The naming process was the hardest decision. My husband likes unique names and I enjoy more cutesy names. We decided on Kerbal with Kerby being his nickname.

Kerby’s addition to our family went quite smoothly. He walked out of carrier like he owned the place and never looked back. Our two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels quickly befriended him. Our two cats tolerate him but would rather he left them alone. Tessa, our 7 year old tabby, will sleep right next to him but draws the line there. Our tortie girl, tiny Maddie, is still a work in progress. They can eat right next to each other but once eye contact is made she expresses her displeasure. Kerby seems unphased by this and I think his persistence to befriend everyone will pay off eventually. Winning two of the NVR Miss litterboxes from a Floppycats giveaway actually seemed to help a lot with feline relations. They love those boxes and each now has their own favorite to use.

He is the true definition of a Ragdoll. He is near me constantly. He “helps” with everything I do from dishwashing, to sweeping or folding laundry. He does not believe doors should ever be closed unless you are playing with him from the other side. He has been slow to outgrow the kitten clumsiness and it makes him all that much more adorable!

My husband and I both love photography and set out to capture as much as Kerby’s kittenhood as possible. It was a learning experience to photograph a busy kitten and manage to capture his wonderful eyes with indoor lighting.

His Christmas pictures are my favorite though! Easter was fun because his darker coloring had really started to come in!

With spring has come lots of new activities for Kerby. He was too young to really appreciate window watching last fall but now loves an open window. We have bird feeders near the windows to really entertain our kitties. He is an avid bird watcher. This is also when I can capture the best pictures of Kerby’s eyes!

Kerby’s favorite activity is riding in his Lucky Lola stroller. He will eagerly jump into it and while he prefers a trip outside he will settle for a few trips around the house if its raining outside.

Kerby seems to be obsessed with towels especially when placed on the floor. He will sit on them forever. The other two cats enjoy catnip sprinkled on the cardboard scratchers, specifically the Petstages Snuggle Scratch and Rest (a big hit with everyone!) . Kerby, however, loves for catnip to be sprinkled on a towel and will wriggle and play for quite some time.

I began planning for Kerby’s first birthday and was ordering some new toys online from Amazon. I had nearly met my budgeted amount and was about to check out when I noticed a toy they thought I would like listed on the page. I quickly skimmed the item and decided I should just add the item. I believed I was ordering a battery powered fly toy so imagine my surprise when I realized what I actually ordered. We received one LIVE ADULT HOUSEFLY. The seller generously included three baby flies in case the adult perished in transit. Kerby didn’t seem to see a problem. He thoroughly enjoyed batting around the caged flies for quite some time. Finally, my soft heart won out and they were released outside. That has probably been our most entertaining purchase.

I still can’t believe Kerby is already a year old and weighing in at 11lbs 7oz. He has brought us joy and entertainment. We experienced some difficult losses in the time we have had him and he is such a bright light during difficult times. I recently discovered the Instagram Cat family and after making Kerby his own account (Kerbykitty) I have found so many cat lovers to share my furfamily with. It has been so rewarding to connect with others who love cats and Ragdolls as much as I do. I am so thankful that we made the decision to add a Ragdoll to our family. I couldn’t imagine life without him now!

Do you have a Ragdoll Kitten or Cat?  Consider submitting your kitty!  Ragdoll of the Week submission guidelines