Joey: Celebrated Ragdoll Kitten of the Month

Submitted May 12, 2019 In 2009 we were blessed with the birth of our first grandson. We decided to move closer to our son’s family and so we drove from San Diego, California to Mt. Juliet, Tennessee to embark on a new adventure. We brought with us 2 Ragdoll cats and our beloved collie dog. In 2018 we lost our 16 year-old flame point rescue Ragdoll and our beautiful 11 year- old collie, both to cancer. Our remaining 13 year- old seal point Ragdoll (Dalton) had lost his fur companions and my husband and I were heart broken. We thought about another dog, but our son convinced us to give it some time and suggested another cat or kitten might be the best option. I began my search for a new companion for Dalton. After owning Ragdoll cats and loving the breed, I couldn’t imagine not finding another precious floppy cat. It was a few months after Christmas and I wasn’t having much luck. I didn’t want to have a cat or kitten subjected to a flight, so I searched for something in driving distance. I looked for an older cat first and searched through nearby rescue sites. Both my vet and my son suggested that a kitten might be a better match for Dalton and so I narrowed my search. My very first Ragdoll was a stray that a former sister-in-law had rescued and could no longer care for. She had named him Jamie, short for James Bond. My sons and I renamed him Jimmy and loved him at first sight. I didn’t know anything about the breed at the time and I was intrigued and delighted at the sweet temperament, beauty and “floppiness” of this wonderful big guy. I accidentally happened upon a picture on the web that looked like Jimmy’s twin and realized I had a bicolor seal point Ragdoll. I loved his random markings and his beautiful blue eyes and I decided to look for another bicolor. Jimmy was our love. I don’t know anything about his early life, but we loved him for 10 years until he sadly passed away due to congestive heart failure. Now continuing my search for a young bicolor cat or kitten, I was lucky to finally contact a breeder on the Kentucky, Tennessee border. At first she said that all of her available kittens had been reserved, but she called back the same day and said that a little bi-color blue point male (Boomer) had become available. I was thrilled. Boomer (renamed Joey) was born December 5th, 2018. We picked him up in March and brought him home to meet Dalton. After a brief introductory period, “Uncle” Dalton began to regain some of his kittenish ways and has improved in his overall health. Joey is a Joy. He is either fast asleep or full throttle ninja. He follows my husband and me around the house like a little “puppy cat”. He often naps in a basket on the coffee table. He sleeps on the bed with us at night and is so affectionate and loving. He adores toys and will gladly attack anything that falls on the floor. I have a dollhouse that he would love to pillage and he delights in stealing the little red miniature bicycle from the porch and carrying it off. We really have to watch him every minute. His favorite toys are some little colorful springs that he will bat about, chase and carry in his mouth. We bought him a “turbo scratcher” and we can often hear the sound of the ball traveling around the track on nights when he’s not quite ready for sleep. His other favorite pastime is laying in wait to attack Uncle Dalton…a practice that isn’t always appreciated by the older cat. In short, Joey is a beautiful addition to our family. If you’re a cat lover, you can’t go wrong with a Ragdoll. We love our little “Pal Joey”.

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Do you have a Ragdoll Kitten or Cat?  Consider submitting your kitty!  Ragdoll of the Week submission guidelines Read more Ragdoll Kitten of the Month submissions. Getting a Ragdoll Kitten? Check out our book: A Ragdoll Kitten Care Guide: Bringing Your Ragdoll Kitten Home