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 Frequently Asked Questions
~ How much is a Veritas Dolls kitten or cat, and why is the price what it is?
Non-Breeding Ragdolls: $775
Retired Breeders: $200
Breeding Ragdolls occasionally available to select registered, cage-free establishments.
NOTE: Our contract contains a strict clause that prohibits declawing.
~ How old does a kitten have to be before it can go to its new home?
Usually somewhere between twelve and sixteen weeks of age or when they are ready to be separated from their mothers.
~ What is included in the price?
VeritasDolls kittens and cats receive licensed veterinary care for check-ups and core vaccinations. Kittens and cats that need medical care beyond routine well-kitty visits, vaccines, and spaying/neutering receive the care they need when they need it. Every kitten and cat is dewormed as part of our usual care regimen. Ragdolls that remain with us after they turn sixteen weeks old get medical check-ups with our vet and vaccinations as needed. If any of our babies present with a condition requiring veterinary attention or medication, we make sure they get it.
Our customary medical care includes testing for Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus in all of our breeding cats. In addition, all Ragdolls placed as pets, show alters, or retired breeding cats are spayed or neutered prior to rehoming. There are no exceptions. VeritasDolls breeding cats have all been tested negative/negative for Ragdoll HCM, FeLV, and FIV. We are in the process of DNA testing each for PKD. Blood type is determined prior to mating because incompatible blood types in the parents can be fatal to otherwise healthy kittens in the first few days of life.
All cats Ragdolls leaving our cattery go home with the paperwork required to register them in the new owner's name with TICA. We are happy to help you register your cat in other associations, as well. Registration or transfer fees are the buyer's responsibility.
~ When are kittens made available?
All our kittens are considered to be under evaluation for breeder or show potential until they are eight to ten weeks old. In many cases we can determine an individual kitten's quality much sooner and make those kittens available sooner.
~ Do you allow visitors?
Yes, as a rule, after our Ragdolls are eight to nine weeks old, we do allow guests. Prior to eight weeks of age (or when our veterinarian clears them for visitors), kittens can not be vaccinated, and exposing them to inadvertently introduced illnesses is a substantial risk.
~Do you have a waiting list, and if so, how do I get my name on it?
Yes, we do maintain a waiting list. If you would like to have your name added, please feel free to send us an e-mail at veritasdolls@ymail.com . We offer kittens to our wait list clients on a "first come, fisrt serve" basis as desired quality, gender, color, and pattern become available; we do not accept non-refundable deposits until you have chosen a specific kitten and signed our Purchase Agreement. Deposits...which are payable as cash or money order only...and Purchase Agreements must be completed within five business days of Ragdoll selection. If a deposit and signed Purchase Agreement are not completed within five business days, we reserve the right to place the kitten or cat with an alternate client.
~ What’s the difference between Pet, Show, and Breeder Quality Ragdolls?
When we describe a cat as “Breeder” quality, it means that in addition to strictly adhering to temperament ideals, this cat has substantial Ragdoll qualities that it is likely to pass on to its offspring, thereby making progressively improving contributions to the breed as a whole. An example might be a perfectly marked Ragdoll that has excellent boning, a nice profile, head shape, and ear set, as well as great coat texture. The cat, in other words, has several attributes that are highly consistent with the Ragdoll Breed Standards. Its ancestors have strong, healthy histories, and kittens arising from their pedigree lines would be robust examples of the breed. A breeder quality cat is one that breeders believe will contribute positive traits and move toward the breed’s idealized version.
Show quality cats are ones that carry traits consistent with what judges look for in the show ring. The health standards for these cats remain as high as those we expect of our breeding Ragdolls. Show quality cats will be Ragdolls that come as close to Breed Standards as possible across the board. In some cases, show cats will also be ones that breeders utilize in their breeding programs. But at other times, breeders opt to spay or neuter a cat with excellent show potential. These cats are called “show alters.”
Pet quality Ragdolls are placed as such because in appearance, the cat veers a bit from the idealized Breed Standard. For example, a Ragdoll that has a close ear set would be inconsistent with the Ragdoll Breed Standard. While this cat has other fantastic Ragdoll traits, it also has a trait not quite in line with the standard. A cat like this is healthy and sweet like breeding and show cats, but would not be one that breeders would select for their programs. It does not, in any way, imply that cats designated as pet quality are any less valuable as loving companions with lots of Ragdoll characteristics, but rather, the distinction helps us communicate the reasons for choices we make in regard to a given cat’s life and activities.
~Why does a VeritasDolls buyer have to sign a contract, and why are specific requirements in place?
Our contract protects Veritas Dolls felines, buyers, and our cattery. Declawing and the administration of FIP vaccines are specifically forbidden in our contract. Surgical removal of a cat's claws is a painful, needless procedure that entails not only the removal of claws, but also of bone at the joint. Think of it this way: if a person were to have a similar operation, the ends of his or her fingers, thumbs, and toes would all be be cut off at the first joint. The resulting "stumps" would require extensive healing time and lifelong discomfort. Moreover, in the case of cats, paws would be useless as a means of self-defense if the animal were to ever find its way outdoors and be attacked in any way.
Although an FIP vaccine exists, it is thought to be minimally effective and as a rule, is not recommended by the American Association of Feline Practitioners Feline Vaccine Advisory Panel. Accordingly, until a better option becomes available, we will include this specification in our Purchase Agreement and Sales Contract.
Veritas Dolls recommends the avoidance of FeLV vaccine unless there is already an FeLV positive cat living in the buyer's home. The FeLV vaccine is reported to have a significant failure rate, and many studies show that a sarcoma, a form of cancer, can arise at the injection site. Since we strongly urge kitten and cat buyers to avoid allowing their Ragdolls outdoors unattended, the risk of exposure to FIP and FeLV is very low.
We take all the precautions we can to ensure the health of our Ragdolls. Our contract assures buyers that their new baby's health has been monitored closely. All of our felines see our veterinarian regularly, receive core vaccines, and are tested for FeLV and FIV. Additionally, we DNA test our breeders for Ragdoll HCM, and we are working toward PKD testing for all of our cats as well. These conditions are often genetic, and DNA testing helps us to minimize the risk of having a dam or sire pass on undesirable health genes to their offspring. As a result, we are comfortable with providing a two year health guarantee against genetic conditions that result in a VeritasDolls Ragdoll's death.
~ Do your Ragdolls get along with other animals?
Our cats are raised alongside two large dogs, a bunny, and each other. Most get along with the other animals very well. However, like people, all Ragdolls have their own preferences. If we have any reason to question a cat's ability to live peacefully with any other animals, we make clients aware of it before proceeding with the adoption.
~Why does VeritasDolls participate in cat shows? Doesn't this just increase the cost that is passed on to buyers?
We believe that competing in cat shows is crucial to our ability to improve the health, temperament, and look of Ragdolls emerging from our cattery. Also, showing our own Ragdolls alongside those from other catteries allows us to see how the overall breed is progressing toward the Ragdoll Standard. This is important because breeders that do not show their cats can become "cattery blind." In other words, a breeder who only sees his or her lines being reproduced can become disconnected from the breed's maturation; that breeder may think his or her cats are still in line with the Breed Standard when in truth, that cattery's Ragdolls have stagnated and perhaps even edged away from what a Ragdoll is expected to look and be like. Thus, we believe that the expenses involved with showing are an investment in our cattery's and the Ragdoll breed's futures.
~ Does VeritasDolls ship cats via airplane?
We do ship at the buyer's cost if absolutely necessary. However, when we can avoid it, we prefer not to ship cats as airline cargo because cargo holds are noisy, unfamiliar, and frequently dark places. While most airlines are probably conscientious of their live cargo passengers, the fact is that once the pet carrier leaves our sight, we cannot be sure of the cat's treatment or health status. Also, if no gentle human is nearby, we cannot provide a scared feline with reassurance that he or she is safe. Neverhteless, we understand that picking up a cat in person may be nearly impossible, and in such cases, we will ship.
For clients who live within six hours of driving time of southern Maine, we can often make arrangements to meet at a location approximately half way between our home and theirs. On occasion, we attend cat shows outside of the Northeast region and can arrange for kitten or cat pick up during that show weekend. Alternatively, there are pet courier services available both within the continental United States and worldwide. A caring person flies in the passenger cabin with your pet, makes sure the animal is as comfortable as is possible during transport, and delivers them directly into your hands at your local airport and in some cases, to your home.
~How does VeritasDolls decide on its breeding cats?
Many considerations come into play when we decide which cats to breed. Health, temperament, and the Ragdoll Breed Standard all influence our choices in deciding to work with a Ragdoll regardless of whether it is from our own breeding or from someone else's. Before we allow a cat to mate, we consider its physical well-being and disposition first, then we think about the cat's family tree. Does this cat's pedigree show that its genetic background is sound? Are there known health issues with this cat's ancestors? What kind of demeanor did the parents, grandparents, and great grandparents of this cat have? If we have reason to doubt any of these factors, we do not choose that cat for our breeding program.
Next, we look at the "cosmetic" aspect. Does this cat look like a Ragdoll? Is its coat like the famed bunny fur texture for which Ragdolls are known? Are its eyes ovate and blue? Is the boning and heft consistent with the Ragdoll standard? Is the head a nice modified wedge shape, and are the ears medium in size? Where on its head do the ears sit? Does this cat have well-defined point color? What kinds of mismarks is this cat apt to pass on? While no cat will be 100% perfect in each and every element, we try to select cats that are likely to produce kittens that improve on their parents' Ragdoll qualities.
~Some of your cats have strange namese names. Why?
Veritas Dolls do, in fact, have unique names, and there is a very good reason. In our so-called "day jobs," Chuck is a diesel mechanic, and I teach writing and literature at the college level here in the United States. Each of us has unique interests, but we both enjoy reading. Our Ragdolls' names reflect this passion. While Chuck likes more modern fiction and gripping memoirs, most of the classes I teach are in American-style grammar and writing skills. However, many of my classes explore the stories, myths, drama, poetry, and biographies that I love so.
Many Veritas Dolls have names that reflect our passion for literature. Some cats are named after authors, some after literary characters, some after mythological gods and goddesses, and some after artisans in alternative formats such as film or music.
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