Frequently Asked Questions

Studies show that cats can reduce stress levels, improve blood pressure levels, lower anxiety, reduce depression, decrease feelings of loneliness and may offer benefit to individuals struggling with PTSD. 

Cat owners are automatically part of a social club spanning the globe! Cat lovers of all types join in online communities and during in-person events to talk about their passion for specific breeds or personality traits. Just Google cat videos and you are connected to thousands of cat lovers who dote upon their furry family members. 

Let's be honest here. All kittens are darling and it can be really hard to tell what they will be like as adults. But there are some subtle ways to begin separating the litter into pet vs therapy potential. A lot of the guesswork is done just by breeding purebred Ragdolls. This breed is known for its chillaxed personality, affection for humans and social nature. Many Ragdolls live up to the high expectations we humans place upon them but love and human handling are critical to ensuring they reach their full potential.

As a kitten grows you begin to see behaviors and personality emerge and if you pay close enough attention you begin to know which kittens are more aggressive, timid, immature, etc. Finally through handling and observing how the kittens interact with external stimuli, other adult cats, pets and humans you get a good sense of the overall likelihood a kitten will be calm enough for use in therapy. We believe that introducing kittens into a variety of both stressful and rewarding situations and providing continuous support and love for all of our kittens will make the cut. But don't take my word for it. Come check them out! 

So you are now the next proud owner of a Ragdoll kitten from Rain City Rags. Congratulations! There are some steps you will want to take to ensure you are set up to bring home your new family member. 

Day of pick up:

1. Please come prepared with a safe cat carrier, and all paperwork/contracts completed. Confirmation of rehoming fee must be received in full before we will release any kittens. 

2. You will need to have on hand all the essential kitten care prior to taking your kitten home. We have a list of recommended products on our resources page. At a minimum, be sure that you have a bowl for food and fresh water, kitty litter and a litter pan. For a more comprehensive list check out the shop page.

Note: If you make a purchase through any of our affiliate links we will receive a small stipend. Any funds earned via affiliate links will be donated to Friends of the Loop to fund neurodiverse programming for children and young adults. You can learn more about In The Loop Café and Aspiring Youth Here.

Whether you are taking on pet ownership for the time or adding to a preexisting bunch, taking a living creature home is a huge and serious responsibility. Cats are not toys. They cannot be neglected. They require time, financial and emotional commitment. 

It can be messy and at times stressful to own a domestic animal. But it can also be very rewarding. If you choose to take a kitten home from Rain City Rags, we expect our pet owners to uphold the following ethical and best practice standards:

1. You will raise your Ragdoll to be an indoor only pet. 
2. You will provide a safe and nurturing indoor environment and should you provide outside time, it will be in an enclosed, safe environment. 
3. You will provide age appropriate nutrients and fresh water at all times. 
4. You commit to the health of your Ragdoll and will ensure routine preventative care and vaccines. 
5. You will spay or neuter before your kitten has reached nine months of age.
6.  You will routinely bathe and groom your Ragdoll and provide protection against fleas, ticks, worms and other parasites. 
7. You will love and adore your Ragdoll and provide affection and  energy to his/her  mental wellbeing. 
8. You will make every attempt to offer a home for your Ragdoll throughout their lifetime. 

There a few things that you will need to do before you are able to take home a furry baby from us. 

FIRST

Join our listserv so you know when we are expecting litters! Since we don't begin accepting applications until we are sure that we have kittens on the way the best way to stay informed is through the email listserv. 

SECOND

Submit an application. All individuals are encouraged to apply. We do not discriminate against anyone but do prioritize individuals who are seeking an emotional support animal or therapy pet. Individuals who are disabled veterans, or have a diagnosed learning, mental or behavioral health condition will get first priority if we receive more applications than kittens available.

We will let individuals know the status of their application within two to four weeks of submission. If your application wasn't selected due to their being more applicants than kittens available we will give you the option to remain on a wait list for future litters. Individuals on the wait list will be given first opportunity to apply again when we are expecting a new litter before we open applications to others. 

THIRD

If we accept your application and you wish to move forward with adoption you will need to meet the kittens, ask questions, and pick your new furry baby. You will pay an adoption holding fee to hold your kitten until they are ready to go home. Kitten selections are first come, first served so don't wait too long or the kitten you like may already be taken. 

FOURTH

Picking up and taking home your new Ragdoll kitten! Once you have made it this far you are in the home stretch. Make sure you come with a safe, cat carrier to transport your kitten home. You will pay the remaining adoption fee owed for adoption and we will see you and your kitten off with a farewell care package. If you want to make sure you have all the essentials, be sure to check our shop page for our personal favorites. Note that if you choose to use the affiliate link from our website, we may receive a small stipend which will go to Friends of the Loop, a Ryther Clinic Aspiring Youth volunteer unit. 

FIFTH

Want to get your spay/neuter rebate? Make sure you show us proof that your kitten has been spayed/neutered within the required time frame. Contact us and submit the required documentation so we can get your rebate back to you!

This is a tough question to answer and really depends on your individual risk tolerance and financial status. Pet insurance or wellness plans like Banfield's wellness program provide assurance that if your pet gets sick, there will be funds available to assist with care whatever the cost. Wellness plans take it one step further by trying to prevent serious illness through routine check ups and vaccinations (just like humans do). Both of these are great options but can seem expensive when your kitten is young and healthy.

For us, the real benefit kicked in when our dogs and cats reached maturity and teeth cleanings, and weight management became constant. These treatments quickly add up and many pet owners will find themselves having to choose to pay for costly care or forego critical pet care to save money. So, preventative pet care gets my vote every time. We use Banfield which has pros and cons about it.  If you want to know what they are, contact me and we can chat. 

What is the difference and why does it matter whether we say therapy pet or emotional support pet? 

• Therapy animals are pets used as a form of therapeutic tool to provide emotional or mental benefit to humans and is often used in conjunction with professional, mental or behavioral health therapy. Example settings where therapy pets are used include senior living facilities, pediatric hospitals and mental and behavioral health clinics. This list is far from an exhaustive list of potential populations that can benefit from access to therapy pets. 
• Emotional support animals (ESA) are a pet living with an individual who has been diagnosed by a health care provider with a mental, learning,  and/or behavioral health disability severe enough that medical prescription for an ESA is warranted. 
• The key difference between the two is that one requires a prescription to be designated as an ESA. 

Is an ESA required to benefit from owning a Ragdoll for emotional and social support?

• No! If you don't need to take your Ragdoll with you outside of the home to provide continuous emotional support, adopting a Ragdoll without the ESA is just fine. 
• If you plan to frequently travel, take your Ragdoll out and about or to medical appointments you will need to have an ESA to take your Ragdoll into commercial establishments. Even with an ESA there may be restrictions on some airlines so do your research if you plan to fly. 

We offer our kittens as both therapy pets and emotional support animals! If you want to learn more about the differences the American Veterinary Medical Association has a great article to read. 

IMPORTANT: At this time cats cannot become legally recognized service animals (including psychiatric) because the ADA definition only includes dogs. This is something we need to change! 

Our mission is to provide purebred Ragdoll kittens to owners in need of an emotional support pal or as a future therapy pet. We are transparent in our fees for kittens. The average cost of caring for each kitten until they go to their forever home is high but worth the extra cost to ensure our pets are happy and healthy.

Here at Rain City Rags, we believe in sending kittens home ready to be doted upon with minimal effort for the new pet parent. Where possible, we do all the work so your kitten comes ready to love. 

When you pay for a kitten or young cat from us they go home with the following:

• First and second dose of recommended kitten vaccines ($64 value)
• First and second dose of kitten dewormer* ($30 value) 
• A going home health record with vaccine dates and health check
• Care package with collar, toy, snuggle and starter bag of litter and food
• Veterinarian care guide by age, and list of recommended food/litter/products to care for your new family member available on our resources and shop pages
• Tips for bonding with your emotional support pal and access to our learning  website full of resources

*includes heart, round, tape, and hook worms

We require all Rain City Rags kittens to be fully spayed or neutered before they reach nine (9) months of age. Individuals who complete the spay or neuter at the recommended age of six (6) months are eligible to receive $250/kitten back from the adoption fee. To be eligible, proof* of spay/neuter is required and must be provided within 30 days of surgery completion.

*Accepted proof of spay/neuter must include receipt for payment of the procedure which shows the cost, date and location of service AND it you must provide discharge paperwork which lists procedure performed and species/breed of animal operated upon. 

Six to Eight Weeks Old Kittens

1. First dose of Feline viral rhinotracheitis (feline herpes), calicivirus and feline panleukopenia (feline distemper) (FVRCP)
2. First dose of parasite treatment

Eight to Twelve Weeks Old Kittens

1. Second dose of FVRCP.
2. Second dose of parasite treatment.
3. Optional Feline Leukemia Vaccine (FLV) (only administered if your cat is considered high risk due to the sometimes fatal reactions cats can have to the vaccine). A vet will test your cat for FL and discuss the best course of action. If you are in a indoor only pet household DO NOT GET THIS vaccine. But, if your cats are around outdoor cats, this vaccine is essential. 

Twelve-Fourteen Weeks Old Kittens

1. Rabies vaccine
2. Third dose of parasite treatment.
3. Application of flea and tick preventative medication.

Six Months Old Kittens

1. Spay or Neuter

Adult Cats

1. Rabies vaccine annually.
2. FVRCP every three years. 
3. FLV booster (if given as a kitten) annually.
4. Dental cleanings usually begin at year three and continue annually until end of life. 
5. Well visits should occur twice a year. 
6. Flea and tick prevention should be applied or given orally every month. 

You can check out the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to learn more about your rights as a tenant. Note that ESAs are not the same as service animals as defined by the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). This means landlords are not mandated to allow you to have an emotional support pal.

That said, many landlords will work with tenants under. Especially if there is a medically diagnosed condition warranting use of an emotional animal. For more information please check out the ADA's definition of service animal. Note that psychiatric service animals do qualify if they can prevent or reduce the severity of certain psychiatric episodes. For example a panic attack escalation. 

There are tons of for-profit companies who will gladly take your money and provide you with an ESA. Buyers beware! While you certainly get a certificate, it may not be enough to get your pet on the plane of public transportation. be sure to contact your local airlines and transportation carriers before booking tickets for travel.

For more information check out the U.S. Department of Transportation. Note that at this time cats do not qualify as service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act. This means they are not eligible to become psychiatric service animals.