Why I Won't Buy an Unregistered Kitten Again- The Risks of HCM

I bought my very first Ragdoll boy, Zen, from an unregistered breeder.

Zen - my beautiful Ragdoll

I was naive at the time, as there is little information out there to tell you the importance of buying from a registered cat breeder.

I automatically assumed that because I didn't want to breed from him, or show him, that the official ‘registered’ papers didn't matter, and I would love him the same regardless of if he was registered or not. It wouldn’t impact the love I would get and provide for him, so it seemed needless.

I did love Zen the same of course, he was my absolute world. The papers didn’t matter, he was a loving boy in our loving home and that’s all you want, isn’t it?

I soon found out, because the breeder wasn't registered as a breeder with any governing body, such as TICA or GCCF, no genetic health checks had been carried out on Zen’s parents at all. At the time of purchasing him, I really did not understand the importance of this. Surely risks exist for all cats? I wasn’t aware of the additional risks that the Ragdoll breed has.

One of the main risks for Ragdolls, is a heart disease known as HCM. This can, of course, be found in other domestic cats, but Ragdolls are particularly high risk. HCM, or Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, can cause congestive heart failure and, occasionally, even sudden death.

There is actually a test that can be done, to determine whether a cat is carrying the gene that can cause this awful disease. In testing cats for this gene, the risk of your kitten developing HCM is greatly reduced. All breeders that are registered are required to test their breeding cats for these gene.

I wish I had known.

At 2 years old, Zen was diagnosed with HCM.

I informed the breeder who I purchased him from, and I was swiftly blocked from her phone and Facebook page.

Luckily, Zen was insured and I could get him the best treatment available, and my vets did everything they could for him. Whilst I was relieved that treatment was available, this was never a cure. It was simply a way to prolong my little boy’s life. In one year alone this cost us in excess of £11,000, and that wasn't including the 6 lots of medication he had to take twice daily.

The sore on his eye was a side effect of one of his many medications. It made his skin extremely itchy and he scratched that much he sliced his own eye. He was removed from those meds.

As things progressed with the disease, it got to the point where I was having to administer injections of diuretics to my beautiful boy myself. It was heartbreaking, having to look after my sick cat, knowing the end would come, knowing there was nothing more I could do but provide him with relief.

At 4 years old, Zen suffered a sudden blood clot. If anyone has experienced a cat with a sudden blood clot they will know the pain they experience is excruciating. It’s unbearable to watch, my gorgeous boy suffering so much. Luckily, I was home with him when it happened, so I was able to quickly get him to a vet within 15 mins.

The inevitable but heartbreaking decision was made.

Zen had to be put to sleep.

He suffered a blood clot that occurred because of the HCM. We were beyond heartbroken. He fought on for longer than 12 months, but when a cat has HCM, the outcome is never happy. The biggest relief was that he wasn't left alone, to die in agony.

A lot of people do buy cats from non registered breeders, and they have no health issues at all, and go on to live lovely happy lives. However, breeding certain cat breeds with known health concerns without any checks in place is irresponsible and can cause so much heartache. If I had known the pain and suffering I was going to go through, as well as poor Zen, would I have done it all again? Yes, probably, because he was my boy. But would you want to risk it?

Does the paperwork and the registration of the breeder matter to how much you will love them, if you aren't going to show them, if you aren't going to breed from them? That’s what most ask themselves. No, the answer is usually no, because most don’t want to breed from them, and most aren’t interested in showing their cats. But that’s not the important thing, is it?

It matters because of the health of the ragdoll breed as a whole.

Buying registered means you know that the cats have been health checked. You know that the risk of any heartbreaking diseases is slim to none. You know that you’ll have the support and care from your breeder throughout the entire life of your little baby. You know that they are genuine, that they are putting the health of these beautiful animals first, and that is by far the most important thing in the world.

These diseases need breeding out and should not be allowed to spread through the breed. Allowing non registered breeders to breed without any regulations, is allowing diseases to continue to spread. It needs to stop. Help us stop it.

That's why I will only ever buy a Ragdoll from a registered breeder now.

In memory of Zen

Ragdoll Owner - Faye