MyRagdollCat.com

Hi Camille…ragdoll kittens/cats need all of the same things as other cats, however regular grooming since they are long-hair breed cats. Using a grooming comb works best vs. a brush for keeping the coat soft and free of matting. This should be done several times a week or more often. Long Hair cat care:
http://www.hartzadvancedcare.com/Cats/ArticlePreview.asp?Animal=2&Article=70&Topic=9

Here are a list of all things most cats require:
) Have fresh water easily accessible at all times changed daily. No milk as it causes bowel distresses because cats are lactose intolerant. http://www.cat-world.com.au/CatMilk.htm

2) A kitten needs to be medically evaluated and vaccinated for feline diseases and dewormed for intestinal parasites which all cats are susceptible to getting. The following are the vaccinations:
Feline Panleukopenia Virus
Chlamydia, Feline Infectious Peritonitis, and Ringworm
Feline Calicivirus/Herpesvirus
Feline Leukemia Virus
More on feline vaccinations: http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/vaccinations.html
More on feline deworming: http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_roundworms_in_cats___kittens.html
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_tapeworm.html

2a) Cats benefit from spay/neuter just before they reach the age of sexual maturity (e.g. 5-7 months). Problems with unspayed/unneutered cats is they will urine spray, have a tendency to want to bolt and roam, get into cat fights, become pregnant, etc.
More on neutering: http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_neutering_the_male_cat.html
More on spaying: http://www.peteducation.com:80/article.cfm?cls=1&cat=1397&articleid=833

3) Kittens benefit from a diet strictly designed for them. Please absolutely no human foods as they contain ingredients which can be toxic to cats. Please see the following "sample" list of foods to avoid feeding a cat: http://www.peteducation.com:80/article.cfm?cls=0&cat=1276&articleid=1029
Dangers of feeding table scraps to cats: http://www.peteducation.com:80/article.cfm?cls=1&cat=1397&articleid=833

4) Kittens are very fragile so if there’s any dramatic changes with their appetite, thirst, bathroom habits and general behaviour it truly requires a visit to the veterinary hospital. Diarrhoea in young kittens is the most dangerous as they can become seriously dehydrated quickly and die as a result. Intestinal parasites as well as sudden changes in diet can be the leading contributors to intestinal distress. When feeding cat food it’s best to not suddenly change from one type of food to another rather gradually over time. Here’s a chart on how to gradually make the switch: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?dept_id=0&aid=100

5) Cats ideally should be fed on a schedule rather than free fed to develop good eating habits as some cats/kittens are known to gorge their foods and overeat. Later in life this develops into cats who become overweight and is the leading cause for feline diabetes.
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/news/feed.htm
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/feedcats.html

6) It’s important to kitten proof your home. Cats sometimes accidentally ingest things that can be fatal such as string-like objects. Supervision of string-like toys is highly recommended. More on string and other household dangers to cats: http://www.cat-world.com.au/cat-worlddangers.htm

7) Cats live a safer and healthier life as an indoor pet rather than outdoors which leaves them open to moving cars, wild animals, dogs, cat fights with unvaccinated and diseased cats, mean people who don’t like cats, etc. More on the dangers of cats who live outdoors:
http://www.petplace.com/cats/outdoor-dangers/page1.aspx
http://www.runway.net/b/moonmaid/in-or-out.html

Cats use a litter box to urinate and defecate. There are many types of litter available. Usually most people prefer Arm & Hammer scoopable and if you would like an environmentally free product which are flushable there are several products such as Feline Pine, Cedarific, Yesterday News, etcc. It’s best to always scoop daily to keep odours to a minimum. Some cats will refuse to use a soiled box so this is important to keep the box cleaned (scooped) daily. Location of the litter box is important…usually a private space is ideal. More on litter box tips: http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/our_pets_for_life_program/cat_behavior_tip_sheets/preventing_litter_box_problems.html

9) Kittens love to play. They love cardboard boxes and paper bags to hide in and attack. Most pet stores have kitten-safe toys and each cat has their personal favourites so you have to experiment which toy your kitten will fancy. Scratching posts are a must as all cats love to claw. The more the merrier. To encourage your kitten to claw the posts play with a toy nearby them and reward them with a food treat. Anytime your kittens claws inappropriately elsewhere gently pick them up and place them next to their scratching posts.

Instructional video on how to trim a cat’s nails: http://www.felinevideos.vet.cornell.edu/trimming_claws/index.shtml

Finally, here are a couple wonderful and helpful websites on how to best care for kittens and cats:
http://www.kittencare.com/
http://www.catchow.com/KittenCareCenterHome.aspx

Other helpful websites: http://placervillevet.com/kitten_care.htm