If you’re looking for an unusually small cat, you might be considering if the teacup ragdoll cat price tag is justified – are these tiny kittens worth the high prices they command? Or are teacup ragdoll cats a gimmick that should be avoided? Let’s find out!
What Is A Teacup Ragdoll Cat?
The term teacup is used to refer to a cat that is a smaller than normal example of the breed. It originated from the breeding of Yorkshire Terriers that were smaller than normal, and images of these tiny puppies sitting in a teacup were shared widely.
This is a very specialist type of animal breeding, and not all breeders and veterinarians agree with it. The reason for this is that the smallest cats of a litter are used to breed even smaller cats, and these are often more prone to health problems. In the past, the smallest cat in the litter would have been referred to as the runt, and a reputable breeder would never have considered breeding from it.
A teacup cat, sometimes also referred to as a miniature cat should look just like a smaller version of the full-sized cat it is related to. This is very different from dwarf cats, which have a genetic mutation that makes them much smaller than normal. Dwarf cats are also much more likely to suffer from mutations that cause serious health problems than their teacup or miniature counterparts.
Ragdoll cats are a large cat breed, often weighing in at up to 22lb and standing up to 13 inches tall. It would take many decades of breeding to get a ragdoll cat that fitted into a teacup, and most breeders would not want to! However, it is possible to find smaller examples of ragdoll cats, and these miniature versions can make cute and adorable family pets.
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Where Can You Get Teacup Ragdoll Kittens?
A true teacup ragdoll cat is classed as being smaller than a miniature ragdoll cat. This reduction in size occurs when the cat has a specific type of dwarfism that reduces the size of the cat whilst keeping the body size in proportion and free from mutation. Since the discovery of the gene that causes this extraordinary reduction in size, teacup cats have exploded in popularity.
However, the breeding of reduced-size cats is still in its infancy, and teacup ragdoll kittens are very hard to find. Reputable ragdoll cat breeders prefer not to meddle with this beautiful cat breed, and aim to produce kittens that conform with the breed standard. To bring teacup bloodlines into the ragdoll breed would also risk introducing other undesirable genetic traits.
This means that teacup ragdoll cats are very rare indeed, and you may have to search far and wide to find one. You are more likely to be able to get hold of a miniature ragdoll cat, which is in between the teacup ragdoll and standard ragdoll in terms of size. These minature cats are also less prone to congenital health problems than teacup ragdoll cats.
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How Much Does A Full Grown Teacup Ragdoll Cat Weigh?
Ragdoll cats are larger than most cat breeds, and their teacup counterparts are also bigger than other teacup cat breeds. It is not uncommon to come across teacup cats that weigh as little as 5 or 6 lb, but you would be highly unlikely to find a teacup ragdoll cat that is this small. A fully grown standard ragdoll cat can weigh up to 22 lb, which is significantly more than the average domesticated cat.
How Much Do Teacup Cats Cost?
Teacup Ragdoll Cat Price – A teacup cat can cost anywhere from $500 up to $2000. Their high price tag is due to their rarity, and the fact that many breeders prefer to breed standard-sized cats.
If you come across a cheaper teacup cat, take care to check that it is not a scam. Some unscrupulous breeders may try to pass off the smallest kitten in a litter as a teacup cat, when in fact it is just smaller and weaker than its littermates. A true teacup cat will be smaller as a result of genetic dwarfism, not just because it is a small and weak kitten.
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Teacup Ragdoll Cat Price – Are They Worth It?
Most ragdoll cat fanatics will agree that these cats are large and majestic, and it is their impressive size and stature that make them so popular. While the trend for teacup cats is gathering momentum, many ragdoll cat breeders are resistant to the hype and prefer to stick to breeding kittens that meet the breed standard.
Many veterinarians also warn against buying teacup cats, as they feel the risk of long-term health problems is too high. These small cats are often bred by mating the smallest cats in a litter, which often tend to be the weakest. This means that they are far more likely to pass on hereditary health problems.
The other issue with shrinking the size of a cat is that it makes it difficult for the body systems to function normally. This means that the internal organs may be squashed into a space that is too small, or the kitten may suffer from systemic abnormalities.
Summary – Teacup Ragdoll Cat Price
So, as we have learned, the teacup ragdoll cat price tag is high, and these tiny cats may also cost considerably more to care for throughout their lifetime. This is because teacup cats are selectively bred to be as small as possible, and they are prone to many health problems as a result of this. Ragdoll cats are one of the larger cat breeds, and it would be better to stick to cats that fall into the average size and weight categories for this lovable breed.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on the average teacup ragdoll cat price – have you ever been tempted to splash out on one of these expensive tiny kittens? Or maybe you’re unsure whether breeding teacup versions of large cat breeds is a good thing to do? Leave a comment below and we’ll get back to you!
