Adopting a Ragdoll cat in Liverpool: rescues, rules and costs

The figure under the short answer is our live count of Ragdolls and Ragdoll crosses with the cat rescues within about 25 miles of Liverpool. On 21 October 2026 it was none, which is usual. The long-coated cats those rescues did list were domestic longhairs, not Ragdolls; if it is the soft coat and calm temperament you want, see our Liverpool long-haired cats page. Pedigree cats also move through breed clubs: the GCCF, a UK pedigree cat registry, says each affiliated club has an officer who deals with welfare.

Most come from owners whose plans changed. The British Ragdoll Cat Club is asked to help when someone can no longer keep their cat, and it finds that a lot of the cats it takes in struggled with children or other pets, which explains the many adult-only listings. Strawberry says most of its cats came from homes where children or babies were causing them distress.

Ask either route its fee before you apply. Strawberry's cats come neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, flea and worm treated, with 5 weeks' free insurance and any blood tests or dental work its vet thinks necessary (its homepage).

A registered pedigree kitten costs £200 to well over £1,000 (Cats Protection), and its vaccinations and neutering may not all be done. After that, PDSA reckons on £79 a month at the least, rescue cat or bought kitten, and these routes add a long drive to collect.

Since 24 February 2016, the GCCF has required every Ragdoll registered for breeding to be tested for the one known Ragdoll gene behind hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), using a DNA test available since 2007. HCM is a heart disease that can cause heart failure in young cats. With a rescue cat the parents' results are usually unknown, so ask about the cat in front of you.

• Screening. International Cat Care says Maine Coons and Ragdolls are at greater risk of HCM, and that screening uses an ultrasound scan of the heart (an echocardiogram) plus a blood sample or cheek swab for the gene test.
• Kidneys. PDSA lists polycystic kidney disease, where cysts grow until the kidneys fail, and notes a genetic test is available.
• Coat. PDSA asks for grooming at least weekly, and the GCCF warns a Ragdoll's coat will mat if left, with extra brushing when it moults.

Think indoor cat. The British Ragdoll Cat Club says that, like most pedigrees, Ragdolls are indoor cats, as their easy-going nature can leave them less aware of danger, though a safely enclosed garden is a bonus. Strawberry will rehome to a flat if the windows stay shut and any balcony is fully cat-proofed. Allow for size too: the GCCF says males often weigh over 6kg and the breed takes up to four years to mature. PDSA describes them as quiet cats that like to stay close to you.

A rescue never sells a Ragdoll. Each cat goes to the applicant whose home suits it, for an adoption fee that funds the rescue's work. Kittens are rare: Strawberry keeps no waiting list for kittens of any breed and lists any it has on its available page. Our Liverpool Ragdoll page shows any Ragdoll near the city today.

If you go to a breeder, Cats Protection advises one registered with a breed body such as the GCCF, and seeing the kitten with its mother at home. Ask for both parents' HCM gene results (GCCF), and take any advert you suspect is a scam to Report Fraud, which replaced Action Fraud.