Lisa, as explained, Ragdoll is a breed and it's sometimes confused with similar breeds but Ragdolls have unique patterns of color all their own but all are born white and take several years to fully develop their pattern. Lots of people think they found a ragdoll and there are certainly many listed as such on Petfinders that are not Ragdoll - there are subtle differences in the patterns from birman etc. Ragdolls have gorgeous blue eyes and that most fabulous soft fur. My girls are about 14 pounds and the two boys are over 21 pounds and they are not fat, just large cobby shaped bones and well, large cats. Their breed standard calls for a cat that can be larger than Maine coon cats. The plus with a large cat is that they can get into things most cats can't reach - my silly boys like to rumage through tall garbage cans LOL Toilets lids are kept shut so no unofficial drinks. They are very laid back, lazy cats. Sue, I don't think you'll have any problems introducing a kitten to an adult male but I'm not certain. Our girls were about 3 years old when we adopted the two boys who were about a year and a half old. LOL we had this plan for a slow introduction but Ragdolls are strong, large and smart. Either the girls or the boys kept opening the doors to the room where we were keeping the boys. LOL We used a skipping rope to try to tie the door shut - silly things managed to get that undone too. So our carefully planned introduction took about an hour with all the cats running all around the house and finally settled down and that was it. I have to say when they run around the house they sound like a herd of elephants - so much for delicate, graceful moves. I also think Max might just be thrilled to have a play mate because he's just a big kitten himself. Max still has some growing to do - they take about 4 years to fully mature. Does he do the Ragdoll flop - that is where they are walking across the floor and just out of the blue decide to go from standing to flopped all over the floor? Most cats sit and then lie down and then sprawl, but ragdolls just flop to a sprawl. They are the most dog like of cats, greet you, want to be with you and are very docile. I'm so glad you were able to get a second kitten. Sky

Thanks for your input, everyone! Peachy's getting her shots tomorrow, and perhaps I'll make a move toward introductions after that. On Wednesday she'll have been in my bedroom for three weeks. I forgot to mention that we've had one attempt at an introduction already. Holding Peachy, I let Pogo in my bedroom one day. He didn't see her at first, but then he did. He puffed up like a porcupine and hissed. Peachy reacted by flying out of my hands and onto the bed, inflicting five band-aids' worth of scratches to my fingers in the process. I scooped her back up and put her in the crate, then went to check on Pogo. I found him cowering in the corner, still puffed and terrified. Not an auspicious start! Sweet idea to sleep with Peachy, but I'm not tempted to try. I had to get up at 3:45 a.m. today, and tried to nap with her this afternoon. Peachy loves to groom me (lick, lick), and I'm not all that crazy about it--especially since her favorite spot to lick is my ears! So I spent the entire "nap" time removing her from the vicinity of my head and unsuccessfully encouraging her to settle on my lap--or anywhere else. This is typical. Also, I think I'm more allergic to her than I am to Pogo. (I'm a little allergic to Annie, too.) Twice now I've been awakened during the night by intense itching in my right eye. I wouldn't be surprised if one of her super-fine hairs is invisibly stuck in there. Anyway, I appreciate everyone's ideas and support. I'll report back! Susan

I've been reading all the info here as my 4 month old Havanese has an ear infection. I took Tucker to the vet 4 days after I picked him up. He was scratching his ears so bad, poor little pup I felt so sorry for him, he's such a good affectionate lovable little pup. I figured he probaly had mites. Like all of you, one hate to see your pet suffer for any reason. The vet flushed and pulled lots of hair from his ears which looked almost closed with all the hair, and the test showed it as an yeast infection. I've been putting the Tri-Otic in his ears every day and massage it down in the canal (this part he likes), but it's getting that point of the little tube in his ear this is the BIG problem, he will lay still, till I'm about the time I'm ready to squeeze the tube then he starts squirming, then it's so hard to hang onto him! and get this, he don't even weigh 5lbs.! I've also been able to flush his ears a couple of times and he act like his ears don't hurt at all anymore, which makes me happy, but have another week of putting this medicine in his ears so I'm hoping somebody here can help me with the squirming pup 'sindrums'sp. If he every have this again, and I hope not, I'll see if there is a powder form to put in his food. I'm also thinking of changing his food as some of suggest. Wendy

The Llasa was picked up by the side of the road where someone dumped her off. No tags, obviously neglected, unspayed (puppy mill breeder?!). Springer was basically "dumped", too. Her daddy died of AIDS and no one else was remotely interested in her. She began "hanging out" with our dog and we took her in. One of our very dear friends is a groomer. She maintains that any dog can be groomed; the trouble is, more often than not, that they have never been trained in the basics of obedience work and THAT'S what creates the "issue". Whenever she has a "new one" she puts it in the crate, speaks with the owners and waits until the owners leave and then she takes care of business. She's great. If the dog is too obnoxious she simply refuses to work on them again. I don't blame her. She says the worst behaviour problems are nearly always the little dogs. Manners at the vet. or at the groomer are what define a good pet. Obedient and gentle. My opinion. Owner of large dog who "wouldn't" let me do anything to him when he was adopted. I now clip his nails, brush him, and am able to handle every part of his body with nary a flinch. Meghan told me what she needed to be able to do to him in an exam. I'm happy you've come so far with your pet. It's hard work. Good for you! Would we select something requiring professional grooming. Uh... nooo... (too lazy and too cheap).