Once you have been ‘owned’ by a Ragdoll Cat, you will never give your heart to another breed of cat again!
Ragdolls are one of the most popular cat breeds in the world. They have a distinctive appearance with their striking blue eyes and silky soft fur, but they also have personality traits that make them stand out as well.
Not all ragdolls are the same, but there are a few things that are true for all of them. Here’s everything you need to know about Ragdoll cats.
What are the Origins of the ?
Ragdolls are a relatively recent breed of cat having originated in California, USA in the 1960s by breeder Ann Baker. The story goes that Joesphine, a longhaired domestic cat, was hit by a car when she was pregnant, and the resulting kittens were born with a docile, placid nature and had a tendency to go limp when picked up – hence the name Ragdoll. The Ragdolls of today descend from Joesphine and her son, Daddy Warbucks – a seal point cat with white feet.
What is a ?
The Ragdoll Cat is known for its relaxed, friendly temperament, large size, non-mating coat, and striking appearance.
Ragdoll Cats have a temperament more similar to a dog than that of a cat! Over the years, they have earned the nickname ‘puppy cats’. While cats have a reputation of being aloof, the Ragdoll cat loves human company and will happily follow you around the house and greet you at the front door when you arrive home. If you add a Ragdoll Cat to your home, don’t think you’ll ever be able to go to the bathroom alone again!
(Ragdoll Cats World Editor: As I sit writing this article, I am joined by Ocean in his usual position of spreading himself all over my desk as I type!).
Ragdolls are intelligent cats who are playful and have been known to love a game of fetch and will come to the call. You’ll often find a carrying around its favorite toy in its mouth. It is possible to train a and they learn quickly. Some even enjoy donning a harness and going for a walk with their human. The continues to be playful as he matures and into old age.
The defining trait of the is the flop! go completely limp and relaxed when they are picked up and held. They are usually quite happy to be cradled like a baby!
Are Ragdoll Cats Good With Children?
make great family pets. Their love of human company, their lack of aggression and their playful, laid back nature make them an ideal companion for a child. A will rarely extend their claws when playing.
Most Ragdolls thrive with company. If you are considering adding a Ragdoll kitten to your home and are out of the house for most of the day, it would be advisable to consider adopting two cats as one cat on its own may suffer from loneliness.
While Ragdolls are known to be a relatively quiet cat, they can be very talkative when they choose to be. Their voice is sweet and soft and not guttural compared to that of a .
Due to their need to be an indoor , Ragdolls are an ideal for apartment living.
Please be mindful, not all Ragdoll Cats are created equally. While these traits are typical of many Ragdolls, here at Ragdoll Cats World, we have had Ragdolls who have been bold and others who have a timid nature. We’ve had Ragdolls who have made a friend of every stranger that enters the home and others that run and hide as soon as they hear an unfamiliar voice.
What do look like?
Aside from the Maine Coon, Ragdoll Cats are one of the largest breeds of domestic cats. The average female cat weighs around 8 – 15 lbs ( 3.6 – 6.8kgs), while the neutered male Ragdoll is much larger at 12- 20 lbs (5.5 – 10kg). Ragdolls are slow maturing cats and do not reach full maturity until 3-4 years old. Read all about the Ragdoll cat’s size here.
All traditional Ragdoll Cats have distinctive deep blue eyes. The International Cat Association (TICA) states that a Ragdoll must have blue eyes to be classed as a purebred Ragdoll Cat. However, the controversial Mink, Sepia and Solid Color Ragdoll variants that some Cat Associations have accepted but not others as purebred Ragdolls do not have blue eyes. Their eye color can range from Aqua to Green to Gold. Find out more about Mink, Sepia and Solid Color Ragdolls and why they are so controversial here.
Although semi-longhaired, a Ragdoll‘s coat can be compared to that of a rabbit. Its fur is non-matting and therefore does not require the same amount of grooming as other longhaired cats. It is recommended that you groom your Ragdoll twice a week.
Ragdolls have large paws with either pink paw pads for bicolor and mitted types or brown or grey for seal and blue colorpoints. They have a cute tuft of fur between each toe.
What are the Patterns?
- Bicolor – an inverted v mask marking on the Face.
Click here to view images of Bicolor Ragdoll Cat
- Colorpoint – the ears, paws, face and tail are all colored and the rest of the body a cream color.
Click here to view images of Colorpoint Ragdoll Cats
- Mitted – As with colorpoint but their paws and chin have white ‘mitts’. They also have a belly stripe which is a white stripe that runs from their chin to their genitals. Mitted Ragdolls can sometimes have a white spot on their face which may look like a blaze, star or hourglass.
Click here to view images of Mitted Ragdoll Cats
- Lynx – a variant of the bicolor, colorpoint or mitted with tabby markings.
Click here to view images of Lynx Ragdoll Cats
- Tortie – a variant of the bicolor, colorpoint or mitted patterns, calico in color.
Click here to view images of Tortie Ragdoll Cats
What Colors are ?
present in several colors. Initially, they are born all white but in the first few weeks of their life they will develop their color and pattern. The colors are:
- Seal – the extremities (nose, ears, tail and paws) are dark brown, and their body a cream color with a shade of brown. Click here to view images of Seal Ragdoll Cats
- Blue – the extremities are dark grey, and their body a cream color with a shade of gray.
Click here to view images of Blue Ragdoll Cats
- Chocolate – the extremities are light brown, and their body a creamy white color.
Click here to view images of Chocolate Ragdoll Cats
- Lilac – the extremities are light blue, and their body an icey white color.
Click here to view images of Lilac Ragdoll Cats
- Flame – the extremities are a red/orange color, and their body a creamy color with a shade of orange.
Click here to view images of Flame Ragdoll Cats
- Cream – the extremities are ivory and their body clear white.
You may find some registered breeders selling in Black, or other solid colors. These colors have yet to be recognised by The International Association (TICA).
Why are ?
Many breeders stipulate that their kittens are to be strictly indoor cats. Although they are large, powerful cats, their relaxed temperament means they do not have the fighting instincts of other cat breeds and therefore may not defend themselves. Ragdoll Cats are not very streetwise, and you may find them lying in the middle of the road, unaware of the danger that surrounds them. They are also very trusting, making themselves prone to being catnapped, particularly as they have a high purchase price.
Are Hypoallergenic?
People that have allergies to cats react to the protein that is a ‘s salvia. Most domesticated cats have an of that sheds and thus triggering allergies. Surprisingly, even though the has a big fluffy it does not have an . Therefore although are not strictly Hypoallergenic, a person with allergies may find the less triggering than any other . Find out more about whether Ragdoll Cats are hypoallergenic
What is the life expectancy of a ?
Ragdoll Cats have a long life expectancy compared to other breeds of cats at an average of 15 years. However, many people have reported that their Ragdoll Cat has far surpassed that age and have been still going strong in their 20’s. Ragdolls tend to be of good health. Known health issues presenting in Ragdoll Cats are Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (heart disease), Polycystic Kidney Disease, dental disease and Urinary Tract Infections. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy is a hereditary disease caused by a genetic mutation. A genetic test is available to allow breeders to screen cats for the gene before breeding them.
From experience, they can also be prone to vomiting and lactose intolerance. Being an indoor may assist with a Ragdoll Cat’s long life expectancy.
Purchasing a
It is important to purchase your Ragdoll kitten from a reputable breeder. A registered breeder will guarantee that the kitten you are buying is from purebred lines and free from genetic defects such as PKD (kidney) and HCM (heart), genetic diseases, and FeLV, FIV negative.
To find a near you visit our global breeders directory.
The price you will pay for your greatly varies from to . The price will also be determined by the standard of the you are purchasing. quality kittens attract the lower price point and are kittens that may not have perfect markings. You should expect to pay more for a show quality that is perfectly marked and is more likely to perform well in the show ring. Visit our Price page for more information on what you can expect to pay for a in your country.
You may also wish to consider adopting a Ragdoll rescue cat. There are many Ragdoll cats that need to be rehomed due to various individual circumstances. Click here to view our lists of places to look if you wish to adopt a Ragdoll cat.
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