Ragdoll Cat

Ragdoll blue mitted Photograph by Suringen. License: Public Domain.

Ragdolls are semi-longhair cats, with muscular bodies and heavy bone structure. Their hind legs are slightly higher than their front. Their paws are large, round and tufted. Their coat is soft, silky and considerably dense and their tails are long and bushy. Their head is large and situated on a strong, heavy neck. Ragdolls have characteristic blue eyes. Their ears are medium sized, with rounded tips and set widely apart. Ragdolls reach their full size and weight potential at about 4 years old. Altered adult males can weigh from 15 to 20 pounds and females 5 pounds less.

Other Names

Ragamuffin

Size

Large. The Ragdoll is one of the largest breeds of domestic cat.

Colours

The cat comes in 20 colours and three patterns: Colourpoint, Bicolour and Mitted.

Temperament

Ragdolls are of a docile and gentle nature. They are affectionate, loving and have a strong interest in humans whose attention and company they purposefully seek. They are intelligent and can be easily trained to use a scratching post or even walk on a leash. They are very playful yet quiet and not too vocal. Ragdolls are very easy to handle and they are famous for going limp when picked up.

Suitable for

Due to their docile nature, Ragdolls get along with almost anyone, including children and other animals. They are mostly suitable for people seeking a quiet, affectionate cat which does not shed excessively. A Ragdoll would probably not suit someone looking for a very active or talkative cat.

Care

Ragdolls' fur requires brushing only every few days. They should only be kept as indoors pets and it is advisable to put them on a leash when outdoors. They do not have any special dietary requirements. Like any other cat, they need nutritious food, fresh water and frequent visits to the vet. No health abnormalities related to breeding have been detected in Ragdolls yet.

History

The breed was developed by an American breeder, Anne Baker, in the early 60's. She initially bred a white Persian cat, Josephine, with male Birman cats and continued to breed for traits such as large size, gentle personality, blue eyes, non matting fur and a tendency to go limp when picked up (hence the name Ragdoll). The Ragdoll was first recognized as a pure breed in 1965 by NCFA.

More Ragdoll Cat Pictures

Photograph by Simone Johnsson. Some rights reserved.