Is Ragdoll for you? Learn a bit about this wonderful cat breed.
Ragdoll Breed Origin
The Ragdoll cat breed dates to the 1960s, when a Californian woman named Ann Baker bred a free-roaming white female cat with longish hair to a stray black-and-white male with white paws, or mittens. Their kittens — a solid black male, a bicolor sealpoint female and a longhaired brown male became the forebearers of what would come to be known as Ragdolls, a name based on the cats’ tendency to loll in a lap or be carried around without resistance.
The Ragdoll is recognized by The Cat Fanciers’ Association, The International Cat Association and the American Cat Fanciers Association.
Ragdoll Breed History in UK
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In 1981, the first Ragdolls were imported to the UK. With the backing of an enthusiastic group of breeders, a Ragdoll Breed Club was founded in 1987, and the breed was formally recognised by the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (G.C.C.F.) in 1990. The breed has rapidly gained popularity in the UK, more Ragdolls are being registered every year with the G.C.C.F. as their popularity continues to rise. These lovely looking cats are renowned for their sweet, placid temperaments which is just one of the reasons why they are fast becoming a popular companion and family pet because they get on with everyone and thrive on being in a family environment.
Main Traits
Size: An average-size adult Ragdoll will be 23-28cm in height, weighing between 3.6-9.1kg
Coat: The breed has a semi long-haired, ‘plush’, silky coat (similar to rabbit’s fur) that requires regular grooming to prevent knots or tangles.
Colour: Ragdolls are a pointed breed (meaning they have a relatively pale body with darker markings on the face, ears, tail or legs). Colours include seal, chocolate, blue and lilac, with three pattern variations: colourpoint, bicolour and mitted.
Life span: Full maturity isn’t reached until four years of age and life expectancy is usually up to 15 years.
Diet
Vets recommend that the best food for Ragdolls is a high-quality pet food
Ragdolls are one of the largest of the domestic cat breeds, with a big Ragdoll cat weighing over 6kg. Known for their love of food, it is important that you ensure your cat stays at a healthy weight by keeping an eye on their portion sizes. Stick to their food packaging guidelines when dishing up, and keep your pet’s age, size and activity level in mind.
Excessive weight gain can be hard to spot under your Ragdoll’s plush coat, but a correctly fed Ragdoll should have a long, well-built body beneath their fur without any extra padding along their rib cage. Providing lots of opportunities for active play can help to keep your pet at their ideal weight.
Care
Exercise and training:
Ragdolls are adaptable, versatile cats with loving, curious natures
What makes a Ragdoll cat special? Ragdolls initially got their name from their tendency to go limp when picked up, and while this isn’t always the case, they are generally happy to be held.
Their trusting nature means they should be introduced with extra care to existing cats or dogs, who might not be quite as gentle. Some owners choose to keep them indoors for similar reasons.
Adaptable to most environments, Ragdoll cats are playful without being overly active. It is usually easy to train them to use a litter tray as they will respond best to positive reinforcement. Littter training a kitten can involve giving them a treat when they successfully use their tray and they will soon learn. You can also teach your Ragdoll cat to play fetch, thanks to the breed’s puppyish personality.
Grooming:
Medium length with a silky texture, the Ragdoll’s coat needs regular grooming to keep it in good condition.
You should use a wide-toothed comb to remove any tangles and prevent matting. In cases of extremely matted fur, a Ragdoll may even need to be shaved.
Unlike some breeds, Ragdolls have a single coat without an undercoat. This can make them better suited to some people with allergies, though they are not completely hypoallergenic. The lack of undercoat also makes shedding more manageable.
Ragdoll Cat colours and patterns (visual)
