Ragdoll Cat Breed Description

Active: The Ragdoll is a moderately active cat. They are not overly demanding or hyper but they do enjoy attention and affection from their companions. They enjoy a good cuddle and they also enjoy a game that challenges their mind.

Size: Ragdoll cats are large in size and range from 10 to 20 pounds.

Characteristics: Ragdoll cats are some of the largest domestic cats in existence and take three to four years to reach full maturity and size. Their large bodies feel incredibly heavy and have heavy boning and significant musculature. They have white feet, chins and bellies. They also have large legs that are quite muscular. Ragdolls have lovely, oval-shaped and vibrantly-colored blue eyes. Ragdolls also have large, wedge-shaped heads with all sides of the face being equal length and a rounded muzzle. Additionally, they have medium size ears that are rounded and tipped forward.

Temperament: Ragdolls are wonderful companions and great pets for families because of their sweet and laid back personalities. They can even resemble their namesakes and act like ragdolls, limply lying in your arms. They love to cuddle up with their companions and give and receive affection. They are devoted and loyal and will happily and politely follow you around your house to see what you are doing. They are well behave and intelligent, making learning new games easy and fun for them. Their quiet and sweet voices will make you fall in love and their adaptability will make them a great companion for any family.

Care: Even though the Ragdoll cat has a semi-long coat, it is not particularly difficult to maintain. Brushing or combing their coat 1 to 2 times each week will keep their hat silky and tangle and mat free. Because they do not have an undercoat, they shed minimally. But, they do shed and they may require a little extra brushing during seasons of shedding. Like all cats, they need to have their nails trimmed and ears cleaned when necessary to keep them looking their best. Lastly, be sure to brush their teeth frequently to prevent periodontal disease.

Coat: The Ragdoll cat has a semi-long, glossy coat that feels fluffy and silky. The coat comes in a variety of colorpoints and patterns.

Origin: Ragdoll cats are one of the younger cat breeds in existence today. The exact origins of the breed are unknown, as there are many tall tales and creative stories surrounding the origination of the breed. The breed began in the 1960s with Ann Baker of Riverside, California. Baker had been a Persian breeder and she started the Ragdoll breed with a white female longhaired cat named Josephine, a male seal mitted kitten named Daddy Warbucks and a solid black male cat named Blackie.

There are some very colorful stories about Josephine involving car accidents and government experiments. Baker insisted that Josephine had been the subject of genetic experiments performed by the government. While these stories can obviously not be confirmed, we do know that Daddy Warbucks was mated to two of Josephine's kittens, Buckwheat and Fugianna. These cats are said to be the foundation of the Ragdoll breed that we know today. Further breeding produced more litters of kittens and, through selective breeding, the look and body type of the Ragdoll was established. A couple named Denny and Laura Dayton also played an important role in establishing the Ragdoll cat breed.

They had two Ragdoll cats, Buddy and Rosie, and encouraged Baker to seek out acceptance from cat associations. Baker was not interested and became increasingly eccentric and controlling with the breed. She trademarked the Ragdoll name and established a Ragdoll registry named The International Ragdoll Association. She was able to sell breeding franchises and gave her ultimate control over how Ragdolls were bred and was able to prohibit the cats from being shown. Unhappy with Baker's decisions and control over the breed, other breeders began to distance themselves from Baker during the mid-1970s. As a result, in 1975, the Ragdoll Fanciers Club was formed and founded by the Daytons.

The Daytons began a breeding program with their cats that had been purchased before the creation of the IRCA and the Daytons had never purchased a franchise. In spite of these facts, Baker proceeded to sue the Daytons over ownership disputes. She also sent letters to associations and media, which bogged the breed down in controversy. While the controversy continued for many years, other Ragdoll clubs were established and were affiliated with various cat associations. In spite of having been around for many years, the breed was not granted championship status by the CFA until 2000. All major associations now recognize the Ragdoll cat breed.