Ragdoll
...Cat Breed
- History
- Ragdoll cats were developed in the 1960's by Ann Baker; a breeder in California. She bred Josephine, non-purebred white Persian cat who had a gentle loving nature. Anne's original stock consisted of sturdy, free-roaming cats.
By selecting individuals with the look she wanted for her breeding program, she created the type standard for the Ragdoll. The Ragdoll cat breed is a combination of Persian, Birman and Burmese and non-pedigree blood.
In the past four decades, the cat breed history has managed to become intertwined with a series of myths and half-truths. The myth is that a heavily pregnant cat Josephine was run over by a car.
The white cat survived but it was said that the extraordinary calm nature of this breed is the result of this car accident endured by this ancestor cat, Josephine. That Josephine's injury, a broken pelvis, had somehow caused a change that made her sweet-tempered making her body go limp as a rag doll when she was picked up. The kittens she gave birth to inherited her docile nature.
The more accurate explanation is that the relaxed cat breeds, Persian and Birman, used in the breeding program, created the Ragdoll's personality.
- Description
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Ragdoll cats are fairly big, with a strong body and a large flat-skulled head, large tuft paw and bushy tail and large oval blue eyes. Their coat is medium length and silky with dense fur. It is soft and rabbit-like and does not tend to mat.
The overall impression one gets from the Ragdoll cat's physique is that of strength and muscularity. They are heavy-boned, muscular cats with broad chests and large hindquarters.
These cats are slow-maturing, reaching full coat color at two years, and full size and weight at four years. Neutered males may reach 20 pounds or more; females are proportionately smaller.
- Temperament
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This cat breed is gentle, quiet and docile and place enormous trust on people and other animals. When a pet is feeling trust, it's also in a relaxed state which might be the reason why Ragdoll's body go limp when being held. It's not ideal to allow Ragdoll cats roam free outdoors because of this trusting nature.
Ragdoll cats are very sociable cats that love to be with humans and are loyal to their owners. Easy going cats, they fit very well in a family with young children, elderly and get along with other cats and dogs.
They are moderately active and like to play. Ragdolls are less stubborn than most cats tend to be and they can be easily trained. They usually learn the same tricks as dogs, like retrieving toys, rolling and begging. They learn quickly how to walk on a leash.
The Ragdoll Cat has an unusual high tolerance of pain. Owners should keep in mind that any injury may easily go unnoticed. If you want a non-aggressive placid cat that loves to be cuddled and groomed, you may want to consider a Ragdoll. Although, they are a very curious cat, it's also in their nature not be intrusive.
- Care
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In general, Ragdoll cats are a healthy breed, usually not requiring additional medical attention or upkeep. Because these non-aggressive cats are usually very docile, sometimes lacking the ability to defend themselves, they should be kept strictly as indoor-only cats. Fortunately, Ragdoll cats are perfectly happy to stay indoors and adapt very well to small apartments.
The plush semi-long coat of the Ragdoll cat is mat-resistant so it needs relatively little care. Gently brushing or combing once a week is all that's required. During the shedding season, brush to remove loose, dead hair, but be careful not to excessively brush as it will damage their coat. These cats shed very little and rarely have hairballs.
If needed, clean their ears with a special cat cleaner and clip the tips off the cat's claw.
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