About Ragdolls

The Ragdoll is a cat breed with a color point coat and striking blue eyes. Their form is large and muscular and their coat is silky soft and semi-longhair. Ragdolls were developed by American breeder Ann Baker in the 1960s. They are best known for their docile and placid temperament and affectionate nature. The name ‘Ragdoll’ is derived from the tendency of individuals from the original breeding stock to go limp and relaxed when picked up.

Particularly popular in both the United Kingdom and the breed’s native United States, Ragdolls are often known as ‘dog-like cats’ or ‘puppy-like cats’. This is due to their tendency to follow people around, their ease when physically handled, and their relative lack of aggression toward other pets.

Ragdolls are powerful, large and heavy cats that are distinguishable by their V-shape markings on their forehead, large round blue eyes, soft thick coat, thick limbs, long tail and soft bodies. Their color rings are commonly tri-colour or bi-color.

Temperament

The Ragdoll has been known to have a very floppy and calm nature, with claims that these characteristics have been passed down from the Penrsia and Birman breeds. Opinions vary as to whether this trait might be the result of genetic mutation or merely an instinctive reaction from being picked up as kitten by their mother.

Breed standard marketing and publicity material describes the Ragdoll as affectionate, intelligent, relaxed in temperament, gentle, and an easy-to-handle lap cat. The animals are often known as ‘puppy cats’, ‘dog-like cats’, ‘cat-dogs’, etc., because of their placid nature and affectionate behaviour, with the cats often following owners from room to room as well as seeking physical affection akin to certain dog breeds. Ragdolls can be trained to retrieve toys and enjoy doing so. They have a very playful nature that often lasts well into their senior years.

Colors

Ragdolls come in six different colors: red, seal, chocolate and the corresponding ‘dilutes’, including blue, lilac, and cream. This also includes the lynx and tortoiseshell variations in all colours and the three patterns. Ragdoll kittens are born white; they have good color at 8–10 weeks and full color and coat at 3–4 years. The three different patterns are:

• Colorpoint – One color darkening at the extremities (nose, ears, tail, and paws).
• Mitted – Same as pointed, but with white paws and abdomen. With or without a blaze (a white line or spot on the face), but must have a ‘belly stripe’ (white stripe that runs from the chin to the genitals) and a white chin. Mitted Ragdolls, which weren’t allowed titling in CFA until the 2008–2009 show season, are often confused with Birmans. The easiest way to tell the difference is by size (the Ragdoll being larger) and chin color (Mitted Ragdolls have white chins, while Birmans have colored chins), although breeders recognise the two by head shape and boning.
• Bicolour – White legs, white inverted V on the face, white abdomen and sometimes white patches on the back (excessive amounts of white, or ‘high white’, on a bicolor are known as the Van pattern, although this does not occur nearly as often as the other patterns.)
• Blue Point – This cat is named after its dark bluish-grey, that is, its points are bluish-grey. A Blue Point Ragdoll’s body is a light platinum tone. It must be stated that the area of its chest and stomach has a bluish-grey color.