Ragdoll Cat Breed | Information & Characteristics

With their fluffy white coat and captivating blue eyes, the Ragdoll cat is one of the most strikingly beautiful breeds out there. But it's their personality that's made them steadily rise in popularity over the years. They are known for being super floppy, cuddly, affectionate, and loyal, making them perfect for any family looking for a new best friend.

 

 

Ragdoll Cat Breed Origin and History

According to the Cat Fancier Association, Ragdolls are currently the second most popular pedigree cat breed in the United States. That's why it's all the more interesting that Ragdolls weren't a recognized breed until quite recently!

 

The Ragdoll first appeared in the mid-1960s in Riverside, California when cat breeder Ann Baker became fascinated with a half-feral Persian cat she called Josephine. The stray was hit by a car, but Baker's neighbors nursed her back to health and she eventually had kittens.

 

Baker believed that Josephine's genes had been rearranged somehow in the accident, leading to friendly and docile kittens. She decided to breed a few of her favorite kittens, including one she called Daddy Warbucks. His offspring resembled the Ragdolls we know today, with fluffy white bodies and darker points on their limbs, tail, and head.

 

Because of their tendency to go limp, Ann Baker called the breed "Ragdoll," trademarking the name. She continued to make up wild claims about the Ragdoll cat's origin, including that they had alien genes or were part of a CIA experiment. Despite her increasingly strange stories revolving around the breed, others decided to start breeding Ragdolls of their own, forming the Ragdoll Fanciers Club International. This ensured that there would be breed standards.

 

The Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) registered the Ragdoll in 1993. They didn't receive full recognition until 2000, around the same time that the American Cat Fanciers Association and the International Cat Association registries recognized the Ragdoll as well.

 

 

Ragdoll Cat Breed Personality

The Ragdoll cat is one of the friendliest cat breeds in the world, specifically bred to be calm, loving, and cuddly. In fact, most Ragdoll cats love spending time with humans, greeting you at the door when you come home, cuddling with you on the couch, and following you from room to room.

 

They are most known for their tendency to "flop" when held. They will easily collapse into the arms of anyone who holds them. While you always want to make sure you are giving them adequate support, it's always entertaining to see how content they are when held in even the most awkward positions. And when they're not being held, Ragdolls can be seen lounging around the house on their backs, completely stretched out.

 

 

 

 

Ragdolls are content sitting on the couch or stretching out on your bed. They usually don't jump much higher than that. Instead of climbing up high, Ragdolls prefer to stay at human level, hanging out with their family.

 

Unlike a lot of cat breeds that don't see the point in giving in to their owner's silly demands, the Ragdoll is known to play fetch and learn some tricks, like coming when called or sitting. While the Ragdoll cat is often described as "docile," this is still a cat breed who loves to play, especially with their family.

 

Related: Separation Anxiety in Cats: The Signs and Symptoms to Look Out For

 

 

 

 

Ragdoll Cat Breed Physical Characteristics

The Ragdoll cat is a large and beautiful breed with a lot of standards and a variety of coat patterns. According to the Cat Fanciers Association, Ragdoll cats don't get their full coat color until they are two years old, and they are four when they finally reach their adult size and weight.

 

Ragdoll Cat Size

The Ragdoll is one of the largest cat breeds in the world, even bigger than the Maine Coon and Norwegian Forest Cat. And it's not all fluff! Male Ragdolls weigh between 15 to 20 pounds, with females ranging from 10 to 15. There are many male Ragdoll cats well above 20 pounds. The Ragdoll's body is firm and muscular, with a broad chest and a long, fluffy tail.

 

Head

Ragdolls naturally have a large head that's proportionate to the rest of their body. It's very symmetrical, with wide and moderately flared ears. They have wide-set large, round eyes and long, straight whiskers. They often have a friendly or inquisitive expression. Their heavy and strong neck is covered in thick fluff starting right below their chin.

 

Eye Color

The eyes of the Ragdoll cat are one of their most striking physical features. They come in different shades of blue, including blue-green, and sometimes gold, all of them equally stunning. No matter their coat pattern or color, their blue eyes always stand out.

 

Legs & Paws

The Ragdoll cat has moderately long legs, with their back legs being a bit longer than the front. The CFA states that Ragdolls have "full, feathery britches," which means they have a lot of fluff on their back legs. When it gets closer to their feet it tapers down a bit. Their paws are proportionately large and they often have long tufts of hair sticking out from their paws that may need to be trimmed here and there.

 

Coat

The Ragdoll cat's medium-length fur comes in a variety of coat patterns and colors. The colors include:

 

• Seal: Think of a Siamese cat. The Ragdoll will be white with dark brown points on its head, feet, and tail.
• Chocolate: This can range from light brown to dark, chocolate brown. This color is often complimented by lilac and cream.
• Blue: This is a medium to light gray, sometimes called "blue-grey." The blue point color will also be on their back.
• Lilac: This is similar to blue, but a lot lighter. They also have more white than the blue coat does.
• Red: Also called "flame," this is a bright orange color that's often associated with Ragdolls with a red mitted coat.
• Cream: This is a lighter version of the red coat color.

 

The above colors also come in different patterns. This may sound a bit confusing, but it simply means that each color listed above can be on different parts of the cat's body or combined with different colors.

 

• Colorpoint: This means the cat has markings — in one of the color variations from above — on their points, including the paws, ears, face, and tail. Colorpoints will also have the same color accenting the tips of their frame.
• Mitted: This pattern is identifiable by the "mittens" on the cat's feet. Mitten Ragdolls have a solid white stripe running along the belly from their hindquarters to the chin.
• Bi color: This is a classic coat pattern for Ragdolls. The back and the sides of the bi-color cat's face are colored, yet their muzzle area is white. They also have white legs and belly.
• Lynx: This variation is identifiable by the large "M" on their forehead. It's very similar to a tabby's markings.

 

 

Ragdoll Cat Breed Health Problems

The average life expectancy of the Ragdoll cat is 12 to 15 years old. To ensure that they live a full and happy life, it's important to be aware of the common health problems associated with this cat breed.

 

Ragdolls can inherit a heart disease called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This is a condition where a portion of the heart becomes thickened, causing the blood to pump ineffectively. You may notice your Ragdoll being short of breath and more lethargic than usual. There are DNA tests available to help identify which cats carry the mutation that causes this disease.

 

Ragdoll cats are also at an increased risk for calcium oxalate bladder stones and feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). This is a viral disease that attacks the cells of the cat's intestinal wall. A cat with FIP may be lethargic and have trouble breathing.

 

Ragdolls can develop prostate infections, testicular cancer, and tumors when they are not neutered. Unspayed females often suffer from ovarian cysts and uterine infections since they have constantly fluctuating hormone levels.

 

 

Ragdoll Cat Care

While being kept indoors is recommended for all cats, it's even more detrimental for the Ragdoll due to their friendliness. They are known to approach random dogs, skunks, and humans, which could result in them getting attacked, sprayed, or cat-napped. They also have long fur that can easily get dirty or matted from being exposed to the elements.

 

Unlike other semi-long hair cat breeds, the Ragdoll only needs minimal grooming. Plush and silky, the Ragdoll cat has a coat that sheds a good amount. They can also experience matting because of their thick, dense undercoat. Use a steel comb on a regular basis to remove loose hairs and get rid of tangles. Daily brushing will prevent a build-up of knots. You can also trim the fluff between their toes when it gets too long.

 

Prevent periodontal diseases by brushing your Ragdoll's teeth. Weekly or daily brushing is best for grooming. If you ever see eye discharge, wipe the area gently with a soft, damp cloth. Use a separate cloth for each eye to avoid potentially spreading infections. Check their ears weekly for wax or dirt buildup. You can use a cotton ball dipped in cider vinegar and warm water to wipe them clean.

 

 

Nutrition

Like it is with every cat, Ragdolls should never get obese — this is truly a serious illness in cats. A lot of owners ignore the dangers of weight gain in their cat, sometimes even thinking it's charming or cute. But excess weight can lead to arthritis, diabetes, and other life-threatening illnesses in your Ragdoll cat.

 

It's hard for cat owners to ignore their cat's desperate meows for food throughout the day. They really do seem hungry! Most cats enjoy free-feeding throughout the day, meaning they can nibble on their daily portion multiple times at their leisure. But some cats will scarf all of their food down in the morning and then demand more food hours later.

 

To avoid overeating, start feeding these cats only a portion of their daily intake at a time. Provide one-third of the recommended daily amount in the morning, and then give another third at lunch, and then the remainder of the portion at night. If you aren't around to feed your cat at the same time every day you can buy an automatic feeder to ensure that your cat is not eating more than they should.

 

The food you feed your cat should include a named meat source and taurine on the ingredients list. Watch out for food that replaces meat with wheat, corn, and other carbohydrate "fillers." When it comes to treats, provide them with natural and healthy alternatives that are still full of tasty flavors they enjoy. Remember to make sure your Ragdoll's treats don't make up more than 10% of their caloric intake.

 

 

 

 

Children & Other Pets

Ragdoll cats are known for being very gentle. You'll often see photographs of children holding Ragdolls in a seemingly awkward and uncomfortable manner, but the Ragdoll is totally content just hanging from their arms. They will play without extending their claws. This makes them great and gentle companions for children. Just make sure you are always there to supervise since some kids might play a bit too rough with more trusting Ragdolls.

 

Ragdolls also get along great with other animals. In fact, it's often recommended that you get a feline friend for your Ragdoll since they need constant companionship. They will also get along very well with well-mannered dogs, sometimes even forming close bonds with them.

 

 

More About This Breed

Ragdolls were recently named one of the best breeds for apartment living by Realtor.com. That's because Ragdoll kittens are known to be very, very quiet. Even most adult Ragdolls have very soft meows, even when begging for extra food.

 

Ragdolls were also used in the 1970s to help Standford sleep researchers better understand narcolepsy. Researchers stated that the floppy, calm kitties had some of the same traits of someone with the disease. Of course, Ragdolls aren't prone to sudden sleeping spells. They're just super chill, even when being handled!

 

Beautiful and lovable, it's no surprise that many Ragdolls have become famous. One of the most famous Ragdolls was Matilda, a resident cat that watched over the well-known Algonquin Hotel in New York City. After she unfortunately passed, Hamlet took over her coveted role!

 

Merlin the Mad Ragdoll is another famous cat of the same breed. Interestingly enough, he is known for his permanently grumpy expression — sort of odd for such a friendly cat!

 

Another well-known Ragdoll is Frank and Louie, the longest-living Janus Cat of all time. A Janus Cat is a kitty born with two faces, named after the Roman god of the same name. Frank and Louie had two functioning eyes, two noses, and two mouths. His shocking appearance made most people assume he wouldn't live past kitten-hood, but he passed away at 15-years-old in 2014.

 

 

Final Thoughts

If you are looking for a cat that wants to be your best friend, the Ragdoll is absolutely the right cat for you! This is a cat that will never want to leave your side — or your lap. They will delight you with tricks or make you laugh when you catch them lounging like a person on the sofa.

 

With stunning blue eyes and luxurious fur, the Ragdoll is a beautiful cat with a strange history. Despite their odd start, in comparison to other felines, the Ragdoll is now one of the most popular breeds in the United States, delighting families everywhere with their beauty and uniquely cuddly nature!