Ragdolls have a clouded and strange recent history, and as a very young breed, strange is about all the history they have got. In spite of that, there are many dedicated breeders who are committed to keeping the Ragdoll cats as a respectable member of feline society. These fine folks sure wouldn’t bother with all that work if the breed wasn’t worth it so spend a little quality time with this unique and special breed.
Colors Allowed
Typically the colors you see in Ragdolls are the same colors you see in Himalayans, as this is the origin of the breed. There are several divisions, color point (a cat showing no white simply dark points), bi-color (the pointed pattern with large white patches), van (a cat which is mostly white save the head and tail), and mitted (a mostly colored cat with white mittens and maybe a small blaze). I could find no evidence of black and white or other colors in the breed. They are born completely white and take up to three years to reach their true color. They sport blue eyes, as all of the Himalayan type cats should.
About the Ragdoll Cats
Ragdolls are big, fluffy, lovable kitties that just need to be squeezed. They need to be loved a lot,
and they aren’t really picky about the loves they get, they seem fairly impervious to many of the things that would set off a normal cat. They are largely giant couch potatoes and are famous for their tendency to just go totally limp in your arms. These cats will reach fifteen to twenty pounds, and even though they are a long haired breed the hair is not as likely to mat, it does however need regular brushing. This is a pretty good breed for kids, as these cats are less likely to scratch or bite, and owners will enjoy the low melodious voice of a gentle giant.
History of the Ragdoll Cat Breeds
This is a pretty new breed, having been created in the early 1960’s from Persians and Domestic Long Hairs by a woman named Ann Baker in Riverside California. The early litters were haphazard and poorly planned in the early days, out of a stray white cat named Josephine. All Ragdoll kittens born today can trace back to three of her offspring. Regardless of the quality of these early specimens (or lack thereof), they did posses certain temperamental traits highly desirable in any pet, and thus the Ragdoll was born. Ragdoll cat history gets pretty strange in the history department when Baker begins making claims that Josephine was the subject of genetic altering and enhancement (something not scientifically possible at the time) and the claims made by Baker are not simply improbable, but are in fact impossible. There was a schism between her “special” registry and the Ragdoll breeders wanting to take the breed away from the problematic image of Ann Baker, and litigation followed. The CFA granted championship status to the Ragdoll in 2000, and today they are second in popularly only to the Persian and the Maine Coon Cat in the long hair category.
Similar Breeds of Cat
If Ragdolls appeal to you, but you find that a cat with more zest for life consider a Domestic Longhair. They are a little less specialized and will be way easier to find if all you are looking for is a good pet, and finding a Domestic Longhair will take a much smaller chunk out of your wallet. The local shelter is also going to be a lot less intrusive into your home than an average Ragdoll kitten breeder will be. Breeders in this breed, true to their origins, seem to be at least a little off kilter.
The Care of Ragdoll Kittens and Ragdoll Cats
Ragdolls are pretty healthy, an amazing feat considering their start in life, though they do find themselves prey to heart disease. Other than that, they have very minimal undercoat and so don’t require the kind of grooming regime a Persian might. Though the very breed itself is a mutt, no outcrosses are currently allowed and the future of Ragdoll kitten health is in the hands of those who currently guide the breed.
Like all domestic cats, the genus of the Ragdoll cat is Felis.
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