Ragdoll Information

Brief Introduction:

Ragdolls are large, docile cats. They are sweet-faced and muscular, with an overall impression of elegance and balance. They have a medium-long, non-matting coat with a soft texture like rabbit fur. Most are pointed in color (like the Himalayan or Siamese) and appear in seal point, blue point, chocolate point, and lilac point, flame point, cream point, with or without white markings.

Is This The Breed For Me?

If you want a large cat which is non-aggressive, loves to be with people, and is very placid, you may want to consider a Ragdoll. Also, if you love the look of a long-haired cat, but do not want the constant grooming associated with breeds such as the Persian, a Ragdoll would be a good choice. The gentle Ragdoll is also good with children and is easy to introduce into a multi-pet household.

If you want a very active or talkative cat, then you might not be happy with the less-active Ragdoll.

Physical Description:

Ragdolls are large, heavy cats, with broad chests and large hindquarters. They are slow-maturing, and do not reach full maturity until approximately three years of age. Females are smaller than males, weighing about 10-15 pounds on average. Males weigh an average of 12-20 pounds as adults, although some may grow to be larger.

Pointed Ragdolls have large, oval, blue eyes and sweet expressions. Their large, rounded ears are set with a slight forward tilt. They have a curved profile with the look of a “ski slope” as it merges to the top of the head.

Their medium-long coats and bushy tails have a soft texture that feels like rabbit fur. In general, Ragdolls have longer fur around the neck (a “ruff”) and on the back of the hindquarters (sometimes referred to as “britches”). The fur does not tend to mat, and is easily combed. It does, however, require occasional grooming.

Pointed Ragdolls are Like other pointed breeds such as the Himalayan and Siamese, pointed Ragdoll kittens are born all white and slowly develop color. The color continues to deepen as the cat ages.

In most associations, Ragdolls are accepted in 3 patterns and 4 colors. The three patterns are “color point,” “mitted,” and “bicolor”:

A “color point” has dark points (ears, tail, face, and feet) with a body of a lighter shade. The nose leather and paw pads match the point color. Color points do not have white markings (although the pale body color may appear white on some cats).

The four colors are “seal,” “chocolate,” “blue,” and “lilac” (also known as “frost”):

• A “seal” has dark seal brown points with a light tan body color.
• A “chocolate” has milk chocolate points with an ivory body color.
• A “blue” has dark gray points with a pale gray body color.
• A “lilac” has pinkish gray points with a frosty white body color.

To describe a Ragdoll, combine the color and pattern names. For example, a seal Ragdoll, depending on the pattern, might be a “seal color point,” “seal mitted,” or “seal bi-color.”

Characteristics and Temperament:

Ragdolls (as their name implies) are extremely “laid-back,” docile, non-aggressive cats. They tend to relax when held. They are said to possess a non-fighting instinct, which means that if attacked, they do not defend themselves. They are very “people” oriented and love to be around others, which often finds them greeting guests and/or following their owners around in a fashion similar to a puppy. They are often quite an attraction in a show ring because of their docile dispositions and acceptance of the judge placing them on their backs, holding them like a baby, etc.

In general, Ragdolls are not extremely vocal, but they do voice their opinions concerning certain things (such as at mealtime)!. Ragdolls are generally placid cats, but they do love to play with all types of toys and like to be involved in whatever “action” is going on.

Care and Training:

Ragdolls are intelligent and like to please their owners. Training Ragdolls is much more successful when done with rewards. For example, they can be trained easily to use a scratching post instead of your furniture by lavishing attention on them whenever they use the post. As with most cats, however, Ragdolls can be their “own boss” if they so choose!

They do not shed excessively, and need little care to keep their coats in good condition. Their soft, rabbit-like fur does not tend to mat. The fur does require occasional combing or brushing, and the longer fur around the hindquarters should be combed regularly. In general, Ragdolls do not mind being groomed and, in fact, often enjoy the grooming sessions.

Because Ragdolls lack the instinct to defend themselves when attacked, they must be kept as indoor pets only. However, they can be easily leash trained so that they can go for walks with you outside.

Otherwise, good food, fresh water, regular vet-checkups, regular vaccinations and lots of love is what they need to thrive. Bits of fresh raw beef can also be fed, as it helps clean the teeth and gives good nutrients, but be *very* sure of your supplier before doing this!

Special Medical Concerns:

No specific medical conditions have been noted with this breed. However, as with all breeds, certain “lines” might have a tendency toward specific health problems. It’s probably a good idea to talk to the breeder about whether his/her cats come from lines with any health risks, and ask for parents DNA test for HCM.