Ragdoll Cat Breed: History, Characteristics, Facts

Ragdoll is a large and loving cat breed. When it comes to loyalty, people prefer dogs over any other animals. However, when it comes to comparison, Ragdoll cats are just as loyal and caring as dogs. If you want to adopt a cat, a ragdoll cat can be a great choice.

Ragdoll is also very attractive when it comes to looks. Want to know more about this cat? Stick with us; we will discuss everything about this cat breed.

Ragdoll Cat Breed History

A ragdoll cat is a man-made breed first mated in the early 1960s. Anne Baker – a cat breeder, is the person attributed for the existence of the ragdoll breed.

Ann Baker started by breeding a domestic long-haired white cat named Josephine with various Burmese-like cats.

After a long time, Baker produced the first cats and named them Ragdolls. These cats were appreciated for their big size, non-maturing fur, and outgoing nature.

It was the year 1993 when the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) started officially registering them. They are one of the most popular cat breeds registered by them.

Ragdoll Cat Breed Characteristics

Affection level	High
Friendliness	High
Kid-Friendly	High
Pet-friendly	High
Exercise Needs	Medium
Playfulness	Medium
Energy level	Medium
Intelligence	Medium
Trainability	Medium
Tendency to vocalize	Medium
Shedding	Medium to High

Appearance

Ragdolls are large and muscular cats, having long hair. The coat of the Ragdoll is soft and silky.

The colors of the ragdolls are white, gray, blue, cream, lilac, chocolate, and red. The breed is blessed with beautiful blue eyes.

According to the Ragdoll Fancier Club, there are various sorts of ragdoll coat patterns – colorpoint, bicolor, mitted, and lynx point.

• The colorpoint coats are darker near the eyes, ears, tail, limbs, and sometimes stomach. 
• The bicolor cats resemble colorpoint ragdolls in appearance. However, these cats have an inverted V coloring pattern on their faces and lighter-colored bellies and limbs. 
• The mitted cats also look like the color point ones, however these cats have extra light patches near their paws, giving them the look of mittens. 
• Lynx point ragdolls look similar to their colorpoint counterparts. The difference is their having a tabby marking on their face.

Temperament

The personality of the ragdoll is smart, gentle, and very affectionate. The ragdolls will crave their owner’s attention, but apart from that, they are not that demanding.

The ragdolls are loyal and devoted to their owners, making them an amazing companion. 

They are very quiet, and thus, you may not hear much from them. When they communicate, they make small meows to tell you they are hungry. 

Your ragdoll might not enjoy scaling the highest points in the house like most kitties do. The CFA has named these cats ‘floor cats’ as they like to stay close to the ground. 

Care

The grooming needs of the ragdolls are simple. The Ragdolls are clean animals capable of taking care of their own. However, there are certain things that you need to take care of. 

The ragdoll cats need frequent bathing. When you find your cat’s coat looking greasy, it is time to draw your cat a bath.

The ragdoll cat breed needs daily combing as well. They also need regular trimming of nails and ear cleaning. 

Training:-

The ragdolls are easy to train; they are easy to teach. They can easily learn to retrieve toys and other fun tricks. Use reinforcement, snacks, and praise to encourage your cat and you will have a well-trained cat on your hands.

Socializing:-

A ragdoll cat is simple to socialize with because it wants to be everyone’s best friend. The most difficult component is keeping an eye on these social butterflies who sometimes get themselves into trouble while trying to make friends. 

Diet and Nutrition

You need to give highly nutritious food to your cat and keep an eye on her to prevent overeating because these cats are prone to obesity. Consult the vet to prepare a diet plan for your cat. 

When it comes to cats, it is necessary to provide them with 41 different and specific nutrients.. The proportion of all these nutrients will vary per age, lifestyle, and overall cat health.

Health Problems

Here are the common health problems faced by the Ragdoll cats:

1. Obesity

The ragdoll prefers to relax than to move around. Due to this lifestyle, they are prone to obesity. Although ragdolls might seem adorable with a little extra padding, it is bad for their health. The heart, thyroid, kidneys, and other important organs do not dwell well with the additional weight. 

2. Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

The majority of the ragdoll cats face this problem. Females are more prone to this health problem. 

Here are some of the symptoms of UTIs:

• Abdominal pain 
• Fever
• Frequent and painful urination 
• Licking the genitals 

Mild to moderate cases can be treated with antibiotics; however, some UTIs may require hospitalization of the cat. Therefore, take your cat to the vet immediately if you find any symptoms of UTIs. 

3. Polycystic Kidney Disease

Due to hereditary conditions, cysts develop inside the kidneys of the cats. The kidneys get damaged as the cysts start growing, which may also lead to kidney failure. 

Here are some of the symptoms:

• Fatigue
• Reduced hunger
• Higher water consumption
• Regular urination

4. Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

This disease is very common in domestic cats, especially the Ragdolls. 

Your ragdoll has this health problem if she shows the signs of fatigue, coughing, loss of hunger, leg paralysis, and fainting. 

This is a hereditary disease; therefore, very difficult to diagnose. The symptoms of this ailment often go undetected and, therefore, may worsen with time. 

5. Hairballs

The fur of a ragdoll can gather in the stomach, which may lead to digestive problems. Ragdolls have long fur and therefore there is a high risk of swallowing hairballs. 

If you find your cat unwell and frequently vomiting, it may be due to hairball ingestion. To treat this problem, your vet may prescribe malt paste, which helps in getting rid of the hairballs. 

You should also practice removing the ragdoll fur with a brush that is for the longhair breeds to reduce the amount of ingested hair.

Ragdoll Cat Fun facts

1. One of the largest domestic breeds of cat

The ragdoll cat size is so big that it makes them one of the largest domestic breeds of cat. These cats weigh 20 pounds, and when you add in their long coat, they can be the size of a small dog. 

2. Ragdoll Kittens are born pure white

It is a fact that the majority of the ragdoll kittens are born pure white. The color and pattern of the ragdolls may develop when they are one to two weeks of age. The breeders can also predict the possibilities of the color and pattern combination of the kittens. 

3. All ragdolls are not cuddly and floppy

This is one fact that needs to be addressed because people think all the ragdolls are cuddly and love to be held. However, this is not true for all of them. Each ragdoll has a different personality. How a ragdoll is raised may influence whether it will be cuddly or not.

4. Ragdolls are not hypoallergenic

People do ask a question: Are ragdoll cats hypoallergenic? 

Many people think that the ragdolls are hypoallergenic, but they are not hypoallergenic. 

Excessive shedding of the undercoat may lead to allergies. Other allergies may happen due to the saliva of the cat. 

5. Ragdolls have dog-like personalities

Some of the ragdolls have personalities that are very similar to dogs. Some ragdoll cat traits are like dogs – loyalty and playfulness are the major ones. Ragdolls wait for their owners at the door just like dogs. 

Ragdoll Cat Price

If you are looking for a ragdoll cat, you can find the ragdoll for sale near you. The Ragdoll cat price may range anywhere from $800 to $3500. The average price of the ragdoll may stand around $2000.

FAQs

Final Words

At last, we would conclude by saying that a ragdoll cat can be a great companion for you. The cat is very loyal and affectionate. So, if you’re looking for a soft and cuddly cat for your home, the ragdoll cat can be the best addition to your family.

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