Ragdoll Cats

Ragdolls are a breed of medium to long-haired cats. They are best known for their placid and docile temperament and extremely affectionate natures. They are hands-down the most gentle and easy going breed of cat. Ragdolls are extremely non aggressive; they typically should not be left outside for long periods of time as many will not defend themselves. Most Ragdoll cats do not hunt. The name “Ragdoll” comes from the fact that these cats relax and go completely limp when you pick them up. Ragdolls cats have short legs, a stout body, and a heavy coat with Siamese colored points.

The Ragdoll cat breed traces back to California in the 1960s. The first Ragdoll cat was called Josephine. There are many wild and impossible stories circulating about the origin of the Ragdolls; for example, some say the Ragdoll cat was left here by an alien race. What is true however, is they have been carefully bred for many decades for specific characteristics. These characteristics include: large size, docility, and the characteristic limpness when held, giving the name “Ragdoll.” The breed was created from a variety of cats breeds; these breeds include Burmese, Persians, and Birman cats. Other breeders have attempted to copy the Ragdoll. These other breeds, like the RagaMuffin cat, are not universally recognized because there is little difference from the Ragdoll breed.

Ragdoll cats are large medium to longhaired cats. They come with pointed patterns of three different types: bicolor, colorpoint, and mitted. Their coat colors come in blue, seal, lilac, and chocolate color points. Ragdolls may come with markings on their feet and faces. Louie, the Ragdoll cat featured throughout this site has a white blaze on his nose. Some breeders offer Ragdolls in nonstandard colors such as lynx and red point. A Ragdoll’s coat typically requires minimal care and usually does not matt. When they get older Ragdolls may need coat care like other long-haired cats. Ragdoll cats usually take 2 years to fully mature. Adult male Ragdoll cats weigh between 15 to 20 pounds; the female Ragdoll cats typically weigh between 9 to 13 pounds. Ragdolls are the largest breed of domestic cat. Due to their calm nature, Ragdoll cats make excellent pets, they get along well with other cats as well as dogs.