Cats

Ragdoll Cat

Updated: September 21, 2017
Ragdoll Cat

The Ragdoll was born in 1960 in California, USA but was not recognized until ten years later. The cross was made by an angora cat and a sacred male of Burma. Today it is one of the most prized breeds in North America.

Origin
  • America
  • United States
FIFe classification
  • Category I
Physical characteristics
Average weight
  • 7-11
  • 11-13
  • 13-17
  • 17-22
  • 22-30
Life expectancy
  • 8-10
  • 10-15
  • 15-18
  • 18-20
Character
Climate
Type of hair

Contents

  1. Physical appearance
  2. Character
  3. Health
  4. Caring for a Ragdoll

Physical appearance

They are strong and well proportioned cats, with a firm leg stance. To get an idea of ​​the size of the Ragdoll, the females usually weigh between 3.6 and 6.8 kilograms, while males are usually between 5.4 and 9.1 kilograms or more. They have medium-sized, thick and very soft hair and the entire body of the Ragdoll cat ends in a long and very thick tail.

They have a wide head, with two expressive blue eyes that can be of different shades. The color of the eyes - depending on its intensity - is a very influential and appreciated factor in terms of participation in beauty contests.

We can find the Ragdoll cat in different colors and shades, 6 specifically:

Ragdolls come in 6 different colors: red, seal, chocolate and the corresponding "dilutes", including blue, lilac, and cream.

All shades give way to the following four patterns:

Colorpoint: They stand out for their dark tone of the ends of the extremities like nose, ears, tail and legs.

Mitted: Very similar to the Pointed pattern although they have a strip of white belly to the abdomen, as well as the legs and chin. With or without a blaze (a white line or spot on the face), but must have a "belly stripe" (white stripe that runs from the chin to the genitals) and a white chin

Bicolor: White legs, white inverted V on the face, white abdomen and sometimes white patches on the back. It is also known as Van pattern and is the least common of all.

Lynx: Very similar to the bi-colored cat with an added appearance of tabby marks (the common tabby).

Character

The name, Ragdoll, literally means rag doll because of its extreme docility observed by the first breeders of this adorable breed. It is an excellent pet since it is generally considered a sociable cat and very tolerant. They do not usually meow, instead they emit weak and delicate sounds.

They are quiet, discreet and intelligent. These are perfect qualities for those who look are looking for a cat to dedicate cuddles and affection to. Because of their overly relaxed behavior, there is a myth that Ragdolls are resistant to pain.

Health

Their life expectancy is around 10 years. They are relatively healthy cats although due to the semi-long size of their hair, digestive problems can appear - such as tricobezoares (hair balls in the stomach).

The most common diseases affecting Ragdolls are:

  • Urinary problems (which can be by the kidney or ureter)
  • Polycystic Kidney Disease
  • Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
  • Endogamy is the most serious problem of this breed of cat since about half of the genes of all Ragdolls (45%) come from the only founder, Raggedy Ann Daddy Warbucks.

Caring for a Ragdoll

It is important to brush Ragdoll cats regularly so that their hair does not get tangled. We recommend to observe their behavior, their food intake and their physical state of health everyday. They are such a quiet breed that it may prove difficult to see if something bad has happened to them.

Ragdoll Cat photos

Related articles

Upload a picture of your Ragdoll Cat

Upload your pet's picture

Write a comment

Add an image
Click to attach a photo related to your comment
How would you rate this breed?
Photo uploaded by Vicky:This is Theodore (Teddy). He is 3 months old
1 of 10
Ragdoll Cat