Today we want to introduce you to other CATS that we love and that deserve a post all to themselves: Ragdoll cats. Their name comes from English and means "rag doll." As surprising as this name may seem, there is an explanation. You discover it as soon as you pick one up. And that is that Ragdolls relax extremely. When you pick them up, it's as if their body ceases to belong to them.
Their origin dates back to 1960 in Riverside (California, USA), where a Turkish Angora cat named "Josephine" was crossed with a Sacred Birman cat named "Daddy Warbucks." During gestation, "Josephine" suffered a traffic accident with no consequences for her health, nor, apparently, for that of her kittens. But the truth is that the animals that were born were larger than expected, and their characteristics led the breeder, Ann Baker, to show great interest in the new specimens, as they also possessed a special characteristic: they were tremendously docile and manageable, relaxing in arms like real ragdolls. From this, the breed took its name, which was achieved after crossings with these specimens.
The breed was approved in the United States in 1965. In 1971, Ann Baker founded the International Ragdoll Cat Association (IRCA). In 1969, two specimens from Ann Baker's catteries arrived in Great Britain, and from there to the rest of Europe. The breed was recognized by the International Feline Federation (FIFe) in 1992.
What are Ragdolls like?
In general, Ragdoll specimens are large, solid, strong, and muscular. They usually weigh between 4.5 and 9 kilos. Their hind legs are longer than their front legs, and they have long tufts of fur in the interdigital spaces. Their tail is long and bushy.
Regarding their fur, we observe that it is semi-long, soft, silky, and more abundant on the ruff, breeches, and flanks. There are four classic colors: seal, blue, chocolate, and lilac, although other varieties are currently emerging. Three patterns are drawn over these colors, which define the three main types of Ragdoll:
- Colorpoint: typical Siamese color, with the extremities (or "points") darker than the rest of the body.
- Mitted: It is a colorpoint, but with white mittens on all four paws.
- Bicolor: it is perhaps the most striking and recognizable. It is a colorpoint, but with a white inverted V on the face, whose peak passes through the middle of the eyes. Its paws are white, as are its chest and belly. The definitive color is not reached before two years of age and darkens over time.
Ragdolls have a medium-sized head, broad, slightly wedge-shaped, rounded. From the front, it is rounded and has well-developed cheeks. The muzzle is moderately long, and the nose draws a slight arch in the upper third. The chin is well developed. Their ears are medium, broad at the base, and rounded at the tip. The neck is short and strong. One of the most notable attributes of Ragdolls is their beautiful deep blue eyes. That moment when you have them in your arms, totally surrendered and looking at you… is magical.
What is the temperament of Ragdolls like?
The temperament of Ragdolls is adorable. They are unlike any other cat in the world. They are calm, affectionate, good-natured, docile... They love company and abhor loneliness and noise. They get along well with other cats and with dogs. In short: an ideal animal to live with.
How to care for Ragdolls?
Caring for them is very simple. Because Ragdolls have an extremely sweet, docile, and gentle temperament, which makes everything seem easy. This makes them the ideal cat for many types of people, from those who have never had a cat or don't have much experience with them, families with children, people who live in houses with or without a garden, older people, and even people who already have other pets at home.
Otherwise, they don't require any special care. You only need to worry about maintaining their fur, which requires frequent brushing and combing.
We hope that after getting to know Ragdolls, you like them as much as we do. If you want to know more about CATS, we introduce you to Maine Coons and Munchkins.