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Origin: United States |
The Ragdoll cat was first bred by a breeder in Riverside,
California, by the name of Ann Baker. In the early 1960’s,
she crossed Josephine - a white longhaired cat - to various
Birman and Burmese-styled cats to produce this unique breed.
These unusual cats were destined to become the new thing in
companion animals; strangely friendly and loving, they possessed
little of the typical cat’s aloof mannerisms and, instead, were
noted for their tendency to go completely limp, or rag-doll,
when they were picked up. Incredibly laid back and placid,
news of these incredible new pets began to spread like wildfire
and, before long, it seemed that everyone wanted their very own
Ragdoll cat.
Ann Baker promoted the Ragdoll cat heavily.
With a breeding program consisting of several breeders
contracted under her, Baker was paid a royalty for every kitten
that was sold, leaving her free to promote and advertise the
breed, writing and mailing out literature about the Ragdoll to
people throughout the United States. However, while the
news of this incredible cat spread quickly, so did the
controversy that was also quick to spring up about the animal
or, mainly, about the woman who had “created” the Ragdoll cat.
As time passed, Ann Baker’s statements regarding the breed
became more and more bizarre. Sometimes, she would claim
that the Ragdoll cats possessed human genetic material, hence
why they seemed so people-like and strangely calm. She
tried to claim that these unique cats were immune to pain and,
the icing on the cake, she claimed that the Ragdoll cat
represented a link between humans and space aliens.
Needless to say, not everyone shared her space alien theories
and the very breeders that had helped her to develop this breed,
decided to pull away and continue to develop the breed without
Baker’s strange tales. Denny Dayton was one such person
and, with his hard work and attempts to make the breed
legitimate, the Ragdoll breed of cat would be recognized in the
United States in 1967.
Ragdoll Cat Breed Facts
| Ragdoll Cat Breed History |
Ragdoll Appearance |
Ragdoll Temperament
Grooming Your Ragdoll Cat |
Ragdoll Cat Health Information |
Is a Ragdoll The Right Choice For You?

The Ragdoll is a beautiful and well-balanced animal with
brilliant blue eyes. A semi-longhaired cat, they are also
a pointed breed, meaning that their bodies are lighter in color
than their extremities, or points (ears, nose, feet and tail),
and they are known for their very sweet and gentle dispositions.
The Ragdoll is a beauty to behold; available in four pattern
variations, the Ragdoll can be found in the bi-color, van, or
mitted varieties (all of which have white markings), or the
color point, which is the solid version, somewhat resembling a
larger, long-haired cat of Siamese ancestry. Ragdoll
kittens can be found in six colors as well - seal, blue,
chocolate, lilac, red and cream but, if you’re thinking those
are the only colors you can find available, think again!
In addition to the six different colors, the points of the
Ragdoll may also be solid, lynx, tortie (tortoiseshell), or
torbie (a cross of tortie and lynx). This ensures that the
Ragdoll breed is actually available in a vast array of colors
and patterns.
The Ragdoll cat is known for his very calm and placid temperament. In fact, he’s such the gentle giant that, if left unattended, the Ragdoll can actually get himself seriously injured outside. Not prone to picking fights (or even defending himself, for that matter), a Ragdoll kitten could be hurt badly if caught by another cat or a dog. For this reason, most Ragdoll breeders will stress that their kittens should never go outside, except for on a leash. This is simply for the safety of these sweet and loveable cats.
Ragdoll Cat Breed Facts
| Ragdoll Cat Breed History |
Ragdoll Appearance |
Ragdoll Temperament
Grooming Your Ragdoll Cat |
Ragdoll Cat Health Information |
Is a Ragdoll The Right Choice For You?

Care of your Ragdoll kitten is relatively easy. A weekly combing through of his coat will help to remove any excess dead hairs, free up any tangles he might have gotten, and will help to remove any excess dander. While the Ragdoll cat does shed fairly frequently, this weekly combing will help keep to keep the heavy undercoat thinned out and will help to keep shedding to a minimum.
Perhaps it is due to his hybrid vitality, but the Ragdoll tends to have very little problem with genetic disease. Nevertheless, there are a couple of risks with the breed and there are always risks of problems arising, simply from poor crosses (such as premature loss of teeth or kidney troubles). To find the best kittens, take the time and get to know your local breeders, talk to them about your concerns and look, not only at potential kittens, but also at the parents. Some problems which effect the Ragdoll include:
Hip dysplasia
Feline Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
The
Ragdoll is a very sweet and affectionate feline, well-known to
get along with people, animals and with children. Rarely a
climber, they tend to prefer playing on the floor or lounging on
the couch, quite often on their backs with all four legs stuck
up in the air. If you like a very friendly and loveable
cat, then there are few felines who can compete with the love
that this cat can dish out.
However, if you’re looking
for a stereotypical cat - a feline who is aloof and distant,
then keep on looking. The Ragdoll is not an independent
breed of cat, nor do they do well when allowed to play outside
unsupervised. The Ragdoll is very people-oriented and not
only will suffer the doldrums if neglected, but can also get
himself badly injured if left unattended. While these big
beauties require little physical work, like all pets, they do
require a great deal of responsibility.
Ready to add an exquisite Ragdoll cat or kitten to your family? Visit our Ragdoll Cat Breeders Showcase where you can find contact information for responsible Ragdoll catteries and view photos, detailed information and litter announcements for Ragdoll kittens for sale. Click here!
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