Ragdoll Cat Breed- Information, Characteristics and Facts

The character of being cuddled may be common for most cats but is highest when it comes to the Ragdoll Cat Breed. This cat is newer compared to other breeds. Yet, it stands among the most popular cat breeds. 

If we look into the family of cat breeds, the Ragdoll Cat stands as the youngest one. In the 1960s, a cat breeder named Ann Baker who lived in Riverside, California was the first to invent this breed. He took an Angora-type cat named Josephine and bred it with a Birman cat that had a seal point coat colour.

However, after Josephine got hit by a car, Baker started making claims against the Government. He accused the Veterinary Hospital of California to have altered her genes through genetic experiments that made Josephine docile and limp. Since Baker had no proof regarding his accusations, people broke away from him and started breeding the Ragdoll Cat Breed separately. They even used breeds like Persian and Burmese for creating this breed.

General Characteristics of the Ragdoll Cat Breed: 

The Ragdoll Cat Breeds are incredibly patient, gentle and comparatively larger than other breeds. Their good behaviour and tricks are often the reason why they are close to families. A surprising fact about these cats is that they are very friendly with dogs and other pets. Also being good-mannered allows them to adjust easily to any situation.  

Given below is a list of the general characteristics of this breed.

Appearance	They are muscular cats with long hair, they are born white but the face, ears and tail darken with growing age. They have medium-sized heads and ears. The cheeks of this breed are well-developed. They also have long and healthy legs.
Size	The size of a Ragdoll Cat Breed is 9-12 inches.
Weight	The weight of a Ragdoll Cat Breed is 12-15 lbs.
Coat type	Ragdolls have semi-long, soft and silky coats.
Undercoat	No
Coat Colour	The coat colours of this breed include: Frost, Seal, Chocolate, Blue, Lilac, Red, Blue cream and Cream.
Coat Pattern	The coat pattern of this breed include: Pointed, Van, Mitted and Bi-colour.
Eye Colour	The eye colour of this cat is blue.
Life Expectancy	13-15 years
Price	United States: $800-$2000, United Kingdom: £500, India: ₹26,000- ₹33,000

Temperament and Personality:

The Ragdoll Cat is an affectionate breed that is barely demanding and socializes easily. People also know them by the name  ‘dog-like-cats’ or ‘puppy-like cats’ due to their way of greeting people at the door or following them around the house. They love getting cuddled up in the arms of their owner and a constant routine does not affect them much. 

Although they are calm and docile, the Ragdoll Cat Breed loves to play with toys. The temperament of this breed is down to earth and they have a great tolerance to pain. Therefore, they prefer staying close to their feet or climbing up to the sofa. When hungry, they use their sweet vocal to inform their owner. As intelligent cats, they learn to fetch objects faster than others and prefer staying with known people for the longest time in a room. 

Common Health Issues:

Owning a pet is not enough. You must also be aware of the health problems that it undertakes. For a cat, some health issues can even be life-taking. Therefore, learning about them should be an owner’s prime responsibility. 

In a Ragdoll Cat Breed, some problems can be genetic while others can be managed at home. These problems include:

1. Obesity: Obesity is one of the biggest issues for every pet and acts as a major reason for their death. Carrying excess weight by a cat also reduces its lifespan by at least 2 years. It can even cause problems like Diabetes and Hepatic Lipidosis and is common in the breed.
2. Dental Disease: This occurs mostly if you don’t brush your teeth regularly. Food residues that are stuck within the teeth harden, resulting in the tartar on the surface of the teeth.  
3. Parasites: Just like any other cat breed, the Ragdoll cat breed is also prone to bugs. They infect every part of the cat, including the ears and the tail. Sometimes, they get transferred to the owner and his family causes illness or death. 

Besides these, there are other genetic health issues. 

1. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: This is a cardiac disease that occurs in most cats including the Ragdoll cat breed. Here, the myocardial mass of the left ventricle thickens causing a reduction in the heart’s cardiac chamber.
2. Urinary tract issues: In this disease, the urinary tracts including the uterus, bladder and kidney get infected.
3. Polycystic Kidney Disease: This is one of the most common hereditary diseases in Ragdolls. In this case, fluid filled cysts start growing within the utero.

To detect if your cat has either of these diseases, regular screening is necessary.  An owner must also ensure a proper diet for his pet followed by regular veterinary check-ups to avoid such situations.

Detection:

These charming cats have a beautiful personality that makes them one of the best companions. But this feature is not enough to identify them. There are different ways to detect a ragdoll Cat Breed. These include:

1. General Characteristics: The best way to know if the cat belongs to the Ragdoll breed is to match its physical characteristics. Ragdolls have significant blue eyes that make them unique. They also exhibit a darker shade at points (nose, ear, tail and legs) while the rest of the body has a lighter shade. Ragdoll cat breed have a sturdy body, large frame, and proportionate legs. Their heads are broad with a flat top and wide space between the ears. Also ,they have long, muscular bodies with broad chests and short necks. Their tails are bushy and long in length which are soft , their paws are large, round, and their coats are silky, dense, and medium to long length.
2. Noticing their behaviour: These cats are calm and docile yet playful. Thus, they interact with their owners by playing games. In case you feel your cat is hyperactive, there are chances that he may not be a member of the Ragdoll breed. 
3. Seeking documentation: Those who are renowned Ragdoll breeders own certificates, proving them as members of a reputable association. Therefore, before adopting this breed, you should ask for the breeder’s certificate for confirmation.  

Grooming and Shedding:

Grooming a Ragdoll Cat Breed is very easy. They are mostly clean animals and can take care of themselves. Yet, there are a few things that an owner must look after. 

• Bathing this breed should be the owner’s top priority. If you feel that their coat is greasy, make sure you wash them.
• Brush their teeth regularly to avoid dental diseases.
• Trim their nails so that dirt is not collected inside their nails. 
• Check their tails for poop bits. In case you find some, wipe it off using a wet cloth.
• Look for fleas in the ears of the kitten. If you find redness or a foul smell coming from their ears, wipe them off with a damp cloth.  

These cats shed moderately. Since they don’t have an undercoat, Ragdolls are likely to shed and mat. Use a stainless steel brush to remove their tangles. Comb their coat twice a week to maintain the quality of their fur. These cats shed most during the spring season and develop a thicker coat during the winter season. 

Feeding:

These cats require proper animal meat and protein to survive their hunger. Every cat breed is active. Therefore, a proper amount of glucose is required to provide them energy. The diet of a Ragdoll cat breed must also include small levels of carbohydrates. Make sure you don’t provide them with raw materials if you feel your cat has low digestibility.  

This cat breed likes eating wet food rather than dry food. Those Ragdolls who are about 13 weeks old should be given food at least four times a day. Once they reach the age of 6 months, eating twice a day should be enough. You can also provide them with human food like fish, cheese, bananas, berries, lemons, etc.  

Training and Exercise:

The Ragdoll Cat Breed is one of the easy-to-train cats. Considered intelligent, they pick up habits like scratching the pole or using the litter box easily. Since they are large; they also require bigger litter boxes to accommodate the stool. Due to the increasing cat market, several tools have been invented to help a person in training his cat. By using a clicking tool, you can let the cat understand that each click stands for a reward. 

These cats do not require regular exercise. They mostly prefer lying on a couch rather than jumping around the house. However, a few shorts of activity within such naps is enough for this breed. 

Living with families:

As highly social animals, they love living with families. Especially with children and other pets, they share a strong bond. For games like tea parties, makeup or travelling, these cats are the best players. However, children should also be taught to behave properly with them. They are even suitable for living in apartments but make sure you keep them indoors for they have a common habit of putting themselves in danger (like getting stolen).

Facts about Ragdoll cat Breed:

1. The Ragdoll Cat Breed was registered by the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) in 1993 and received recognition in 2000. 
2. It was declared the most popular cat breed in 2019-2020 by the CFA.
3. These cats are called Ragdolls due to their tendency of limping when picked up.
4. These cats belong to the non-aggressive group.
5. They prefer nothing more than a good snuggle.
6. The eyes of this breed are always blue. However, there is a rare chance of this cat being born with one blue eye.
7. They are also known as ‘floor cats’ by the CFA.
8. These cats are born pure white. With time, they develop colour at points like the nose, tail, ears and tail.

Conclusion:

The Ragdoll is an affectionate cat breed. They are highly devoted towards their owner and also attain their emotional needs. Such characteristic of this breed has made it popular all over the world. Even the great musician Taylor Swift owned this breed along with two Scottish Folds. Although the breed is much younger, compared to others; it was still capable of bagging the tag for the most popular cat breed.

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