Ragdolls are large, loving longhairs with silky, plush nonmatting fur and large, expressive oval blue eyes. The standard Ragdoll body is light-coloured, with darker Siamese-type points on face, legs, ears and tail. In most patterns, the points are partly covered with white markings.
They are extremely docile, affectionate, intelligent, playful, people-oriented cats that adore their humans. Always considerate and gentle, they make ideal pets for children and get along well with dogs and other felines. It is not surprising that these beautiful cats are considered the gentlest and most easy-going of the breeds.
Ragdolls were developed in the 1960's by Ann Baker; a breeder in California. She bred Josephine, a loving, gentle, longhaired white Angora carrying Siamese markings, to both a Burmese and Birman male. It was their offspring that resulted in the first Ragdolls. These kittens were blessed with a beautiful nature with the extra qualities of non-matting fur, a huge size, and a non-fighting disposition.
Ragdolls appears in four recognised colours of seal, blue, chocolate and lilac either with or without markings on the face and feet. Any of these colours may be transposed over each of the three patterns of Colourpointed, Mitted or Bicolour. Other nonstandard colours include red, cream, fawn, lynx and cinnamon.
Ragdolls are slow to mature. It can take between 3 to 4 years for Ragdolls to reach full maturity and attain the desired coat qualities and definition of contrasting colour.
The Ragdoll is also considered the largest fully domestic breed of cat. Full size and weight is often reached at about 4 years old with altered males sometimes reaching 20 pounds or more and female Ragdolls proportionally smaller.
Organisations
TBRCC The British Ragdoll Cat Club.
Ragdoll International A Club for Owners, Admirers
and Breeders Of Ragdoll Cats.
Breed Books
Guide to Owning a Ragdoll Cat by Susan Nelson, Gary Strobel.
Ragdoll Cats : Everything About Purchase, Nutrition, Health Care, Grooming, Behaviour, and Showing by Karen Leigh Davis.
Ragdoll Cat by Gary A. Strobel, Susan A. Nelson.
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