Ragdoll
Cat
History
Ragdolls
were developed in the 1960’s by Ann
Baker; a breeder in California. She bred
Josephine, a loving, gentle, longhaired white
female carrying Siamese markings, to other
longhaired cats carrying Siamese markings.
Her original stock consisted of sturdy, free-roaming
cats. By selecting individuals with the look
she wanted for her breeding program, she
created the type standard for the Ragdoll.
There
are four patterns: bi-color, van, mitted
and pointed. Patterns come in six colors:
seal, blue, chocolate, lilac, red, and cream.
Points may be solid, lynx, or tortie. CFA
accepts bi-colors and vans for showing; mitteds
and pointeds are registered.
Pointed
Ragdolls have the classic, Siamese-type markings.
Mitteds look like they went wading in whipped
cream and sneaked a sip: their chins are
soft, fluffy white, and so are their mittens
and boots. Bi- colors look like they went
swimming in whipped cream and dunked their
faces in for a deep drink. All four legs,
their underbodies, chest, and an upside-down “V” marking
on their faces are white, and they may have
a splash or two of white on their backs.
Only their tails, ears, and the outer part
of their masks show the darker markings.
Vans look like they nearly drowned in whipped
cream. Only the top of the mask, ears, and
tail, and perhaps a few spots on the body,
show darker markings.
Adult
Ragdoll cats should be groomed at least twice
per week. Ragdoll cats shed considerably less
than other large, medium-long haired cats, but
they still shed. Ragdolls grow, grow, and keep
growing! A male Ragdoll cat can weigh up to 30
pounds when fully grown, although most Ragdolls
reach about 10 pounds less than that . . . with
females coming in at about 5-10 pounds less than
males.
Being
a large cat, you will need a good-sized litterbox
to accommodate your adult Ragdoll. And, you
will need to keep it clean on a daily basis.
Ragdoll cats need your love and attention
more than any other breed. These cats thrive
on affection. |
