What is ragdoll cat?
Ragdolls are becoming one of the most beloved cat breeds worldwide, known for their loyal and loving temperaments. These striking cats are not only visually stunning their medium to long coats and captivating blue eyes, but they also boast a cuddly personality that makes them irresistible. Weighing up to 20, they can be as large as a small dog, and their name perfectly reflects their gentle nature—often going limp in when held. With their distinct colorpoint coats and affectionate demeanor, Ragdolls truly embody the ideal companion for cat lovers.
Size of Ragdoll
They are one of the biggest breeds of cats, often reaching 20 pounds. These cats stand between 9–11 inches tall and are usually 17–21 inches in length (excluding their fluffy tail). They weigh 10–20 pounds, with male ragdoll cats typically weighing more, according to the Cat Fanciers' Association(CFA).
Patterns and Colors
According to the Ragdoll Fanciers Club (CFA), there are five types of ragdoll coat patterns: colorpoint, bicolor, mitted, lynx point, and tortie point.
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Colorpoint coats are darker around the eyes, ears, tail, limbs, and (sometimes) stomach.
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Seal Bicolor ragdoll cats are similar in appearance to colorpoint ragdolls, but these cats will have an inverted-V seal coloring pattern on the face with a light belly and limb color.
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Mitted ragdolls look like their colorpoint counterparts but have extra light spots near the paws, giving the appearance of mittens.
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Lynx mitted/point ragdolls look like color points but have tabby markings on their face.
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Tortie mitted/points/bicolor also look like color points but incorporate red or cream mixed into other colors.Tortie ragdoll are all female.
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Lynx seal bicolor is similar in appearance to bicolor ragdolls. These cats will have an inverted-V coloring and seal-colored tabby pattern on their face with a light belly and limb color.
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Lynx blue bicolor is similar in appearance to lynx blue bicolor ragdolls. These cats will have an inverted-V coloring and gray-colored tabby pattern on their face with a light belly and limb color.
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The cream bicolor is inverted-V on the mask of the face with a cream coloring pattern. Cream ragdolls are all male.
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Blue Bicolor ragdoll cats are similar in appearance to seal bicolor ragdolls, and these cats will have an inverted-V blue (gray) coloring pattern on the face with a light belly and limb color.
What is the average life span of ragdoll?
Ragdolls are actually one of the longest living cat breeds. While there is a lot of debate on the average age for a Ragdoll, it is generally agreed that they live between 15-20 years.
Keep in mind, this is for an indoor-only cat. Having an indoor/outdoor cat or an outdoor only cat exposes them to many potentially life-threatening diseases and risks that can lower this average.
Ragdolls are what is known as a “slow-maturing” cat. What this means is that they aren’t considered fully grown adults until age 4. During this time, they can continue to grow in size and you may not minor changes in their pattern. Some have been know to continueto grow even into their 5th year.
The Origin of Ragdoll Cats
Compared with other long-history breedings, the ragdoll is a young breed of cat. Creating a new breed of cat usually starts with a breeder choosing a unique or desired feature. Then they select a breeding pair that can consistently produce offspring representing those characteristics.
Supposedly, the initial breeding pairs for the Ragdoll were selected by a woman named Ann Baker in 1963. She chose two cats whose traits exemplified the Ragdoll breed that we know today – a large cat with a silky coat, bright blue eyes, and classic pointed markings.
Ann Baker
But there are several accounts of how this breed came to be. None are able to be 100% verified.
In one story, Ann Baker claims that while borrowing cats for her Black Persian breeding program, she noticed a handsome male cat. This striking cat looked like a male Birman. And he was the son of a female white angora cat named Josephine. Ann would use this male, named Raggedy Ann Daddy Warbucks, to produce litters that shared his impressive features. She also used his brother, Blackie, who helped diversify the gene pool while still maintaining the desired features.
Other stories dig a little deeper into the story of Josephine. As the story goes, the Angora was a rescue that Ann owned that was hit by a car. Supposedly, this accident left Josephine immune to pain, resulting in her floppy, relaxed demeanor. This is part of the legend of how Ragdolls get their name. They are known for going limp like a rag doll when held.
In some accounts, Josephine was deliberately bred with a Birman to create Raggedy Ann Daddy Warbucks. But the variations on these stories differ slightly depending on who is recounting the history.
The only thing that can be certain about the Ragdoll breed is that all legitimate progeny that are recognized purebred Ragdolls must come from Josephine.
Josephine and her Kittens
Ragdoll cat of today
What is the difference between ragdoll female and male?
Ragdolls are friendly, affectionate, and loyal, which explains their growing popularity amongst cat parents. They are great indoor cats because they are fairly smart and easily trainable, but is there any difference between a male and female Ragdoll cat? Which one is a better friend and housemate—Mr or Ms Mcfluferson?
Male Ragdolls are infamous for their clinginess and are attention seekers by nature. They’re outgoing and typically get along with humans and other pets. Mr. Ragdoll likes to cuddle and is more sociable than the females. They are always like little kittens their whole lifelong. They are bigger size, with bigger chins, and heavier weights.
Female Ragdoll cats are calmer but don’t mistake their mellow nature for apathy. They’re as affectionate as males but aren’t as clingy. They naturally prepare themselves for their motherhood, therfore they're more independent. But don't doubt how deeply they love you as much as male ragdoll cats do.
As opposed to male Ragdolls, who are super agile and loud, females aren't as active, and they are generally more adaptable.
Every Ragdoll, whether Male or Female, are their purr-son and have characteristics passed down from the parents, along with creating their own depending on the environment they are living in.
Whether you want a more playful Ragdoll (Males) or more dignified (Female), both are equally as affectionate and loving in a family setting or as a pet for a sole person.
It comes down to personal preference as to which traits you may prefer when selecting your Ragdoll to adopt.
Can you tell which is a girl ragdoll and a boy ragdoll in the pictures below?
