- The history of the breed
- Appearance of ragdolls
- Peculiarities of the character of the Ragdoll breed
- Health problems
- Grooming of Ragdoll cats
- Ragdoll: pros and cons of the breed
The ragdoll cat breed (from the English ragdoll – “rag doll”) can literally melt in your hands, showing complete trust and affection, which breaks stereotypes about independent and wayward cats. These furry ones do not scratch sofas, do not wait for you from around the corner, but, on the contrary, behave as if they adore the whole world, and especially their family. But this is only the tip of the iceberg of their uniqueness, so it is better to learn more about them.
The history of the breed
The Ragdoll is considered one of the youngest cat breeds, which appeared in the 1960s in California, USA. The founder of the breed was the breeder Ann Baker, who noticed the unusual behavior of one of her cats, Josephine. She was a white Angora cat who, after a car accident, became very gentle and had the curious ability to completely relax when picked up. It was this feature that Ann decided to fix in the new breed, so she crossed Josephine with other thoroughbred Burmese and Siamese cats to get the desired result. Once this was accomplished, Baker created the International Ragdoll Cat Association (IRCA).
In 1993, the breed received official status from the American Cat Fanciers Association (ACFA), and in 2000 – from The International Cat Association (TICA).
Appearance of ragdolls
The Ragdoll breed is not only one of the youngest, but also one of the largest: adult males can weigh up to 9 kg, and females – about 4-7 kg.
Their bright blue eyes and incredibly soft and silky fur, reminiscent of the texture of rabbit fur, will definitely not leave anyone indifferent. This is their business card.
A ragdoll cat always has a light coat color, but dark markings on the face, ears, paws or tail occur in various combinations. Depending on how the darker markings are distributed on the body, three main coloring options are distinguished: colorpoint (dark markings on the face, ears, paws and tail), mitted (white stockings on the paws and a white line on the belly), bicolor (characteristic white inverted ” V” on the face, legs, belly and chest are completely white). Interestingly, a ragdoll kitten is born almost completely white. Its color begins to appear gradually in the first few weeks of life and is finally formed by 2-3 years.
Peculiarities of the character of the Ragdoll breed
Ragdoll character is so soft and friendly that it is difficult to imagine how they can become a source of any trouble. They are literally created for love: they get along perfectly with children, allow themselves to be hugged, stroked, played, do not conflict with other pets.
These cats not only love their owners, but also want to be around every minute. This manifests itself in following them around the house, waiting at the door after work or observing their actions.
Strange as it may seem, but ragdoll cats have a calm canine nature, that is, they are easy to train, can bring toys or follow simple commands. At the same time, these cats rarely and quietly meow, without creating additional noise.
What makes the Ragdoll kitten even more unique is their habit of trustingly relaxing in the arms of a person. Such behavior is difficult to find in other breeds.
Health problems
Like many purebred cats, Ragdolls can suffer from genetic diseases, which you should be aware of before adding a furry to the family. The most common health problems are: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (thickening of the heart walls, which makes it difficult for the organ to function normally), urolithiasis, obesity and various injuries. Due to its gentle nature and weak instinct for self-defense, the breed practically does not use its claws and does not defend itself even in dangerous situations. This means that the ragdoll cat is not adapted to life on the street and needs help from the owner in various dangerous situations.
It is quite clear that nothing can be done about some genetic diseases, but regular visits to the veterinarian, revaccination, treatment for parasites and a balanced diet in moderate portions will allow the Ragdoll to live a long and quality life.
Grooming of Ragdoll cats
Since the coat of Ragdolls is thick, silky, but has a minimal undercoat, care for it is simple. Dulls are rarely formed and can be avoided by regular brushing 1-2 times a week. A little more attention will need to be paid to this process during the shedding period to prevent hair from accumulating on furniture and clothing.
You should be careful with bathing because of the severe stress in fur babies. In general, ragdolls perfectly maintain their wool in good condition on their own, and therefore need bath manipulations only in case of severe pollution, diseases or due to advanced age.
Grooming also includes cleaning ears, teeth and trimming claws. We already know that ragdolls are domestic cats that will not be able to cope outside, so their claws will not naturally be sharpened unless they are helped to do so. You can install claws at home, and you can cut them with special scissors once every few weeks. So the claws will not twist, cause pain and affect the mobility of the spine.
Ears are checked weekly for dirt, inflammation, foreign objects, etc. You can clean the outer part of the ear with a special lotion using cotton pads, but if a deep cleaning is necessary, you should consult a veterinarian.
To take care of your cat’s oral cavity, you will need a toothbrush, special toothpaste and a few minutes a day. By not ignoring this procedure, plaque and gum disease can be avoided.
Ragdoll: pros and cons of the breed
If you are considering buying a ragdoll kitten, you should weigh all the pros and cons. Below we have listed the main characteristics of the Ragdoll breed to help you decide.
Pluses:
- Nature. Compliant, friendly cats that are not prone to aggression and are happy to help relieve stress.
- Loyalty. Extremely attached to their person.
- Convenience in wool care. Despite their thick coat, Ragdolls almost do not shed and have no problems with swallowing.
- Mind. Can remember commands, learn tricks and even fetch toys like dogs.
- A quiet voice. Rarely and quietly meow.
Cons:
- Dependence on a person. They can feel lonely if they stay alone for a long time. Ragdolls need constant attention, affection and communication. For busy people or those who travel a lot, this can be a hindrance.
- Long growing up. Ragdolls reach physical and emotional maturity only by 3-4 years, not 1-2, like most other breeds. This means that even though they are big, they can act like kittens for a long time. And you should be ready for that.
