Breedportrait Ragdoll

The origins and development of the Ragdoll breed is difficult to establish and is somewhat shrouded in myths. Nonetheless, there are certain things we do know for sure.

The late Ann Baker, a breeder in Riverside, California, originated the Ragdolls in the early 1960. Ann’s neighbour, Mrs Pennel, owned a white longhaired "angora-like" cat named Josephine. This female so interested Ann Baker that she asks her neighbor permission to mate her. Ann mated Josephine to a Sacred Cat of Burma (Birman type cat) whose subsequent offspring were then crossed with a sable Burmese type cat. This was the start to of the Ragdoll breed. It is said that Josephine which was a free running cat , at some point was hit be a car and she laid by the curb for 2 days before being found and taken to a local university hospital and nursed backed to health. Ann Baker claimed that after the accident Josephine’s kittens had the ability to go limp when being held, Which is why she named the breed "Ragdoll."

Ann Baker advertised widely and mailed fliers promoting the breed to ca-lovers nationwide. Early publicity spread like wild fire and the breed quickly became an object of controversy.

Ann Baker’s breeding program consisted of a handful of breeders contracted under her. She was paid a royalty fee for every kitten sold. Anyone under her contract where forbidden to mate their cats unless they were given a "license" which meant that they had to strictly follow her rules and regulations. As time went on, Ann’s statements and claims about the breed became strange, supernatural….and very hard to believe. She publicized statements outlining how Ragdoll cats have human genes in them, and many other statements that questioned her mental stability.

The breeders once loyal to her, where now having doubts about, the direction she was taking the ragdoll breed. Because of this, several breeders broke off from Ann Baker and continued breeding Ragdolls for what they are…highly affectionate companions, with a lot of love to share with their owners.

A breeder, Denny Dayton owner of Blossom Time Cattery, was an instrumental figure in the history and development of the breed. After he broke away from Ann Baker, he fought hard to make the breed legitimate and acceptable by cat fanciers’standards. Denny succeeded and in 1967, the ragdoll breed was first recognized in the United States.

Denny Dayton is the originator of RFCI (ragdoll Fanciers Club International) the most reputable and highly respected Ragdoll cat registry in the world. Mr. Dayton was instrumental in getting the ragdoll breed recognized by TICA (The International Cat Association). Ann Baker went on with her breeding program but had much bitterness and anger toward the breeders who had broken away from her. She created her own cat registry/association in 1971,called IRCA (International Ragdoll Cat Association). Cats registered with IRCA are not recognized at any cat shows. Today there are over 500 hundred breeders worldwide and growing. The Ragdoll is recognized by all major cat Associations.

Wheatcrest ShowBiz of Cashmier

Seal Mitted

Ragdoll-sp.jpg (6662 Byte)

The Ragdoll is a firm, large cat with a medium boned muscular body. Solid in the overall appearance.

Medium size head, broad modified wedge with the appearance of a flat plane between the ears. The nose should show a slight curve it in the upper third. Cheeks well developed, tapering a well-developed medium long muzzle and well-developed chin.

Medium size ears, broad at the base, with rounded tips. Set wide on the skull with a slight tilt forward. Large, oval eyes. Outer edge of the eye aperture to be level with the base of the ears. Eye color to be an intense blue, in relationship to the body color.

Short and strong neck. Long body, medium bone structure, muscular. Chest broad and well developed. Muscular and heavier in the hindquarters. The mature cat is as broad at shoulders as it is at the hindquarters.

The legs are medium in length and of medium bone. Hind legs to be slightly higher than the front, giving the line of the back a slightly forward tilt in appearance. Paws is large, round and compact, tufted between the toes. Long tail, medium broad at the base, slightly tapered towards the tip and in proportions to the body. Well furnished, bushy.

Medium ling coat, dense, soft and silky texture, lying with the body and breaking as the cat moves. Longest around the neck and framing the outer edge of the face giving the appearance of a bib. Short on the face increasing in length from the top of the head to the shoulders down the back. Medium to long on the sides, abdomen and hindquarters. Short to medium long on the front legs.

The females are noticeably smaller than males. Male jowls should be taken into consideration. Development is slow it can take more than three years, before a Ragdoll has stopped growing.

The largest of all breeds of domestic cats are Ragdolls, with males weighing 15-20 lb. In the majority of domestic cats (Felis Catus) the average weight of the adult male is 8.6 lb. Neuters and spays are generally heavier "Guinness book of Records".

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Seal mitted with
a wide blaze kitten

The Ragdoll appears in four patterns-Colorpoint, Mitted, Bicolor, and Lynx. And four colors – seal, blue, chocolate and lilac- altogether 12 varieties.

POINTS-ears, mask and tail to be well defined and in harmony with the body color.

BODY: color sound to the roots and lighter than point color. Chest and bib lighter in color than body color. Slight shadings of color are allowed on the body and the stomach. NOSE LEATHER, PAWS AND PADS: Analogous to the color of the points.

POINTS- ears mask and tail to be darker, well defined color. The mask to have an inverted white "V" which should be symmetrical as possible, and should not extend beyond the outer edge of the eye on either side. The nose leather must be pink.

BODY COLOR: Chest, stomach, all four legs, feet and ruff are to be white. Body color to be lighter than point color. May have various markings of white and color patches. White should reach above the elbow on the front legs and above their hock on their rear legs.

POINTS: Legs (except for feet), ears, mask, and tail to be darker, well-defined color. A broken or evenly matched blaze if even dimension on nose and or between eyes to be acceptable. Chin must be white.

BACK FEET: Entirely white extending no higher than mid-thigh. White must go around the hocks entirely.

BODY: body color to be lighter than point color. There should be a white belly stripe, varying in width, from the bib down the underside between the forelegs to under the base of the tail.

POINTS: Ears. Mask, feet and tail to de darker well-defined color with tabby marking.

BODY: Body color to be lighter than point color; bib and chin areas may be somewhat lighter in color. Subdued tabby markings on body acceptable. Soft shadings of color are allowed on the body. Allowance to be made for a cat under two years of age.

FACE: Mask has definite tabby markings and fur around eyes gives the appearance of white eyeliner surrounding blue eyes.

TABBY MARKINGS: Dilutes may have noticeable tabby markings only on mask and points.

POINTS: Legs (except for feet), ears, mask and tail to be darker, well-defined color with the tabby markings. A broken or evenly matched white blaze of even dimension on nose and or between eyes to be acceptable. Chin must be white.

BODY: Body color to be lighter than point color. Subdued tabby markings on body acceptable. There should be a white belly stripe varying in width, from the bib down the underside between the forelegs to under the base of the tail.

FACE: Mask has definite tabby markings and fur around eyes gives the appearance of white eyeliner surrounding blue eyes.

POINTS: Ears, mask, and tail to be darker well-defined color with tabby markings. Mask to have and inverted "V" which should be symmetrical as possible, and should not extend beyond the outer edge of the eye on either side. The nose leather must be pink.

BODY: Chest, stomach, all four legs, feet and ruff are to be white. Body color to be lighter than point color. May have various markings of white and color patches. Subdued tabby markings on body acceptable. White should reach above the elbow on the front legs, and above the hock on the rear legs.

Mitted: Any dark spotting on white mittens or underbelly. Lack of white belly stripe.

Bicolor: White on ears and or tail; whiskers other than white; pigment on stomach or any area designated white.

Pitterpaws Maya Lyn of Cashmier

Seal lynx point

The Ragdoll is a family cat. It adapts easily to all family members and it enjoys the company of both dogs and children. They are devoted, affectionate, out going cats that are known for their fearless nature. Ragdolls are totally non-aggressive cats that must be kept indoors, because of their non-aggressive nature they are very susceptible to the dangers of the outdoors. Although a very large cat, their Meow is so quiet that they cannot always be heard and despite their large size they are always looking for a lap to lay in. Ragdolls are slow to mature and full coat and color is not generally reached until they are two years of age and full size is usually achieved at about four years. Newborn kittens are born completely white or cream and color does not start to show for about 3 to 4 days. Most breeders do not let their kittens go to their new homes until 12 weeks or older, because of the slow maturing factor. The Ragdoll is not an aloof cat and will generally meet all your guests with enthusiasm. The ragdoll is best know for their sweet temperaments and also the tendency, if it so chooses, to go limp when you lift it up relaxing all muscles. It then resembles the "Ragdoll" from which it has gotten its name, a feature that separates it from all other cats.

They are very dog-like in nature, loving to play fetch with their owners and are easily leashed trained. Unlike most cats Ragdolls love to have their tummies rubbed and will roll over on their backs and enjoy this treat.

A big plus with this breed is the fact that they shed very little, some call them a non shedding cat but low shedding would be a more appropriate description. The fur is also considered rabbit like in its silky texture, that is non-matting, requiring very little coat maintenance. Ragdolls are considered a very hardy animal with no known genetic defects and they are not prone to any specific diseases. They are a very docile cat, who as adults, are not overly energetic, thus making them the ideal apartment cat. It is quite amazing that in so short a period of time the Ragdoll has found itself to be one of the most popular breeds of cats in the world

The Ragdoll

Blue mitted with an hour glass blaze

Blue mitted with
an hour glass blaze