Breed Guide: Ragdoll

The Ragdoll carries an unusual name – “Ragdoll” literally means “rag doll.” Yet nothing about this stately cat is reminiscent of a “rag” – quite the opposite.

Ragdolls are gorgeous, giant cats that rightfully enjoy huge popularity. The temperament of these gentle giants is considered especially friendly, eager to learn, and remarkably people-oriented. These velvet paws also love their cuddle and snuggle sessions. The name actually comes from a particular “cuddle quirk” – many Ragdolls simply go limp once picked up by their beloved human, turning into quite a heavy “rag doll” in the process. On top of that, they’re wonderfully soft, chatty and affectionate – AND they like children. So the perfect family cat has been found – right? Our team at LucyBalu says a resounding yes! However, as is so often the case with pedigree cats, there are a few things to watch out for, since Ragdolls too may come with the odd genetic quirk.

How it all began

The Ragdoll is a fairly young cat breed – it has only existed for about 50 years. And it came about by chance: a woman named Ann Baker, already a cat breeder at the time, discovered a strikingly coloured kitten with distinctive dark markings in its coat. The kitten’s mother (named Josephine) had similar colouring: so-called points. Her ears, nose and tail were darker than the rest of her body. Ann Baker immediately tried to incorporate this special colouring, strongly reminiscent of Siamese cats, into her breeding programme. She mated the tomcat with a long-haired cat. Which breed exactly she “used” for this is not known – though an Angora cat is assumed. Offspring with longer fur and the striking points were soon bred – and a new breed had begun.

Appearance and character of the Ragdoll

We already mentioned it above – Ragdolls are simply huge, peaceful cuddle bears. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, they’re considered the largest cat breed – toms weighing more than 11 kilos are actually not uncommon! Considering that a “normal” house cat weighs in at around 4–5 kilos, that’s truly enormous. They have a strong, muscular build and powerful limbs. Their coat is semi-long and silky and needs regular grooming. If you get your feline friend used to it early on, brushing can actually build an incredible bond between owner and cat. HERE you’ll find some tips on this. The Ragdoll’s life expectancy is somewhat below that of smaller breeds – on average around 12–14 years is given. Their character truly is especially endearing. Most representatives of the breed are true family cats. They talk to everyone and everything, are closely involved in everything happening at home, and are very gentle – making them suitable for children too. Since they see themselves as a firm part of a community, though, they don’t like being left alone. So if you’re very busy, you should seriously consider getting two giants. By the way, the “two-cat rule” rarely fails to apply. Remember: most cats love their own kind and need company! All in all, everything’s great – with just a few small caveats.

The Ragdoll – a pointed cat

Ragdolls, along with the Birman, Siamese and some Persian cats, belong to the so-called pointed cats. What exactly does that mean? From a medical-scientific standpoint, it’s clear: pointed cats have a genetic defect. This causes the well-known and popular darker colouring at the “points” such as the nose, ears, tail and legs. However, the defect doesn’t actually darken the fur – rather, it’s a special form of albinism. In other words: a normal coat colour (as the dark areas would suggest) is prevented by a disruption in melanin production. Phew – sounds complicated? It is – and it gets even wilder. What do we mean by that? It can be observed that pointed cats darken over time. The kittens are born almost white, then within the first week of life the darker areas appear – and by the end of a (hopefully very long) cat life, you sometimes find an almost entirely dark cat. Because this particular form of albinism (also called acromelanism) depends on the outside temperature! Unbelievable? Yes – and yet true. Cats with this gene that live in warm regions darken less than cats in cold environments. So warmth ensures that Ragdolls and other pointed cats keep their coat colour. This quirk of nature leaves even us at LucyBalu speechless!

Genetic defect – should I be worried?

Unfortunately, as with many breeds, this magnificent cat may also have health issues depending on its particular breeding line. Squinting and reduced eyesight are closely linked to the genetic defect mentioned above – though it doesn’t affect our “rag doll” all that often. What does plague many of these gentle giants, however, is so-called HCM – a heart condition that affects many large cat breeds, such as the Maine Coon as well. Signs of such a condition can include lethargy, reduced appetite, and laboured or rapid breathing. With HCM, the heart muscle thickens, which leads to a poorer supply of blood – and therefore oxygen – to the body. In extreme cases, fluid can even build up in the lungs. Cats with this condition suffer from shortness of breath, have an increased risk of thrombosis, and in extreme cases sudden cardiac death can occur.

What can I do as an owner?

Should you decide on a Ragdoll – which we at LucyBalu absolutely understand – it’s important to pay attention to a good breeding line. Which animals were mated, is there inbreeding, where do the ancestors come from, and other questions along these lines should be asked. We want to stress this again: good breeding cats usually cost a lot of money. We strongly advise against buying online without papers or background knowledge about the breeder! Should your cat, despite all caution when buying, show first signs of weakness, loss of appetite or fatigue, there’s no way around a visit to the vet. HCM can be detected and, above all, treated well, especially in its early stages! And we as owners can also do quite a bit preventively. This includes things like weight control and not playing too excessively, so as not to strain the circulatory system too much.

Conclusion

The Ragdoll is one of the pedigree cats best suited to families. She is affectionate, cuddly and patient. She likes being carried around and, due to her balanced nature, doesn’t necessarily need outdoor access – although her size does call for plenty of room to move. This feline is just as lovely in character as in looks. The only downside is the possible hereditary predispositions, which unfortunately can never be ruled out one hundred percent even with the best breeding. If you’re willing to take on this small risk, then absolutely nothing stands in the way of becoming a happy cat owner!