What is a Ragdoll?
Purrsonality-
Ragdolls are extremely easy going, docile, non-aggressive cats. Being very people oriented, they are absolutely INCREDIBLE with both children and the elderly. A sweeter, more loving companion you will never find!
It is not uncommon to see Ragdolls following their owners from room to room or greeting their owners at the door when they return home. Whether their owners were gone for 5 minutes or 12 hours, the Ragdoll, like a puppy, will be equally happy to see it's owner return home. They are extremely devoted and are often called "puppy-cats" because of this fact. They are also called "puppy-cats" because they can often be taught to retrieve small objects and for their tendency to follow you around like a puppy. However, unlike a puppy, Ragdolls possess a very quiet, pleasant voice which they tend not to use often, usually only crying out at mealtime or to greet it's owner.Ragdolls are extremely gentle with everyone, so if they are attacked they tend not fight back or defend themselves as well as other cats may. These gentle giants can also be very trusting and view all humans as their friend. It is for this reason, among others, that it is recommended that Ragdolls are kept as strictly indoors cats for their own protection. They tend to go limp and relax when held, which is what earned them the name "Ragdoll".
They fit in any type of household with ease. They tend to get along very well with other animals already established in the home. They are equally happy in an apartment or a huge house-wherever their owner is. Each Ragdoll is an individual. Some are quite active and playful well into adulthood and even into old age. Some are actually very lazy and inactive even when they are kittens. But almost every Ragdoll will often insist on being involved in whatever is going on. They love to feel included in their family whether that means sitting at their owner's feet, sleeping with you, being dressed up like a doll and pushed in a stroller, or even trying to "help" you wrap gifts! But for this same reason, when Ragdolls are the only pet or are often left home alone they are much more prone to lonliness than other more independant breeds. They do not enjoy being alone as they are very social animals. It is therefore recommended that you obtain two Ragdolls together or have another pet so they can keep each other company when you cannot be home with them.
Appearance-
Ragdolls are slow to mature sometimes not reaching their full size or coloring until 3-4 years of age. An altered male may be 15-20 pounds at maturity, with an altered female being considerably smaller at around 10-15 pounds at maturity.
Ragdolls have dense, silky, non-matting coats which makes them very low maintenance when it comes to grooming and only require a combing or brushing once in a while. They do not require the constant grooming of other breeds, such as Persians.
Ragdolls come in three patterns. The "pointed" patterns are- COLORPOINT (also called siamese markings), MITTED, which looks like a colorpoint with white paws, chest and chin, and the BI-COLOR pattern which is most easily distinguished by a white inverted "V" on a darker colored face. It's ears and tail are also darker colored while the stomach, chest, all four legs and feet are white.
There are "pointed" Ragdolls, which means that they all have color on their ears, faces, legs and tails, with a much lighter contrasting body color and "Solid" (or self colored) Ragdolls. The solid colors have the same patterns. A colorpoint is equivalent to a cat that is all one color, ie a solid black cat with no white. A mitted has white paws, chest and chin but the body is all one color. A bicolor has a white "V" on it's face and white stomach, chest, legs and feet, but the rest of the body is one solid color. For more information on the solid Ragdolls please go here- http://www.solidragdolls.com
Ragdolls come in several colors-
SEAL- deep seal brown points with a fawn to cream color body. The solid equivalent is BLACK.
CHOCOLATE- lighter milk chocolate points with an ivory to cream color body. The solid equivalent is brown but still called a Chocolate.
BLUE- (the dilute of Seal/Black)- slate blue to silver points with an ivory to bluish white body. The solid equivalent is grey, but still called a Blue.
LILAC- (the dilute of Chocolate)- lilac to pinkish beige points with a milk white body. The solid equivalent is the same as the point color and still called a lilac.
FLAME (RED)- bright apricot to deep red points with a white body. The solid equivalent is Red.
CREAM- (the dilute of Flame)- pale buff cream to light pinkish cream points with a white body. The solid equivalent is the same as the point color and still called a cream.
TORTIE- seal brown mottled with red and/or cream points with a fawn to cream color body. The solid equivalent is a Calico.
BLUE CREAM- deep blue-grey mottled with cream points with an ivory to bluish white body. The solid equivalent is a blue calico.
LYNX (sometimes called "tabby")- bars or stripes, distinct and separated by lighter background color on the points. Can be combined with any color and any pattern. The solid equivalent is called Tabby.
TORBIE- a tortie or blue cream combined with the lynx pattern. (Tortie + Tabby= Torbie)
SMOKE- white undercoat, deeply tipped with color. Points and mask appear solidly colored, with narrow band of white at base of hairs next to skin which may be seen only when fur is parted. Can be combined with any color or pattern. Seal smoke points are most noticeable.
SILVER- white undercoat like a smoke but with Lynx or Tabby stripes. Can be combined with any color or pattern, but must have the stripes. The lynx/Tabby stripes are the only difference between a silver and smoke. This makes silvers look lighter and have a more "silver" appearance.
You can click here to go to the TICA Breed Standard webpage.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns
please 
me.
Home Kings Queens
Available
Past Links Contact
This document maintained by
Aisling Rags
This page last
updated on June 26, 2007
Material Copyright © 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008,
2009 Aisling Rags