Ragdoll: cats and kittens

Ragdoll Translated from English, "rag doll" is the name given to a newly developed cat breed by American breeders. A sleeping cat is a typical example of relaxation.

History of the breed's origin

Try gently lifting her paw and letting go – it will fall back down like a rag doll's arm. The legend about the origin of the Ragdoll cat is simply astounding. Its name supposedly comes from a cat that was the victim of a car accident. She passed on the weak muscle tone she suffered from the accident to her offspring. A doll-like cat that doesn't respond to being handled, shaken, or thrown.

It is possible that the intention of breeder Ann Baker was to obtain cats with a docile and kind character when she decided to marry the white Angora Josephine and Burmese cat seal point, who had a kind and calm personality. They gave birth to three beautiful kittens.

Once the kittens were fully grown, selection work was carried out in two directions: the first line was the "light" Birman, and the second line was the "dark" line, crossbreeding Persians and Birmans. The breeder's new breed was registered in 1965 in California.

The Ragdoll Club decided not to include other breeds in the breeding of Josephine's offspring. To protect the breed's reputation, carefully matched Josephine's descendants with Burmese cats or longhaired Burmese crosses. This breeding effort continues to this day.

So what is a Ragdoll cat like, what is its personality, and what are its general characteristics? It's not a breed you'll immediately recognize. The Ragdoll is a very beautiful and large cat.

General characteristics

What kind of animal is a ragdoll?

Character

Ragdoll cats are sweet and kind creatures. They are very neat and affectionate, quickly adapting to new surroundings. They have virtually no character flaws. They are quiet and gentle, responding to questions with a sweet, soft purr. They get along well with small children, other cats, and even dogs. Ragdolls have a strong need for companionship and will do anything to be close to their owner.

These adorable members of the breed have even been nicknamed "pussycats" due to their kind and affectionate nature. They love to be pampered, hugged, and petted.

Appearance

The Ragdoll's head is small, with a small flat area between the ears. The Ragdoll has a well-developed muzzle, distinct cheeks, and a wide nose. Their ears tilt slightly forward and are rounded at the tips. Tufts may be present at the tips. Their beautiful, deep blue eyes are oval-shaped, large, and set slightly at an angle.

Ragdoll cats have a strong body and neck, with a muscular, powerful build. Male Ragdolls are several times larger than females. Their paws are also strong and large, with tufts of fur visible between the toes. The tail is slightly drooping and quite long.

Their beautiful, long coat lies close to the body, silky and soft to the touch. Their neck and muzzle fur is especially beautiful, forming a luxurious frill.

Ragdoll Cat: Owner Reviews

The internet is full of reviews about the Ragdoll's personality. The breed is praised, practically worshiped. But what is it about this animal's amazing magnetism: its appearance or its personality? Let's read a review of a Ragdoll cat together, which might inspire you to buy a Ragdoll kitten and help spread the love of this adorable creature.

Mila is 32 years old.

I see that the Ragdoll cat breed isn't spreading very quickly. Yes, the kittens are overpriced, in my opinion, but over time, with their large numbers, they would become affordable to everyone.

Although, I myself received Marusya as a gift, and buying her at that time would have been beyond my means.

Okay, okay. Let's talk about Marusya. When I was a child, my Ragdoll cat was a beauty. She had such soft, fluffy fur, and eyes like the sky. Believe me, it was impossible to remain indifferent when looking at this kitten.

Her character, like her body, is constantly relaxed. No aggression or indifference. Marusya never scratched me, much less bit me.

You should hear the things my friends say about my Ragdoll cat now. Marusya's beauty has blossomed even more with age, partly thanks to my care. I constantly groom her coat, brushing and petting her. I enjoy it, and Marusya doesn't mind. A Ragdoll is a true companion, very people-oriented. For me, she's not just a cat; she's my little one, my family member.

I found this review of the Ragdoll breed online, on a forum dedicated to the breed. I'd like to point out that all the reviews about the breed are similar in structure – they praise the cat. Unfortunately, there aren't many comments, reflecting the breed's rarity. Therefore, if you are the proud owner of a Ragdoll kitten or are planning to buy a Ragdoll, please leave your feedback in the comments. The best review will be published as a separate article, authored by you.

Advantages and disadvantages

Ragdolls are sweet cats. We've already discussed the breed's advantages:

• calmness;
• phlegm;
• gentle character;
• lack of aggression.

Overall, nothing but kindness.

In my opinion, Ragdolls have few drawbacks. One of the most significant is their long hair. Long hair requires constant grooming and other associated factors. Another advantage, though, is their gentle nature. Because of their nature, they are unable to defend themselves if threatened, so you should keep an eye on them when walking them.

Rules of care and feeding

What are they like?

Care

Although Ragdolls have beautiful, long fur, they have a relatively small undercoat. This makes their coat virtually tangle-free. However, they should be thoroughly brushed at least once a week.

Remember that these cute creatures love to be looked after, so if you have enough free time, you can perform all the care procedures daily.

Wipe their eyes with swabs soaked in warm water, clean their ears, and brush them. After these treatments, your pet will look even more attractive.

Nutrition

The differences between industrial feed and natural nutrition are insignificant.

While in the first case, you should try to select premium or super-premium food, in the second case, you need to diversify their diet with high-quality, fresh meat, as well as other products.

There are no restrictions on their natural diet, except that Ragdolls should not be given fried foods, fatty meat, milk, river fish, a lot of vegetables and cereals.

Their normal diet consists of meat, fish, vegetables, eggs, fish oil and fermented milk products.

Health

The most common problem in Ragdoll cats is hip dysplasia. However, the most dangerous disease in cats is heart disease. hypertrophic cardiomyopathyThis disease most often affects adult dogs and can be hereditary. The danger of this disease is death for the pet.

Ragdoll cat and tomcat: mating

In appearance, mating a ragdoll resembles a plot from a romance novel:

• timid sighs;
• languid look;
• long courtship.

Yes, yes, that's exactly how intelligent Ragdoll cats behave. They're not prone to forced contact and prefer to achieve their goals through persuasion and courtship. And it doesn't matter how long it takes. A male cat can spend days wooing a female.

Cats generally respond favorably to such courtship. Naturally, being well-bred ladies, they pause, but then nature takes its course. For Ragdoll males, such mating behavior is normal, but for other breeds, this approach may be unacceptable. Therefore, the Ragdoll mating rules require that interbreeding be avoided.

Breeders familiar with the specifics of mating have been producing offspring from the same pair for years without even considering changing anything. It's not just that a Ragdoll can be accidentally bred with a Birman, but because both breeds are true monogamists.

If a cat is mating for the first time, it is necessary to provide the animal with maximum peace and comfort.

Pregnancy in a Ragdoll

To correctly determine the expected time of birth, record the following information:

• how long did the mating last;
• date of onset of estrus;
• first mating.

Prepare a habitat for the mother and her litter for the Ragdoll's birth, and some materials to help the mother:

• alcohol;
• scissors;
• paper napkins;
• gauze towels.

Usually nature does its job, and the cat gives birth without problems, but you still need to be prepared for possible complications.

If you want your cat to produce large litters, breed her with a male cat with the following characteristics:

• good muscle mass;
• large size;
• strong backbone.

The same color of animals is an additional plus for future offspring.

There are rumors that Ragdolls have difficulty giving birth due to decreased muscle tone, which often leads to stillbirths. In fact, this is just a rumor; cats give birth quite normally. The only caveat is the protracted nature of the process. Ragdoll labor lasts longer than that of other cat breeds.

Advice! If you have other pets in the house besides Ragdolls, limit their access to the kittens, at least for the first week.

Ragdoll kittens: price and where to buy

Ragdolls aren't common in Russia yet, but the number of catteries breeding the breed is growing every year. If you're looking for a purebred Ragdoll, the price of a kitten will depend on several factors:

• age;
• exterior;
• pedigree;
• location and other.

A purebred Ragdoll cat in a pet-class setting costs around 20,000 rubles. But the price range is much wider. You can buy a Ragdoll kitten in the range of 15,000-45,000 rubles. And that's just for pet-class cats. Higher-quality pets cost much more.

But don't be upset by the high price. You can buy a kitten relatively cheaply—for around 5,000 rubles. It will be a purebred, but without papers. This purchase is suitable for people who want a Ragdoll kitten as a pet, not for show or professional breeding.

There are certain advantages to this type of purchase. First, you're buying a purebred animal. Second, if over time you decide your pet deserves a better life than that of a lap cat, you can purchase the animal's papers separately.

If you don't care at all about the background of the baby's parents, you can buy a Ragdoll kitten from an unregistered, private breeder. The price here is even lower. It's impossible to say exactly how much a Ragdoll kitten from the "market" costs, but it's unlikely to cost more than 3-4 thousand rubles.

Remember: a dubious seller means a dubious purchase. Burmese cats are often sold at markets as Ragdolls. While this is also a good breed, the very nature of the deception makes one wary.

Peculiarities of buying kittens

Ragdolls develop later than most other cat breeds. For example, kittens' eyes open only after 1.5 to 2 weeks, and they don't reach full physical maturity until their fourth year.

Given this fact, small Ragdoll kittens are not purchased. The optimal age for adopting a pet is 3-4 months.

When giving you a purebred Ragdoll, the breeder is obliged to provide you with a set of documents:

• pedigree or birth certificate;
• veterinary passport;
• vaccination certificate.

In addition, the seller must inform you of such matters as:

• the kitten's health condition;
• exterior defects;
• character;
• habits, etc.

The breeder is also obligated to advise you on the rules for housing, caring for, and feeding the baby. And, if necessary, to inform you about the nuances of breeding or showing.

It is worth knowing that Ragdoll kittens are born white, and their full color is formed only by the age of two.

Ragdoll: catteries

The line between a purebred Ragdoll and a slightly flawed Burmese is rather elusive. Even professionals in the field lament the lack of a clear external distinction between the breeds.

Therefore, if you're looking for a Ragdoll, a cattery is the only place you're guaranteed not to be ripped off. Most professional breeding organizations are located abroad, with the majority of them in America. But if you search, you can find a reputable cattery here too. The main thing is not to be intimidated by Ragdoll prices.

Video review of Ragdoll cats

Read also:

• The calmest cat breeds
• How to determine a cat's breed
• What to feed a month-old kitten?