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 The
Ragdoll is a breed
of medium longhaired cat.
It is best known for its docile and placid temperament and
affectionate nature. It is perhaps the gentlest and most easy-going
of breeds. They are non-aggressive to the point that many cats
cannot or should not be let outside for prolonged periods as many
will not defend themselves and most do not hunt. The name "Ragdoll"
derived from the fact that many of these cats go completely limp and
relax when picked up. Ragdolls have a sturdy body, short legs, and a
thick coat with Siamese-style
points.
History
The breed had its origin in California
in the 1960s
with a cat named Josephine. Several wild and scientifically
impossible stories were put out by the colorful breed founder
regarding the origin and development of the Ragdoll breed, including
extraterrestrials,
kittens' traits and personality being affected by the mother's being
hit by a car, and genetic alteration using human genes. None of
these legends are scientifically supportable.
What is known is that this breed was selectively bred over many
years for desirable traits, such as large size, docility, and
ability to go limp in the arms like a rag doll - hence the cat's
name.
Characteristics
The Ragdoll is a large, semi-longhaired cat, exhibiting the
pointed pattern in three varieties: colorpoint, bicolor, and mitted.
Coat colors can be seal, blue, chocolate, and lilac point colors,
either with or without markings on the face and feet. In some
associations, they are also available in non traditional colors,
such as red (flame), tortie and lynx
point. Their semi-long coats need minimal care and do not usually
become matted with regular combing.
Ragdolls typically take up to 4 years to fully mature physically.
An adult male can weigh between 12 and 20 lb,
while the females can weigh between 10 and 15 lb.
Culture
The presenters of long-running CBBC
tv program, Blue
Peter, have a Ragdoll cat amongst their team, whom they have
aptly named "Socks", due to many young viewers' votes.
Care
agdoll is sometimes called a
"low-maintenance breed". Ragdolls of course need as much
care as any other cat, but they don´t have any breed-specific
features which need special attention.
Although Ragdoll´s long coat may look like a
big job, it is actually very easy to take care of. Unlike Persians,
which need grooming every day, Ragdolls have a mat-resistant coat
which needs hardly any care at all. It is good about once a week to
brush or comb the coat to remove loose hair. This controls shedding
and prevents hairballs.
Although this is still a subject of
controversy, some breeders recommend that Ragdolls shouldn´t be
given live vaccines. In general Ragdoll is a healthy breed and doesn´t
have any other special medical concernes. Certain lines might be
prone to some defects, so you should always get your Ragdoll from a
good breeder who gives you a health guarantee.
Because of their trusting nature, Ragdolls
should never let go outside alone. Letting cats roam free in the
modern-day world is very dangerous anyway. An indoor cat lives a
healthier life and in urban invironment lives about ten years longer
than an outdoor cat. Your cat could get hit by a car, killed by a
dog or something or someone worse, end up to a lab or a university
for tests or someone might steal it or take it to a shelter. Many
people still think that keeping a cat indoors is cruel, but outdoor
cats are very likely to meet a violent death. Luckily Ragdolls adapt
well even to small apartments and they can be easily trained to walk
on a leash.
Also keep in mind that Ragdolls can be more
than three times bigger than normal cats, so don´t buy the smallest
carrier, litter box etc., especially if you are getting a male!
I am not going to go any further on general
cat care, because the subject area is very large and there are many
books written on the subject. Before having a cat, get some cat
books from the library (and preferrably buy a good one to your home
too).
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