Ragdoll cat breed: facts, temperament and care

About the Ragdoll

The Ragdoll is one of the largest domestic cats. It was developed in the 1960s in Riverside, California, by the breeder Ann Baker, who began with a white longhaired cat named Josephine and her offspring. Baker trademarked the name, set up her own registry and kept tight control over breeders, and other breeders later split off and brought the breed into mainstream registries. TICA and the CFA accepted it, and the CFA registered it in 1993 and gave it championship status in 2000.

The look is of a big, long, solid cat with a broad chest, a modified wedge head and large blue eyes. The coat is silky, semi-long and made mostly of guard hairs with little undercoat. The accepted colours are seal, chocolate, red and their dilutes, in three patterns: colourpoint, mitted and bicolour. Ragdolls reach full size slowly, at about four years.

Temperament and living with one

Ragdolls are gentle, calm and affectionate. They follow their people from room to room, greet them at the door and settle on the nearest lap. The name comes from the tendency of many to relax in a person's arms. They are sociable and generally easy-going, and they are rarely aggressive.

They get on well with children, dogs and other cats. That trusting nature is a reason to keep them indoors, since a friendly cat can be at risk outside. They play in a moderate way, enjoy interactive toys and some learn to fetch. They are not noisy, and they are usually unhappy if they are left alone for long hours.

Care: coat, food and play

The coat is less prone to matting than many longhair coats, but it still needs brushing at least twice a week, with attention to the armpits, belly and the britches. Bathing is rarely needed. Trim the nails and check the ears and teeth.

Many Ragdolls love their food, so feed measured meals of a complete adult diet and keep play going to avoid obesity. A sturdy cat tree and a roomy litter tray suit a heavy cat.

Health

The main known concern is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a thickening of the heart muscle. A gene change linked to the disease has been found in the breed, and a DNA test exists, but not every case is explained by it. Responsible breeders test and screen their cats and take carriers out of breeding. Estimates of how many Ragdolls are affected vary. A recent UK study found a median age at death near 12.85 years. Ask the breeder about heart screening, ask your vet about check-ups as the cat ages, and keep your cat lean.

Is it right for you?

Choose a Ragdoll if you want a large, gentle cat for a family and can brush it regularly. It suits an indoor home where someone is around. It is a poor fit for an active household or a long working day. For a similar look with free choice of colours, see the Ragamuffin; for a smaller pointed cat, the Birman; for a bigger, more active one, the Maine Coon.