Ragdoll cat breed: if you want to have peace of mind at home
Size: large. The body of a Ragdoll cat can reach 1 m in length.
Weight: cats - from 5 to 9 kg, cats - from 4 to 6 kg
Head: wide, wedge-shaped with a strong chin, rounded muzzle.
Eyes: large, shiny, expressive, oval, wide-set. Bright blue colour. Green is allowed (rarely seen). The brighter the eyes, the better. The look is attentive, a little surprised.
Ears: medium-sized, with rounded tips, slightly tilted forward.
Nose: straight, medium length.
Mustache: must be white.
Body: large, with muscular and strong paws of rounded shape of medium length. Short neck. Wide chest. The hindquarters are massive.
Tail: long, fluffy, may have eyes at the end.
Coat: thick, dense, silky, semi-long (depending on the season). There is a thin undercoat. Beautiful, fluffy, "lion" collar. Between the toes of the paws there are ochres (tufts of hair). The hind paws are fluffier, as if the cat were wearing leggings.
Colours: mittred (white belly, chin, white slippers on the front paws, white knee pads on the hind paws); classic point (without white); bicolour (dark back, tail, and "cap", white: triangle on the muzzle and everything else). The coat is characterised by various shades: purple, blue, cream, chocolate, red (reddish-brown), seal point (dark brown), and tricolour (tortoiseshell). The colour of a cat can be accurately determined only after it reaches 3 years of age.
Country of origin: USA
Life expectancy: up to 18 years.
Contents.
History of the breed
The character of a fluffy pet
Caring for a Ragdoll cat
Who is not suitable for a Ragdoll cat?
History of the breed
The Ragdoll cat breed is a young one and originated only in the 1960s in the United States, California. A breeder named Anne Baker decided to cross her snow-white long-haired Angora cat Josephine with a black cat and a village-point cat. The second cat was a Burmese mix. Previously, all of Ann Baker's pets were homeless.
The kittens turned out to be very calm, quiet and gentle, and also had an interesting and unusual feature - when they were picked up, they completely relaxed their bodies and it seemed that they would slip out onto the floor almost like a liquid. Ann Baker was surprised and began to observe Josephine's offspring. The breeder found that the kittens were very obedient, calm and quiet. These qualities of character, together with an amazing ability to completely relax all the muscles of the body, reminded her of a rag doll. Another feature she discovered was a low threshold of sensitivity, a consequence of being in a constant state of relaxation. The breeder decided that she would try to develop a new breed.
There is a legend that before she gave birth to her offspring, Josephine the angora cat was hit by a car, survived, but as a result acquired behavioural changes, a slow reaction and reduced muscle tone. These features were then passed on to the kittens she brought into the world. But in reality, this is just a beautiful, albeit a bit sad, legend. Yes, the cat did get into an accident, but it has been scientifically proven that such characteristics are not passed on to offspring.
In the 1970s, other breeders also got the idea of breeding a new breed of peaceful and gentle purrs, completely devoid of aggression. Among them was the previous owner of Josephine's cat, Anna Parker, who started breeding and selecting such extremely obedient, gentle, and mild-mannered kittens. When the kittens grew up, the breeding of a new breed took on 2 directions: light (Burmese) and dark (dark brown, from crosses of Persian and Burmese breeds). Anna Parker chose the most compliant and relaxed cats and after several generations, she was able to get exactly what she wanted - representatives of the Ragdoll breed.
But despite the breeders' efforts, the Cat Fanciers' Association recognised Ragdolls as an independent breed only partially in the 1990s and fully in 2000. This year and next, Ragdolls were awarded the title of "Best Cat".
Representatives of the breed are considered very famous and popular among cat lovers. Ragdolls are loved not only in America but also in Europe. But still, representatives of the breed are not very common all over the world.
The character of a fluffy pet
Ragdoll cats have a phlegmatic temperament. They are calm, gentle, not too active, and very obedient.
Representatives of the breed are considered highly intelligent and fond of human interaction. At the same time, Ragdoll cats have a quiet voice and, although they meow to their owners, they do so not very often and unobtrusively. Fluffy cats have a sensitive psyche, they are quite vulnerable, and if the owner avoids communication and spending time with them, they worry a lot and for a long time. It is not recommended to raise your voice at this cute pet, because it is already so obedient that it will gladly agree to do as you say or show.
The quiet, delicate, and silent Ragdoll cat is ideal for living in an apartment. Such a pet is unlikely to survive on the street because it is unable to defend itself. This fluffy creature is friendly to other people, not only to the owner, animals (even dogs), and small children.
The Ragdoll cat is suitable for most people as a pet. But this breed also has things it doesn't like. For example, screaming and noise. It will be very difficult for a Ragdoll in a family with strong Italian passions. A sensitive animal will not be able to live next door to violent and aggressive pets, because, without aggressiveness, it will not be able to fight back and will experience enormous stress.
When you pick up a furry animal, it completely relaxes. Sometimes you really want to believe that "cats are liquid". The Ragdoll cat is one of the most affectionate and gentle breeds.
The favourite pastime of this fluffy breed is sleeping. Lying down, relaxing, and quietly contemplating the nature outside the window are the favourite hobbies of this cat. Of course, like other cats, they also play, run, and even make a little noise at night (because the cat is mostly nocturnal and is most active at night), but Ragdolls are not too energetic and active.
Caring for a Ragdoll cat
This kitty is exclusively for indoor living. A house or an apartment and no street where she will definitely not be able to fend for herself and survive without human attention and care. It is completely devoid of aggressiveness, and its survival and self-preservation instincts are greatly reduced due to its slightly slow, phlegmatic temperament and excessive bodily relaxation. The Ragdoll will not be able to regroup if you drop it from your lap or if it needs to jump from a tree. The cat can bruise itself, so the street is not for it.
The Ragdoll breed quickly gets used to the litter box, combing the coat, understands intonation, and when something is not allowed, it is easy to train.
Coat care. Ragdolls need to be groomed and brushed regularly, but they do not get tangled or mussed. It is best to accustom the cat to regular brushing from childhood, but Ragdolls usually enjoy the brushing procedure and even purr during the process. During moulting, you will need to brush your purr every day and remove excess hair from the surface of the furniture. But isn't a beautiful, soft coat worth the effort?
Bathing. This is a real stress for the breed, so try to avoid bathing procedures. If the coat is not too dirty, we recommend using a dry shampoo to avoid distressing the cat.
Ragdolls need their nails trimmed several times a month, their teeth brushed several times a week, and their ears and eyes cleaned with cotton swabs and water or a special solution.
Feeding. These cats are not picky eaters. The diet should be balanced and complete. Ragdolls are one of the largest cats, so they eat a lot. An adult cat should be fed twice a day.
Activity. These cats are very intelligent, comparable in intelligence to a 2-3-year-old child. They are not very active, but they also like to play. They especially like to roll balls on the floor, and some Ragdolls even bring toys to their owners, just like dogs. Cats can easily tolerate moving and travelling, as long as the owner is nearby. They also don't mind walks on a leash, again, because their beloved human wants them to.
Health and disease susceptibility. Ragdolls are usually in good health, but there are diseases to which this breed is more susceptible than other felines. These are hereditary hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and hip dysplasia.
Before adopting a Ragdoll kitten, you should check with the breeder about hereditary predisposition to cardiomyopathy. It is important to make sure that the furry animal does not have a burdened heredity.
And as for the prevention of hip dysplasia, it is worth understanding that these cats are not the best jumpers. Due to their muscle relaxation, it is difficult for them to jump to different heights, so buy your cat special steps or put a stool to minimise increased and slightly clumsy jumping.
Who is not suitable for a Ragdoll cat?
Representatives of the breed are not considered hypoallergenic cats, so if you are allergic to wool, etc., Ragdolls are not for you.
Rag doll cats are also not suitable for people who are fiery, temperamental, hot-tempered cholerics, as well as those who always have a lot of guests and noise at home. In such an atmosphere, the fluffy cat will feel bad.
If you are away from home all the time, your cat will get very bored. Therefore, Ragdolls are not the best cat breed for people who are too busy and not at home.
If you already have an aggressive pet in the house, for example, a dog that doesn't like cats. You will have to constantly make sure that you protect your furry friend, because he will not be able to live without you.
Ragdolls do not have a hunting instinct, they will not hunt mice, so if you suddenly need a mouse-catching pet, it is better to turn your attention to another purr.
So now you are familiar with the Ragdoll cat breed. They really are so obedient and affectionate that they resemble rag dolls. However, during breeding, representatives of the breed completely lost almost all their natural instincts that would allow them to survive without humans. Therefore, this angelic, fluffy creature needs its owner like no other! Every owner can treat their pet to something tasty or healthy just by visiting our online store! E-ZOO has everything a cat's soul desires: treats, delicious food, exciting toys, gentle combs, comfortable beds, cosy houses for rest and sleep, and much more!
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