Ragdoll

The Ragdoll is effectively a man-made breed, created in the early 1960s by Anne Baker, a cat breeder in California. Anne used an Angora type cat, a seal mitted (white gloves and boots over a Siamese type colour) male and a solid black cat to produce her foundation Ragdolls.  

 
It wasn’t until 1981 that Ragdolls were imported to the UK by two separate breeders.  
The goal in creating the Ragdoll was to produce a glamourous cat with a very laid back, relaxed nature, ideal as a family companion. It is safe to say that goal was achieved, the Ragdoll is renowned for their super chilled attitude to life!  

The Ragdoll will benefit from a secure outdoor cat space to climb and play. They may need to be encouraged to do this, as the Ragdoll isn’t a fan of such horrors as ‘long wet grass’ or ‘nasty weather’ (i.e., ‘not sunny’) so do expect to be involved in their cat exercise, as they are unlikely to do much by themselves! Not suited to free access to the outdoors, the Ragdoll is too laid back to avoid danger, and a sufficiently attractive cat that theft is an issue.  

This is a large, stocky breed and they are inclined towards laziness if not encouraged and motivated to play and move. This can cause cat weight issues, so plan on spending some time each day playing with your Ragdoll, inventing chasing and hunting games, and encouraging climbing cat trees and other play equipment. 

Every cat is unique and each has their own particular likes, dislikes, and needs when it comes to food. However, cats are carnivores and every cat must obtain 41 different and specific nutrients from their food. The proportion of these nutrients will vary depending on age, lifestyle, and overall health, so it's not surprising that a growing, energetic kitten needs a different balance of nutrients in her diet than a less active senior cat.  

Other considerations to bear in mind are feeding the right quantity of food to maintain 'ideal body condition' in accordance with feeding guidelines and catering to individual preference regarding wet or dry cat food recipes. Find out more about cat feeding guidelines with our article.  

The Ragdoll will need daily cat grooming from kittenhood, as their coat can mat quite easily, particularly when changing from kitten coat to adult coat, and when they moult annually. Make this experience enjoyable by doing a little at a time and associating the process with treats and praise. Also take into consideration the fact that the Ragdoll cat size is large so it might take a bit of time. 

Remember that a greasy coat can be evidence that your cat is no longer attempting to groom themselves, which can be indicative of poor or failing health. As with all cats, Ragdoll cats benefit from regular vaccination, parasite control and an annual veterinary cat health check.  

The Ragdoll will enjoy a home with people who are around much of the day, a home with other Ragdolls, and with older children who understand a cat’s needs and space requirements.