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Getting a Cat or Kitten
17 min read
| Family-friendly: | 5/5 |
| Playfulness: | 4/5 |
| Intelligence: | 4/5 |
| Tendency to Vocalise: | 4/5 |
| Likes Other Pets: | 4/5 |
| Grooming needs: | 4/5 |
| Shedding: | 4/5 |
Ragdoll
Docile and sweet, the Ragdoll cat is popular with families and individuals alike given their friendly demeanour and laid-back nature. They will happily assume the role of best buddy around anyone and will love to spend their day playing with their owners.
Lifespan
12 - 17 years
Weight
4.5 - 9kg
Colours
Ragdolls come in three different coat patterns and each pattern comes in four different colours.
The need-to-know
- Great for first-time cat owners
- Enjoys playing games and is active at home
- Playful and curious cat
- Sociable and dependent cat
- Slightly talkative cat
- Larger stockier cat breed
- Requires grooming every day
- A bit of both indoor and outdoor space
- Great family cat
- Can be left alone all day
- Great for a relaxed home
Generally healthy breed
The Ragdoll breed can be prone to:
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy which is a disease were the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick which means the heart cannot beat effectively.
- Polycystic kidney disease which is an inherited condition where cysts form in the kidneys. This affects kidney function and can eventually lead to kidney failure. However, it is worth noting that the risk of developing this disease in this breed is lower than in other cat breeds that are prone to the problem.
Testing available:
- DNA testing for Ragdoll hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and polycystic kidney disease which tests whether or not a cat has the potential to be affected by this condition.
Ragdoll Appearance
The Ragdoll is a large, impressive and luxuriantly coated cat breed. Underneath an impressive silky, dense, and semi-long to long haired coat, there is a long, muscular cat with a broad chest, short neck, and sturdy legs. The tail is long and bushy, and the coat will, in the adult cat, form fluffy trousers on the hind-legs and a majestic ruff around the neck and throat.
Ragdoll Personality
The Ragdoll is described as ‘astonishingly equable’ and this is a thoroughly agreeable, relaxed, affectionate cat to share a home with. Rarely do owners have just one Ragdoll however, their beautiful appearance and gentle, languid nature is irresistible!
Ragdolls are curious, and quite inclined to assist in your day-to-day activities, but would prefer to sit on your book or paperwork, or watch from a sunny spot whilst you garden, rather than anything too strenuous.
For some time, there was some hype that the Ragdoll was excessively floppy, that they had a lower pain threshold and would simply ‘flop’ when picked up. Some people took this to mean that they would make excellent playthings for children! This is not the case. Ragdolls are not floppy, and have the same pain threshold as all cats, and certainly will not tolerate being treated as toys by children (or anyone else!).
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.
Ragdoll Fun Facts
- All Ragdoll cats have lovely blue eyes, same as all purebreds. However, if you notice that your Ragdoll cat has different shades of green or yellow in their eyes, this might indicate that they’re not actually purebreds.
- The Ragdoll cat personality will give the impression that they’re nothing but a very cuddly dog. In fact, you might even notice them waiting patiently for their owners to come back home or carrying around in their teeth their favourite toys. Not to mention, they absolutely adore fetch time.
- There are definitely different types of Ragdoll cats as far as appearance goes but you’ll be surprised to know that all Ragdolls are born pure white. It’s not until after a week or two that they develop different colours and patterns.
- Ragdolls are slow-maturing cats, meaning that they are only fully grown at the age of 4 and some of them might even take more time.
FAQs
Are Ragdoll cats good for beginners?
Yes, the Ragdoll cat personality is easy-going and loving so they will get along with less experienced owners.
What do I need to know before getting a Ragdoll?
The Ragdoll cat size is quite large, so any prospective owner should be aware of this as they require more grooming than an average-sized cat. Also, it’s important to keep in mind that they are very attached to their owners so they appreciate spending a lot of time with them.
Are Ragdoll cats hard to take care of?
Ragdolls are easy to take care of, they just need slightly more exercise and affection than other cat breeds.
Can Ragdoll kittens sleep alone?
Although they are very much attached to their owners and prefer to be with them most of the times, Ragdoll kittens can sleep by themselves too. In fact, you might catch them falling asleep almost anywhere, as long as it’s a comfy and soft spot.
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