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History

The beginning of the Ragdoll breed is clouded in mystery. 

 The Ragdoll breed was developed by Ann Baker in Riverside, CA.  It originated in 1964 with the first kittens being named as Ragdolls in 1965. The breed allegedly began when a white angora Persian cat named Josephine was hurt in a car accident. This event was attributed to the reason that Josephines kittens were very laid back and good natured.  Fortunately, The ancestors of today's Ragdoll kittens all evolved from Josephine.

The first cat association to recognize the Ragdoll as a breed was the NCFA and Ann Baker registered her first four Ragdolls on December 30, 1966.

The year 1981 was the year in which the Ragdoll went International. Firstly into England, followed by other European countries and worldwide with particular mention of Australia and Japan.

Ragdolls were recognised as a breed in Australia around 1990. There are now breeders in all states of Australia; however there are currently no registered Ragdoll clubs in Australia. In 2014 the Birman Society of Victoria changed its name to Birman, Ragdoll & Associated Breeds Club Inc. in response to the growing number of Ragdoll breeders who share their passion for cats.

 

Appearance

The Ragdoll, with blue eyes and a distinct colorpoint coat, is a large and muscular semi-longhair cat with a soft and silky coat. The Ragdoll is a large breed and takes up to 4 years to become fully matured. Fully mature males can weigh up to 10 kg or more.

Ragdoll should have a large, broad head in a modified wedge shape. All sides of the head should be of equal length and the muzzle should be gently rounded. The eyes are described as vivid blue ovals. Medium-size ears have rounded tips and tilt forward. The head is a heavy, with a strong neck, which leads into a large and long body that is broad, solid and heavy-boned. The heavy-boned legs are moderately long, with the hind legs longer than the front.

 

Temperament

Unlike many cats, Ragdolls are notable for collapsing into the arms of anyone who holds them even if they are cradled on their back. They love their people, greeting them at the door, following them around the house, and leaping into a lap or snuggling in bed whenever given the chance. They can commonly learn to come when called or to retrieve toys that are thrown to them . Oftener describe as docile, but that doesn’t mean they are inactive. They like to play with toys and enter into any family activities. Ragdolls learn quickly and can pick up tricks as well as good behaviours

 

Colours

•  Blue (dark bluish grey),

•  Seal (dark brown)

•  Lilac (is noticeably lighter shade of blue/grey with a slight pinkish tinge)

• Chocolate (chocolate brown)

•  Red ( like most red cats)

• Cream (is noticeable lighter shade of red)

• Tortie (blue, seal, chocolate & lilac)

• Tabby (blue, seal, chocolate & lilac)

 

Patterns

There are 5 patterns

 

Colourpoints

Has colour on paw tips, tail, ears and face. Keeping in mind a colourpoint has a darker shade of colour over its body.

 

Mitted

A mitted cat has white on its paw tip, white on it rear legs and a white chin and chest. The ears and tail remain coloured as in the colourpoint.

 

Bicolour

Bicolour cats have white paw tips, white on it rear legs and white on it chin and chest. Bicolour cats have a white inverted “V” on the lower part of the face. A bicolour ragdolls body may be mostly white with splashes of colour or with solid colour covering the body.

 

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