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Ragdoll History
According to the Cat Fanciers’ Association, the world’s largest registry of pedigreed cats, ragdolls were developed by a Riverside, Calif., breeder named Ann Baker in the 1960’s. Baker first bred a domestic longhaired, white female cat named Josephine with other cats she borrowed or found, producing a litter of kittens with laid-back, affectionate personalities. She then continued to select cats with the temperament and look she wanted, creating the foundation for the ragdoll breed.
Ragdoll Temperament
 Ragdolls are extremely mild-mannered and friendly, and often seek out human companionship, such as following people around the house, sleeping with or flopping on their owners.
This breed is particularly good with children and other pets and is easily trained to learn the same tricks as dogs, such as playing fetch, rolling over or begging.
Because they are gentle and sometimes lack the ability to defend themselves, ragdolls should not be left unattended outdoors.
Well-bred ragdolls have the potential to live long lives, if cared for properly and receive routine veterinary care.
Ragdoll Appearance
Large and blue-eyed, ragdoll cats are strong and muscular with broad chests and large hindquarters. They have full cheeks, medium-sized ears and medium-to-long length legs.
 Ragdoll cats come in four patterns: bicolor, van, mitted and colorpoint; the patterns come in six colors: seal, blue, chocolate, lilac, red and cream.
Ragdolls have a medium length, soft, non-matting coat that requires minimal grooming. They typically weigh between 14 to 18 pounds, although some have been known to exceed 20 pounds.
Ragdoll Health
Well-bred ragdolls have the potential to live long lives, if cared for properly and receive routine veterinary care. However, it is important to consult your veterinarian to determine any possible health issues such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a form heart disease that has been identified as relavent to ragdoll cats. Keep in mind, while not all ragdoll cats will suffer from heart disease, a basic heart evaluation should be part of your cat's routine annual veterinary health check.
It is always recommended that you take your cat to your veterinarian for regular visits. Routine care can help identify illnesses during the early stages and increase the probability of a successful treatment.
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Easygoing and loving, ragdoll cats get their name from their tendency to relax and go limp in one’s arms when picked up. One of the largest breeds of cats, ragdolls are also one of the most affectionate, often referred to as “puppy-cats” because of their dog-like personality.
