Ragdoll Cat Breed: Personality, Behavior and Training

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Oct 24 2023

Ragdoll cats are true American breed and are known for their beautiful color points like Siamese cats. These cats appear large and they have reputation for being a serene and friendly breed.

Ragdoll cats are very beautiful in appearance and they are notably affectionate toward their owners.

Ragdoll Cat History

This cat breed first came into existence in the 1960s. Ann Baker, of U.S California, began the breed in Riverside, Calif. She bred a white stray female cat that may have had Siamese ancestor to various other cats over the years.

She chose male cats to breed that had a great personality, long hair and attractive colouring. This breed got its names from one of the key characteristics Ann Baker was breeding for.

When she picked the cat up, it tends to go rather limp in your arms, just like a stuffed, cloth rag doll toy that flops without support.

Ragdoll Appearance

Ragdoll cats have blue eyes as that of Siamese cats and also have colour points over their body. The fur of Ragdoll cat is soft and bunny-like. These cats are semi long-haired with silky, plush coats.

The cats are big in size and they do not reach maturity until the age of four. Male Ragdoll cats can weigh up to 20 pounds while females can be of 15 pounds.

They can have color points or be mitted. Color-pointed and mitted ragdolls include blue, seal, lilac, chocolate, fawn, cream, red and cinnamon.

Patterns

Additionally, these colours also come with different patterns, including:

Van – Dark colour points are limited to the top of the head, ears and on the tail.
Mitted- Mitted Ragdoll cat’s front legs have white feet that may look like mittens. The white on the back legs extend up from the feet to around the hocks. You may also find white marking on Ragdoll’s forehead, nose, and chin.
Bi-colour- Bicolor Ragdoll cats are usually creamy white expect coloring on their ears and outer part of their facial mask and tail.
Solid pointed- The face, legs, tail, and ears of Ragdoll are darker than their body color. Ragdoll kittens are born white and their true color begins to show after two weeks of their birth. Pointed Ragdoll cats tend to darken with age.

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The personality of Ragdoll cats

The ragdolls are very affectionate and loving cats. These cats are gentle, calm and sociable. Ragdolls are not much demanding and have almost dog-like devotion to their owner.

They get along well with kids, dogs and other cats. They are very friendly in nature and love human company. You will find them very emotional which makes them a perfect companion animal. These cats are indoor pets so it is necessary to take their care and not letting them go out alone.

Behaviour & Training

The behaviour of Ragdolls is very nice. Being friendly in nature they love to play with other pets and children at home. They are playful in nature and love human interaction.

They can easily adapt to most environments. These cats are intelligent too and you can train them easily. You can train them to use a litter tray as they will respond best to positive reinforcement. If you will take them out then you can train your Ragdoll cat to play fetch.

Also Read: Tips & Tricks: How to Train a Siamese Cat

Common Health Issues

Like other pets, there are some health problems with ragdoll cats too. The common health problems in ragdolls are:-

Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: – In this condition, the heart muscles get thick and interfere with the organ’s ability to contract properly.
Feline Mucopolysaccharidosis– With this problem cat can get a problem with vision and mobility.
Mouth and gum disease: – Like other cat breeds, Ragdolls can also suffer from gum and dental problems. This problem begins when food, bacteria and minerals accumulate along the gum line.
Respiratory tract disorders:- They can also develop a respiratory problem and can suffer from cat flue which affects the upper respiratory tract. This can cause sneezing and nasal discharge. Some Ragdolls can also suffer from asthma problem. The common symptoms can include coughing and wheezing.
Kidney disease: – The main function of the kidney is to filter the waste products from their blood into their urine. These cats can get affected by kidney disease which is caused by blockages, tumours or toxins. This problem can develop when they get older in age.
Gastrointestinal disorders: – Like other cats ragdolls can also suffer from problems affecting the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

Size, Weight & Diet

Ragdolls are one of the largest of the domestic cat breeds. These cats are large and weight up to 6 kg. They love food and every cat owner must provide them with a healthy diet so that they can stay healthy.

When provided the right cat food they can keep the perfect body size, weight, and can stay active. Healthy food also leads to a longer age. Kittens of Ragdoll don’t reach full maturity until they are four of age but you can feed them adult food before then.

There are several cat food options available in the market so you can buy any of the high-quality food to keep them healthy, active and fit. Always feed them a complete and balanced diet and take them out for plenty of playful exercises to maintain a healthy weight.

Shedding & Grooming

The coat of the Ragdoll cat is thick and extremely soft. Ragdolls do not shed much because they have light fur. They do need regular combing to prevent knots and tangles. Regular grooming will keep them in good condition and will also prevent matting.

You can brush their coat at least twice a week to help prevent mats. They enjoy grooming and will often show their enjoyment with all the special attention.

It is necessary to trim the claws of Ragdolls regularly. Wipe the cat’s ears gently with a damp cloth and bathing is generally not needed if the coat is kept well-groomed.

Should You Get a Ragdoll?

Ragdoll cats are perfect pets to have if you want to have a loving, friendly companion that will be affectionate to everyone in your home and visitors.

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