Ragdoll

Ann Baker, a breeder in Riverside, California, developed the Ragdoll in the 1960s from a group of domestic longhairs ^[1]. The foundation cat, Josephine, was a white longhair carrying the colorpoint gene. Baker felt Josephine's kittens had unusually endearing temperaments and kept selecting for the look and personality she wanted ^[1]. She claimed Josephine was so placid she went limp when held, which gave the breed its name ^[1]. CFA accepted Ragdolls for registration in 1993 and for championship in 2000 ^[1].

• Body: one of the larger breeds, with a broad chest, long muscular body and sturdy bone ^[1].
• Head: large, a broad modified wedge with equal sides and a gently rounded muzzle ^[1].
• Eyes: vivid blue and oval ^[1].
• Coat: semi-long and mostly guard hair without much undercoat, which gives it a soft, silky feel ^[1].
• Patterns: every Ragdoll carries the colorpoint gene, so the body is lighter than the head, legs and tail. Three of the four patterns also carry the bicolour gene, which adds white ^[1].
• Growth: full colour at about two, full size at about four. Males may reach or exceed 20 lb ^[1].

Ragdolls are loving without being pushy, and gentle, calm and sociable ^[1]. Expect to be greeted at the door and followed around; many sleep with their owners ^[1]. They're playful and trainable, and plenty learn to fetch and come when called ^[1]. They're moderately active, enjoying play without insisting on it, and adapt easily to small homes ^[1]. Since aggression is rare, they do well with children and other animals, but that trusting nature means introductions to resident pets need care ^[1]. They're quiet, with the occasional soft mew ^[1].

• Comb with a steel comb once or twice a week. With little undercoat they shed and mat less than many longhairs, though they still shed seasonally ^[1].
• Watch portions. Ragdolls love food and can put on weight ^[1], and across all cats a non-ideal weight is linked to shorter lives ^[11].
• Ask your breeder about products and technique if you plan to bathe your cat ^[1].

• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM): in 2007 researchers identified the R820W mutation in the MYBPC3 gene in Ragdolls with HCM ^[2]. According to UC Davis's Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, cats with two copies are at high risk of severe HCM, usually at one to two years old, while cats with one copy usually show no signs and may live normal lives ^[3]. CFA says breeders now test routinely and are removing carriers from the gene pool ^[1].
• Obesity: keep an eye on portions ^[1].
• Lifespan: an English study recorded a median of 10.1 years, but from only 21 cats, so read it with caution ^[4].

Ask breeders for the parents' HCM DNA results, and talk to your vet about any specific concern.

Don't confuse with…

• RagaMuffin: split from Ragdoll breeding in the early 1990s and comes in every colour and pattern, not just pointed ^[9].
• Birman: also pointed and blue-eyed with white "gloves", but with a Roman nose and a pale "golden mist" on the body ^[10].

• The name comes from the story of Josephine going limp when held, though CFA says that's not typical of today's Ragdolls ^[1].
• Ragdolls reach full colour at about two and full size at about four ^[1].
• Many learn to fetch and come when called ^[1].