Ragdoll

Known for their silky white coat, the Ragdoll cats are a loving, gentle, intelligent cat breed. They are graceful and have a striking appearance. If you are looking for an amicable cat who loves cuddles, the Ragdoll cat is the one for you. Not just are they easygoing, they are also friendly towards anyone they meet. They are endowed with clean habits and good manners, making them the perfect cat for every family.

Amazingly patient cats, Ragdolls are large in size and are calm in disposition. They have a heavy bony structure with a square-sized body with muscles. Their head is proportionate to the body with a round muzzle where the cheekbones are prominent. Wide, medium-sized ears with large blue-colored eyes make them look prettier—medium-sized legs with round and large paws and a long tail.

Ragdolls have beautiful semi-long soft to touch hair, and you can find them either in color point, mitted, or bicolor. Generally, they are available in white, black, blue, cream, lilac, seal, chocolate, and red. They are very much docile and are often known for their meltdown in the arms of anyone who pets them.

Ragdolls are very loyal to their owners and loveable. They have emotions, showing how they would interact with you with their sweet voice and follow you up. They love nothing more than cuddling on the lap of their favorite humans. They like to play with toys and are pretty gentle towards kids and other pets and cats at home.

This kind of cat breed is not just beautiful inside out but is also fun to have around. You won’t find them conquering spaces and heights like other cats. They rather like staying low, especially floor level. But they do enjoy sitting on your lap or caring for a spot next to you on a sofa.

They are soft by nature and are sensitive. They are also vulnerable in most situations and often do not attack back in defend. Therefore when you take your cat out, make sure to keep them protected from other aggressive animals by putting your cat on a leash or in a cat cabin. Ragdolls also do not like being left alone. A few hours of staying alone is still okay, but it is good if you have someone to take care of your Ragdoll cat while you are away.

The Ragdoll cat is a recent development in the cat breed category. In the 1960s, a breeder named Ann Baker in Riverside, Calif, developed the breed, keeping in mind the non-aggressive and gentle nature that has to be imbibed into the breed. Bakers were careful in selecting cats with gentle and placid nature. They even have traits such as a long coat, large size, and docility in them. Siamese and Himalayan were used for the purpose, and later on, Burmese, Persian, and Birmans also contributed to the development.

Breeders who were associated with Baker distanced themselves with time and started breeding the beautiful Ragdoll. The Cat Fanciers Association registered the cat in 1993, and today we have this beautiful cat. It is apparent that the breed is not outcrossed with any other breed.

Typically a healthy pet, the Ragdoll may undergo certain health challenges like other cats. Not all, but some Ragdoll cats may be prone to certain health issues such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and urinary tract issues. They may also suffer from kidney-related issues and an increased risk of bladder stones. Other health problems include blood clots, hairballs due to their long hair, and obesity is something that the owners must be careful about. Besides, the Ragdolls may also have heart diseases for which regular veterinary checkup is of utmost importance. You should also take your Ragdoll to regular dental visits to ensure they don’t suffer from any dental problems.

Not a very active cat breed, the Ragdoll doesn’t require much exercise. But sitting on the couch all day will only lead to obesity which is why the Ragdoll should be involved in certain exercises like playing with a toy, climbing up, and scratching a cat tower or post. If your cat is not used to cat tower, they at first may hesitate or resist using the pillar at all. If this happens, you can always sprinkle some catnip on the post and try putting your cat on the tower. Besides, mind games such as finding the treat, catching the laser on the wall, or playing catch with a feather teaser are perfect games and forms of exercise for your cat.

The food is an important thing that your Ragdoll needs to have that is protein-dense and full of nutrition. For adult Ragdolls, you should feed them two scheduled meals a day but make sure you do not have food open for them all the time as you do not want them to put on those extra flaps. Always rely on quality cat food, and you can contact us to find the best formula for your feline baby. For Ragdoll kittens, 3-4 times feeding should be sufficient. The food amount also depends on the activity level, age, and metabolism. If your kitty is allergic to any ingredient, be mindful to check the ingredient list on the food package.

With those lustrous long hair, grooming definitely is not easy for the Ragdoll; however, the grooming needs are pretty simple. Ragdoll cats do shed and heavily during seasons. Brushing them regularly, if needed daily, will help keep the loose hair away from the body. It also helps in increasing the blood flow and helps in new hair growth. Ear cleaning and nail trimming are also necessary, so you can always take care of professional groomers to include a complete grooming regime for your Ragdoll. Most importantly, brush their teeth every day if possible or at least three times a week to keep tooth decay and tartar away.