The Purrfect Pet - RagDoll Cats and Kittens

The RagDoll Cat breed came about from the offspring of a semi-feral white Persian female whom was injured when hit by a car and bred to a male Birman Cat. The controversy is that the "breed" relaxes completely when picked up or held. The resulting floppy "RagDoll" appearance gives the breed its name. Some believe that this trait was passed on from the injured female, whom may have suffered nerve damage, others disagree stating that it is not genetically possible. Little is known as to why these felines are unique in so many ways.

The RagDoll is similar in appearance to the Birman, except for the heavier body build and lack of tell tale white "gloves". Varieties include the Bicolor RagDoll, with a pale body, dark markings on the mask, ears, and tails (seal, chocolate, blue or lilac), and a white underside. Points refers to points of their features such as ears, nose, paws and tail. Colorpoints have points in the same colors and Mitted RagDolls are the same as Colorpoint but with white front paws. Colors include chocolate, seal with varying shades of brown, blue (which is shades of grey) and lilac which is more a rosy shade of beige. Some can be cream, blue/cream or flame (cream that is more reddish). The rare Mink RagDolls have their coloring at birth, whereas the others are usually born white

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The cats fur is full and long, plush, but is not as long as many of the long haired breeds. They do not have an undercoat which makes for less shedding as well as easy maintenance and grooming. Their bodies are long and solid, although they go limp when picked up. They have medium legs, large round paws, and a long, medium tail. The head is a rounded wedge shape with a medium nose, fully developed cheeks, and small, round, mostly blue eyes, although green, green/blue and aqua are common in the mink RagDolls and the straight colored RagDolls can often have nonmatching eye colors. Ears are medium, rounded at the tips and tufted. These are large cats, with males often exceeding 20 plus pounds.

These Cats have an extremely docile temperament, slow to mature and don't reach full maturity until 3 to 4 years of age. Perhaps that is why they remain quite playful well beyond the kitten stages. They are "lovers", not fighters and very trusting of others that they may not recognize danger. Best suited to the indoors, the RagDoll has an extremely high tolerance to pain so that injuries can go unnoticed. These big fluffy cats are calm and like tranquility. They also like dogs, particularly large dogs. They get along well with other household pets and make wonderful pets for children. They are often described as the "puppy cat" in that they will follow one around much like a puppy. They are also very trainable.

RagDolls are big, sweet tempered, family oriented cats, making them the purrfect pet for many homes.

The Purrfect Pet - RagDoll Cats and Kittens

Cats "pawsitively" have enriched my life. Owning an Equestrian Center allows me to have more cats than what would be the norm for homes, as I claim some are "working barn cats", giving me the excuse to take a few more in and keeping the many that are "drop offs". However, as responsible pet owners we should strive to learn as much about the animals whom well being and lives are dependent on us. Please click on the links to my sites if you are looking for more information on the adorable RagDolls or seeking everyday general cat and kitten information such as care, training, health and behavioral problems and cat facts in general.

RAGDOLL CATS

For Ragdoll Cat Lovers - Ragdoll Cat Personality

The ragdoll cat personality is often what attracts cat owners to the breed. On the outside the ragdoll is large, medium haired, beautifully coloured, blue eyed breed of cat. Inwardly, they exhibit strange personality traits that set them aside from many other breeds of cat. While there are many myths and generalizations surrounding the good nature of this exotic breed, more often than not the myths are founded in truths.

The ragdoll cat personality is one generalized as being a cautious mix of intelligence and a gentle, trusting nature. While many ragdoll cats can be attributed to these personality traits, there are many more who deviate from the norm. It would be too general to say that all ragdoll cats are intelligent, just as in any breed there is diversity, and there is obviously the force of nurture to take into consideration.

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Certainly the standard ragdoll cat is a gentle, kindly creature, which would much rather spend time with you and those in your family, then go roaming out and about. Then again, ragdoll's are rarely given the opportunity to be roamers - they are frequently and rightly kept as indoor cats, being far too trusting and lacking the street smarts of other outdoor cat breeds.

They tend to be laid back and far too passive for the outside world, their lack of violent tendencies often mean they are unlikely to fight back, even if threatened, causing no end of scrapes and problems in the outside world.

The myths tell us the ragdoll was named as such due to their tendency to flop while being held in your arms, but they are not alone in this, many other cats if they trust you will go limp when you hold them. Perhaps then the ragdoll is simply more trusting and flops when they barely know you at all; this trusting nature is often seen as a very attractive quality in the ragdolls.

Ragdolls love people, they love other cats, they love other pets and stranger even, they appear to love water. A ragdoll will happily play in running water for hours, apparently fascinated by the wetness of it! They have even been known to attempt to join their owners in the bath or shower, setting them aside from most other cat breeds, traditionally known as water haters. For this reason, outside the ragdoll can easily end up drowning, they must be kept away from ponds, swimming pools and other large bodies of water, even if supervised.

Ragdoll cats will happily spend days curled up on you lap, purring, meowing to you, they are not known for their independence, unlike many other breeds, you will find the ragdoll to exhibit co-dependence, a good thing for some owners, a markedly annoying trait for others, but however you view being followed around all day, be prepared to step on a few tails several times a day, you might not even realize they are stood right behind you.

But despite all the hype regarding their 'laid back' nature, and the ability to adapt to living with almost any animal, remember, just like us, each cat is different, and will exhibit different traits, don't just assume that the ragdoll cats personality will be the 'typical' or standardized one, prepare for individual differences and you wont be disappointed.

For Ragdoll Cat Lovers - Ragdoll Cat Personality

David Jameson is a Ragdoll Cat enthusiast, helping people to learn how to live with Ragdoll Cats.

Find out more information For Ragdoll Cats Owners at http://MyRagdollCat.com.

Please, visit the site's Recommended Reading section special for people interested in Ragdoll Cats.

RAGDOLL CATS

Ragdoll Cats

Ragdoll Cats got their name from a perception that they go limp when picked up. They have long legs, a long body, broad chest, rounded triangular head, large blue eyes, long fur and long bushy tail.

Characteristics The name Ragdoll came about due to the common fallacy that these cats go entirely limp when held. And in essence these pets are viewed as ragdoll-like in that they are believed to be pain-resistant, which of course is false. These beautiful cats, with Siamese-like markings and long fur, may have coined the name Ragdoll since they're heftier than other housecats with their large frame. They also tend to be a few pounds heavier than the average house cat, often weighing somewhere between 13-21 lbs.

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Ragdoll Cats come in six distinct colors and three patterns. The general colors include: light to medium grey, dark brown, soft orange-ish/tan, "dilutes" blue (resembles grey), lilac, and ivory/white. The three patterns are: Brown nose or face, ears, paws, and tail (known as tips), no white. Colored paws chin and belly, no white line on face. And two-tone - white paws, white belly, reverse 'V' on face, and sometimes white patches on back. Alternate versions include "tortie-point" and lynx.

Temperament It is typical for a Ragdoll to be non-defensive in nature, and thus ought to be kept indoors unless the owner intends on keeping an eye on their pet outdoors. They aren't often vocal and are easily inclined to forgive in the instance of being mistreated. Like most cats, when introduced and well acquainted with humans from birth, they desire human companionship and are very affectionate. When at play, Ragdoll Cats are very gentle. They have a tendency to be dog-like in the fact that they often follow their owners around seeking attention.

Brief History Ann Baker, a Persian cat breeder and the first to trademark the Ragdoll breed, selected a few Burmese-type cats (some with Siamese markings) to breed with one of her Persians. All Ragdoll cats today are descendants of that first litter. This explains why some of these pets are mostly white with a few tan markings, some are ivory with a brown face, ears and paws, and some may even be entirely brown or black. Baker took into account a cat's markings, features, and easygoing temperament when selecting for breeding.

Care and grooming of Ragdoll's ought to be kept up as with any other housecat; frequent combing of fur, good nutrition, regular play and veterinary visits.

Ragdoll Cats

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RAGDOLL CATS

Colourpoint Ragdoll Cats

Ragdoll cats, a special breed of cat known mainly for the 'ragdoll' temperament when they 'flop' around your house and when you hold them, come in many different colours and markings. Colourpoint is a very popular colour, meaning the points - the face, feet, ears; tails, of the cat are all a darker color than the rest of the body.

Colourpoint ragdoll cats come in seal, cream, blue, flame, tortie, lilac and chocolate. But there is discrepancy about what is recognized and what is 'new,' originally the ragdolls only came in seal, blue, chocolate and lilac, with other as 'dilutions,' so check with whoever the breeder is registered with to be sure, So what do each of the colours look like on a colourpointed ragdoll cat?

RAGDOLL CATS

A seal pointed cat will have dark brown to black colored points and the body will be light brown to cream. It is likely the chest will be lighter than the body, although sometimes this is not noticeable.

A cream pointed ragdoll will have cream coloured points, while the rest will be a light milk colour. Most striking about the cream point is the deep blue eyes, which will really stand out on such as light coloured cat.

A blue point can look a little like a seal pointed, but the points are a lighter, colder blue grey colour, lighter than the seal, and lack the brown of the seal. The body is a cool, off white blue, and the pads are blue grey like the points. While the seal pointed looks warm, the blue pointed looks cool.

A flame pointed ragdoll has a very clear colour of red or orange on points, and the body is a warm creamy color. It is considered that the deeper the color of the points in a flame pointed, the better.

A tortie pointed ragdoll will have more than one colour on the points; they may be intermingled or even come in patches around the body of the ragdoll cat. There is no 'acceptable' way for the colours to be expressed, it is random and all are acceptable, from this we get seal tortie, blue tortie etc, with different colours of the original intermingled on the points.

A lilac pointed ragdoll will have a very white body with cold pink tinged points; the pads tend to be a pink colour. The overall effect is very delicate, although it is often hard to tell a lilac pointed when young, as often the colors darken to become a blue or seal.

A chocolate pointed ragdoll will have an ivory coloured body and the points will be a milky chocolate colour - not too dark, often a chocolate might be mistaken for seal or blue, or the other way around. True lilacs and chocolates can be very rare and very hard to find, as the true chocolate gene is often not present.

Remember when choosing a colour, that in most cases, the colours will not fully develop until about 2 years of age, so you can never be truly sure about the type of ragdoll you have unless you genetically test it! If the breeder is charging more for a 'rare' colour, remember you are taking the risk that the colour will change as the cat ages, or that the colour is not 'true' at all.

Colourpoint Ragdoll Cats

David Jameson is a Ragdoll Cat enthusiast, helping people learn to live with Ragdoll Cats.

Find out more information For Ragdoll Cats Owners at http://www.MyRagdollCat.com. Please, visit the site's Recommended Reading section special for everyone interested In Ragdoll Cats.

RAGDOLL CATS

Choosing a Ragdoll Cat

When I was growing up, our family always had indoor-only cats. I grew up with at least one pair of cats (Siamese) around all the time, and there became my love of cats.

When I got married, both my husband and I decided to choose a cat for our new life together. Our criteria was, a family friendly cat which we could keep indoors, a cat which got along well with young children (as we were expecting a child), and a cat which was easy to groom and had a great temperament. Oh, and my husband liked large cats too.

RAGDOLL CATS

After extensive research over several months and several cat shows, we finally decided that the Ragdoll cat was our perfect pet, and purchased a Mitted Seal Point male who we now call Bijou.

The following information should help you when choosing a ragdoll cat:

The Breed

The Ragdoll was first bred in the 1960's in the USA. It was a cross between a Birman and a Persian-type cat. The breed was found to be so relaxed and laid back that it could be easily compared to a child's ragdoll when picked up. Ragdolls are slow to mature and reach full maturity in 3-4 years. Neutered males can weigh between 13-20 lbs, females about 5 lbs less. It's important to note that these are indoor only cats and should never be let outdoors unless supervised. This breed is so sociable, they can easily be taken by strangers. The coat of this cat is more like rabbit fur than standard cat fur. Although these animals are long hared, they are easy to groom and shed very little with no matting in the fur. A mystery to us indeed, but we like the low maintenance.

Personality

When choosing a Ragdoll cat, you want to take into account that Ragdolls are gentle and affectionate cats.They are sociable and loving and get along with children, other cats and dogs without problems. Although you may read that Ragdolls are quiet cats, that's not the case with ours. Bijou is very vocal and will let you know when he wants to be fed as well as "singing" for us sometimes at night when the lights go out. Although our 7 year old is quite rough with him, he tolerates the squeezing and tugging well. Our ragdoll has never once bitten anyone and probably never will as he is so laid back. One other thing: the ragdoll will frequently follow you around the house like a dog and is quick to come to you when called, and ours is no exception. He also loves to lay down with you on the bed and seems to be with you wherever you are.

Colors

Ragdolls come in a variety of colors and patterns. There are only four colors accepted by the Cat Fancier's Association: Seal, Chocolate, Blue, and Lilac. The colors come in pointed, mitted, or bicolor patters, so when choosing a Ragdoll cat, you will need to do your research to determine which you like.

When choosing a ragdoll cat, you will want to determine if you want a sweet tempered, family oriented cat. If so, then the big ragdoll might be the ideal cat for you.

If you are looking for more information about the Ragdoll cat, I can highly recommend a guide which will provide you with Ragdoll cat specific tips for every stage of your cat's life. Click on the Authors website below if you want the best advice to make your ragdoll happy, healthy, and well behaved, www.squidoo.com/choosing-a-ragdoll-cat

Choosing a Ragdoll Cat

Mary Freeman is an accomplished Author who writes articles on her interests. To access her Ragdoll Cat website, please visit [http://www.squidoo.com/choosing-a-ragdoll-cat]

RAGDOLL CATS

All About Ragdoll Cats

Is the Ragdoll the perfect pet? If you're unfamiliar with the Ragdoll cat breed you are in for a treat. This mellow and outgoing feline is quickly becoming of the most popular cat breeds, and for good reason.

History of the Ragdoll

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The most widely accepted belief is that the Ragdoll breed originated back in the 1960's by a woman named Ann Baker, located in Riverside California. The breed was selectively bred over several years for specific traits, such as a large size, gentle temperament, and a tendency to go limp when held.

Physical Characteristics

The Ragdoll large in size and the body is usually stocky with short legs, and large in size compared with other cat breeds. The Ragdoll is listed with Guinness book of world records as the largest cat, with males ranging 12-20 pounds, and females averaging 10-15 pounds.

They have long, thick fur coats and markings that resemble a Siamese. There are four marking patterns: bi-color, van, mitted and pointed. They also usually come in six colors: seal, blue, chocolate, lilac, red, and cream. Points may be solid, lynx, or tortie. All Ragdolls also have piercing blue eyes that are a popular trait among owners.

Personality

Some people describe that Ragdoll has having a 'doglike' personality and this is absolutely true. They love to follow their owners around and crave attention. Their personality is laid back and they are content watching and observing whatever you are doing. They have been known to play ball or fetch and enjoy lots of activity. Ragdolls make excellent family pets and are really good with children and other animals.

As mentioned before, some Ragdolls will 'go limp' when you pick them up and hold them in your arms. They also like to lie on their backs with all four paws in the air displaying their general easy going nature. Due to their mellow personality, Ragdoll should be kept inside as much as possible. Ragdolls may have a hard time defending themselves to outside threats for this reason.

Care Guidelines

Ragdoll cats are generally easy to care for and have a smooth long coat that should be brushed a few times a week at minimum. Regular food and water is important, just like with any pet. Make sure to have toys and a scratching post at minimum to keep them occupied when you are not around. Claws should be clipped on a regular basis and you should establish a relationship with a good vet for regular checkups and vaccinations.

Locating Ragdoll Cats

Ragdolls are a special breed, and you should expect to pay a fair amount of money to get one. Prices of 0 or more are very common, especially from a reputable breeder that has kittens from champion bloodlines. Make sure to get registered papers and a health guarantee from any breeder you deal with.

All About Ragdoll Cats

Locate Ragdoll breeders, learn more about the breed, and join the discussion forums now at http://www.Ragdollcatguide.com

RAGDOLL CATS

What Are Ragdoll Cats?

The Ragdoll cat breed consists of a variety of medium to long hair cats. Ragdoll cats are famous for their placid temperaments as well as their affectionate nature. Ragdolls are the most easy going and gentle cat you can own. These cats are not aggressive and should only be kept indoors. They do not have fighting instincts so they will not defend themselves when provoked.

The term "Ragdoll" comes from the way they go totally limp when picked up. The breed originated in California back in the 1960s. The first Ragdoll was a cat named Josephine. There are many myths regarding the history of Ragdoll cats; for instance, one account claims Ragdoll cats were left on earth by an alien race. Many of these wild claims were made by the breed's founder and are still passed around today.

RAGDOLL CATS

Ragdoll cats are bred selectively for certain characteristics. These selective traits include size, characteristic limpness when picked up, as well as their easy going nature. The breed was created from a mixture of Birman, Persian, and Burmese cats. The Ragdoll breed has been imitated by other breeds such as the Ragamuffin; however, many of these competing breeds are not recognized by cat registries as there is little differentiating them from Ragdoll cats.

Ragdoll Cats come in a variety of patterns and colors. The pointed patterns fall into three categories: mitted, bicolor, and colorpoint. The varieties of colors are lilac, seal, blue, and chocolate. Additionally there are several nonstandard color offerings such as red and lynx point. A typical Ragdoll takes 2 years to fully mature; adult males weigh between 15 to 20 pounds. Female cats weigh in at 9 to 13 pounds. Ragdoll cats are the largest domestic cat and make excellent pets.

What Are Ragdoll Cats?

Ben Harper is a Ragdoll cat enthusiast and founder of the site Ragdoll Cats which was established to promote the Ragdoll cat breed. To learn more about this unusual cat visit: http://www.ragdollcats.info

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