By: Ron King
Is the Ragdoll the Right Breed for You?
Anyone looking for a cat that is laid back and gentle should look at the catbreed "Ragdoll." The breed was developed during the mid-nineteen hundreds by a cat breeder in the US. He bred a cat that when people handled it, it would lay limp like a Raggedy Ann doll. The breed was a cross between a Birman cat and another type of longhair cat from an unknown ancestry. The Ragdoll had a calm, relaxed demeanor, and although the Cat Fancier's Association did not originally acknowledge the Ragdoll, their later generations became the gentle Ragdolls we know today.
This breed is one of the biggest of the cat breeds, weighing between ten and twenty pounds. It is no surprise that such heavy cats have big, muscular bodies. Their heads are slightly round, their ears are small and rounded, and a Ragdoll cat's large eyes are bright blue in color. This breed's tail is a bit bushy and tapers at the end.
The Ragdoll does not come in a wide range of colors and patterns. In fact, there are actually only 4 colors accepted by the Cat Fancier's Association, Seal, Chocolate, Blue, and Lilac. You can find these colors in pointed, mitted, or bicolor patterns, but some breeders avoid mitted cats because they look similar to the breed's Birman ancestors.
The Ragdoll's calm personality makes it the best choice for families. These cats are almost dog-like in their demeanor, greeting family members at the door, following them through the house, and snuggling down beside them on the sofa. If you do not believe in de-clawing your cat, but are concerned about having your furniture shredded, you should want to consider this breed as well. Some Ragdoll owners say their cats have learned to use a scratching post instead of furniture arms to sharpen their claws much more quickly than their other cat breeds. Because these cats seem to make an effort to keep from scratching people, as well, they may be less likely to scratch furniture as a choice.
While this cat breed does not need the company of other pets and seems to prefer to spend time with family members over cats, it does not mind habituating with other animals. Perhaps it is because this breed is so much larger than other cats, but it is more likely because the Ragdoll is just so mellow.
Since the Ragdoll is a longhair cat, many prospective cat owners are a bit hesitant about choosing this breed. They are afraid they won't have time for the frequent grooming most longhairs require to have. However, this breed's silky coat texture makes it a very low care cat. Combing through your cat's hair weekly to remove stray hairs or debris is all that is necessary to keep his coat looking fantastic. One thing you may want to remember is that although most longhairs are prone to hairballs, Ragdoll cats rarely develop them.
If you want a sweet-tempered, family oriented animal, then the big Ragdoll may be the best breed for you.
For more info, see Ragdoll and Catbreed. Ron King is a web developer; visit his website Birman Cat. Copyright 2007 Ron King. This article may be reprinted if the resource box is left intact and the links live.
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