Ragdoll
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This article is about the Ragdoll cat breed. For other uses, see Rag doll (disambiguation).
| Ragdoll Cat |
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| Country of origin |
| United States |
| Breed standards (external links) |
| AACE, CFA, ACFA, TICA, CCA, ACF, FIFe |
The Ragdoll is a breed of medium longhaired cat. It is best known for its docile and placid temperament and affectionate nature. It is perhaps the gentlest and most easy-going of breeds. They are non-aggressive to the point that many cats cannot or should not be let outside for prolonged periods as many will not defend themselves and most do not hunt. The name "Ragdoll" derived from the fact that many of these cats go completely limp and relax when picked up. Ragdolls have a sturdy body, short legs, and a thick coat with Siamese-style points.
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[edit] History
Ragdolls were developed in the 1960’s by Ann Baker, a Persian breeder in California, some of whose original stock consisted of sturdy, free-roaming cats. It is thought she created the foundations of the Ragdoll breed by selecting kittens out of Josephine, a semi-feral longhaired white female Persian/Angora type, sired by several unknown male Birman-like or Burmese-like cats, one with Siamese markings. Out of those early litters came Blackie, an all black Burmese-like male and Daddy Warbucks, a Birman-like pointed male. Daddy Warbucks sired the founding bicolor female Fugianna, and Blackie sired Buckwheat, a dark brown/black Burmese-like female. Both Fugianna and Buckwheat were daughters of Josephine. All Ragdoll cats are descended from Josephine through matings of Daddy Warbucks to Fugianna and Buckwheat.
By selecting individuals with the look and temperament she wanted for her breeding program, Anne Baker created the standard Ragdoll type. Denny and Laura Dayton are credited with bringing the Ragdoll breed to worldwide recognition by various cat registration organizations. What is known is that this breed was selectively bred over many years for desirable traits, such as large size, gentle demeanor, and a tendency to go limp when picked up.
[edit] Characteristics
The Ragdoll is a large, semi-longhaired cat, exhibiting the pointed pattern in three varieties: colorpoint, bicolor, and mitted. Coat colors can be seal, blue, chocolate, and lilac point colors, either with or without markings on the face and feet. In some associations, they are also available in non traditional colors, such as cream, red (flame), tortie, torbie and lynx point as well as the experimental solids and minks. Their semi-long rabbit-like coats need minimal care and do not usually become matted with regular combing.
Ragdolls typically take up to 4 years to fully mature physically. An adult male can weigh between 12 and 20 lb (5.4 - 9.0 kg), while the females can weigh between 10 and 15 lb (4.5 - 6.8 kg).
[edit] Culture
The presenters of long-running CBBC TV program, Blue Peter, have a Ragdoll cat amongst their team, whom they have aptly named "Socks", due to many young viewers' suggestions and then a decision from the team there. [1]
Cy was a ragdoll cat.
The Algonquin Hotel in New York City keeps a ragdoll in its lobby. This tradition of keeping a cat dates to the 1930s; males are named Hamlet and females Matilda. The current Matilda is an 11-year old female ragdoll from Villaroyal Ragdolls; she strolls the lobby and perches on the front desk. She was recently named cat of the year at the Westchester Cat Show in Westchester County, New York. Matilda has a signature cocktail in the hotel bar; her likeness is on a children's book and Christmas ornament.
