A cat that looks like a rag doll? Not quite! The Ragdoll is a breed for Siamese lovers. They don’t just impress with their beautiful fur or intense gaze.
Summary
- The appearance of the Ragdoll: large cats with semi-long hair
- Character: adorable furballs
- Adoption: a happy indoor cat
- Care: how often to brush a Ragdoll?
- Health: what are the most common illnesses in the Ragdoll?
- Purchase: from a responsible breeder
Origins of the Ragdoll: a young purebred cat
The appearance of the Ragdoll: large cats with semi-long hair
This large, massive cat with a broad chest and a muscular body is distinguished by its very soft coat. Its mid-length dress which has few undercoats has a silky touch, which gives the animal a fluffy appearance. Moreover, this impression is amplified by the presence of a collar around the neck of the Ragdoll.
Its head is medium, wedge-shaped and its ears are rounded, fairly wide apart. Its hind legs are a little longer, which slants its back slightly. His large, bright blue eyes make him an exceptional cat. The Ragdoll Cats are one of the big pedigree cats. Females weigh up to 6.5kg while males can weigh up to 9.5kg. They can measure up to 1.20 meters in length (starting from the nose to the tip of the tail) and 40 cm in height.
How big is an adult Ragdoll? This question is frequently asked. It takes a while for a Ragdoll to reach its full size. They are not fully grown until they are 3 or 4 years old.
- The different coat colors
- Possible color combinations
- Just like the siamese, the stylishster is one of the “point” type cats. These points are visible only at the extremities, that is to say at the level of the ears, the legs, and the tail. The rest of the coat is lighter.
With the Ragdoll, different colors are possible: seal, blue, chocolate, lilac, red, and cream-point are the most common. The official names are Colourpoint, Mitted, Bicolor, Tabby, Tortie, and Torbie.
Colorpoint: the Colourpoint gives the impression that the cat presents an entire mask
- Mitted: these cats have, in addition to the point, a white chin and often white streaks on the muzzle. They have pink pads and white paws
- Bicolor: Ragdolls designated as “bicolor” also have a light dot pattern, but their base color is lighter, they wear an upside-down “V” mask, which starts at the forehead and ends at the birth of the tail. The legs are white Also, like point-type cats, Ragdoll kittens are born white and only develop their final colors after the third or even fourth year!
Character: adorable furballs
Ragdolls are very social cats. They are gentle, docile, peaceful, and curious but above all playful and cuddly and love to track their master. Many breeders often call them “dogs in cats’ bodies”. The Ragdoll often fully integrates into its family. However, for his well-being and development, we recommend that you ensure that he has a playmate. Cats have long been considered solitary animals, but the most sociable ones like Ragdolls enjoy life with their congeners. Finally, they are animals that love to be carried, because of the confidence they have in us.
Adoption
- Adoption: a happy indoor cat
- Ragdolls adapt very well to indoor living, although they also enjoy a balcony or garden. If you prefer not to let your animal out, you must ensure that it exerts itself sufficiently. Do not hesitate to find new games to stimulate him mentally and physically. It is recommended not to leave your pet alone for too long. Before adopting a Ragdoll, ask yourself if your home is large enough that it does not feel cramped. From wall-mounted cat trees, scratching posts or even hammocks can help him exercise or observe what is happening outside. These accessories can be used for playing, observing, or taking a nap.
To learn how to build your own cat tree, check out our item!
In addition, you can totally adapt a Ragdoll if you have young children or other animals. Their calm and calm temperament makes them very sociable.
Care: how often to brush a Ragdoll?
The breed’s medium-length coat is low maintenance due to the lack of an undercoat. However, weekly grooming can be made easier if you get him used to it from a young age.
However, during molting in spring and autumn, it is recommended to carry out daily brushing. Particular attention should be paid to the hair on the belly and between the legs, which can easily get tangled. As cats groom themselves, they swallow a lot of hair. To help them get rid of hairballs, you can provide them with catnip.
Health: what are the most common illnesses in the Ragdoll?
They don’t have any particular health issues. Nevertheless, some of them have a predisposition to certain hereditary diseases, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).
It is the most common heart disease among them. It is caused by a thickening of the myocardium and can be diagnosed by echocardiography. There is a genetic test to detect HCM, so breeders can remove sick animals from the farm early enough.
But if your Ragdoll is not affected by the disease, he can easily live between 12 and 15 years.
Purchase: from a responsible breeder
A professional breeder considers his cats as members of his family. He takes responsibility for his animals and their offspring. This also implies a thoughtful mating of the animals, good prevention in terms of health and an environment as well as a healthy diet for Ragdoll. Kittens should never be given to their new owners before they are 12 weeks old in order to be properly weaned. In order to protect the mother, the breeders made sure that there was enough time between each litter.
