Still too often mistaken with the Birman, the Ragdoll is a large cat with blue eyes and a peaceful character. He is indeed so peaceful that this feature gave him his name.
While the story of the Ragdoll is famous, it is also quite confused, as it is made up of many contradictions. What is known for sure, is that it began in the 60’s in Riverside, California, with Ann Baker, a Persian breeder, and Joséphine, a non pedigree cat.
Joséhine was a white semi long haired cat, which belonged to one of Anne Baker’s neighbours. Like many street cats, she gave birth to countless litters, which were almost impossible to approach. One day, Joséphine was run over by a car and taken to the neighbourhood’s university, where she was taken care of. Some time later, Joséphine had an other litter, but to the amazement of her owners, the kittens were very calm and peaceful.
Ann Baker, who was still fond of Joséphine, thought that her accident had modified her genes and those of her kittens. Of course, this was totally impossible, but from this time on, Ann decided to create a new breed, whose main characteristic would be a particularly peaceful behaviour. She then asked Mrs Pennel, Joséphine’s owner, to give her some of the kittens. This is how she first got Buckweat, a Burmese look alike female, then Raggedy Ann Fugiana, a longhaired white colourpoint female, whose father was one of Joséphine’s kittens, Daady Warbucks. Those three cats, all issued from Joséphine, are the basis of the breed Ann Baker called the Ragdoll.
No one knows how Ann made her different crosses. Two things however are sure: she decided to take Raggedy Ann Fugiana for model, and she had a marketing attitude still unknown at that time. Indeed, Ann decided to create her own book of origins, the IRCA- International Ragdoll Cat Association – entirely independent from all the major feline federations. But above all, she made of her breed a Trade Mark. All the people who wanted a Ragdoll had to sign a very restrictive contract, and pay Ann a tax, should they want to have their cats reproduce! To top it all, Ann started to use the media as no other breeder had ever done before: she invented more and more eccentric stories about her breed: cats insensible to pain, gifts from God, or even aliens, depending on her mind. The most unbelievable of it all, is that the journalists fought to have her interviews.
On their sides, the more orthodox breeders felt bad about this obtrusive publicity, while the feline clubs had no idea how they accept to admit cats which one could torture without them feeling any pain! The Ragdoll could have disappeared along with the more and more nonsensical and delirious affirmations of their creator, if a group of breeders, led by Laura and Danny Deyton, hadn’t decided to break all relationship with the embarrassing pioneer. They founded the RFCI – Ragdoll Fancier’s Club International – and showed their cats in traditional shows. At the beginning of the 70’s, most of all major American clubs had officially recognised the Ragdoll.
Today’s Ragdoll is a large, semi long haired which took his colour to the Siamese. Like many now-fashionable cats – Maine Coon, Norwegian – the Ragdoll is an exceptionally large and powerful cat. Some males can weigh up to 10 kilos. The Ragdoll is a giant, which needs several years to reach maturity. It is considered to have reached adulthood around the age of three. Its head is round and large. Its look is incredibly soft, and the effect is strengthened by the oval shape of its blue eyes. The ears are large, set high and well apart on each side of the skull. The profile has the shape of a slide. The body is both long and heavy, and the bones of the legs are strong. The tail is long and well furnished. The fur is of semi long length, and very soft. The Ragdoll’s fur requires little grooming, even if a light, regular brushing is appreciated.Even if today’s Ragdoll has not much in common with Ann baker’s mercantile dream, breeders have always been very careful to preserve his excessively calm, sweet and loving temperament, which is still typical of the breed.
The coat of the Ragdoll comes in three distinct patterns: The colourpoint: The traditional marking of the Siamese, with the tips of the body and head a darker colour than the rest of the body.The bi-colour: the white marking is present on about one third of the body, including all four legs, the underbody, the chest, and an upside down V marking on the face.The mitted: a colourpoint with the tip of the legs white, like in Birmans. Contrary to the Birmans, the disposition of the white is not important, and white markings on the chin, neck and belly are allowed. The basic colours of the Ragdoll were for a long time limited to seal, blue, chocolate and lilac. Nowadays, red, tortie, tabby, smoke, and all their combinations are allowed.
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