Meet the Ragdolls

By dnp-team On Mar 15, 2017

Katerina Anyfandi
Today let’s talk about Ragdoll, a breed whom I found out accidentally while browsing on net 10 years ago. As I fell in love with the breed’s appearance, I had then imported four breeding Ragdolls to Greece and started my own breeding programme. Let’s find out more about this breed.

The truth about Ragdoll is never clear even we gather information from various sources. In this article, I’m not very much focusing on chronological historical facts. This article is more about my 10 years of breeding, loving and living with beautiful Ragdolls.

New in history
Ragdolls have no special history, myths and fairytales connect with them. They are pretty new breeds who started as an experimental project from Ann Baker, a breeder of Persians, way back in the 1970s in the US. That’s why the origin of this breed, for sure, is in America. Ann Baker made the breed popular; even insurance companies used her Ragdolls as models to promote their services. Today, Ragdoll is recognised from the most feline associations all over the world and they are getting popular day by day. The main problem these days is over-breeding and backyard breeding of this beloved breed. So, when you are buying a Ragdoll, make sure you know exactly who and how your lovely kitten raised.

Love at first sight.
Ragdolls have an angelic look—the whole package is a furry ball with blue eyes, fluffy hair, and gentle voice. They look and they act like little children, in the innocent way. The first thing that wins you is the appearance, but the real magic unfolds when you share your life with a Ragdoll. The breed is gentle, caring and dedicated. Ragdolls love living with families, couples, or singles, but they will find only one person to give their affection and dedication. They only meow when they want to communicate with you; they will wait for you at the door when you return home; they will keep you company in the bathroom while you are doing your daily routine; they will be beside you when you are feeling down; they will sleep with you; and they will be your guardian angel.

Colours and patterns
Eyes of Ragdoll are always blue—deepest the blue the better. The breed is available in three patterns: Bi-Colour, Colourpoint and Mitted. One can find every pattern either Tabby or not in seven recognised colours—Blue, Seal, Red, Cream, Lilac, Chocolate and Tortie.

Cares to be taken
Some cares you need to take up when you decide to live with a Ragdoll are listed here.

You need to make the first step and gain his trust, but very gently.
Ragdoll never complains; so, you have to be aware if something changed to his routine, maybe something must have gone wrong. Your Ragdoll will never show you if he is in pain or sad.
Ragdoll hates loneliness. So, if you are working too many hours, you need to think about getting a second cat to keep your Ragdoll less stressed.
Their grooming needs are simple, brush them once
a week.
Feed your Ragdoll on free serve; He is a breed with no obesity problem, but you can’t feed him like dog; for example, two or three meals per day. He needs to have his food bowl filled up always, so that he will not feel insecure about food. Many vets around the world have wrong impression about Ragdoll as a fat breed, which they are not!

Clever and honest breed
Ragdoll is very clever as he is at the intelligence level of a five years old child. But at the same time, the breed is as innocent as a child. So, make your home children friendly to add a Ragdoll. This breed doesn’t do any damage to furniture unless he is really bored or doesn’t have any toy to play with. Ragdoll is an honest breed—you give him a good treat, he will give you back his best.

(Katerina Anyfandi is president of Association Felina Greece, Heraklion, Crete, Greece. She is WCF (World Cat Federation) judge in semi long-hair category.)