Essence of the Ragdoll

A fascinating cat, the Ragdoll from California enjoys great success and has a large following of breeders and owners. It is not the only cat breed to emigrate from California, but it is probably the best known and its unusual breed name causes interest wherever it is seen. In fact, the name Ragdoll was given by the original breeder Ann Baker in the 1960's and was so named for its captivating tendency to go limp like a child's toy when held in human arms.

The ancestors of today's Ragdoll breed are a bit of a mystery. It is believed they descended from a combination of three feral cats: a white semi- longhaired cat named Josephine; a seal point male with white feet called Daddy Warbucks and a black male called Blackie.

There has been much myth surrounding the origin of the breed. Every Ragdoll ancestry must be traceable back to Josephine.

Ragdolls are extremely huggable. Estimates of adult Ragdoll size range between 8 to 12 pounds (4-5kg)for females and 12 to 16 pounds (5-8kg) for males. Ragdolls are a large cat that reaches full maturity between the ages of three to four years.

Unfortunately myths still persist in some circles and cat owners have been mislead into believing that Ragdolls do not feel pain, do not cause allergies to those allergic to cats, cannot defend themselves and do not possess normal cat instincts such as hunting. All of the above are untrue. Ragdolls should be treated with the same care and respect bestowed upon all other breeds.

When all the fallacies are stripped away, the facts remain. The Ragdoll is a gentle, good natured and loving cat that possesses a unique and quiet charm which can quickly convert the most dedicated ailurophobe into a Ragdoll fan.

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