Coexistence is important that you have with your new friend. Before considering the acquisition of a cat of the breed "Ragdoll cat" you know certain factors. You must take into account their character, their need for exercise, their interaction with other pets, their care and if you have small children, their level of tolerance towards them.

The Ragdoll cat He is originally from California, United States. At the beginning of the Decade of 1960, Ann Baker, a breeder of persian cats, a white cat began to cross, semi-wild and looking like Turkish Angora cat call Josephine with several street cats. Josephine gave birth, among others, to two cats named Buckwheat and Fugianna.

They were large and docile in temperament and tended to relax completely when picked up., becoming real "Ragdolls".

Two males were added to the breeding program of the Mrs. Barker: Blackie, a black guy looking like Burmese cat, and Daddy Warbucks, dark in color and with white tips of the legs. These five cats interbred and gave rise to the breed Ragdoll as we know it today.

Aware that he had a new breed of cat on his hands, Ann Baker decided not to have her recognized by feline associations and, Instead, chose to register the trademark Ragdoll and create your own record, the International Ragdoll Cat Association (IRCA), in 1971. At the same time, prohibited anyone from using the name Ragdoll, breed these cats outside the strict conditions imposed to preserve the purity of the breed or register them with another feline association.

Although the eccentric claims of Ann Baker about what Josephine was genetically altered by aliens in a car accident are not credible, it seems likely that he had a unique genetic makeup, probably a natural genetic mutation, which was later passed on to their offspring.

The eccentricities of Ann Baker sparked dissension among other breeders of the Ragdoll cat, especially because of the high level of inbreeding caused by the strict restrictions imposed by. In 1975, Denny and Laura Dayton they were among the first to distance themselves from the breed and attempt to give it a legitimate existence under the umbrella of recognized feline associations. They drew up the standard that was used later when it was recognized by the Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFé) in 1991 and for the American Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) in 1993.

In the meantime, the Ragdoll had arrived in Britain already in 1981, when breeders Pat Brownsell and Lulu Rowley they imported the first specimens and began to breed this cat that little by little would conquer British cat lovers. A few years later, in 1986, made its appearance in France.

In the news, the Ragdoll is recognized by most major national and international feline associations: is the case, in particular, of the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) British, of the Livre Officiel des Origines Félines (LOOF) French, of the International Cat Association (TICA) and of the World Cat Federation (WCF).

Well established in both North America and Europe, and its success is undeniable. In United States, it is one of the most popular breeds in terms of number of registrations in the CFA, and even ranked first in 2018. In the United Kingdom, has firmly established itself in second place since 2010; with about 3.000 kittens registered every year, it only represents around the 15% of the country's cat population.

It is also one of the five most popular cat breeds in France., and its growth is dazzling: While in 2003 less than 100 specimens in the LOOF, in 2010 more than 1.000 and in 2019 more than 2.600, surpassing the Persian for the first time. So, represents almost the 6% of births registered in the country.

The Ragdoll it is one of the largest breeds of domestic cats, but it grows slowly and in fits and starts, and does not reach maturity until four years.

Has a kind of body long and mighty. His body is wide and imposing, with a solid bone structure and supported by medium-sized muscular legs that end in legs round and wide. The tail is quite long and tapers slightly towards the tip.

The head forms an equilateral triangle viewed from the front. Profile, the rounded forehead is prolonged with a slide-shaped depression at the nose. The ears are size medium, point forward and end in a rounded shape. The eyes they are big, oval and of an intense blue color that rarely leaves you indifferent.

The fur of the Ragdoll, composed of a sparse undercoat and a medium length topcoat, it is silky and close to the body. Tends to elongate in winter and is densest in the back of the body, and the queue is particularly crowded. It also, some dogs have a well-developed mane.

The fur tends to be colourpoint (a light color and dark tips), but it can also be gloved or bicolor. In United States, the CFA (Cat Fanciers’ Association) also allows pattern van, or Seychelles, which is a white individual with a colored tail and head, and spots on the body. The colors allowed by the standards of the different organizations that recognize the breed are the seal, the blue, chocolate, the lilac, red and cream. These colors can be found in tortoiseshell patterns (black and Red) or tabby (striped), which gives rise to a large number of possible combinations and, Therefore, to as many cats with different appearances.

Last, the sexual dimorphism it is very marked, being the male much more imposing than the female.

• Male height: Of 30 to 35 cm.
• Female height: 28-32 cm.
• Male weight: 5-9 kg
• female weight: 4-7 kg

The breed standards are documents established by official bodies that list the conditions that a dog must meet. Ragdoll to be fully recognized as belonging to the race:

• Standard LOOF (Livre Officiel des Origines Félines)
• Standard AFC (Association Féline Canadienne)
• Standard TICA (The International Cat Association)
• Standard CFA (The Cat Fanciers’ Association)
• Standard GCCF (The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy)

Docile and devoted, the Ragdoll he loves the company of his family and follows them around the house, greeting them at the door when they arrive. He is a gentle and loving companion, who just wants to get into his master's lap to warm him up and relax him with a lot of purring after a hard day's work.

Very sociable, he has no problem greeting guests. If they take it in their arms, he behaves as he would with his masters: relax all your muscles, which reminds us why it's called "Ragdoll".

Its quiet character, relaxed and easygoing makes it an excellent choice for a cat breed with children, especially if they have learned to interact with an animal. But even if they are not treated with respect, for example, if they are carried around the house for a long time, it is very rare that they remove their claws. And if there is a cat that is willing to be dressed like a doll and then carried in a stroller, it's the ragdoll. Of course, make sure that the child does not cross the line and abuse their indulgent nature.

It is not a problem of coexistence with other dogs, as long as they don't chase you around the house. It can even live with small rodents or fish, but it is advisable not to tempt the devil: the Ragdoll still a feline, and his hunting instincts can resurface at any moment.

Its flexible and calm personality makes it a cat that adapts well to changes and is capable of living in almost any environment. A move with a cat goes much better if it is a Ragdoll that a race that does not share this quality. The owner can also perfectly consider taking his cat on vacation, without fear that your partner will be completely disoriented and not enjoy the change of scenery. It is also possible to take your cat around your holiday destination on a leash, since it is something that this breed accepts very well.

Despite its impressive size, the Ragdoll adapts perfectly to life in a flat, as long as you have everything you need: the warmth and comfort of a cozy home, the affection of his family and a little space to play. Even if you live in a house and have free access to the outside, it's more of an indoor cat: rarely goes outside to explore the garden or surroundings.

On the other hand, his closeness to humans and his patience make him suitable for friendship with anyone, and turn you into a excellent therapy cat. His presence and willingness to interact with people also means that he can be a real comfort to his owner when he is going through a difficult time., and he knows that he has a support in him that he can trust in those circumstances. On the other hand, It is not for someone who likes to be alone and does not want a companion who is a little "clingy", who prefers to opt for a more independent breed.

The Ragdoll is moderately active, but enjoy chasing a cloth mouse, especially because he retains a playful side throughout his life. They are also able to learn some tricks, especially if the owner uses positive reinforcement techniques with praise and treats. It also, if given the opportunity, they love to play fetch for an object thrown by its owner, how would a dog. But don't expect him to constantly jump on the kitchen table or climb on furniture.: prefers to run rather than jump and does not venture beyond the living room sofa or bed. Like this, unlike most of his peers, does not seek a high position to observe its surroundings from above, but choose a place that facilitates contact with your family.

It also, against a legend, not insensitive to pain, and reacts like any other cat if someone steps on its tail: cries out in pain and then walks away with a reproachful look at the offender.

Last, has a soft and musical voice, but he rarely uses it, except when you order your food.

"Ragdoll cat"

The Ragdoll cat it is a fairly robust breed with few genetic predispositions.

But, you are not immune to certain health problems. Among the possible risks, the most common are:

• The feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a growth of heart tissue that can have serious consequences. But, from 2007 there is a DNA test to detect the responsible gene, so serious breeders of Ragdoll have taken all precautions to minimize this risk;
• Bladder lithiasis, that is to say, stone formation in the bladder;
• The urolitiasis, what is stone formation in the urethra.

These last two conditions can cause the cat to be unable to urinate, a serious situation that requires the urgent intervention of the veterinarian.

Of 12 to 15 years

The Ragdoll it is a breed of cat that is easy to care for: the brushed once a week removes dead hairs and knots that may form. This session is usually appreciated by the receiver, who enjoys the attention and caresses he receives.

Although they do not shed excessively (especially because its undercoat is not very abundant), it is advisable to increase the frequency of grooming sessions during their shedding periods, in autumn and spring.

The teeth, the eyes and ears should also be checked and maintained once a week to make sure they are clean and free of infection.

It also, depending on wear and tear and how often your dog uses the scratching post, its claws need to be trimmed more or less frequently.

Last, keep in mind that, given its size, a large litter box is necessary so that she can turn over without difficulty.

The Ragdoll it does not pose any difficulties in terms of feeding and adapts very well to industrial cat foods available on the market. But, food must be of good quality, adapted to your age and activity level, to provide you with everything you need to stay healthy.

Kittens of this breed can experience large growth spurts, so it is important that they always have food at their disposal to develop properly. This is especially true as they are capable of self-regulation., so the risk of being overweight is very limited. This is not a sign of obesity, but a normal morphological characteristic of the breed.

Adults are also capable of self-regulation and can also have food at all times without this generally posing a problem.

But, your dog's weight should be monitored regularly and a veterinarian should be consulted in the event of a pronounced increase.

The price of a kitten Ragdoll round the 1100 euros on average, whether it is a male or a female.

But, this stocking hides a fairly wide range of prices, since it goes from the 600 euros of the cats with the characteristics furthest from the standard up to almost 3.000 euros of the specimens belonging to a prestigious lineage and destined for their physical attributes to shine in feline exhibitions.

Since the Ragdoll hangs limply when caught and lets everything hang over him, some researchers assumed the breed has a lower sense of pain than other cats. For some time, experiments were done on the poor animals. It is even believed that the founder of the breed, Ann Baker, made this claim to better market his breed. At the end, the tests led to the conclusion that there are no differences with other cats.

Their funny and clumsy character makes cats Ragdoll be real stars on the internet. There is hardly a compilation of "funny cat videos" in which this breed does not appear.. The Ragdolls most famous on Instagram are the three cats Lola, Nina and Olan, whose day to day you can follow under the name of @ladylolathecat. The three cats live with their owner in a floating house and delight 139.000 subscribers almost daily with funny videos and images.

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