Ragdolls

src:wikipedia. A blue colorpoint Ragdoll.

Just as the name implies, Ragdolls are known as mellow, easy-going, laid-back cats. They will lie in your arms limp like a rag doll, and they tolerate the sometimes awkward ways that children carry them around. You can  even dress them in costume if that is your preference.
 
All Ragdolls are blue-eyed. The first Ragdoll was owned by the now deceased Ann Baker of Riverside, California. The foundation cat for this breed, a white feral named Josephine was a cat owned by Ann’s neighbor. Josephine mated with her son Daddy War Bucks and the litter produced the first Ragdoll, a bicolor named Fugianna. Several cats in the neighborhood were also mated with Josephine. Ann Baker took some of those cats and put them back for Daddy Warbucks to mate with.

Ragdolls are cats with points. This means that their ears and tails hold darker colors then their regular coat. Their coat is listed as semi-long-hair. Unlike the Persian that has a double coat (that easily mats) the Ragdoll’s hair stays mat-free.

The Ragdoll is well-balanced, with a plumed tail and large intensely blue eyes. With their dark points of color and neutral body-tone they do resemble a Siamese in pattern only, but there the resemblance ends.

Ragdolls have four recognized coat patterns; pointed, mitted, bi-color and van. These patterns come in the following colors seal, blue, chocolate, lilac, red, and cream.  All kittens are born pure white.

Mary Anne Miller is a free lance writer, website content provider and member of The Cat Writers’ Association.