Ragdolls

History

 

Ragdolls were developed in the 1960’s by Ann Baker; a breeder in Riverside California. Ann bred Josephine, a white angora female cat to her neighbours cat which appeared to be a Birman. The offspring had unique temperament traits that were very endearing. By selecting individuals with the look, temperament and criteria she wanted for her breeding program, she laid the roadmap for the Ragdoll breed. There were others who were instrumental in creating even greater opportunities for others to expand and improve the gene pool and breed standards. Denny and Laura Dayton were among the  first breeders, besides Ann,  who helped the breed continue to grow into what it is today, one of the most popular cat breeds in TICA and CFA.

To read more about Ragdoll History you can follow this link: https://ragdollhistoricalsociety.net/ragdoll-history-the-beginning/

 

Ann Baker with some of her early Ragdolls                                                                            Denny and Laura Dayton with their Blossom Time Ragdolls 

 

 

Here is TICA's information about the Ragdoll breed: https://tica.org/breeds/browse-all-breeds?view=article&id=1291:the-ragdoll-breed&catid=48

For those curious about how Cat Show Judges score a Ragdoll based on a points system here is the reference:

https://tica.org/images/Breed-Seminars/01.23.2017_Update_SHOW_ONLY_Ragdoll_Breed_Seminar.pdf

Personality & Temperament 

Ragdolls are a laid-back cat with captivating blue eyes. The Ragdoll is a pointed breed, which means that the body is lighter in color than the points (the face, legs, tail and ears). The Ragdoll cat is carefully bred to produce large affectionate animals in three patterns, two with white (mitted and bicolor) and one with no white (color point). The ideal Ragdoll is a well balanced cat, with no extreme features. Altered males will usually top the scale at 15-20 + pounds. Females are proportionately smaller and usually weigh between 10-15 pounds at maturity. Ragdolls are slow-maturing, reaching full coat color at 2 years of age and full size and weight at 4.


Ragdoll cats tend to be more interested in humans than some breeds of cats. They are known to run to greet you at the door, follow you from room to room, flop on you, sleep with you, and generally choose to be where you are. Many Ragdolls have been taught to come when called and play fetch. They are gentle cats, and usually play without extending their claws. Ragdolls tend to be floor cats, not jumpers. The Ragdoll’s semi long coat is plush and silky, and requires minimal grooming to keep it looking its best. They should be combed with a steel comb on a regular basis to find and remove any loose hair or tangles. Quality coats consist mainly of long, soft guard hairs. Ragdolls, just like all breeds of cats, will shed, usually with the change of seasons. The absence of the thick, dense, insulating undercoats results in reduced shedding and matting. In all, Ragdolls are well behaved, and easy to care for – perfect for our modern, busy, lifestyles.


Are Ragdolls Hypoallergenic?

While Ragdolls don't shed as much as other cat breeds, unfortunately they are not hypoallergenic. 

The good news is Ragdolls don't have an "undercoat" which is one of the two things an allergy sufferer can be allergic to. Pet Dander is microscopic pieces of cat skin that will build up in the undercoat and can become airborne and spread throughout the whole house if left unchecked.

Pets are considered to be hypoallergenic if they produce fewer allergens than other animals, including dander.

This is why there are rumours that Ragdolls are hypoallergenic... they shed less therefore, less hair and dander.  

However, most people who are allergic to cats aren’t allergic to their dander. They’re actually affected by the protein Fel D1, which is present in a cat’s saliva. When a feline licks her fur, the dried saliva can become airborne, enabling you to breathe it in.

Here are some tips to help decrease shedding of hair and dander and therefore lead to less allergy flare ups:

  • Brush your cat twice a week 
  • Bathe your cat every 6-8 weeks (we can provide tips on how to do this)
  • Keep your cat out of your bedroom. If your Ragdoll regularly sleeps on your bed, allergens can easily become trapped in the blankets and pillows. 
  • Invest in a vacuum that has a micro-filtration device, such as a HEPA filter. This will help to reduce the number of allergens in the air.
  • Buy an air purifier with a HEPA filter to remove cat allergens from the air.

Colors & Patterns

We genetically color and health test our breeders, so we are 100% sure of their coloring and accurately identify the colors and patterns of their kittens a few days after they're born. Believe it or not, the 15 Ragdoll color and pattern combinations shown below are in no way a conclusive list and we will continue updating our information as it becomes available.

Read on to learn more about Ragdoll colors, patterns, and some of the Ragdoll varieties:

Ragdoll Colors

 

  • Seal = a very deep cool-toned brown

  • Blue = steel gray (dilute of seal)

  • Flame / Red = orange

  • Cream = light orange (dilute of flame)

  • Chocolate = light brown / milk chocolate

  • Lilac = lighter and warmer gray (dilute of chocolate)

  • Cinnamon = cherry or reddish brown

  • Fawn = beige (dilute of cinnamon)

 

Ragdoll Patterns 

 

There are 3 main patterns: Colorpoint, Mitted & Bicolor 

 

Color point Ragdolls have the classic pointed markings with no white anywhere in their coat.

 

Mitted Ragdolls have white feet in the front and white boots that go all the way up and around the hock in the back, a white chin and belly stripe. Mitted Ragdolls may have a blaze, star or hourglass shaped patch of white on their forehead and nose.

 

Bi-color Ragdolls have more white; all four paws, their underbodies, chest, and an upside down ‘V’ marking on their faces are white. They may have a splash or two of white on their backs. Only their tails, ears, and the outer part of their masks show the darker markings.

Bicolor variations:

  • High-Mitted = mostly white with an inverted "v" mask on face and colors on points (ears and tail), back pad, and may have some color or spots on feet/legs

  • True Bicolor = mostly white with an inverted "v" mask on face and colors on points (ears and tail) and back pad

  • Mid-High White = mostly white with an inverted "v" mask on face and point colors on points (ears and tail), a spotted or pony pattern back pad that features more white

  • Van = the most most white with an inverted "v" mask on face, but usually it's higher on the head / face and colors on points only (ears and tail), entire back is pure or near-pure white. This pattern is the highest white possible for Ragdolls.

 

Ragdoll Overlays

 

  • Lynx (Tabby) - this is striping and can be identified by having white eyeliner, striping on face and body and a white liner on the inside of the ears

  • Tortie - Two colors and one of them is cream or flame. Torties are females.

  • Torbie - Two colors (one is cream or flame) with lynx striping. Torbies are females.

 

 

For more details about Ragdoll colors and patters check out the links below:

http://www.seregiontica.org/Colors/intro.htm

https://rfwclub.org/Gcolor.htm

http://www.ragdollinternational.org/patscolors.shtml

https://www.tbrcc.co.uk/colour-pattern-predictor/

https://www.floppycats.com/ragdoll-cat-colors-patterns.html

http://www.ragdolls.cz/en/about-breed-colors.html

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3073564/

 

 

 Genetic Health

 

At Pleasantdoll Ragdolls we do not cut corners when it comes to our cats long-term health. Our kittens and cats come first, plain and simple. We use the following companies to genetically tests our cats/kittens:

Neogen's GeneSeek Laboratory

Optimal Selection by Wisdom Panel 

 

Our Ragdolls have all been tested and found negative for the following DNA genetic diseases:

 

PKD1 - Polycystic Kidney Disease is a disease in which a large number of fluid filled cysts form in the kidneys. These cysts are present from birth in affected cats. They start off very small, gradually increasing in size until they affect the surrounding normal kidney tissue, causing kidney failure and death.


HCM: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy is the most common cardiac disease in cats. Affected cats are at risk of sudden cardiac death due to defects that pr oduce increased left ventricular heart muscle thickness. In Ragdolls, the condition is inherited due to breed specific mutations in the cardiac myosin binding protein C gene (MYBPC3). They will also pass this defective gene on to their offspring.

 

Fe LV - Feline Leukemia Virus adversely affects a cat's body in many ways. It is the most common cause of cancer cats, may cause various blood disorders, and may lead to a state of immune deficiency that hinders a cat's ability to protect itself against other infections. Because of this, common bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi that usually do not affect healthy cats can cause severe illness in Fe LV infected cats. These secondary infections are responsible for many of the diseases associated with Fe LV.

 

FIV - Feline Immune Deficiency Virus (Feline AIDS) attacks the immune system, leaving the cat vulnerable to many other infections. Although cats infected with FIV may appear normal for years, they eventually suffer from this immune deficiency, which allows normally harmless bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi found in the everyday environment to potentially cause severe illnesses. The median survival time for a cat diagnosed with FIVis approximately five years.

 

For more information about genetic health and research visit:

 

Feline Leukemia Virus Vaccination:

https://vcacanada.com/know-your-pet/feline-leukemia-virus-vaccination 

 

Feline Genetics: Clinical Applications and Genetic Testing

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3073564/

 

UC Davis Genetic Research:

https://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/services/cat/HCM.php

 

Vet Street:

http://www.vetstreet.com/cats/ragdoll

 

PetMD:

https://www.petmd.com/

  

Pet Insurance

https://www.trupanion.com/en-ca/breeder/offer

 

Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants for Cats

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/cats-plant-list

 

Info, Genetics, Toys and more... 

https://www.floppycats.com/

 

 

All of our cats and kittens are tested and found negative for all the above diseases and are up to date on all their appropriate vaccines, and free of parasites

 

Titles and Pricing

 

Pricing on Ragdolls usually depends on type, applicable markings and bloodlines distinguished by titles which are categorized as follows: Grand Champion (GC), National Regional winning parentage (NW or RW) or of Distinguished Merit parentage (DM). The DM title is achieved by the dam (mother) having produced five grand champion/premier (alter) or DM offspring, or sire (father) having produced fifteen  grand champion/ premier or DM offspring. Usually breeders make kittens available between 12-16 weeks of age. After 12 weeks, kittens have had their basic inoculations and developed the physical and social stability needed for a new environment, showing, or being transported by air. Keeping such a rare treasure indoors, neutering or spaying and providing acceptable surfaces (e.g. scratching posts) for the natural behavior of scratching( all reputable breeders and Cat Associations disapprove of declawing or tendonectomy surgery) are essential elements for maintaining a healthy, long and joyful life.

Meet Our Kings & Queens

 

Links & Other Info

Nutritional Supplements 

“To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art.” – La Rochefoucald

We are firm believers that what you eat has a huge impact on your life. The same is true for all living things, including our precious fur babies. 

It's true that it takes a little more effort (and money) but there's no greater blessing than seeing those we care so much about healthy and thriving! 

At Pleasantdolls, we are constantly researching and re-evaluating to make sure we're providing everything our kittens & cats need to have the best 

start to life and keep it that way for many, many years to come!

We do this by feeding a raw meat diet as well as supplementing with one of the best nutritional powdered supplements available. NuVet ia a high-quality supplement

that incorporates a precise formula of antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, herbs and more. If you'd like to read more about and give it a try

for your own fur babies follow this link: http://www.nuvet.com/708279

 

We also love The Breeders Cupboard for supplies and other supplements! 

https://thebreederscupboard.ca/collections/our-feline-collection

Great Cat Toy Ideas 

 

Info, Genetics, Toys and more... 

https://www.floppycats.com/

 

 Cat Toys:

https://www.thehappycatsite.com/best-toys-for-ragdoll-cats/

 

http://www.dabird.com/toylist