About The Breed
“What greater gift than the love of a cat?”
The Ragdoll is a large affectionate cat , With semi-longhair coat which has a soft rabbit-like texture and mesmerising blue eyes. They are second largest in the cat fancy after the Main Coon. Ragdolls prefer to be near people as much as possible and enjoyed being doted on. Ragdolls are also a great breed for children. Many don’t mind being hauled around and being dressed up They are often compared to dogs because of their friendliness and intelligence and have even been taught to play fetch.
Ann Baker of Riverside, California developed the Ragdoll breed in the early 1960’s. A pure white Angora cat, Josephine, a Seal Point Mitted type male, Daddy Warbucks, and a black cat, Blackie, believed to be of domestic cat descent were used to create the Ragdoll breed. Ann insisted Josephine’s genes were altered after being hit by a car as her kittens born after the accident had interactive, loving personalities and would go limp in your arms, earning the “Ragdoll” name.
Sura Ragdolls Colours & Patterns
Sura Ragdolls can breed the following colours of Ragdolls:
- Seal is a very dark brown.
- Blue Blue is a medium to light grey. This could also be described as a blue-grey. It is delicate and gorgeous. They have a gentle wash of their point colour over their back.
- Chocolate Chocolate Ragdoll coats range from light brown to dark, chocolate brown.
- Lilac Lilac is similar to blue, however, it is much lighter and has a pink hue. It can be described as a very light gray.
- Red Ragdolls have a fiery orange colour to their coats.
- Cream Cream is a similar colour to red although it is much lighter. It is somewhere between a light brown and a red.
As well as the colour of their points, we can breed different patterns within them. These are:
- Tortie Cream added to colouring (blue, seal, chocolate & lilac)
- Tabby means that they are “striped” in colour. They have white “eyeliner” around the eyes and rings around the tail. (blue, seal, chocolate & lilac)
- Colorpoint Dark points with no white, lighter colour on the body with definite contrast between body and point colour.
- Mitted A mitted cat has white on its paw tip, white on its rear legs and a white chin and chest. The ears and tail remain coloured as in the colourpoint.
- Bicolour cats have white paw tips, white on their rear legs and white on their chin and chest. Bicolour cats have a white inverted “V” on the lower part of the face. A bicolour ragdoll’s body may be mostly white with splashes of colour or with solid colour covering the body.
Facts about Ragdolls
Temperament:
Ragdolls are well known for their affectionate and placid nature, affectionate without being demanding.
Ragdolls have an almost dog-like devotion to their owners. Some people also say they are attuned to emotional needs, a characteristic that makes them a perfect companion animal. They love to be where you are, they follow you around, sit on your desk while you work on your computer, will be waiting for you at the door when you arrive home and love to snuggle up with you in bed.
Size:
Males 6-9kg, Females 5-7kg
Ragdolls are not fully mature till the age of 3, at this time they will reach their full size and develop all their coat colour.
Life Expectancy:
The average age of a Ragdoll is 13-15 years. Many Ragdolls live to their mid to high teens, however, life expectancy varies on other factors such as genetics and care.
Grooming:
The Ragdoll’s semi-long coat is plush and soft, and like other longhaired breeds, requires grooming to keep it looking its best. They should be combed regularly (at least a few times per week) to find and remove any loose hair or tangles. You should use a wide-toothed comb to remove any tangles and prevent matting.
Concentrate on grooming your Ragdoll more often during the change of seasons particularly from Winter to Summer, as they lose their winter coat. Ragdolls will shed their coat but don’t appear to moult as much as some other semi-long hair breeds.
Ragdolls have a single coat without an undercoat. This can make them better suited to some people with allergies, though they are not completely hypoallergenic. The lack of undercoat also makes shedding more manageable.
Exercise & Training:
Ragdolls are playful animals who will enjoy having toys left out for them. The breed doesn’t require a lot of extras in the way of exercise.
You can expect them to spend a lot of time lying around, with short bursts of play and activity between frequent naps.
Ragdolls are typically easy to train, They can learn to come when called, to retrieve toys.
