Ragdoll: Cat Breed Profile, Characteristics & Care

The ragdoll cat is a large, affectionate feline that goes with the flow. They're ideal lap cats because they often go limp with pleasure when petted, which is how they got their name. Though among the largest cat breeds, ragdolls are gentle giants. Their big blue eyes and loud purr reveal their soft nature. They're social cats, making them ideal for busy homes with many people and pets.

Learn more about the ragdoll cat's characteristics, care, history, and more.

Ragdoll Cat Characteristics

With their easygoing personality and social temperament, the ragdoll cat is ready to befriend just about anyone. Prepare your lap for extended cuddling sessions where they'll flop like a mop across your legs and expect enthusiastic belly rubs.

Ragdolls don't need a lot of exercise or rambunctious playtime, but snuggle time is essential. They want to be near their families and crave their humans' attention.

They make great, loving companions for adults and respectful children. With proper introductions, they can get along with other pets in the house as well.

History of the Ragdoll Cat

Ragdoll cats were developed in California in the 1960s by Ann Baker. She wanted to create a beautiful cat with a loving personality. She started by breeding a domestic long-haired, white cat of unknown origin named Josephine with other cats she either owned or found.

Though it took a few generations, Baker eventually produced the first cats she called ragdolls. These cats were appreciated for their non-matting fur, large size, and outgoing personalities.

The Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) began registering ragdoll cats in 1993. Ragdolls are consistently one of the most popular cat breeds registered by the CFA.

Ragdoll Cat Care

Ragdoll cats are fairly easy to care for, not requiring more exercise or grooming than the average cat. As always, there are certain care routines you'll want to implement to keep your ragdoll happy and healthy.

Exercise

Ragdolls are moderately energetic, social cats. They enjoy regular playtime using wands or other interactive cat toys.

Don’t just leave toys around for your kitty, though, as it's best to get up and play together. This will help keep your cat’s weight down, avoid behavior concerns caused by boredom, and build bonds within the family.

To keep them mentally stimulated, use a puzzle feeder for their daily meals.

Shedding

Because ragdolls don’t have an undercoat, the amount of shedding and dander production is lower than that of heavier-coated breeds.

However, many people are still allergic to saliva and skin secretions from cats, and ragdolls produce these allergens, so they are not considered hypoallergenic.

Ragdoll cats develop thicker coats in the winter. When it sheds in the spring, they will require extra grooming to prevent tangles and excessive shedding.

Grooming

The ragdoll cat has a silky single coat (meaning there is no under-layer of fur). It’s meant to be lower-matting than other medium- to long-haired cat coats. This breed still benefits from brushing at least twice a week to help avoid tangles.

Like all other cats, ragdolls also need nail trims. Keep in mind that your cat will probably want to sharpen their claws even more than normal after a pedicure, so be sure to provide good scratching posts.

Brushing your cat’s teeth daily or several times a week can help support their oral health, but only use a cat-specific toothpaste.

You can also check inside your cat’s ears to look for debris or signs of infection. Clean the ears with a cat ear cleaner if necessary, and talk to your vet if it looks like there’s inflammation, irritation, or an infection that needs to be treated.  

Common Health Problems

The average ragdoll cat lives between 12 and 17 years. Like many large breed cats, ragdoll cats are prone to some health conditions, including:

• Weight issues: While chubby cats might be cute, they’re not healthy. Ragdolls that are overweight or obese are prone to health issues, such as arthritis and diabetes. It's important to keep your eye on a ragdoll's weight; they are big cats to begin with and their fluffy fur may hide weight gain.
• Bladder stones: These are very painful for cats, and symptoms can include blood in the urine. Other signs include vocalizing (crying) in the litter box, straining to urinate, or urinating outside the litter box. You can help your kitty avoid bladder stones and other urinary infections by encouraging them to drink lots of fresh water and scheduling regular checkups with their veterinarian.
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: HCM is a heart disease that causes thickening of the heart muscle. An echocardiogram can help diagnose the problem but only after the cat has developed HCM. Genetic testing can also help breeders avoid breeding cats with HCM, but it’s always a risk, and there is no cure once a cat develops HCM.

Appearance

The big, beautiful ragdoll cat does not reach their full size, about 15 pounds on average, until about 4 years of age.

Purebred ragdoll kittens are born solid white due to a genetic mutation. Their coats begin to develop colors and patterns around 2 months of age but don't fully develop their coloration for about two years. 

Ragdolls are considered a "pointed breed," meaning their body is lighter colored than the points (face, ears, legs, and tail).

The ragdoll's semi-long coat is silky-soft and often compared to rabbit fur. Their fur is somewhat longer and thicker around the neck, giving the appearance of a mane.

Their ears are relatively small and slightly rounded. Their eyes are blue.

These large cats are not overly muscled; they are rather soft and quite flexible.

Diet and Nutrition

Work with your vet to develop a diet appropriate for your ragdoll cat’s age and activity level. Wet or canned foods help provide moisture that can help prevent urinary issues.

Since weight issues are a problem for ragdolls, be sure to ration the food, and don’t leave it out in your cat's bowl all day. Leaving food out could lead to overeating and obesity, a risk factor for diabetes in cats.

Try to limit treats to no more than 10% of their daily calories. Giving your cat regular play is also important for weight management.

Where to Adopt or Buy a Ragdoll Cat

If you are purchasing a ragdoll kitten from a breeder, expect to pay anywhere from $400 to $2,500. Purebred ragdoll cats are especially expensive to buy.

Take the time to get to know the breeder and the breed before making your purchase. The breeder can also help you get to know the breed and ensure that a ragdoll cat is right for you.

You can start with The Cat Fanciers' Association and The International Cat Association to perform breeder referral searches.

If you prefer to adopt from a rescue organization, check out local adoption venues. You may be lucky enough to find a ragdoll cat waiting for a new home.

Here are resources to get you started:

• The Cat Fanciers' Association
• The International Cat Association
• Petfinder
• Ragdoll Rescue USA/International

Types of Ragdoll Cats

According to the Ragdoll Fanciers Club, there are five types of ragdoll coat patterns. This includes:

• Colorpoint: Colorpoint is the classic pointed pattern. These ragdolls have darker colors on their chins, chests, noses, and paw pads.
• Bicolor: Bicolor ragdolls typically have the most white on them. This includes white legs, a white abdomen, and white backs. They also have a white inverted V on their face.
• Mitted: Mitted ragdolls have white fur on their chin, stomach, and paws.
• Lynx point: Lynx points are similar in appearance to colorpoint ragdolls. However, they have tabby markings on their face.
• Tortie point: Tortie point ragdolls are calico in color, with orange, cream, and black coloring in pointed areas like the ears, legs, and tails.

Ragdoll Cat Overview

If you love the idea of a soft, docile, cuddly cat, then the ragdoll would make a wonderful addition to your household. Ragdoll cats get along with friendly people of all ages and other pets, too. They enjoy playing, but they are equally happy to just curl up and snuggle. These special cats are as beautiful as they are personable, so they are pretty much purrfect.

Pros of Ragdoll Cats

• Social, outgoing, and great for families
• Affectionate and cuddly
• Playful but not high energy
  

Cons of Ragdoll Cats

• Not hypoallergenic
• Prone to urinary and heart issues
• Purebred ragdolls are expensive to buy
  

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More Cat Breeds and Further Research

If you’re interested in similar breeds to the ragdoll cat, check out:

• Siberian
• Norwegian Forest Cat
• Birman

Otherwise, check out all of our other cat breed profiles.