The Ragdoll: The Worlds favorite Cat Breed

The Ragdoll cat has truly captured the worlds heart and has been consistently ranked the number one or most popular cat breed in the United states and globally for years! Starting in the late 20th and the early 21st centries the breed had gained more recognition globally and by the 2020s the Ragdoll has been constantly ranked number one by CFA (Cat Fanciers' Association). That comes with no suprise due to their absolutely phenomenal personalities and stunning looks. In this blog post we are going to dive into why Ragdoll cats have captivated the hearts of so many people.

"The Dogs of the Cat world"

Following their human around, enjoying games of fetch, easily being trained.... Theres no wondering why Ragdolls have been deemed the "dogs of the cat world" or "puppy-cats". Unlike many stereotypical aloof cats, the Ragdoll is extremely affectionate and a very loyal companion that forms strong bonds with their family, they often mirror the typical canine companionship that most people adore. These sweethearts often tend to bond amazing with children and other animals as well, making them the absolute perfect family pet. As long as they are by your side, Ragdolls truly adapt to most every family structure and lifestyle.

According to the cat registries, the Ragdoll has been ranked number one in the world since 2020 due to their amazing personalities. So what exactly does CFA and TICA have to say about the Ragdolls personality?

According to CFA...

"Ragdolls are loving without being demanding. as well as gentle, calm and sociable. Owners have been known to say their cats are kittens that never quite grow up; they are not only playful but very trainable and can be taught to fetch and come when called. You can expect a Ragdoll to greet you when you come home and stay close to your side. Many even sleep with their owners. Some also say they are attuned to their people’s emotional needs, making them not just devoted but supportive companions.

Moderately active, Ragdolls appreciate play sessions but do not insist upon them. They adapt easily to most environments, and do not need a lot of living space. Because it is rare for a Ragdoll to be aggressive or temperamental, they make excellent pets for children and get along well with other animals. However, their trusting nature means they should be introduced with extra care to existing cats or dogs, who might not be quite as gentle. They are not talkative cats, but may greet you with a soft mew from time to time."

According to TICA...

• The Ragdoll is bred for it’s personality, they are relaxed, generally happy, many going limp in your arms and flopping like a stuffed Ragdoll, their namesake.

• Ragdolls are outgoing cats, with a loving nature and laidback disposition.

• Ragdolls are known for their tolerant attitudes with other animals and children.

• Ragdolls are social cats and love to play.

•  Ragdolls are often compared to dogs because of their friendliness, intelligence and loyal character, often successfully taught to play fetch.

I couldn't agree more with CFA and TICA. The Ragdoll truly is the sweetest, most laid back cat breed that I have ever come across.

Physical Attributes

There are so many amazing attributes that make up this stunning breed. From their soft plush coats and striking blue eyes to their large size, the Ragdoll truly is an absolutely breathtaking breed. These sweethearts are sure to turn heads as soon as they walk into a room.

After Maine Coons, Ragdoll cats are one of the largest cat breeds and can often be described as gentle giants. Female Ragdolls can weigh anywhere from 8-15 pounds whereas males can sometimes reach 20 pounds. They have a sturdy bone structure and broad chest that contribute to their stunning looks and squeezable faces. It can take up to 4 years for Ragdolls to reach their full maturity.

They have stunning large, oval blue eyes that can range from an icey-blue to a deep purple-blue.

The Ragdoll cats coat is surely one of the most breathtaking attributes of this sweet breed. It is a semi-long coat and unlike most breeds the Ragdoll does not have an undercoat. This contributes to their soft, plush, bunny-like fur that can be less prone to matting and shedding. Although it is still recommended that they get brushed weekly to ensure they continue to be mat free. Ragdolls can also come in a variety of colors and color-point patterns that add to their beauty. This means that their coloring is darkest on their ears, face/nose, paws and tail with the rest of their body being a lighter contrast or most of the time white. The colors of a ragdoll include, blue, seal, flame, chocolate, lilac, cream and cinnamon with patterns of Tortie and Lynx possible as well as pointed patterns.

What does CFA and TICA say about the Ragdolls Physical Attributes?

According to CFA...

"This is one of the larger breeds of cat, with a broad chest, long, muscular body and sturdy boning to match. Their semi-long coat consists primarily of guard hairs and should not have a significant undercoat; this produces a soft, silky texture that is infinitely touchable. The Ragdoll head is a large, modified wedge with a slightly curving profile, and vivid blue oval-shaped eyes. Ragdolls are slow-maturing, reaching full coat color at two years, and full size and weight at four. While it is not unusual for a mature male’s weight to reach or exceed 20 pounds, females are usually smaller."

According to TICA...

"Ragdolls are a blue-eyed, pointed (darker face, legs, tail, and ears) cat. Ragdolls are lighter color on the body with definite contrast between body and point color. Ragdoll colors may be seal, blue, chocolate, lilac, red, cream, cinnamon, or fawn. They may be tortie and may have lynx stripes (tabby markings). There are three possible patterns:

Colorpoint: Dark points with no white, lighter color on the body with definite contrast between body and point color.

Mitted: Pointed with white paws (“mitts”) on the front feet, white “boots” on the hind feet, white chin & white belly stripe.

Bicolor: White chest, legs, stomach & ruff, with white inverted V on the face."

Ragdoll cats are truly one of the most stunning cat breeds, and although they look high maintance they are fairly easy to groom and only require weekly/bi-weekly brushing. They keep themselves very clean and rarely need bathing besides in extreme circumstances. Keeping up on ear cleaning and nail trims are also super important for Ragdolls just like any other cat and is recommeded at least once a month. Their docile personality makes keeping up on grooming fairly easy.

Ragdoll Health

Ragdolls are fairly healthy cats, but like all breeds they can be prone to specific health concerns. The most common health concern in Ragdolls (and most other breeds) is HCM (Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy). This is a heart condition that is typicaly genetic and causes the heart muscles to thicken, resulting in heart failure. At PurrCozi Kitties we are very diligent and test our breeding cats for over 50 genetic health issues to ensure the healthiest kittens possible. For more information about HCM checkout our past blog post "A Heart to Know: The Truth about HCM in Cats."

A Few Fun Facts about Ragdolls

1. Ragdolls are super laid back and adapt well in most any home. However they are fairly social cats that enjoy spending time with their families and other animals! They are not super fond of being left home alone for long periods of time, so if you are a familiy on the go it is recommened to have another feline companion to keep them company. We often recommened adopting a pair of Ragdolls!

2. One of the things that make a Ragdoll well, a Ragdoll is their tendency to go limp in their owners arms. This is also known as the Ragdoll flop and shows how trusting and comfortable they are around their people.

3. Ragdolls are extremely accepting cats and interact well with most any pet. While this is absolulety precious it is important to properly introduce your Ragdoll to other pets. Because of their laid-back personality, they can be extremely trusting of new friends and not be aware of any danger. Ensuring proper introductions is important for all family members.

4. When it comes to Ragdolls one size doesn't fit all. While all Ragdolls tend to have the adorable floppiness about them, each Ragdoll is unique and has their own adorable funny personality and quirk about them. They are truly filled with so much love and personality.

5. Ragdolls are extremely trainable and can pick up on commands and learn to walk on a harness!

If you have fallen in love with the Ragdoll Breed and want to add one to your home, be sure to explore out website! Checkout our upcoming litters and fill out a kitten application form or get in contact with us for more information!

Thank you so much for reading! We hope this made you fall in love with this sweet breed just as much as we have! <3

Much Love,

The PurrCozi Kitties Crew