Ragdoll, all about the world's calmest cat
The Ragdolls are one of the most appreciated and demanded breeds nowadays because of their extreme docility and sociability which make them the ideal pet for homes with children.
They are so calm that when you hold them in your arms they tend to relax their muscles until they completely drop their fluffy body in your lap, this is precisely what gives this breed its characteristic name.
Do you know everything about the Ragdoll? Today we will tell you a lot of things!
Origin of the Ragdoll
The origin of the ragdoll is located in the United States, California, in the 60s by Ann Backer, who obtained the first cats by crossing her Angora cat with a Sacred Birman.
Ann Baker believed that Josephine was such a calm cat that she relaxed when she held her, and for this characteristic, she registered this breed with the name of Ragdoll.
From Josephine's litter was born Daddy Warbucks who is believed to be the first Ragdoll and was later crossed with her sisters.
Backer started his breeding program to develop this breed together with other breeders, founding the International Ragdoll Cat Association, but gradually the breeders separated from the project.
After several years of efforts, finally, in the 1970s the breed was officially recognized as such, and it gained importance.
Physical characteristics of the Ragdoll
Size: 40 cm and a length of up to 1.20 m from the nose to the tip of the tail.
Weight: males weigh up to 9.5 kg and females usually weigh 6.5 kg.
Eyes: large and oval, they are deep blue or sapphire.
Coat: soft, medium length, silky with little undercoat.
This breed reaches its full development at three years of age, and although they are born almost white, as they grow their coat becomes darker, especially on the ears, face, feet, and tail.
Lifespan: is between 12 and 15 years.
The Ragdoll is a large cat with a long and robust body, with a developed chest, as wide as the thighs. Their head is medium-sized and runs wedge-shaped to the rounded and wide-spaced ears.
They have robust bones, a long tail, and a plush coat. They look even bigger than they are.
The character of the Ragdoll
They are known for their calm and very affectionate character.
They are very sociable, gentle, kind, peaceful, and curious, but, above all, cuddly and playful.
Their voice are very weak, they rarely meow, and has a therapeutic effect on the elderly and people with delicate health, as they transmit tranquility.
This way they improving the emotional and physical state of those around them, these qualities make them popular in gerontological or chronic disease therapies.
They are very attached to their family to which they dedicate their whole existence. It will be normal to see them continually glued to the heels of people, eager for pampering and attention, so you must be careful not to step on them by accident.
You will also have to be careful when you put him on the ground; Ragdolls have slow movements and do not know how to turn in the air to fall on their feet.
They adapt very well to any environment but they are not an animal suitable for life in freedom, and they are fully aware of it.
They are very self-confident and do not have a high level of natural suspicion, which means they can easily get into trouble!
They enjoy the company of children and pets. If you are a calm person, the Ragdoll is perfect for you.
Care of the Ragdoll
Ragdoll care requires a moderate level of maintenance; here are the basic care needs.
- The Ragdoll's coat is very special because it is kept in perfect condition almost on its own, you just have to brush it once or twice a week to remove dead hair and avoid the process that the animal ingests it when washing.
- Regular nail trimming and ear cleaning are necessary.
- Ragdolls do not exercise too much nor do they require it, so daily games and a little physical activity is necessary to keep them agile, strong, active, and with an ideal weight.
- It is also necessary to keep the litter box clean to prevent debris from sticking to their fur.
- You will only have to bathe your Ragdoll when they are really dirty. Otherwise, doing it every six months is more than enough.
- A scratching post is also useful, as ragdolls love this type of object.
Feeding
They do not need special requirements, besides a diet according to their size and physical characteristics.
They have a certain tendency to suffer from obesity, especially older cats and neutered males. For this reason, a diet based on dry food is recommended, to which you can add kibble or low-calorie food to their diet.
As they are a breed that weighs between 6 to 10 kg, they will eat more than an average kitten. Like most cats, they like to eat small amounts of food several times a day. So they may take small bites from their bowl 10 to 15 times a day.
Ragdoll Health
The ragdoll is a healthy breed in general terms.
Due to the length of their coat, and their constant grooming, digestive problems may appear due to hairballs that form in the stomach, something that can be treated with the appropriate medication.
They can also suffer from polycystic kidney disease or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, one of the most common heart diseases in cats .
Keep in mind that Ragdolls do not show signs of pain, and this can be a problem for veterinarians since without them it is more complex to detect their diseases.
If you think the ragdoll is the best breed for you and you are thinking of adopting one, go ahead! This cat breed is perfect for any type of person, especially families, their basic care The unwillingness to jump and mischief is a characteristic that makes them very loved and popular.
