Ragdoll
Ragdoll Cat Breed Profile
| Weight | 10-22 lbs (4.5-10 kg) |
| Origin | USA |
| Color | Black, brown, red; multi-colored |
| Fur | Medium length, silky |
| Lifespan | 10-15 years |
| Personality | Likes learning tricks, polite, playful, affectionate |
| Energy |  |
| Playful |  |
| Independent |  |
| Meowing | |
| Shedding | |
Breed Characteristics
The Ragdoll is a very gentle, large cat with brilliant, light blue eyes. They have one particularly special characteristic: when you lift up a Ragdoll cat, it will let its body go limp like a ragdoll. That’s where the name came from.
Personality and Temperament
The Ragdoll is one of the few cats that loves to travel! For a cat, that’s really unusual and impressive. So if you travel a lot and don’t want to leave your cat alone, a Ragdoll would be perfect for you.
Ragdolls are very polite cats that are never clingy but that like to always be close by. They greet their humans at the door and like to hop up into your lap for a pet.
Keeping Them Happy
Ragdolls make good house cats and love sitting in a comfy place by the window. They also like to cuddle up in bed or on the sofa. Climbing and jumping are not their passions, so you won’t often see them on high shelves or the top of a cat tree like other cats, such as the Norwegian Forest Cat or the Bengal.
The first characteristic you’d probably notice about a Ragdoll is its gentle manner, but that doesn’t mean that they just sit around being lazy all day. They’re very intelligent and like learning tricks e.g. coming when called or fetching toys.
Ragdolls get on well with other cats and dogs.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Polite
- Affectionate, cuddly
- Friendly
- Very intelligent
- Learns tricks
- Gets along well with other pets
Cons
- Requires a lot of grooming
- Sheds a lot
Popular Cat Breed
In the USA, the Ragdoll is the most popular cat of them all! The Cat Fanciers' Association (an American cat breeding association) counts the number of cats registered for each breed every year. In 2023, the Ragdoll landed in first place. However, it's not the first time it has achieved such a high ranking. It's the fifth time in a row and in previous years it was always in the top 5.
Appearance
Together with the Maine Coon and the Norwegian Forest Cat, the Ragdoll is one of the largest and heaviest cats. Their large blue eyes are a particular highlight. Their fur is half-length (but they don’t shed a lot!) and comes in seal (black), blue (blue-gray), chocolate (dark brown), lilac (lavender, purple-gray), red or cream. Their fur may have van, bicolor, colorpoint or mitted markings.
History
The Ragdoll dates back to a long-haired cat called Josephine that lived in 1960s California (USA).
Fun Facts
Ragdoll kittens are born with white coats. Their fur coloring develops at around 8-10 weeks. It only finishes changing after a few years.
Comparable Breeds
Cats: Pros and Cons
Checklist "Before Buying"
Cat Hair Allergy
How Much Does a Cat Cost per Month?
Costs for Food
Costs for Vet Treatments
Basic Kit for Your Cat
Cat Toys
