FANCY FELINE
The super affectionate Ragdoll loves people and will go completely limp when held. This breed's gentle personality makes it the best apartment cat ever.
Ragdoll
the Ragdoll gets its name from a unique trait—the tendency to go limp in the arms of whoever’s carrying it. Sweet, gentle and affectionate, this feline is one of the best companion cats to have around. The
Ragdoll was developed by breeder, Ann Baker, in the 1960s. She bred Josephine, a domestic long-haired cat sporting seal markings with other long-haired cats of unknown ancestry. Ann specifically picked cats that were gentle, placid, large and with long Himalayan-patterned coats. Thus, the Ragdoll was born.
Though big in size, these felines have a small voice, making them excellent apartment cats. They are very quiet and will give out almost "polite" meows for attention.
The Ragdoll will hop onto laps, follow its paw-rent around from room to room and greet anybody it sees. These kitties love being handled. They like to play with toys, join in on family activities and will welcome strangers enthusiastically. These cats prefer to stay low to the ground rather than high up so that they can be next to you.
Highly intelligent, Ragdolls will respond when called and can play fetch. They can also be trained to walk on leash. However, they are not meant to be outdoor cats. Ragdolls do not possess fighting instincts like other cat breeds because of their mellow disposition. They would not be able to defend themselves should the occasion arise. Even when annoyed, they tend to walk away rather than retaliate. Ragdolls are
also known for not extending their claws during play, making them excellent cats to have around children.
Ragdolls are slow-maturing cats and are born white. By the time they are 10 days old, their points and patterns begin to show; their colours will darken as they grow older. Ragdolls come in four patterns— bi-colour, van, mitted and colour-point—and six colours: seal, blue, chocolate, lilac, red, and cream. Their points may be solid, lynx, tortoiseshell, or tortoiseshell-tabby.
Ragdolls are generally healthy. However, that does not mean that they are entirely free of illness. Ragdolls can suffer from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which is a common heart disease in cats. They can also suffer from periodontal disease and calcium oxalate bladder stones.
They are not difficult to groom either as they have little undercoat and despite the length of hairs, are less likely to mat. Therefore, brushing their fur once or twice a week is all that is needed. Give them baths when you notice that their coats or fur feel greasy. Ragdolls love the attention given to them during brushing, hence, grooming this kitty shouldn't be a herculean task.