Ragdolls are known for their instinct to go limp whenever someone picks them up. But contrary to its name and how they react when picked up, ragdolls are quite active pets. They are typically blue doe-eyed large cats that have semi-long, silky, and plushy coats. Not to be confused with its descendant, the ragamuffin. Ragamuffins have similar appearances to their ancestors but are lazier and like to nap.
Ragdolls can be a great starter breed for those beginner cat owners.cats enjoy climbing and scraping, you can buy cat tree online which allows them to do so without leaving hair or claws on the furniture.Because of cats sociable personality, they are comfortable being around and docile towards other animals and fellow felines. They are also vocal and would tell you if there is something wrong with them.
Do you want to know more about these adorable cats? Here are some interesting facts about the ragdoll breed!
Interesting Facts Any Beginner Would Love To Know About The Breed
1.The Breed Has An Interesting History
Perhaps one of the most intriguing facts about the breed is its history, as it is full of hardships and some weirdness. But let us go back to where it all started. Back in the 1960s, a free-roaming neighborhood cat named Josephine was living amongst other felines. Josephine is believed that she was of a Persian (read more) or Angora type.
Josephine has a pretty typical life as a street cat, well, until she was hit by a passing car. She was pregnant at the time when she had emergency treatment.
Luckily, the emergency treatment was a success, and Josephine was able to recover fully. She later gave birth to healthy kittens. But after her recovery, Josephine exhibited an extremely docile temperament along with her kittens. Because of what happened, it caught the eyes of Ann Baker, a Persian cat breeder who lives in the same neighborhood as Josephine in California.
Ann Baker decided to adopt Josephine and her kittens and brought them to her home together with the other cats she adopted. She theorized Josephine is part of a top-secret government scheme that explains the sudden change of temperament of the cat and conceiving kittens with similar traits. Of course, it is hard to believe that it is true.
Josephine’s kittens look so unique that Ann Baker refuses cat associations to know about their existence. Their distinct features and temperament can potentially become a new separate breed if these associations found out about it. Instead, Ann Baker made her cat association revolving around Josephine and the kittens. She became the pioneer of the ragdoll breed, and her community grew the more people learned about it.
Ann Baker dictates how the breeding is done and to who’s cat. She required inquirers to strictly abide by her conditions and required breeders to pay for licensing and commissions. She also does not allow them to expose their cat to other associations. These strict rules spark outrage in some people of the community.
Fortunately, a couple got themselves a pair of the ragdoll kittens when Josephine recovered and gave birth. The Dayton couple, Danny and Laura, wanted to make the world know about the breed and started having their separate breeding and franchising. Of course, after Ann Baker knew about the couple, she got mad and began accusing the couple of stealing and killing her kittens.
It was hard to put the breed for people in the world to see because of the controversies. That is until Miss Ann died when controversies stopped. Today, there are now many ragdolls in homes and recognized by associations as a separate breed.
2.Some Ragdolls Interestingly Have Other Eye Colors
Not all ragdolls have blue eyes, thanks to many years of crossbreeding. But despite the slight change of their eye colors, the temperament stays the same. The color varies from their parent, beautiful hazel to green. People still do prefer the purebred like the holistapet ragdoll or from other breeders because of their original eye color. Nonetheless, they are still equally lovable and a great cat for any cat owner!
3.Ragdolls Grow Slower Than Most Cats
We are familiar with how fast many animals develop than us. Whether they are hamsters, dogs, or farm animals, they reach adulthood after a few years or even a few months. Cats also develop fast, but did you know that their growth speed depends on their breed? Their growth speed varies from different breeds, and ragdolls are late bloomers.
Typically, ragdolls reach adulthood by four years compared to others that only take up to 2 years! Nobody knows the reason behind the slow development up until today. There have been speculations that they need to grow into their larger frame properly.
4.Ragdolls Are Susceptible To Many Serious Health Issues
Like all other cat breeds, the ragdoll has its own set of susceptible diseases aside from the flu, joint problems, and gastrointestinal problems. Ragdolls have many incidences of cardiac illnesses, most commonly hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the thickening of the cardiac muscles (link: https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/hypertrophic-cardiomyopathy) and walls. It results in difficulty in pumping blood. Ragdolls are considered high risk for this disease!
5.Ragdolls Are Like Your Detachable Tail
Ragdolls are laid-back cats that would likely find them chilling somewhere doing nothing. But don’t get me wrong, they are active most of the day and love to follow you around the house when they get the chance! But besides being your tail, they are also clingy and love to sit on your lap.
