Ragdoll cat breed guide: temperament, size, colours and health

Where the Ragdoll breed comes from

The Ragdoll was developed in Riverside, California, in the 1960s by a breeder named Ann Baker, from a white longhaired cat called Josephine and a handful of pointed males. The name comes from the breed's habit of relaxing completely when held. The breed has since been refined by registries worldwide, and in Australia Ragdolls are shown and registered under the major cat councils, including the Australian Cat Federation, whose member bodies include the NSW Cat Fanciers' Association that we breed under.

Ragdoll temperament: what they are actually like

A Ragdoll is a shadow. Ours follow us from room to room, sit on the bathroom mat while the kids have a bath, and meet the car in the driveway when we come home. They are not demanding the way a Siamese or a Burmese can be. They are quieter and they wait to be noticed, then melt the moment you pay attention.

They are rarely climbers or shelf-clearers, and most prefer floor level and laps over the top of the fridge. Many learn to fetch. They are slow to use their claws on people, which makes them good with children, but it also means they don't stand up for themselves against a pushy dog or a rough toddler.

The one thing they don't do well is long days alone. If the house is empty for ten hours a day, I'd steer you towards two kittens rather than one.

Ragdoll size at a glance

Ragdolls are one of the largest domestic breeds, and they take their time getting there. Most reach their full size and coat at around three to four years old.

A lot of Ragdoll weight is frame and coat rather than fat, but they do put on weight easily once desexed, so measure their food rather than free-feeding. A litter tray for an adult male needs to be big: a storage tub with a doorway cut in the side works better than most commercial trays. Month-by-month weights are in our article on Ragdoll kitten to cat growth.

Ragdoll colours and patterns

Every Ragdoll is a pointed cat: a lighter body with darker ears, face, legs and tail, and blue eyes. Kittens are born nearly white and the points develop over the first few weeks, then keep deepening for two to three years. Colour and pattern are separate, so any colour can come in any pattern.

Red, cream, tortie and lynx Ragdolls exist too, but we breed only the four traditional colours. If someone offers you a "mink" or "sepia" Ragdoll with green or aqua eyes, that cat is outside the breed standard. It may still be a lovely pet, but it should not be priced as a rare pedigree. You can see examples of each pattern among our current Ragdoll kittens and our queens and king. Each colour is covered in more depth in our Ragdoll colours guide, with separate pages for the seal point and blue point Ragdoll.

Grooming: do Ragdolls shed?

Yes, moderately, with two heavier moults a year. The good news is the coat. It is silky with only a light undercoat, so it mats far less than a Persian's or a Maine Coon's. A steel comb through the ruff, the armpits and the back of the legs once or twice a week is enough for most cats. Trim claws every two to three weeks. I don't recommend shaving a Ragdoll in summer unless a vet has advised it, because the coat insulates against heat as well as cold.

Ragdoll health problems and the tests to ask for

Ragdolls are generally healthy, but two inherited conditions have DNA tests, and any registered breeder should be able to show you results for both parents.

• HCM (RD). Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a thickening of the heart muscle. One mutation specific to Ragdolls can be detected with a cheek-swab DNA test. A negative result means the cat does not carry that mutation. It does not rule out every form of heart disease, so a vet should listen to your cat's heart at every annual check.
• PKD. Polycystic kidney disease causes cysts that slowly damage the kidneys. It came into some Ragdoll lines through outcrosses and is also DNA tested.

Beyond genetics, the common problems I see in Ragdolls are weight gain after desexing and dental disease, both manageable with measured meals and regular vet checks. Insurance is worth having for the first few years, and every kitten we sell goes home with six weeks of cover.

Is a Ragdoll the right cat for you?

A Ragdoll suits a home where someone is around for much of the day, where the cat can live indoors or have a secure run, and where nobody minds some hair on the couch. It is a good choice for families with gentle children, retirees, people who work from home and anyone who wants a cat that actively wants their company.

It is probably not the right breed if you want an independent cat that roams the garden, if the house is empty all day, or if a $1,500 purchase price would make vet bills a struggle later. If you'd like to talk it through, send me an inquiry.