With pretty blue eyes and a colorpoint that creates interesting contrasts of light and dark on the coat, the Ragdoll is a gentle cat with a loving disposition. Typically available in a long or medium coat the Ragdoll requires surprisingly minimal grooming as the fur tends to resist matting despite its length.
Ragdoll Cat Personality
Ragdoll cats are typically interested in what their humans are doing, they’ll greet you at the door when you come home from work, will follow you from room to room, and when you sit down to relax at night they’ll be right there alongside you.
If you love cuddling and being close to your animals then the Ragdoll breed may be the cat for you as they will reciprocate your attention with enthusiastic affection. The Ragdoll will fit in well with families who have a dog and also get on well with other cats.
Children will be safe around the ragdoll as they are playful but not destructively or aggressively so – in fact, they usually play without extending their claws. A quiet voice hints at their laid back attitude towards life while still being completely devoted to their owners. Their gentle nature also means they are strictly an indoor cat as they have retained no instinct for either fight or flight, and as such have lost the ability to defend themselves.
Did You Know?
The Ragdoll name comes from their tendency to go completely floppy and limp when you hold them – not unlike their namesake. Despite the long coat and their tendency to go all floppy however, Ragdolls are still a relatively large and muscular breed – especially the males.
Ragdoll fur is soft, silky and luxurious to the touch (very similar to rabbit fur) so it’s a good thing they enjoy lots of attention because cat lovers can hardly resist that soft coat.
The Ragdoll does not get its full color until they are at least two years old and don’t reach full maturity until they are three or four years old.
Caring for Your Ragdoll Cat
There are no known health problems related to the Ragdoll breed and as the fur is less prone to matting than other breeds they require little maintenance from their humans – although a brush every third day or so won’t go astray and will keep their coat in pristine condition. Once every year they will molt heavily and will require brushing every day during this period.
If you have a Ragdoll cat in your life, please share your experiences below.
Image: Peter Munks via Flickr
