Friday, September 21, 2007

Breed Profile: the Ragdoll cat

The Ragdoll cat is a short little creature on low legs, and has the remarkable ability to relax all of its muscles and go completely limp in your arms – hence the name ‘ragdoll’. These little kitties attach strongly to their owners, and it is essential that you take care of their cat health needs because they will always rely on you. This is the perfect cat for children or older adults who enjoy the love and affection of a dog, but don’t want all of the doggy hassles.

Ragdolls came from the cat breeder Ann Baker in the 1960s in California. They became a recognized breed in 1965. All ragdolls tend to have blue eyes, and can get very large so you have to watch out for cat health issues. They have medium to long length fur which doesn’t matt – this makes grooming an easy task. The only downside to this docile and affectionate kitty is that they have a no-fight attitude and thus cannot be left unattended, and especially cannot be left to go outside alone – they also don’t hunt so be sure to provide your kitty with plenty of healthy treats.

For more history on Ann Baker’s exact breeding of the ragdoll cat, be sure to check out Wikipedia’s reference at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ragdoll. That is also where these pictures are from. There are also a number of beautiful pictures available from championship breeders across the country. If you are interested in adding one of these gorgeous cats to your family, be sure to check out the local breeder Raglin Ragdolls at http://www.ragdoll.co.za/ for more information on purchasing, ragdoll cat health, and ragdoll cat history.