Table of Contents
Quick Facts
| Name | Ragdoll |
| Origin | California |
| Size | Up to 20 pounds Up to 40 inches |
| Lifespan | Up to 17 years |
| Coat | Long hair Chocolate, red, seal, blue, lilac, and cream Color point, bicolor, mitted, van |
| Temperament | Friendly, easygoing, cuddly, social |
| Exercise Needs | Moderate |
| Training Difficulty | Moderate |
| Health Issues | Overweight, Bladder Stones, Heart Disease |
| Grooming Needs | Moderate to High |
| Price | $100 to $2500 |
Introduction: Ragdoll
A Ragdoll are large ideal lap cats who have been successful in capturing the heart of many people around the world with their unique personality and physical traits. They are known as one of the largest cat breed but regardless of their size they are very affectionate and their big blue eyes, silky coats makes them very charming and adorable which makes them a very good pet. In this article we will learn about its history and origin, physical characteristics, grooming, health care tips and trainings.
History and Origin
Ragdoll cat firstly originated in 1960s which was bred between a Persian cat Josephine and other unknown origin local cats which took place in California and was led by Ann Baker. She wanted to bring a new breed into life with charming appearance and a loving personality. Later after several breeding attempts finally she produced a first cat which she named Ragdoll and these cats were renowned for their non mating fur, large in size and outgoing personality. Later in 1993, Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) began registering ragdolls and became one of the most consistent in popularity.
Physical Appearance
Ragdolls are popular due to their large size and string build. They have a very silky luxurious mid long hair with striking big blue eyes which adds a charm in its appearance. They can come in various colors such as Chocolate, red, seal, blue, lilac, and cream. Their distinguishing physical traits apart from its size is its color pattern which can be of color point, bicolor, mitted, van. These patters somehow recalls of Siamese cats but with a bit more softer appearance.
Temperament and Personality
The Ragdoll cat is also known for its dog like personality which helps them to form a strong emotional bond with its owners and offering each others company. They are very gentle and lovable cat as it got its nickname from as “Gentle Giant”. They are not so vocally active but they love to communicate with very soft chirps. Due to their gentle personality they get along with other pets, children and even with strangers.
Exercise and Activity Needs
The Ragdoll is a large sized cat with a very low to moderate amount of activeness and require moderate amount of exercises to stimulate their mental and physical activeness. They like to play as well so walking, playing, solving puzzles and providing it with toys at least 30 to 60 mins a day is ideal for its physical and mental health.
Grooming and Care
Talking about grooming needs the Ragdoll needs frequent amount of grooming and brushing due to its medium level of shedding coats. They need to be brushed regularly at least 2 to 3 times a week with a high quality silky and smooth brush to ensure its coat’s health. Various grooming activities like trimming nails and cleaning their ears are very important in order to prevent any allergies or diseases.
Some helpful tips:
- In order to ensure its silky and shiny coat it is recommended to use slicker brush.
- One must know that they should not over wash their cat’s coat as it can damage and degrade its coat quality.
- Bathing once a few months with high quality shampoo is much better for their coat’s and overall health.
- Clean their ears, trimming nails, brushing their teeth with high quality toothpaste are some major cleaning activities.
Health and Common Concerns
Ragdoll is generally a healthy breed but just like many other cat breeds they can also be prone to some health issues which are inherited genetically from its parents. The list of diseases are:
- Overweight
- Bladder Stones
- Heart Disease
In order to ensure their overall health proper balanced diet with proper sanitation and care along with regular visit to vet for regular checkup is necessary.
Some helpful tips:
- Taking your cat to the veterinarian for regular checkups at least once every 14 weeks is recommended.
- Feed them nutritious and protein condense foods like fish, milk, authentic cat foods etc.
- Never neglect the hydration of your cat.
- Giving them necessary vaccines to fight various bacteria and allergies is necessary.
- Socializing and interacting with them by playing is an important activity for their mental health as well as physical health.
- Proper sanitation and clean environment is a must for minimal risk of bacterial diseases.
- If any sudden sickness you should immediately seek help from respective professionals.
Training and Socialization
The Ragdoll is quite moderately intelligent and are also trainable. They are very gentle and are quite easy to train and as well as good in learning tricks. Positive and proper methods and reinforcements are very important while training them. However training them in home can be a hectic so it is recommended to take them to a professional to train. Socializing them is also very easy and are good with every other pets and children even with strangers if socialized early. They are very lovable and gentle which can definitely reduce much more troubles in training and socializing them.
Some helpful tips for training and socialization:
- Teach your cat to sit, stay, heel, walk on stairs, jump etc. which is essential for its safety.
- Teaching your cat what to eat, what not to eat and where to excrete, where not to is essential for cleanliness as well as cat’s safety.
- Teaching the cat to recognize family and strangers is an important activity which can be done by playing with it.
Conclusion
Bringing a Ragdoll into your house will definitely lighten up the mood of you and your family and bring joy and happiness in them as well. Being extremely easy to pet first time pet owners can definitely look them as the best options. They make good companion with the children and other pets which makes them suitable for any household despite of their size. They are very low in vocal activities so they can be a great lap cuddlers and companion for you and your family.
Image Source: Getty Images
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