We cant express how beautiful a Ragdoll truly is. In my opinion, they are absolutely the most stunning breed out there... but then I am biased! I suppose I should share facts and traits instead of my own opinion!!
Ragdolls are considered to be a medium-to-large breed cat, sometimes weighing up to 8 kg! I have found that males tend to be much bigger than females. The females I have bred weigh between 3.5 to 6.5 kg, whilst the males are relaxing in their family homes at between 6.3 to 8.7 kg. A ragdolls soft, silky fur and mane adds to the size of their profile, making them appear even larger.
Ragdolls should have soft, silky fur, which is semi-long to long. It is fuller around their neck, creating a thick mane. The thickness of the mane and fur can reduce in the warmer months, so expect to be sweeping up fur and grooming more than in the cooler months. The tail should be bushy with the same silky feel, leading into โknickerbockersโ โ my absolute favourite word for โdense fur on the hind legsโ. In between their tiny toe beans should be long, wispy fur. It is advised not to cut the toe fur, as it protects their paws and can cause them pain if the fur is missing.
All pedigree ragdolls have piercing blue eyes. The shade of blue can vary (though a deeper shade of blue is preferred), and is determined by the colourpoint gene, which also determines the colour of their fur.
The eyes should be large, slightly oblique (slightly slanted) and set well apart. Eyes should not be perfectly round in shape, nor like those of oriental breeds.
Ragdolls are semi-long-haired and do require regular grooming. We groom 1-3 times a week and have yet to find matts on our girls! During the summer months I groom more to help them shed their fur and in the cooler months I focus more on their manes and knickerbockers to reduce the chance of any matts.
๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ-๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ; it can take up to four years for them to reach their full size. Their colour will develop and darken as the years go by and will just keep getting more and more beautiful! The contrast between their lighter and darker colours will remain, but become more pronounced, giving them a stunning appearance.
๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ญ๐; I find that they are very dog-like! They like to be close to their owners, following them around the house. Although they are described as needing minimal exercise, as they are house cats I do advise lots of play to help keep their brains active and stimulated. All kittens want to play, and ragdolls are no different! We find that any games you play with your ragdoll will help build and strengthen that special owner/kitten bond. Ragdolls love to play fetch and can even be trained during play. It's important for inquisitive kitten wellbeing to keep Ragdolls entertained.
Ragdolls love puzzles, they extremely love problem solving and being rewarded with their favourite treats.
๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐จ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐; each cat will have its own personality. They love to follow you around calling for food and treats! (you won't even get peace in the rest room haha)
Ragdolls are also described as lap lovers
Ragdoll cats are widely considered excellent with children due to their gentle, patient, and affectionate nature, often tolerating being held and played with, making them great family pets, but proper socialization and teaching kids gentle interaction are still key for any cat
๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฅ๐ & ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ญ: They have a calm, docile temperament, often going limp when picked up (hence the name) and are known for not minding being dressed up or carried
๐๐๐๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ & ๐๐จ๐๐ข๐๐๐ฅ๐: They bond closely with families and enjoy being involved in household activities, forming strong bonds with children
๐๐จ๐ -๐๐ข๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ: They often follow owners around and get along well with other pets, making them adaptable to busy family life
๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฒ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ: They are known to be patient with children, even young toddlers, and may even play fetch
๐๐ฎ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ง๐๐๐๐๐: Even gentle breeds need supervision with young children to ensure the cat's space is respected and interactions are safe for both
Ragdolls love company, including other felines and known for being extremely sociable, affectionate "gentle giants" who crave human and feline interaction and often follow their owners around like loyal, fluffy shadows, greeting them at the door and getting involved in household activities, but they don't do well being left alone for long periods and can suffer from separation anxiety.
Their social, gentle and laid-back nature, often disliking being left alone for long periods and thriving with companions like other cats or even dogs, though introductions should be managed carefully. They are social "gentle giants" that enjoy interaction and can get along with almost any calm companion cat, making them great for multi-pet households if introduced properly.
๐๐จ๐๐ข๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐: They form strong bonds and thrive on interaction, seeking attention and companionship
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ญ: Their calm, friendly disposition means they often settle well with other cats, especially those with similar energy levels
๐๐ฏ๐จ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ: Ragdolls can suffer from separation anxiety and benefit from a feline friend for play and comfort when owners are away
๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐-๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐: They form strong bonds, similar to dogs, and thrive on attention, often wanting to be near you, even if not always on your lap
๐
๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ฌ: Expect a Ragdoll to be your constant companion, supervising you while you work, cook, or even bathe
๐
๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฒ-๐
๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฒ: Their laid-back and gentle nature makes them great for families and children (with supervision), as they play gently and rarely use claws
๐๐จ๐จ๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ญ๐ฌ: They get along extremely well with other animals, including dogs, and having a companion cat can be a great solution if you're away often.
๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ค๐ง๐จ๐ฐ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ฐ๐จ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐ง๐ฌ: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), a thickening heart muscle condition with genetic tests available, and Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), which causes kidney cysts. They can also be prone to bladder issues, digestive problems, and dental disease, with some rare risks like Neonatal Isoerythrolysis (NI) in breeding.
๐๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ง ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ซ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ค.
๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ช๐ฎ๐๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ญ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ซ: Ragdoll HCM, Maine Coon HCM, PKD1, PKDef, Mucopolysaccaridosis MPS VI, PRA, SMA, rdAc, Feline Blood Group A or AB (does not carry B).
FeLV and FIV Negative
While many say male Ragdolls are generally more overtly affectionate, clingy "lap cats," and follow you around, females are just as loving but often show it on their own terms, being slightly more independent; however, individual personality, upbringing, and spaying/neutering matter more than gender for predicting a specific ragdolls cuddliness. Expect both sexes to be sweet, but males lean towards constant companionship, while females might prefer shorter, on-demand cuddles.
๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ ๐๐:
๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ ๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ & ๐ฌ๐จ๐๐ข๐๐ฅ: They're known for being the "people cats" who follow you from room to room
๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐ญ๐ฌ: More likely to want to curl up on your lap for long periods
๐๐ฅ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ & ๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ข๐: Often described as slightly more active
๐
๐๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ ๐๐:
๐๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐๐ง๐ญ: They enjoy affection but may not seek it as constantly
๐๐๐ฅ๐ฆ๐๐ซ & ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฒ: Can be more reserved but still very sweet
๐๐๐๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ ๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ข๐ซ ๐จ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐ฌ: Might prefer to be near you or show love with head-butts rather than constant lap-sitting
Don't choose based on gender if you want a specific level of affection, as personality varies greatly. A male might be more of a shadow, but a female can be just as cuddly, just perhaps less demanding of it. If possible, meet the kittens to see their individual temperaments, as parent personalities often influence kittens, but unique traits shine through.
All our kittens, are equally as affectionate.. early socialisation is important, we raise our kittens in the home and they're familiar to all household noises/children.. we do this to avoid shy and timid cats/kittens. Both our female and male kittens are showered with endless love and lots of kitten cuddles from day one!
๐ ๐ก๐๐ญ๐ ๐ฐ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง๐; there are so many conflicting opinions amongst breeders and people on the internet! Ragdolls are less at risk of accidents outside the home as it is recommended that they are kept indoors, which can certainly lengthen their lifespan. Remaining indoors also makes them less likely to come into contact with common feline illnesses passed from other cats โ though it is always recommended that you keep ragdolls vaccinations and boosters up to date!! A well-bred ragdoll, who has no medical problems, should live well up to the life expectancy of a cat; most sources suggest 10-15 years.