COLOURS, PATTERNS, AND HISTORY
THE HISTORY OF RAGDOLLS
In the 1960s, a regular non-pedigreed white domestic longhaired cat named Josephine, who had produced several litters of typical cats, was injured in an accident involving a car and taken to the veterinary hospital at the University of California.
Josephine was of a Persian/Angora type and had litters sired by several unknown male Birman or Burmese-like cats, one of which had the Siamese point coloration.
After Josephine recovered, her next litter produced kittens with a docile, placid temperament, affectionate nature, and a tendency to go limp and relaxed when picked up. When a subsequent litter produced more of the same, Baker purchased several kittens from the owner who lived behind her, and believing she had something special, set out to create what is now known as the Ragdoll.
The breed was selectively bred over many years for desirable traits, such as large size, gentle demeanour, and a tendency to go limp when picked up, as well as the striking pointed coloration.
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Out of those early litters came Blackie, an all black Burmese-like male, and Daddy Warbucks, a seal point with white feet. Daddy Warbucks sired the founding bi-colour female Fugianna, and Blackie sired Buckwheat, a dark brown/black Burmese-like female. Both Fugianna and Buckwheat were daughters of Josephine.
All Ragdolls are descended from Baker's cats through matings of Daddy Warbucks to Fugianna and Buckwheat.
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BREED DESCRIPTION
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Temperament
The docile and floppy nature of the Ragdoll is a characteristic thought to be passed down from the Persian and Birman breed. Opinions vary as to whether this trait might be the result of genetic mutation.
The extreme docility of some individuals has led to the myth that Ragdolls are pain-resistant. Some breeders in Britain have tried to breed away from the limpness due to concerns that extreme docility "might not be in the best interests of the cat". On multiple occasions, ragdolls have been reported as nonchalantly approaching moving cars and vicious dogs and getting hurt.
All describe the Ragdoll as affectionate, intelligent, relaxed in temperament, gentle, and easy to handle lap cat.
Physical Characteristics
The Ragdoll is one of the largest domesticated cat breeds with a sturdy body, large frame, and proportionate legs. A fully-grown female weighs from 8 to 15 pounds (3.6 to 6.8 kg). Males are substantially larger, ranging from 12 to 20 pounds (5.4 to 9.1 kg) or more.
The genes for point colouration are also responsible for the blue eyes of the Ragdoll. More intense shades of blue are favoured in cat shows.
Although the breed has a plush coat, it consists mainly of long guard hairs, while the lack of a dense undercoat results in, according to the Cat Fanciers' Association, "reduced shedding and matting".
Mitted Ragdolls, which weren't allowed titling in CFA until the 2008-2009 show season, are often confused with Birmans. The easiest way to tell the difference is by size (the Ragdoll being obviously larger), and chin colour (Mitted Ragdolls have white chins, while Birmans have coloured chins), although breeders recognise the two by head shape and boning.
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Ragdolls come in 6 different colours: red: seal; chocolate; flame; and the corresponding "dilutes", including blue, lilac, and cream. This also includes the tortoiseshell pattern in all colours and the three patterns.
"Traditional" Ragdoll kittens are born white; they have good colour at 8 – 10 weeks and full colour and coat at 3 – 4 years. The four different patterns are:
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Pointed – One colour darkening at the extremities (nose, ears, tail, and paws).
Mitted – Same as pointed, but with white paws and abdomen. With or without a blaze (a white line or spot on the face), but must have a "belly stripe" (white stripe that runs from the chin to the genitals) and a white chin.
Bicolour – White legs, white inverted V on the face, white abdomen and sometimes white patches on the back. (Excessive amounts of white, or "high white", on a bicolour is known as the Van pattern, although this doesn't occur nearly as often as the other patterns.)
Lynx – A variant of the above type having tabby markings.
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"Mink" Ragdolls are born with colour. Mink is not a new breed or a new pattern of Ragdoll cat; it's a bloodline that can be traced back to the first Ragdoll cats bred by Ann Baker. They're called "Minks" because their coat is even smoother than the coat of the traditional Ragdolls -- the mink's fur actually feels like a lady's mink stole.
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While many breeders are choosing to work with only the traditional Ragdoll lines, more and more Ragdoll breeders are falling in love with the lush, dark coats and exotic coloured eyes of the mink, and choosing to continue the old mink lines.
While Minks and Traditionals are both pure Ragdolls, there are a few differences between them. The point colour of the mink is much richer and darker than the point colour of the traditional Ragdoll. But Minks still come in all the standard colours of seal, blue, chocolate, lilac, flame, cream, tortie and blue/cream. Minks also come in all the standard patterns: Colourpoint (no white), Mitted (white mitts on front paws, boots on back legs, white chin and bib), and Bi-colour (inverted "V" on face, white on all legs, chin and bib), and Lynx.
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The eye colour of the traditional Ragdoll and the Mink Ragdoll is also a feature. In the traditional Ragdoll the eye colour is always blue, whereas the Mink Ragdoll has gorgeous aqua (blue-green) eyes. Most importantly, Minks have the same characteristics as Traditional Ragdolls. They are large, lovey, docile, floppy, puppy cats.
