Ragdoll Standards

ragdoll standards

The Ragdoll cat has the silkiest rabbit-like fur that requires only twice weekly grooming and has low shedding qualities. They have vivid blue eyes and are generally a relaxed happy cat with a laidback attitude. They make excellent pets in households with children and other pets as well as being the ideal companion for the elderly. They are lap cats who love to be loved. If you want a bed companion then this is the breed for you.

The Rags follow you around like a small dog and if you have to leave them alone for a few hours they wait patiently for you to return home. However, just as humans have individual differences the Rags also have special unique personalities. In my own cattery I have an aloof one, one who demands constant attention, one who knows she is a Princess and wants to be treated accordingly and yet another who you can guarantee is always in trouble. He stole 2 checks once and I found then days later with the edges chewed. The youngest thinks that my lap belongs to her when I am on the computer so we will blame her for any errors on this site. All of them are distinct personalities, fun to watch, fun to be with.

The show Rags love to be groomed and prepared for the shows and they love going to the hotels after a hard day preening and being on their best behavior.They let their hair down by chasing each other around until they all curl up on the bed (usually mine) exhausted.

Discuss your unique needs with the breeder you choose and talk about your own circumstances that may need consideration. Do you have other animals, children; are you able to keep the Ragdoll safe indoors? These lovely cats are not equipped to survive in the wild and cannot catch food or even defend themselves outside and this must be taken into account if you adopt one (or more). A good breeder will not give you bad advice as their reputation is valuable to them. Breeders love to talk about their babies and I am no exception.

Reputable breeders of this exquisite breed show their cats at cat shows to strive to produce the nearest to perfect Ragdoll they can. By showing their Rags the breeders reputation grows and selling their kittens in this way maintains an ethical breed standard. There is usually a waiting list for kittens from reputable breeders.

Ragdolls are a medium length cat but they are prone to obesity. They can grow to be quite large and can range from 15-20 pounds. They only show full color and size around 3 to 4 years of age. All pointed Ragdolls come in three color patterns, Color-point, Bicolor and Mitted. The range of colors spans

SEAL= whose color ranges from ivory to pale beige.
BLUE= cold with bluish white to pale grey, no sign of any brown and the paws are dark blue.
CHOCOLATE= with an ivory body warm milk to dark chocolate.
LILAC= magnolia white with pink to lavender paws, dove-grey to warm lavender.
FAWN= red and cream. There are also the tortoiseshell and lynx variations. So you have lots to choose from, with each Ragdoll sporting their own distinct look and personality.

You may also learn of the BI-COLOR which has an inverted V shaped marking between the eyes expanding to the muzzle. They are dark at the points with a saddle strip on the back and white –black fur on the body. The nose pad and paws are pink.

The Ragdoll kittens are white at birth and do not develop their colors until around 10 days old. Their full color develops around 3-4 years.

Classic color-point ragdolls have markings like the Siamese, mitted have white feet in the front (Mittens) and white hocks on the back (boots). All Rags have a beautiful bushy tail. Ragdolls do not come in solid colors or have any other eye color than blue. If they have other eye colors or are described as mink then they are probably a Ragamuffin, a mix between a Rag and another breed. These are not recognized at this time in TICA or CFA.

If you require further information of the breed standards for showing then a good resource is The International Cat Association (TICA) and the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA).

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