Ragdolls are often described as the most dog-like of cats. They come when called, can be trained to chase and retrieve a ball, and will often walk on a leash.
Docile, sweet, and happy to relax for a good cuddle session, the loving Ragdoll will even greet their humans at the door when they come home. If you’re looking for a companion, you can’t find a much better choice than one of these easy going felines.
Ragdolls are named after their personality trait. When being picked up, they go limp in your arms. The breed is a loveable cat that is great with children and makes the perfect addition to any family.
Ragdoll Facts
Ragdolls are large cats but have a soft voice. Males may reach as much as 5.4-9.1kg in weight, while females can reach between 3.6-6.8kg. They grow slowly and don't reach their full size until they are four years old.
- Breed: Ragdoll
- Length: 43-53 cm
- Weight: Female: 3.6-6.8 kg, Male: 5.4-9.1 kg
- Life Span: 12-17 years
- Coat: Semi-long and silky with little undercoat.
- Colour: Point colours includes seal, chocolate, blue and lilac red, cream, tabby and torti in three divisions Colourpoint, Mitted and Bi colour.
What Does a Ragdoll Look Like?
Ragdolls are pointed cats that have blue eyes and long, soft hair. By definition, a pointed cat has a pale body with a darker face, ears, legs, and tail. Sometimes, though, a Ragdoll's legs are the same colour as its body or a dark colour is present on its back. The colour on the cat's face is known as a mask.
Ragdoll
Ragdoll Temperament: Polite & Sweet Tempered
This cat has one of the best manners (and softest voices) in the cat kingdom. It is polite, docile and sweet-tempered, and not the type to pester you for attention. Most importantly, it is an affectionate cat that will get along well with children or other pets, making it an excellent companion for the whole family. Ragdolls are also relaxed and quiet, and can be very tolerant of being carried around. Read about other easy-going cat breeds.
The breed can be playful, but is not always active. Easily trainable, this cat will lie limp like a ragdoll, hence its name.
Keeping Ragdolls Healthy: Issues to Watch Out For
Ragdolls are prone to a few health concerns, including an inherited heart disease that’s called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. You can have a DNA test performed on your cat to see if it has a predisposition towards developing this disorder. This breed also has a higher risk of getting bladder stones.
Tip: Signing up for pet insurance while your cat is young and without pre-existing conditions could help you save on future vet bills.
Blood Clots:
Ragdolls can be susceptible to blood clots in the arteries. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, loss of appetite, lethargy and depression. Some cats may also faint. Treatment is available, but it is imperative to see a vet as soon as these symptoms appear.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy:
This inherited disease is difficult to diagnose and often the first symptom is sudden death. It is caused by the thickening of the heart’s walls. Some cases may not be lethal and can be treated with medication if diagnosed via an echocardiogram. Signs of this disease include anorexia, lethargy, difficulty breathing, coughing, fainting and paralysis of the legs; however some cats may show no symptoms. When purchasing a Ragdoll kitten, it pays to check that the breeder has DNA tested the parents and is only breeding from negative cats.
Gum Disease:
Ragdolls can be prone to gum diseases and should be examined regularly as some gum diseases can be potentially life-threatening. Their teeth should also be brushed frequently to prevent periodontitis, which can lead to kidney and heart problems.
Urinary Stones:
Symptoms of these rock-like deposits in a cat’s bladder include blood in the urine, straining to urinate and the sudden passing of urine in unusual places. Appropriate treatment can range from a special medical diet through to surgery.
Caring for Your Ragdoll Cat
The biggest concerns as a Ragdoll cat parent is keeping them safe and well groomed. Due to the Ragdolls’ docility, it’s very easy for them to run into trouble.
Although the breed’s coat requires minimal grooming, they should be groomed on a regular basis with a brush for an overall groom to remove any loose hair and with a comb to tease out any tangles.
Grooming:
Medium length with a silky texture, the Ragdoll’s coat needs regular grooming to keep it in good condition. You should use a comb to remove any tangles and prevent matting. In cases of extremely matted fur, a Ragdoll may even need to be shaved.
Brush your Ragdoll’s teeth to prevent periodontal disease. Daily dental hygiene is best, but weekly brushing is better than nothing. Dental treats and supplements can also be added to aid in dental hygiene.
Other grooming requirements are to trim their claws every couple of weeks and do eye and ear cares weekly. Wipe the corners of the eyes to remove any discharge. Use a separate area of the cloth for each eye so you don’t run the risk of spreading any infection. Check the ears weekly and if they look dirty, give them a clean. Avoid using cotton swabs, which can damage the interior of the ear.
Nutrition:
Giving your Ragdoll cat a healthy diet is an important part of their care. Being a large-sized cat, they will eat more that your average pet cat. Be sure you’re offering age-appropriate food to ensure it provides the nutrition your young kitten or adult cat needs.
Ragdoll cats can do well on dried cat food or wet cat food, so choose one which you feel gives the most appropriate balance of nutrients or better still feed a combination of both. You can also feed a Ragdoll Breed Specific food such as Royal Canin Ragdoll Adult Dry Cat Food.
Use the feeding chart on the bag as a guide, or ask the PetDirect Customer Care Team how much to feed your particular cat.
Exercise & Play time with your Ragdoll:
The word most often used to describe Ragdoll’s is docile, but that doesn’t mean they are inactive. They like to play with toys and enter into family activities. With positive reinforcements in the form of praise and healthy treat rewards when they do something you like, Ragdoll’s learn quickly and can pick up tricks as well as good behaviour such as using a cat scratcher.
Puzzle and enrichment toys that challenge your cat’s brain can help prevent boredom and keep your kitty from seeking out trouble.
Litter training your Ragdoll:
You can help to care for your Ragdoll cat by paying attention to the cleanliness of their litter tray. Like many long-haired cat breeds, the most likely time for their coat to be soiled is when they use their litter tray. Removing the waste immediately after they have produced it will reduce the chances of it catching in their coat. If your Ragdoll cat does get any mess in their fur, use damp cotton or wipe to gently dab it off.
It is usually easy to train them to use a litter tray as they will respond best to positive reinforcement. Read our blog: Cat litter tips from our cat fanatic for tips and advice on litter and litter training.
Use a quality litter and keep the Ragdoll’s litter box spotlessly clean. Cats are very particular about bathroom hygiene, and a clean litter tray will help to keep their coat clean as well. Speaking of litter trays, a large cat like the Ragdoll needs a tray that is super-sized to ensure that he has plenty of room to turn around and squat.