Ragdoll
A relaxed and happy cat that is generally loving and laid-back.
About the Ragdoll
The Ragdoll is a loving, quiet breed with a very laid-back disposition. They are very sociable and love to be with owners and even household guests.
Ragdolls are known for their tolerant attitudes towards other animals and are especially good with children. They are often compared to dogs because of their friendliness and intelligence. Their activity level is moderate and limited to a few minutes of active play a day. By far they prefer to play while lying on their backs.
Source: key facts and characteristics sourced from World Cat Congress (WCC)
Breed specifics
- Country
- United States
- Coat
- Medium coat
- translations.feature.breeds.sizecategory
- Large
- Avg life expectancy
- 12–17 years
Calm / Sociable / Friendly
Key facts
Origins of the breed
The Ragdoll was developed in the early 1960’s by Ann Baker. One of the cats she bred was a white, long-haired domestic called Josephine. Other cats used in the breeding programme were a seal point male, possibly a Birman cross, and a solid black cat.
Because of their docile temperament and the way the cats would go limp in the arms of anybody who picked them up, Ms Baker decided to call them Ragdolls. In 1975, other breeders, notably Denny and Laura Dayton, developed the breed further, with the aim of getting it recognised by the major cat fanciers in the U.S.A.