Ragdoll Factscartoon image of green cat

The Ragdoll breed was first created by  Ann Baker in Riverside, California in the 1960's.  At the time she was breeding Persians. There are several myths surrounding the Ragdoll breed. The one belief that everyone agrees on is that the Ragdoll breed was started by breeding a white Persian type female named Josephine and a Birman type male named Daddy Warbucks. Josephine became the foundation of Ragdolls due to the outstanding temperament, large size, wonderful coat quality, and beautiful appearance of her kittens, which Ms. Baker recognized. She eventually registered Josephine's litters under the new breed name of "Ragdolls."

Ragdolls are the largest fully domestic breed of cat (Guinness Book of World Records). Ragdolls have soft medium-long coats that feel like rabbit fur and do not tend to mat, although occasional grooming is required. In general, Ragdolls have longer fur around the neck, the back of the hindquarters and the tail. They are large, heavy cats with broad chests and large hindquarters. Females are smaller than males, weighing about 10-15 pounds on average.  Males weigh an average of 12-20 plus pounds as adults. They will not reach full weight and size for at least three to four years. 

Ragdolls are often referred to as the "Gentle Giants" of the cat world. They are laid-back, docile, and non-aggressive cats. They have a non-fighting instinct meaning if they're attacked, they most likely wouldn't even defend themselves the way most other cats would.  This is why they they should be kept strictly indoors. They absolutely are NOT outdoor cats.  They tend to relax and go limp when held (hence the name Ragdoll). They love to be around people and have been described as the most social breed in the cat world.

Colors & Patterns....

All Ragdolls have blue eyes. Ragdolls now come in the any of the following 6 colors: Seal Point, Blue Point, Chocolate Point, Lilac Point, Red Point, and Cream Point.

COLORS:

Seal Point....
Body color may vary from fawn to warm brown. Paw pads  on the colorpoint is seal. The paw pads on the Seal mitted and seal bicolor are pink with or without a mix of the point color.

Blue Point....
Body color is ivory and the points are deep blue at maturity Nose leather and paw pads are dark blue-gray.

Chocolate Point....
Body color is ivory. Point color is slightly lighter than the color of a milk chocolate bar.

Lilac Point....
Body body white. Points: frosty grey with pinkish tinge. Nose leather has a lilac hue and paw pads are coral pink.

Lynx Point....
Overlays any one of the above patterns. Ticking or striping appears on all the pointed area except the back or saddle Lynx pattern comes in all colors and patterns.

Tortie Point....
Overlays any of the above patterns. Tortoiseshell pattern appears on all the pointed areas. Colors generally are Red or Cream mixed with one of the other colors

Flame Point....
This is also called a red point. The Ragdoll body should be a warm, even, creamy white. The points will be a deep orange "hot" red. The paw pads and nose leather to be pink.

Cream Point....
The body clear white with any shading in the same tone as points. Points: pale buff cream to light pinkish cream, with lack of barring desirable The paw pads and nose leather pink.

PATTERNS:

Colorpoint Point has colored mask, ears, feet, nose, paw pads and tail. The body should have definite contrast between it and points. Soft shadings of color are allowed on the body, as the cat gets older
 
Mitted Point has colored masked, ears and legs with white mittens on the front feet and white boots on the back legs. The chin, ruff and stomach are white.  This pattern may have a single white blaze between the eyes or a broken blaze between the eyes and on the nose.

BiColor Point colored ears and tail. White inverted "V" in their mask, white legs, feet, ruff and stomach. Nose and paw pads are pink.  The back may have shading in a lighter shade of the point color, with various markings of white and color patches Lynx Point Overlays any one of the above patterns.

The Lynx pattern has tabby markings on the face in what appears to be the letter "W".