Ragdolls may have an imposing size, but don’t let that fool you. This cat breed is as gentle and patient as they come. Unlike the stereotypical anti-social cat, Ragdolls adore being around people, their family, and strangers alike. Their docile nature makes them the ideal pet for families of all kinds, including those with children.
The Ragdoll gets their name from their tenacity to go “floppy” when picked up. While this gorgeous cat is relatively easy to care for, they are also a unique breed with some particular traits. Getting to know Ragdolls will help you give yours the very best care.
Ragdoll Characteristics
Energy
+
A high-energy cat needs a lot of physical and mental stimulation to keep healthy and happy, while a low-energy cat needs minimal physical activity, but still needs mental stimulation. When choosing a cat, It’s important to ensure their energy levels match your lifestyle.
Trainability
+
Cats that are easy-to-train are more willing and skilled at quickly learning prompts and actions with minimal training. Harder-to-train cats are usually more stubborn or aloof and require a bit more patience and practice.
Health
+
Certain cat breeds are more prone to various genetic health problems, and some more than others. This doesn’t mean that every cat in those breeds will have these issues, but they do have an increased risk, so it’s important to understand and prepare for any additional needs they may require.
Lifespan
+
Due to their size or potential genetic health issues of a specific breed, some cats have shorter lifespans than others. Proper nutrition, exercise, mental stimulation, and hygiene also play an important role in your cat’s lifespan and quality of life.
Sociability
+
Some cat breeds are more social than others, both towards humans and other cats and animals. Cats that are more social have a tendency to rub up on strangers for scratches or jump on laps for cuddles, while cats that are less social shy away, hide, are more cautious, and even potentially aggressive. No matter the breed or gender, it’s important to socialize your cat and expose them to many different situations.
Ragdoll Kittens
Image Credit: dezy, Shutterstock
Ragdolls are both popular and relatively rare. This makes the price for a kitten higher than many other basic domestic breeds. Kittens, of course, are highly sought after; thus, they have higher prices. Older Ragdolls may have a lot lower prices. However, consider that older cats will be settled into their personalities, so there are no surprises further down the line.
Ragdolls are often used as show cats, so there are a lot of breeders on the market. Each breeding line will have various characteristics that will impact the price. The pedigree and the papers will result in a more expensive kitten.
Ragdolls come in an extensive range of colorations and patterns. Some are more favored by owners than others. Naturally, these will be more costly. Alternatively, some kittens may not display preferred physical attributes and sell for a lot less.
Temperament & Intelligence of the Ragdoll
Image Credit: Nils Jacobi, Shutterstock
The Ragdoll is a true standout breed. They go against the grain of what you would typically expect from a cat. Instead of becoming irritated from too much attention, they revel in it, becoming very docile upon being picked up or snuggled.
Instead of ignoring your commands and bids to control them, they respond to training and other fun, engaging activities. Some Ragdolls are known to engage in games of fetch and hide and seek. Instead of vocalizing loudly to get your attention at dinner time, you will barely hear a peep from a Ragdoll. However, be prepared to be at the mercy of their hypnotizing, saucer-like blue eyes.
Ragdolls possess many of the traits that are adored in cats. They are gentle, affectionate, and relaxed. Very little can faze the easy-going Ragdoll, and they make excellent companions for anyone.
Are These Cats Good for Families? 👪
Ragdolls fit seamlessly into virtually any family. Unlike many other finicky cats, they are highly tolerant of children. Even toddlers’ wildly unpredictable nature does little to waver the Zen of a Ragdoll. Ragdolls are also known to be very soft-pawed when playing. They rarely pull their claws out during interactions, so even if anyone bothers them enough to warrant a swiping, no blood will be shed.
It’s important to note that because of Ragdolls’ quiet nature, they rarely express their discomfort. You should still watch children closely with this feline, more for the cat’s comfort than the child’s concern. Always practice teaching your children how to respect cats and recognize their behaviors.
Ragdolls are very social so are happy to live in large families. To them, all they see are more laps to sit on! They are also friendly toward strangers, so they don’t mind a social family with frequent visitors.
Image Credit: rock-the-stock, Shutterstock
Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?
In general, Ragdolls can get along very well with all kinds of pets. They are comfortable with other cats if they aren’t picked on. Another aggressive cat may see a Ragdoll’s quiet nature as a sign of weakness.
They also tend to be relaxed around friendly dogs. Due to the gentle nature of their playing, friendly dogs tend to enjoy Ragdolls as playmates, as there is little risk of getting any claws to the face. The ability of a Ragdoll to socialize and get along with other animals depends on introductions and early socialization. Early and proper socialization will have your Ragdoll feeling comfortable around other animals.
Also, note that if adopting an older cat, their relationship with other animals may be influenced by trauma in their past. Bad experiences will stay in their mind, and they may never learn to trust other animals again.
Things to Know When Owning a Ragdoll:
Food & Diet Requirements
Ragdolls don’t require any special diet. A quality, high-protein cat food should be sufficient to support your Ragdoll. They are a large breed, so ensuring they get the correct kitten diet will help during their periods of growth. Most kittens transition to an adult diet at around 12 months old, but for a large breed like a Ragdoll, this diet change should occur between 18 and 14 months.
Adult Ragdolls can be prone to obesity, so monitor their consumption and weight to find a feeding amount and schedule that works for you. These cats are also genetically predisposed to various heart diseases, and a dietary deficiency of taurine can contribute to these. Generally, most modern cat diets have plenty of taurine.
Image By: Snowice_81, Shutterstock
Exercise 🐈
The Ragdoll is a mellow breed. They don’t have high energy levels, so they won’t always keep active on their own accord. This lazy nature makes them easy to maintain as indoor cats. Still, it may expose them to a higher risk of becoming overweight.
Ragdolls like to play and especially want to interact with people. Interactive play between you and your cat will engage them in keeping active. You’ll mostly see your Ragdoll engage in short bursts of play separately by frequent naps.
Engaging in training with your cat is a great way to get them to be more active. Turning exercise into a game, such as fetch, will be much more fun for them than playing with a toy solo.
Training 🧶
Cats aren’t often thought of as being trained much more than simple litter box training. But the Ragdoll is one of the handful of breeds that are excellent learners. This trait seems to align with extra-friendly breeds, signifying that all cats can be trained; most of them just don’t care enough.
Fortunately, Ragdolls love all the attention they can get, so when you take the time to engage with them in training, they will excel. The use of tasty treats will also get them excited to perform.
Grooming ✂️
The Ragdoll is a long-haired breed, so extra care in grooming is required. Fortunately, their single coat is not very prone to tangles and matting. A minimum of once or twice weekly brushing will help a Ragdoll keep their locks under control.
More brushing will be required as Ragdolls age. It is more difficult for them to twist themselves into grooming positions. At this stage, professional grooming is recommended to achieve close care of their coat, particularly for sanitary reasons.
Ragdolls are unique because broadly speaking, they enjoy the water. It’s not known why, but many owners report their Ragdoll will happily jump in the bath and come running at the sound of running water. This is a bonus for when your Ragdoll gets extra grubby and needs a bath.
Image By: VeronArt16, Shutterstock
Health and Conditions 🏥
The Ragdoll is a relatively new breed of cat, emerging in the 1960s. They were developed using domestic longhair cats and purebreds like Persians, Burmese, and Birmans. As a result, the Ragdoll also inherited a few of the genetically predisposed diseases of these breeds. Heart and kidney diseases and eye issues are the most prominent of these for Ragdolls.
Minor Conditions
Obesity
Urinary tract infection
Serious Conditions
Cardiomyopathy
Polycystic kidney disease
Progressive retinal atrophy
Male vs. Female
Personality-wise, there is no substantial difference between a male and a female Ragdoll. Owners will impose many gender stereotypes on Ragdolls, but each of these can be met with an exception. Overall, you cannot judge what traits a Ragdoll will possess in their adulthood from their sex.
A Ragdoll’s upbringing and genetic makeup will have a much more significant influence. Suppose you are looking for a particular personality or temperament. In that case, researching your breeder and meeting the sire and dam will help you determine what your kitten may be like.
However, physically, there are differences between male and female Ragdolls. Males have the tendency to get a lot larger than females, potentially costing more in food bills! Also, males left intact may display testosterone-fueled behavior, such as aggression or scent marking. Getting a cat neutered reduces urine marking by 90%.
Female cats left intact will go through hormonal cycles, affecting their mood and general well-being. Spaying can stop these behaviors. In fact, desexing your cat is recommended if you do not intend to breed them. Desexing drastically reduces the risk of reproductive diseases.
If you can’t decide what sex Ragdoll to choose when faced with the decision, consider getting the opposite of any existing household cats. Same-sex cats may see each other as a threat and not get along as well. Alternatively, just toss a coin! Ragdoll owners will tell you it won’t matter because you are sure to get a second Ragdoll, anyway!
3 Little-Known Facts About the Ragdoll
1. They have a deceiving coat
At first glance, the long, fluffy, white coat of the Ragdoll looks like a nightmare for homeowners. All you may imagine is a home covered in white fur and cat allergens floating in the air. However, the Ragdolls’ coat is unique in that it has a minimal undercoat.
This means that although they have a lot of fur, they shed very little. Their soft fur will still shed mild amounts, though, just as you would expect from any other cat. Additionally, many cat allergies are due to the effects of cat saliva, so Ragdolls are also not considered hypoallergenic.
2. They are late bloomers
Most cat breeds will become fully mature on average around 18 months. Ragdolls are not considered mature until they are a whopping 4 years old! They are one of the largest cat breeds, so they need a lot more time to grow into their fluffy little boots.
3. They’re shapeshifters
If your young Ragdoll kitten ran away from home and came back a year later, you may not even recognize them!
Ragdoll kittens are born entirely white. They start developing color patterns some days after their birth. Over time, their colorations and patterns will keep changing and developing until they are fully mature (up to 4 years, remember!) So, don’t expect your perfect little Ragdoll to always stay the same. Be prepared to accept them no matter how they grow and change.
Image By: izmargad, Shutterstock
Final Thoughts
The Ragdoll is a charming breed. Their sweet nature is simply adored by all blessed with their addition to their families. But these gentle cuties can sometimes be overly tolerant and rarely express their discomfort.
This way, it’s vital for you to deeply get to know the inner workings of a Ragdoll if you want to provide them with a happy home.
After an early start in the veterinary industry and as a conservation educator at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Florida, Sophie has since been a successful Zookeeper and Conservationist, specializing in native New Zealand species. When she isn't bird watching in native forests or crawling through the underbrush at midnight searching for rare frog species, she can be found with her husband on their sheep and beef station, far from civilization. Alongside them, they have 2 cats, 9 chickens, and 11 dogs (most notably, her sidekick, a black Labrador aptly named Jellybean). Sophie enjoys her writing career as it provides opportunities to help and support pet owners of all kinds to give animals the best welfare possible. The only downside is the long list of strange searches in her internet history!
