The Ragdoll Cat

The Ragdoll is one of the highly prized cat breeds around the world. The beautiful cat dates its origin back to the nineteen sixties when it was first developed in California, United States. Since then it has undergone a few changes but it still remains one of the best varieties among domestic cats as far as temperament and looks are concerned. A relatively big cat, the average Ragdoll weighs in the range of ten to twenty pounds, with males being larger than average females.

With its deep chested muscular physique the Ragdoll is an impressive physical specimen amongst house cats. Its long silky coat comes in four patterns, namely mitted, van, bicolor and colorpoint. Established fur colors are six. These include blue, chocolate, cream, lilac, red and seal. Points exist on face, ears, tail and legs like the Siamese, in various patterns including lynx, tortie and solid. Ragdolls are slow in development and do not reach their full size with a well developed coat until three to four years of age. When fully grown they have a curved profile with large hindquarters. They have big beautiful blue eyes and a very sweet facial expression.

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Ragdolls are the most laid back of all cats. They almost never get into fights and don't known how to defend themselves. Therefore they must never be left outdoors. It is often reported that they go limp when picked up though this may not be true in all cases.

Owing to their loving and sweet nature, Ragdolls make excellent pets for a household. They are playful though they keep their claws sheathed during play. They are gentle and affectionate animals and are also considered often to be the most loving of all cats. They follow their humans around everywhere, displaying a tender attitude towards them. The single layered coat doesn't shed or tangle easily and therefore does not require as through grooming as that of the Persian.

The Ragdoll Cat

The author is a blogger about cats and an expert on Ragdoll cats.

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The Deadliest Enemy of Ragdoll Cats

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most significant cause of heart failure and death in ragdoll cats. This disease is characterized by a marked thickening of the left ventricle (heart muscle mass). This increased muscular thickness determines a decrease in chamber diameters, meaning less blood will pass through the heart and, as a result your cat will have problems breathing, will eat less, will be lethargic and weak, will lose weight, suffer abdominal swelling, vomit more frequently, or will lose the ability to use its hind legs.

Cardiomyopathy is life-threatening for any cat but especially for ragdolls as usually they are pretty calm, lazy beings, making any initial symptoms much more difficult to spot. If a specific cause is identified and can be resolved, many (sometimes all) changes in the heart can be reversed. This only happens though in very rare occasions, usually ragdoll HCM being considered to be of an unknown cause (idiopathic HCM). Even in these cases a good treatment can alleviate the symptoms for a long period of time.

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Recently a genetic cause was found for this idiopathic form of HCM - MYBPC3 gene (cardiac myosin binding protein C gene), the same causing a human variant of HCM. Each gene comes in ever organism's genetic material in two copies; these copies can be identical (homozygous) or different (heterozygous). The ragdoll cats having a single copy of the defective MYBPC3 gene have a less severe outcome than the ones having two mutant copies. Some veterinary services already offer genetic testing for this gene, crucial for breeders as the frequency of these mutation is around 30%. Very important - if your cat has the gene, keep in mind that half of its offsprings will have it too; you shouldn't use these cats in breeding programs if you don't really have to.

The Deadliest Enemy of Ragdoll Cats

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Colourpoint Ragdoll Cats

Ragdoll cats, a special breed of cat known mainly for the 'ragdoll' temperament when they 'flop' around your house and when you hold them, come in many different colours and markings. Colourpoint is a very popular colour, meaning the points - the face, feet, ears; tails, of the cat are all a darker color than the rest of the body.

Colourpoint ragdoll cats come in seal, cream, blue, flame, tortie, lilac and chocolate. But there is discrepancy about what is recognized and what is 'new,' originally the ragdolls only came in seal, blue, chocolate and lilac, with other as 'dilutions,' so check with whoever the breeder is registered with to be sure, So what do each of the colours look like on a colourpointed ragdoll cat?

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A seal pointed cat will have dark brown to black colored points and the body will be light brown to cream. It is likely the chest will be lighter than the body, although sometimes this is not noticeable.

A cream pointed ragdoll will have cream coloured points, while the rest will be a light milk colour. Most striking about the cream point is the deep blue eyes, which will really stand out on such as light coloured cat.

A blue point can look a little like a seal pointed, but the points are a lighter, colder blue grey colour, lighter than the seal, and lack the brown of the seal. The body is a cool, off white blue, and the pads are blue grey like the points. While the seal pointed looks warm, the blue pointed looks cool.

A flame pointed ragdoll has a very clear colour of red or orange on points, and the body is a warm creamy color. It is considered that the deeper the color of the points in a flame pointed, the better.

A tortie pointed ragdoll will have more than one colour on the points; they may be intermingled or even come in patches around the body of the ragdoll cat. There is no 'acceptable' way for the colours to be expressed, it is random and all are acceptable, from this we get seal tortie, blue tortie etc, with different colours of the original intermingled on the points.

A lilac pointed ragdoll will have a very white body with cold pink tinged points; the pads tend to be a pink colour. The overall effect is very delicate, although it is often hard to tell a lilac pointed when young, as often the colors darken to become a blue or seal.

A chocolate pointed ragdoll will have an ivory coloured body and the points will be a milky chocolate colour - not too dark, often a chocolate might be mistaken for seal or blue, or the other way around. True lilacs and chocolates can be very rare and very hard to find, as the true chocolate gene is often not present.

Remember when choosing a colour, that in most cases, the colours will not fully develop until about 2 years of age, so you can never be truly sure about the type of ragdoll you have unless you genetically test it! If the breeder is charging more for a 'rare' colour, remember you are taking the risk that the colour will change as the cat ages, or that the colour is not 'true' at all.

Colourpoint Ragdoll Cats

David Jameson is a Ragdoll Cat enthusiast, helping people learn to live with Ragdoll Cats.

Find out more information For Ragdoll Cats Owners at http://www.MyRagdollCat.com. Please, visit the site's Recommended Reading section special for everyone interested In Ragdoll Cats.

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Ragdoll Cat Secrets by Ben Harper - Book Review

As a recent Ragdoll Cat owner I set out on the Internet to find information about the breed. I thought there was a lot of generic cat care information but nothing specific to Ragdoll Cats. Much to my surprise, I found the eBook entitled "Ragdoll Cat Secrets" (Ben Harper, 2006) filled with breed specific care information for Ragdoll cat owners.

At first I thought it might be a paperback but the book is only available for download from Clickbank. There are several bonuses that accompany the book including a software application called Pet Medical Recorder and a companion eBook entitled "The Pampered Pet Treat Cookbook."

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"Ragdoll Cat Secrets" starts with a very interesting account of the breed's origin. The breed was founded by a woman in California named Ann Baker that claimed her cats were brought here by Aliens. Ragdoll cats are famous for their laid-back nature and go limp when held, hence the name Ragdoll. Ann Baker claimed this characteristic stemmed from the cat's extraterrestrial origin.

The book continues with a detailed section on selecting a breeder and a healthy Ragdoll kitten, choosing a veterinarian, along with the care, grooming, and feeding at the different stages of your Ragdoll cat's life. The book is very easy to read, and in my opinion, definitely worth the .95 price to download. The only criticism I have to offer is that book is not fully-illustrated; I would have liked to see photographs of the different types and color variations of Ragdoll cats.

My Verdict: 4.5/5

Ragdoll Cat Secrets by Ben Harper - Book Review

The author Ben Harper sells the eBook “Ragdoll Cat Secrets” on his website found at:

http://www.ragdollcatsecrets.com

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Ragdoll Cat Care Tips and Resources

A ragdoll cat is a specific breed of cat, a rather large, actually very large, breed of cat. Caring for the ragdoll isn't too difficult; ragdoll cat care is much the same as caring for a non ragdoll cat.

If you are buying a little kitten from a breeder, then you will probably find the kitten will be nervous and uneasy for the first few days. It might even cry a little - you know the sound, that little meowing sound kitten's make that breaks our hearts.

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Some people choose to allow the kitten to sleep in their beds to make it feel better, and I'm sure your ragdoll will be happy to snuggle down under the covers. But ideally, your kitten should be kept in a smallish room, just for the first few days, because a large room might confuse and scare the kitty.

Make sure the ragdoll kitten has access to a litter box and clean water. Give them a nice big snuggly toy to cuddle up to; it will make them feel warm and safe.

Once you have bought your kitten home, you will be given a list of the food your ragdoll kitten has been weaned on. Whatever you do, don't change the diet for the first couple of weeks, not unless you want a kitten with diarrhea - all over your house.

I'm sure you would rather not be cleaning up that mess, plus it could result in dehydration - for the kitten, not you.

So use the same food, and after a couple of weeks, if you want to change the diet without causing rampant diarrhea, then add a small amount of the new food to the old food, and slowly increase the mixture each week.

As kittens are so small and cute, they can't eat a lot at once, but they do need a lot of food, with all that growing to do. So feed them little and often - at least 4 times a day at first, you can add some nice fish, a little beef or tuna to add variety.

Now, I know you probably think cats like milk, well, they do, but it will likely give them that dreaded diarrhea as well, so no cow's milk I'm afraid.

Now, a ragdoll cat has some benefits to a normal cat - their coat being one of them. They shed less than normal cats, and it doesn't tend to get matted too easily. What does this mean? Well, it means you don't have to have them professionally groomed often, and you don't need to brush them daily.

Once or twice a week will suffice. But it is important to groom weekly, to keep knots at bay and plus your new ragdoll kitten will love the attention.

You will be VERY glad to hear that you don't need to bath your ragdoll very often, once or twice a year is fine, and that saves on running around after a soapy cat and trying to stop it escaping.

As your ragdoll is an indoor cat, not an outdoor cat (due to their over trusting nature) it you should only need to worm them about 3 times a year maximum, compared to an average of every three months for an outdoor cat, also check for fleas.

If you do want to take you cat outside, treat it as you would a dog, ensure your garden is secure, and sit outside with them while they play, remember cat's can get in some pretty small holes, so they do need watching.

Ragdoll Cat Care Tips and Resources

David Jameson is a Ragdoll Cat lover, helping numbers of people to learn secrets of keeping Ragdoll Cats. His site http://MyRagdollCat.com/ quickly grow in popularity rankings delivering great advice to other cat enthusiasts.

Please, visit the site's Recommended Reading section to instantly discover more about Ragdoll Cat Care.

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All About Ragdoll Cats

Is the Ragdoll the perfect pet? If you're unfamiliar with the Ragdoll cat breed you are in for a treat. This mellow and outgoing feline is quickly becoming of the most popular cat breeds, and for good reason.

History of the Ragdoll

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The most widely accepted belief is that the Ragdoll breed originated back in the 1960's by a woman named Ann Baker, located in Riverside California. The breed was selectively bred over several years for specific traits, such as a large size, gentle temperament, and a tendency to go limp when held.

Physical Characteristics

The Ragdoll large in size and the body is usually stocky with short legs, and large in size compared with other cat breeds. The Ragdoll is listed with Guinness book of world records as the largest cat, with males ranging 12-20 pounds, and females averaging 10-15 pounds.

They have long, thick fur coats and markings that resemble a Siamese. There are four marking patterns: bi-color, van, mitted and pointed. They also usually come in six colors: seal, blue, chocolate, lilac, red, and cream. Points may be solid, lynx, or tortie. All Ragdolls also have piercing blue eyes that are a popular trait among owners.

Personality

Some people describe that Ragdoll has having a 'doglike' personality and this is absolutely true. They love to follow their owners around and crave attention. Their personality is laid back and they are content watching and observing whatever you are doing. They have been known to play ball or fetch and enjoy lots of activity. Ragdolls make excellent family pets and are really good with children and other animals.

As mentioned before, some Ragdolls will 'go limp' when you pick them up and hold them in your arms. They also like to lie on their backs with all four paws in the air displaying their general easy going nature. Due to their mellow personality, Ragdoll should be kept inside as much as possible. Ragdolls may have a hard time defending themselves to outside threats for this reason.

Care Guidelines

Ragdoll cats are generally easy to care for and have a smooth long coat that should be brushed a few times a week at minimum. Regular food and water is important, just like with any pet. Make sure to have toys and a scratching post at minimum to keep them occupied when you are not around. Claws should be clipped on a regular basis and you should establish a relationship with a good vet for regular checkups and vaccinations.

Locating Ragdoll Cats

Ragdolls are a special breed, and you should expect to pay a fair amount of money to get one. Prices of 0 or more are very common, especially from a reputable breeder that has kittens from champion bloodlines. Make sure to get registered papers and a health guarantee from any breeder you deal with.

All About Ragdoll Cats

Locate Ragdoll breeders, learn more about the breed, and join the discussion forums now at http://www.Ragdollcatguide.com

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Are You Familiar With Ragdoll Cat Breed?

The ragdoll cat breed is a recent breed of cat, created in the 1960's by a Persian cat breeder. The ragdoll cat breed is a very large cat, one of the largest of all breeds, with males growing up to and sometimes even beyond 20 pounds! Their size is the only thing big and strong about them though, ragdolls have an infinite charm, a personality that is gentle, loving and laid back.

Ragdoll cats come in a selection of colours and patterns, from pointed to mitted or bi-colour. Pointed have darker 'points' face, feet, ears and tails. mitted is just like pointed except with a white or cream coloured chest and chin and white feet. A bi-colour kitten has an upside down v on the nose.

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The recognized colours to see in a ragdoll cat are seal, cream, blue, flame, tortie, lilac and chocolate with some colours more popular than others. When choosing a ragdoll cat, remember the colours can take up to 2 years to fully develop, so what you see is not necessarily what you will get.

Sometimes the breeders will register the kitten under a certain colour, only to discover later that the colour has changed or they are not a true genetic colour, sometimes the less rare colours are mistaken for rarer colour, such as chocolate. Unless the kitten has been genetically checked, there is often no way to be truly sure.

A ragdoll cat will cost you between 0 - 0 or £300 - £600, more if you want a show quality cat. It is best to look for a ragdoll kitten from a registered breeder, one who will have taken good care of the mother and will take excellent care of the growing kittens, do not buy from a kitten 'farm' because the cats are not likely to as well looked after as a breeder's cat.

It is important that they do not let you have the kittens before 12 weeks of age, it is common for breeders to let them go at 6-8 weeks, but this is far too young, they will likely suffer from eating problems from not being fully weaned, including diarrhea and even behavioural problems.

A ragdoll cat does not need special care or extra training, but it important that they are kept as indoor cats, as the ragdoll, as lovely as they are, are far to trusting and usually end up getting into scrapes and problems.

The ragdoll is actually so laid back that if attacked, they might not even fight back; they are a docile creatures and creatures of habit, they love to spend time with you, they love to follow you around, they love company. It is important that you do not leave them alone for too long; if you are out working everyday then maybe the ragdoll cat is not for you.

They really shouldn't be regularly left alone for more than 3 hours at a time. Of course because of their somewhat huge size, they will need to eat more and more often, what will feed a normal size cat, will not feed a ragdoll; they will consider every opportunity a chance to eat.

If you want a loyal cat, then the ragdoll is for you, they will stick by your side always and everyday, but they expect attention and protection in return.

Are You Familiar With Ragdoll Cat Breed?

David Jameson is a Ragdoll Cat lover, helping numbers of people to learn how to live happily with Ragdoll Cats. His site http://www.MyRagdollCat.com quickly climbs in popularity rankings delivering great advice to other enthusiasts.

Please, visit the site's Recommended Reading section to instantly discover more about Ragdoll Cat Breed.

CAT BREEDERS

Ragdoll Kittens

Ragdoll kittens need special care, just like any other kittens. The first time you bring one home, you will need to take some things into consideration. Firstly, a kitten needs to be at least 12 weeks old before you bring him home, if he is only 6-8 weeks, and the breeder says it's alright, then find another breeder.

No reputable breeder should let you have a kitten too young, and less than 12 weeks is far too young. Before 12 weeks, the kitten might not be fully weaned, and suffer from diarrhea and sickness, causing dehydration, weakness and even death. Even if the result is not so serious, the kitten might suffer behavioral problems associated with leaving its mother too young. So, remember 12 weeks at least, no less.

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Most kittens will be skittish and nervous when you get them home, they are used to being around their mothers and brothers and sisters, not around you. So treat them carefully, it is important that you pick a local breeder, not one miles and miles away, because a 12 week old kitten will not do well traveling half way across the country in your car, keep the travel time to a minimum.

When you get your ragdoll kitten home, minimize the stress by keeping the kitten in one room, with you, make sure a litter tray is nearby and you show the kitten where it is. Give the kitten clean water and make sure you have some food - the one that the kitten has been weaned on.

Don't change the food for the first few weeks, the kitten will struggle to adapt to the change, it may suffer from diarrhea, sickness and lethargy. Instead, keep to the regimented food, feeding small amounts and often, and add any new food in small amounts to the old food, so the change is implemented slowly before proper bacterial environment in cats' stomach develops.

Remember, unlike many cats, ragdoll cats should never be allowed out by themselves, they are a trusting breed that lacks the street smarts of many other breeds, you should keep them in the house always, and work on leash training when they are old enough. Ragdolls are an intelligent breed, one capable of learning leash training in a matter of days, they respond well to both treats and affection, so use this in your training.

As ragdolls love attention so much, your new ragdoll kitten will likely follow you around all day. Ragdolls hate to be left alone, so ensure you spend as much time with your new kitten as possible, and they should never be left alone for more than 3 hours at a time regularly.

Ragdolls are a very adaptable breed; they will quickly get used to the new house, new routines, and to you. Make sure they have everything they need, all the comfort they require, and enough toys and games to keep them entertained.

If you don't offer them enough toys and playthings, they will likely use whatever they can find around the house as a toy or scratching post, whether it's the furniture or the books, clothes, shoes. Don't allow your ragdoll kitten to get bored, and they will offer you many years of companionship from their gentle, loving nature, curled up on your knee.

Ragdoll Kittens

David Jameson is a Ragdoll Cat lover, helping people to learn how to live with Ragdoll Cats.

Find out more about Ragdoll Cat Kittens at http://MyRagdollCat.com.

Please, visit the site's Recommended Reading section to instantly discover more about Ragdoll Cat Care.

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