The History of the Ragdoll Cat,

by Doliglwt Ragdolls

Hi, my name is Kay and I live in the Vale of Glamorgan with my son Joe and our three cats. Lili and Pud are two beautiful young Ragdolls and Buffy is a jet black, half-Siamese little minx! Our cats are our family pets first and foremost but our Ragdolls are also successful breeding and show cats.

The origin of the Ragdoll cat is surrounded by myth and controversy, created by Anne Baker in 1963, Ragdolls are said to be said to be descendent from one cat, named Josephine, a Persian and Burman cross. Sometime just before she had her first litter of kittens, Josephine was said to have been struck by a car and Anne noticed that the kittens were larger and friendlier than normal kittens.

The Ragdoll has big, saucer, blue eyes and inherited their name from the way they go entirely limp when picked up, just like a rag doll!.

They are the most easy going and gentle breed of cat. However, unlike most cats, Ragdolls are not aggressive and can't be left outside unsupervised as they will not defend themselves. Most do not even have the instinct to hunt either.

Ragdoll kittens just like Dalmatian puppies are born entirely white with no colour or markings. After a few days colour starts to appear on the tips of their ears, tips of their nose and tail. These are called their points, and therefore Ragdolls are colour-pointed similar to the markings of the Siamese cat. The points can be seal, blue, chocolate, lilac or red in colour and they can have tabby, mitted or bicolour markings. The last of the colours to show through is red or flame as it is called outside the UK.

Our Ragdolls are successful show cats, Lili has won three first place titles along with a Best of Breed too. Recently she came third in one of her side classed in a London-based, UK-wide National Show. This came as no surprise to those that know, Lili has the most gentle nature and could charm the birds from the trees!

Being show cats means that they are not neutered, yet our kittens are few and far between. Our breeding programme adheres to strict Governing Council of the Cat Fancy, and the United Kingdom Ragdoll Breeders Association guidelines and directives; aimed at protecting this very special breed and its bloodlines.