Origins of the Ragdoll

Ann Baker founded the Ragdoll breed in the early ‘60's in California. The first Ragdoll kittens were actually born of a white, longhaired, mixed-breed female named Josephine who resembled an Angora although she was not. Their father was a big seal point male with a white blaze, white mittens and a white tail tip named Daddy Warbucks. The kittens from this original breeding were so exceptionally large, docile and beautiful that Ann Baker realized how special they were; she began a breeding program, and started selling breeding pairs as franchises. Ragdolls were not recognized by any of the cat registries at that time. Instead, Ann Baker started her own registry, the International Ragdoll Cat Association (IRCA). 

Above is a picture of Ann Baker from the book The Definitive Guide to Ragdolls

However, in 1965 several people who purchased breeding cats from Ann Baker broke away from IRCA and her controlling, difficult rules, and began their own breeding program. They developed a set of standards

Description of the Breed

Little Sky, Left, is beginning to show she's a Seal Lynx Bi-Color  at 8 days.

Ragdolls are blue-eyed, pointed cats. The kittens are born pure white with pink noses, feet and ears. Traces of their color and pattern emerge as they cool down after birth. The gradual cooling and subsequent change from pure white to the colors and patterns of the breed is typical of all pointed breeds, e.g., Siamese, Himalayan and Birman.

 

Ragdoll adults are large, loving, laid-back, semi-longhaired cats. The body is light-colored, with darker color at the points or the face, legs, tail and ears. In most patterns, the points are partly covered with white markings.  A detailed description of recognized Ragdoll colors and patterns is located in the New York Dolls Goals section.  Ragdoll are well-balanced cat, with no extreme features. Altered males may reach 20 pounds or more; females are proportionately smaller. Ragdolls are slow maturing, reaching full coat color at two years, and full size and weight at four.   Your Ragdoll should never be allowed to roam outside.  They are much too gentle to defend themselves from predators, human or animal.

Camilla is demonstrating the "laid back" part of the job

Photos by Joan C Ludwig Music is Stray Cat Strut by The Stray Cats