The Ragdoll is a friendly and affectionate a middle-haired cat from the USA, which is well suited for apartment living and needs a lot of attention. They enjoy being around people and other animals, but they can be wary of strangers.
In this article you will learn everything about ragdoll cat – the personality, character, behavior and special features.
Characteristics of Ragdoll Cats
The Ragdoll is considered the largest domestic cat in the world. The size and weight of the long, muscular and powerful masked and pointed cat are extremely impressive. Thus, males weighing approximately 12 kilograms and 120 centimeters in length with a shoulder height of up to 40 centimeters are not uncommon.
Among the main characteristics of a ragdoll cat, the following can be distinguished:
- Its chest is broad and well developed.
- The legs of the Ragdoll are of medium length, with the hind legs standing slightly higher than the front legs, giving the back line a slightly forward sloping appearance.
- The paws are large, round and compact.
- The tail of the Ragdoll is long, bushy and well furnished with hair. Towards its end it tapers.
The Ragdoll cat face is medium-sized and wedge-shaped. The large, oval, blue eyes are prominent. Their nose should have a slight curve in the upper third. The muzzle is round and tapers to a pronounced chin. The ears of the Ragdoll are of medium size with a wide base and rounded tip. They are also set wide apart and slightly tilted forward.
Hair
With its dense, soft coat of medium to long hair, the Ragdoll looks at first glance like a stuffed animal come to life. They have a silky and soft coat that is easy to groom. A large ruff frames the face, giving the appearance of a bib. On the face itself, the fur is short. On the sides, belly, and rump, it is medium to long. On the forelegs it is short to medium length.
The colors of Ragdoll cat hair are Seal-, Blue-, Chocolate- and Lilac-Point, since some time also new colors like Red- respectively Flame-Point and Cream-Point.
Temperament of Ragdoll Cats
The ragdoll is a breed of domestic cat that is noted for its docile temperament. They are known to be extremely gentle and good-natured. Even though they are rather quiet apartment cats, it is never boring with them. Ragdoll cats are playful and very often up for fun. But even if they are taken by the playfulness, you do not have to fear for your apartment. These pets are attentive and move smoothly and elegantly even in strange apartments. Ragdoll cats are friendly, balanced, curious and affectionate. They follow a beloved human at every step. This cat is also suitable for children.
Personality Traits
The list of positive Ragdoll cat traits is long: calm, balanced, peaceful, friendly, affectionate and balanced. Considering this nature, it is not surprising that the cats of this breed are often kept by families in the house. Their very people-oriented nature is reflected in another peculiarity: a Ragdoll usually does not look for a place on the sofa or in the cat hammock to sleep, but in the immediate vicinity of a person to whom the animal has a close bond.
They called Ragdoll cats from the English ‘rag doll’. However, the origin of this is not their plushy appearance, but another peculiarity: as soon as an animal is picked up, it lets itself hang limply, just like a doll.
It should also be mentioned that the temperament of Ragdoll cats is very social. Socialization with conspecifics is usually uncomplicated. Other animals in the household are also accepted, so even living together with (peaceable) dogs is no problem.
Ragdoll cats can be easily trained to use the litter box as they have a natural instinct to bury their waste.
Special Characteristics
The fact that the cat’s body goes limp when it is lifted has nothing to do with a diminished sense of pain in the animals, which researchers initially suspected. Rather, this characteristic is due to their great trust towards humans. Like other large cat breeds, Ragdolls, especially males, have a predisposition to heart disease. Therefore, when choosing an animal, you should pay attention to a recognized breeding. Of course, this does not guarantee the health of the animal.
Conclusion
We can talk a lot about Ragdoll cats. They are known for their docile and laid-back personality and gentle temperament. Ragdolls have a low-to-medium activity level and they do not require much playtime. They are very intelligent and easy to train as they respond well to positive reinforcement.
So if you are planning to get a cat – a Ragdoll is one of the best choices for good and careful owners.