Ragdoll cats have a relaxed and friendly personality, which make them ideal family pets. They enjoy being with humans and often seek out attention and strokes. Ragdolls are very wonderful companions as they are empathetic and in tune with human emotions. They are loyal and playful, despite being one of the largest domestic breeds of cats; bred to have extremely soft coats and attractive blue eyes.
Facts & advice
Ragdoll
Ragdoll cats are affectionate companions with a beautifully soft coat
Vital stats
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| Size: | Large |
| Coat: | Semi long-haired |
| Life span: | 12 – 17 years |
| Temperament: | Trusting, playful, relaxed, affectionate |
Ragdoll personality & temperament
One of the largest domestic breeds available, Ragdoll cats are known as gentle giants. They’re peaceful, sociable and inquisitive. A Ragdoll cat’s personality means they’re a delight to be around.
- This breed is ideal for a busy family atmosphere, they can tolerate reasonable levels of household noise, and their playful nature means they love being with children under supervision, provided they’re well socialised and their space is respected.
- Ragdolls like to get involved with the day-to-day activities of the household. Depending on the individual cat – some like to sit next to their owners, some like to follow them everywhere, some even like to snuggle up next to you at bedtime.
- A fully mature female Ragdoll cat can weigh from 8-15lbs (nearly 7kgs) and fully grown male ragdoll cats are even larger, weighing 20lb (over 9kgs). They’re one of the largest domestic cat breeds you can buy.
- They are on a constant search for attention so you may be followed around your house and affectionately head-butted. They’re ideal for cat owners who work from home, or who can spend hours with them.
- Ragdoll cats have similar personality traits to dogs as they form close bonds with their owners and are naturally very affectionate. They can learn to play fetch.
Ragdoll food & diet
As one of the largest breed of domestic cat, Ragdoll cats can have big appetites. Getting their diet right is important for their long-term health.
- As with all domestic cats, Ragdoll cats are obligate carnivores and must be fed a meat- based diet. The best food for your Ragdoll is a complete, balanced diet which is suitable for the current life stage of your cat.
- High-meat diets are rich in protein which is essential for a healthy coat, and for energy. A poor diet can also cause their coat to shed more and cause lethargy.
- As they are a naturally larger breed, it makes sense they have to eat a little more than smaller cats. When it comes to feeding requirements for Ragdoll cats you’ll need to ensure they eat enough to support their metabolism, whilst keeping an eye on their intake and exercise ensuring they don’t become overweight.
- The Ragdoll cats’ generous coat and bigger physique can hide weight gain. Being overweight could add stress to their joints and heart. If you’re not sure about the ideal weight for your Ragdoll cat it’s always best to consult with your vet.
Ragdoll grooming & coat care
A Ragdoll cat’s grooming requirements are lower maintenance than some other long-haired breeds, but they still need lots of care.
- You can identify a Ragdoll cat by their bright blue eyes and the ‘pointed’ pattern, meaning their faces are darker and their bodies are paler. Ragdoll cats have six different colour options: seal, red, chocolate, cream, blue and lilac.
- Ragdoll cat fur is soft, silky, and smooth. They’re not considered a long-haired breed but are instead a medium-length breed. Unlike their Persian, Siberian or Ragamuffin cousins, Ragdoll cats have a single coat without an undercoat. The benefit of this means there’s much less fur to manage, and less shedding, although they still shed more than the average shorthaired cat.
- Ideally using wide-tooth combs and brushes are best when grooming your Ragdoll cat, to help clear any shedding hair and smooth tangles in their coat. They should have home grooming sessions at least twice per week – start when they’re a kitten, so they become comfortable with being groomed and it’s a positive experience.
- Regular home grooming sessions are a chance to bond with your cat and to give them lots of affection. You may need to supplement your home grooming routine with professional appointments. Your Ragdoll cat may benefit from a hygiene clip around their backend.
Ragdoll training & behaviour
Ragdoll cats are friendly, affectionate cats with inquisitive temperaments.
- When they’re happy and safe, Ragdolls will often roll onto their back and show you their belly, demonstrating that they are relaxed and trust you completely.
- With a Ragdoll cat you’ll have a perfect balance of calm and playful. You should put time aside each day to play with them as a great opportunity for bonding.
- You’ll notice your cat is quiet and rarely vocal (although this can vary between individual cats), and instead like to rub against your legs, walk around with their tail raised, making eye contact to communicate their wants.
- Ragdoll cats are relatively easy to train because they are intelligent and respond well to treats and praise. They usually take to litter tray training well if introduced positively and with patience, skill, time and positive reinforcement they can learn tricks and play fetch. Training should start when they are a kitten.
- This breed can easily gain weight, especially as they like to relax a lot. Training your Ragdoll cat, playing fun games with them and giving them lots of interactive toys to play with helps them to exercise and manage their weight.
- The Ragdoll cat’s friendly, curious nature means they approach strangers warmly, so they are at risk of being stolen.
Common Ragdoll health conditions
As a cat owner you will want what’s best for your pet’s health so they can live a long, happy life. Like all breeds, Ragdolls are prone to certain health conditions. To help you be more aware and prepared for these potential ailments if they should arise, we have put together information on the health issues that we see the most in Ragdolls.
Like most breeds, Ragdolls may suffer from gum and dental disease during their lifetime. Gum disease occurs when some (or all) of a tooth’s deep supporting structures become inflamed. This begins when food, bacteria and minerals accumulate along the gum line, leading to the build-up of a brown scale known as tartar. When this undermines the gum the condition is called gingivitis. Eventually, small spaces can form between the gums and the teeth creating pockets of space for bacteria to grow, resulting in what is known as periodontal disease. The bacteria from infected gums can spread around the body and damage the liver and kidneys. This condition can be prevented with basic routine care such as feeding cats dry food and brushing their teeth, helping them to lead a normal, pain-free life.
The respiratory tract is divided into the upper (the nose, nasal passages and windpipe) and lower (small airways and lungs) sections. Like all cats, Ragdolls can suffer from cat flu, which affects the upper respiratory tract and causes sneezing and a nasal discharge. It is an incurable viral condition, but it is easily prevented by vaccination and the symptoms can be managed. Ragdolls can also be affected by a lower respiratory tract problem known as feline asthma, which occurs when allergies and irritants cause the lower airways (bronchi) and lungs to become inflamed and sensitive. Symptoms include coughing and wheezing. While many respiratory tract disorders are not curable, they can be managed with various long-term medications, including tablets, injections and even inhalers.
Heart disease in cats refers to when the heart’s structures aren’t working as they should be. There are two categories of heart disease: congenital (meaning the cat is born with it) and acquired (meaning the disease develops later in life). Congenital heart diseases include defects in the wall of the heart, abnormal valves and blood vessels. Ragdolls are prone to a disease called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which can lead to heart failure. Whilst this condition is not curable, it can be treated with lifelong medication.
Cats’ kidneys are responsible for filtering the waste products from their blood into their urine. Ragdolls may be affected by kidney disease caused by infections, blockages, tumours or toxins (especially licking anti-freeze) as well as age related changes. Chronic kidney disease occurs when the kidney function deteriorates gradually over a period of time. Treatment depends on the cause and the extent of damage, but usually begins by flushing the kidneys using intravenous fluids, followed by special diets and medications. Unfortunately kidney disease is irreversible, but with the right support many cats can enjoy a reasonably normal life.
The Ragdoll, like all cats, can suffer from problems affecting the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The GI tract is a long, winding tube that starts at the mouth and ends at the anus, with various twists and turns along the way. Conditions such as gastroenteritis caused by infections (like feline enteritis), poisoning or an obstruction within the bowel (due to the cat eating string for example) commonly cause vomiting and/or diarrhoea. Treatment depends on the exact cause, but prompt intervention usually results in a full recovery.
What to know before you buy or rehome a Ragdoll cat
Ragdoll cats are an easy breed to get along with, but they do need a little special treatment from time to time.
- It’s important to remember that Ragdoll cats are large. They have big appetites and will need a lot of high-quality food to maintain their health. They may also need a larger litter tray, lots of toys to keep them entertained, and regular grooming. As with any purebred cat, they can be expensive to buy and keep.
- Ragdoll cats take a while to mature so they retain their kitten-like manner. They stop growing at around four years of age and reach their full maturity at five.
- As with most cats, Ragdoll cats will benefit from outdoor access. Some owners may worry about theft, and therefore may prefer to offer supervised access or provided an enclosed cat safe garden. It’s particularly important to give indoor only cats plenty of mental stimulation.
- They require lots of positive attention. It’s great to give them that attention, but it does mean they don’t like to be left alone too much. They’re perfect cats for people who work from home.
- There are some health conditions which are common in all kittens, and some which are more likely to affect Ragdoll cats. They can suffer from a heart condition called Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM). These are things to discuss with your vet if you have any concerns.
- Setting up reliable pet insurance for your Ragdoll cat as soon as you bring them home is a good idea, so they’re covered for any health concerns which may develop as they mature.
Ragdoll frequently asked questions
The Ragdoll cat was created in the USA by Ann Baker. She was an experienced Persian cat breeder, and she crossed a Persian cat with a Birman-type cat. Baker noticed the kittens had extremely gentle temperaments and continued to breed them. The resulting cats were Ragdoll cats.
No, they are a modern breed. Ann Baker began to breed Ragdoll cats in the 1960s.
Ragdoll cats are intelligent and inquisitive, which make them ideal to train. With a little patience Ragdoll cats can learn to play fetch and perform tricks. Remember, positive reinforcement is key.
Yes! Ragdoll cats are very friendly and affectionate, which make them ideal family cats. They bond well with humans and tolerate children well – if socialised from an early age.
Ragdoll insurance considerations
Ragdoll cats sometimes suffer with certain health conditions and may require treatment. Petplan cat insurance offers peace of mind that they will always be protected.
We always offer these things as standard:
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy & pet therapies
Along with physiotherapy, which is covered within the Vet Bills benefit, we also cover Pet Therapies like herbal medicine, homeopathy and acupuncture. You can also claim for hydrotherapy, up to £500 per illness/injury in dogs and cats (no additional limit for rabbits).
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