The Ragdoll, a breed of cat developed in the 1960’s, earned its name primarily due to its easy going nature and the tendency to go limp when picked up or handled.

The blue-eyed Ragdoll comes in a variety of colors and color patterns.  Kittens are born all white, but will begin to develop their colors and patterns by 8-10 weeks of age.  They will have their full coat and color by 3-4 years of age.  The long, fluffy hair of a Ragdoll should be groomed regularly.  This breed lacks an undercoat, so the hair doesn’t shed or matt up as quickly as other long haired breeds, but frequent brushing is still a must to keep the skin and hair coat in good condition.

Ragdolls weigh in between 10 and 18 pounds underneath all that hair.  The most common health concern with this breed is Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, which causes thickening of the heart wall and keeps the heart from being able to pump blood efficiently.  If Ragdolls have 2 copies of the gene for HCM, they will develop this condition very early in life.  Other cats may or may not develop this condition later in life.

The affectionate Ragdoll makes a good companion.  For more information, visit www.cfa.org.