Ragdoll Cats are one of the most beautiful breeds of cats that people often consider while choosing their companions. They are large in size, which sometimes creates misconceptions that they must be dangerous for children.
However, despite their big size, they are very friendly and can be a great addition to any family, even one with toddlers or other pets.
Their soft coat and blue eyes make them look more beautiful. A Ragdoll cat takes about three years before reaching its full adult maturity, and even after that, it won’t stop showing its love by cuddling you and sitting in your lap.
However, despite their distinctive look, one can only distinguish them from other breeds of cats. In this article, let us explore how you can identify a Ragdoll cat.
Physical Characteristics
Ragdoll cats have a beautiful physical appearance. Many physical characteristics make them unique and can help you identify them quickly.
Colour and Pattern
Their pointed colouring is one of the characteristics that make them distinctive. These cats can have a variety of colours and patterns, but they exhibit the pointed breed characteristics, which means that their body will be lighter in colour compared to their face, ears, tail, and legs (points of their body). Here is some more information about this breed:
👉 This breed of cats has four main patterns: bi-colour, van, mitted, and colourpoint. Seal, blue, chocolate, lilac, red, and cream are the six significant colours that appear in the four patterns.
👉 The colourpoint ragdoll cats have the classic “pointed” markings and no white anywhere in the coat.
👉 The mitted Ragdoll cats have white feet in the front, boots of the same colour up and around the hocks in the back, a white chin, and a belly stripe. They may also have a blaze, star, or hourglass patch of white on their forehead and nose.
👉 The bi-colors generally have more white. Their paws, underbodies, chests, and an upside-down ‘V’ marking on their faces are also white. Tails, ears, and the outer part of their masks are exceptions that show the darker markings.
👉 Regarding the remaining Van pattern, only the top of the mask, ears, and tail and a few spots on the body show darker markings.
Blue Eyes
As we told you earlier in the article, this breed possesses beautiful, bright blue eyes. So, when you look at a cat that doesn’t have blue eyes, you can be sure that it’s not a ragdoll cat because, according to the breed standards for Ragdolls, all cats of this breed must have blue eyes.
You might have noticed that some breeders advertise non-blue-eyed variations of this breed, but this variant is not accepted by any major association and is not included in the written Breed Standard for Ragdoll cats.
So, if you want to be sure of the true Ragdolls, then you shouldn’t ignore this characteristic.
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Size
One common characteristic that can be noticed with little brainstorming is their large size. Ragdoll cats are usually larger than other breeds of cats. Not only is their size big, but so is their food intake.
They eat more than other breeds and have bigger sizes; however, they aren’t as heavy as they look. Usually, people overestimate their weight by just looking at them. But if you lift them, you’ll realize that even an adult male Ragdoll is generally around 15 to 20 pounds; on the other hand, adult females typically weigh 10 to 15 pounds.
Texture of Coat
If, for curiosity, you decided to lift a cat, then apart from weight and size, you’ll notice one more of their distinctive features – the texture of their coat.
By looking closely, you’ll see that their coat is fluffy, and the thing you would like most is that they won’t shed much on you. Their fur is medium long and doesn’t require much grooming.
They shed very little, and you don’t even need to worry much about it because their coat is soft and very easy to clean. It just sits on the surface of fabrics rather than deep into the material.
The personality of Ragdoll Cats
If you can’t identify a Ragdoll cat even after analyzing its physical appearance, you should look for some personality traits that this breed often shows.
👉 Ragdoll cats usually have docile personalities. They are very calm and easy to get along with. They enjoy playing interactive games with you, like following you around the yard.
Generally, they don’t try to harm anyone or behave wildly. If a cat is aggressive very often, it is probably not a Ragdoll.
👉 This breed is very docile. It quickly gets along with children and other animals. Its calm nature helps it adapt to new environments. If you bring one into your household, it will try to befriend your children and other pets.
Children sometimes try to drag pets into their house while playing; different breeds of cats may become aggressive about it, but Ragdolls have been observed to be calm in such situations, which is why they are loved so much.
👉 As we told you earlier in the post, this breed loves cuddling and is known for being very affectionate. They are also referred to as lap cats who love spending much of their time napping on or near their owners.
This breed behaves like children; they will enjoy being carried on your back. When you try to pick them up, they will go slightly limp, a characteristic that explains why they are called Ragdoll cats.
Wrapping Up
If you are still unsure whether your cat is a Ragdoll, we recommend consulting a reputable breeder. Many associations dedicated to Ragdoll cats can connect you to breeders.
If you are facing difficulty in finding a reputable breeder or don’t want to visit them, you can also get help from a veterinarian.
If you own a pet, you must have visited a veterinarian. Next time you visit their clinic, ask them if your cat is a member of the Ragdoll breed. The vet can help you assess your cat’s features and characteristics and determine its breed.
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