with their silky, soft bunny-like, low shedding, matt-resistant fur, and beautiful blue eyes, Ragdolls are known for their exceptionally tolerant dispositions and sweet docile temperaments. Due to their passive nature, they get along well with other cats, dogs, children, and adults; tending to 'go limp' when picked up, like a child's rag doll. They are easy to train, love to play fetch, or like one of my own ragdolls they can turn off the lights. Owning a Ragdoll cat is like owning a puppy in a cat's body. If you want a constant companion and 'soulmate', then the Ragdoll is for you. Not only will they follow you from room to room, they love to snuggle up and sleep with you! THE RAGDOLL HAS NO UNDERCOAT; THEREFORE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALLERGY ISSUES TEND TO HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH RAGDOLLS!!!
The Ragdoll is a large, floppy, people-loving cat. It is said to be the largest semi-longhaired, blue eyed cat in the feline world. Adult unaltered males can weigh from 12 to well over 20 pounds in adulthood, with the female proportionately smaller. Slow to mature, the Ragdoll does not bring in its full color or attain its full weight until three to four years of age.
The ragdoll consists of four patterns:
the van with color only on ears and tail, white body with very few spots of color on body
the bicolor with an inverted white "V" on the forehead
the mitted with white mitts on front feet and white boots on the back legs
the colorpoint with no white
Ragdolls are born snow white and develop color at about five days: seal, blue, chocolate, lilac, cream, cinnamon and red. They can be lynx (tabby markings) or tortie (three colors).
Eyes start to open around seven to eleven days. The bluer the eyes the better; however, lighter blue eye color can be noted in dilute colors or patterns.
The head shape is a broad modified wedge, with slightly rounded contours, subtly rounded forehead, with the appearance of a flat plane in the area between the ears, the skull is medium in size.
Ears are medium in size, continuation of the modified wedge, broad at the base, slight tilt forward, rounded tip, medium tuft furnishings.
The chin is well-developed, strong, in line with nose and upper lip.
Eyes are blue, large, oval and moderately wide set, outer aperture to fall in line with base of the ear, (not oriental).
The muzzle is round and medium in length.
The Ragdoll profile is a gentle curve, with a straight last segment (at the nose).
The neck is short, heavy, and strong.
The body is medium to large, long and substantial with a full chest, the rump is slightly higher than shoulders. Shoulder blades are broad, not prominent. The fat pad on the lower abdomen is acceptable (Greater Omentum). The cat is heavier in the hindquarters.
Females may be appreciably smaller than the males.
Boning is strong and substantial, musculature is powerful.
Our Position on De-Clawing
The United States is the only country in the world that still legally allows the mutilation of cats! De-clawing, if done in humans, would take human fingers off at the first metacarpal. Imagine your fingers without your fingernails, cut off at the first end joint.
Our contract strictly states and enforces NO de-clawing of any kitten or cat purchased from Maple Leaf Ragdolls.
Any cat has only three basic lines of defense mechanisms:
scratching,
biting, or
running away.
If you de-claw a cat you take away one of these defense mechanisms. Now the cat tends to rely on the other two. De-clawing effectively turns a cat into a biter, or a scared cat. The cat may tend to be more timid and less friendly because of the de-clawing. We have heard cat people complain "My cat is not as friendly since I had it declawed", saying that their cat tends to run away from them, the owner. Or the cat may resort to biting. We have heard about cats biting their owners when a kitten/cat has been declawed. These people are more worried about their furniture than taking the time to train their new kitty appropriately.
Begin training your baby with a scratching post as soon as they arrive in your home! If trained (with a scratching post) cats will NOT damage your furniture/belongings!
