Ann Baker founded an exceptional cat breed. Her legacy to the world is that of a companion cat with soulful eyes, breathtaking beauty and impressive stature. Let's go back in time to California, USA 1964. According to publications by Ann Baker, her neighbour Mrs Pennells owned a white cat who resembled a white Angora. As was the custom back then, Josephine was not an indoor cat and had a couple of litters of feral kittens. One day Josephine was hit by a car and taken to the local hospital for treatment. Her next litter produced kittens who displayed very loving and trusting personalities. Ann begged her neighbour for a kitten. It is said that Ann believed Josephine was ‘genetically altered’ by the hospital and since then, produced these loving kittens. 

A new breed is created
Ann also fell madly in love with a male cat belonging to Mrs Pennells. In her own words, he had the “look of the Sacred Cat of Burma”. We now understand this meant he looked like a Birman. After endless begging, Mrs Pennells agreed that Ann could borrow this male to breed to the kitten (Fugiana) she received from her earlier. As a result, in 1965, the very first Ragdolls were born and given names. What is quite certain is that no purebred cats were ever used to ‘create’ the Ragdoll breed. In 1973, the first Ragdolls were shown and became the world's first Ragdoll Champions.

Three prices
Ann had different prices for the three patterns. From her writings, she charged “one price for white legs, another price for the black legs, and a third price for the mitted feet”. She believed “the mitted feet with the slight white strip down the nose and the white tail tip is the most valuable because the original father looked like that”. 

Named after little girls’ dolls
Because the offspring were very loving and relaxed, Ann named the breed after little girls' rag dolls. No cat should be carried this way, but the name ‘Ragdoll’ left the impression that they could be dangled from one hand. Ann also advised “not to bury one's Ragdoll when you think she is dead, as she is probably only sleeping”. Ragdoll breeders can attest to this! Some lines produce kittens with much more loving and laid-back temperaments. Until a breeder gets used to it, the fact that some kittens do not wake up as quickly as others and may go limp when picked up, is quite scary.

Temperament first
Ann stated that first and foremost, the Ragdoll is about disposition (temperament), then size and then colour (pattern). Contrary to popular believe, the Ragdoll does not have a ‘floppy gene’ and conscientious Ragdoll breeders carefully study and secure those Ragdoll lines that not only have good health, strong immune systems and great size, but that also produce extremely loving and trusting kittens.

A patented breed
In 1970, Ann franchised the Ragdoll name and Ragdoll breeders had to pay her a percentage of the receipts from their kitten sales. In 1973 she registered The International Ragdoll Cat Association (IRCA) as a business, declaring this company a registry of breeds that were different from all other breeds in that they could not be bred like other breeds, in order to maintain their breed. Ann declared that only cats bred back to the same male for seven generations, could be ‘pure’ Ragdoll. Of course, no modern-day breeder would ever do this kind of line-breeding. This declaration was just one of the many reasons that Ragdoll breeders eventually broke away from Ann. She, in turn, ostracised these breeders.

Are they really immune to pain?
Ann Baker published many articles and booklets stating that the Ragdoll is immune to pain. On request by The British Ragdoll Cat Club, a study was performed in 1988 and the two Ragdolls presented were found to be no different from any other cats in their perception and response to painful stimuli.

Indoor cat
Ann stated that the Ragdoll is not like any other cat in that she “does not have normal cat instincts and has to be taught everything”. In fact, Ragdolls are very clever. With a little bit of training they will soon be playing fetch, hide and seek, come on command and walk on a harness. Unlike some other cat breeds, the Ragdoll is generally not an adventurous breed and does well as an indoor-only cat, provided she has enough stimuli to keep her entertained. As with any other cats, great care should be taken to ensure that the Ragdoll pet is confined to a very secure house and garden.

Not always a lap cat
The ideal Ragdoll temperament is that of a cat who will greet your guests, follow you around the house to ‘inspect and help’, and in general keep you company. The typical Ragdoll is not a vocally loud cat. They tend to talk to you in a soft, sweet voice. The ‘lap cat’ label is not a guarantee in the Ragdoll. Some Ragdolls like nothing better than to sit on your lap or be loved all day long. Other Ragdolls prefer to sit next to you.

Breed standard
All pure-bred cat breeds have a Standard of Points (SOP) for showing and breeding purposes. The South African SOP describes the Ragdoll's appearance as a well-balanced cat with no feature overpowering another. The ideal Ragdoll should be a large, imposing and strongly built cat with type, size and conformation being the three most important attributes to be assessed.The Ragdoll head has a broad, modified wedge with slightly rounded contours and an appearance of a flat plane between the ears. The forehead is slightly rounded, merging into a gentle concave that ends in a straight, medium-length nose with a slightly retrousse tip. Ears are medium-sized, wide set, slightly flared with rounded tips tilting slightly forward. Eyes are large, oval in shape, slightly oblique and set wide apart. The Ragdoll should have a short and strong neck to match a substantially boned, large and long body and a solid, muscular and broad chest. A fat pad (greater omentum) is allowed on the lower abdomen. Legs are medium to long and the hind legs are slightly longer than the front legs. The plumed tail should be long, in proportion to the body, tapering slightly to the tip.

Silky coat
The Ragdoll has a silky soft, dense coat of medium length. A ruff and ‘trousers’ (pantaloons) are preferred. The ideal Ragdoll coat is non-matting, and just like with any other cat, shedding occurs with seasonal changes. Regular grooming is recommended. It not only removes loose hair (which will prevent hairballs), but it is also a wonderful way to bond and relax with your Ragdoll. Ragdolls are very clean cats and, unless you are showing your cat, regular bathing is not required.

Late maturer
The Ragdoll only matures at around four to five years of age. Point colouring is set by the age of two years. The ideal Ragdoll is impressive in size with altered males averaging 9kg and spayed females noticeably smaller, averaging 6kg. A diet of high premium kibble and canned food, fresh water and healthy treats is recommended. 

Genetic diseases
HCM (Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy) is the most common heart disease in cats – both pedigreed and non-pedigreed. HCM is found in a small percentage of Ragdoll lines. Reputable breeders are genetically testing and scanning their breeding cats on a regular basis to eliminate any carriers from their breeding programmes. During 2005 and 2006, Ragdoll breeders worldwide collected almost US$50,000 (about R346,000) to fund their very own DNA research of HCM in Ragdolls.

Three colour patterns
The Ragdoll is available in three patterns:
• Colourpoint Ragdolls – These cats have the classic Siamese markings. Mask, ears, feet and tail are coloured and no white is allowed on the cat.
• Mitted Ragdolls – These cats look as if they have stepped into and taken a deep drink of whipped cream. Mask, ears and tail are coloured. Chin and under-body are white, front feet have white mittens and back legs are white preferably up to the level of the under-body.
• Bi-colour Ragdolls – These cats look as if they went for a swim in whipped cream. Except for a white inverted ‘V’ on the face, the mask, ears and tail are coloured. Under-body, front and back legs are white.

Colours: Ragdolls are available in seal, blue, chocolate, lilac, red and cream. The tabby modifier gene is available in some lines. 

South Africa
During mid-1997 the first Ragdolls, to be used for breeding, were imported to South Africa. In November 1999 the Ragdoll breed achieved full championship status in the South African show halls. In 2001, NQ SP PM Raglin's Mille Miglia, a blue colourpoint altered female, was the first Ragdoll to compete at the prestigious Cat of the Year competition.
There are now many registered Ragdoll breeders in South Africa. Unfortunately, as the breed gained popularity, backyard breeders have been offering so-called ‘Ragdolls’ for sale to the public. Potential Ragdoll pet owners are strongly advised to confirm the validity and reputability of the Ragdoll breeder you plan to deal with by either contacting SACC at 011 616 7017, CFSA at 011 987 1170 or CASA at www.casawcf.co.za.

About the author:
Lin and her husband Robert Currie own Raglin Ragdolls. They have been breeding Ragdolls since early 2000. Lin and Robert are also professional pet photographers. Their images have been published in all local cat magazines as well as international media. For more information on their Ragdolls, please visit www.ragdoll.co.za.

Views from another breeder
Ragalon Amaretto of Ragtime (imp Aust), 12-month-old chocolate point female with a kitten out of Ragalon Lilac Lacey of Ragtime, both owned by Beverley Steyn (photo Beverley Steyn)

Beverley Steyn of Ragtime Ragdolls answered the following questions.

What are the most important physical features of a Ragdoll in your opinion?
Their size, coat and stunning blue eyes. A Ragdoll must have a bunny-fur-like feel to her coat.
 
What personality traits can our readers expect from a Ragdoll?
Ragdolls are real loving cats. They are friendly and will follow you around the house. They are not scared of strangers and will run up to greet anyone. Real lap warmers, who love kids.
 
What type of person should NOT own a Ragdoll?
If you don't like ‘clingy’ cats, then the Ragdoll is not for you. They do crave human company, so if you’re not at home a lot rather get another, more independent breed.

What special grooming, exercise and care does a Ragdoll need?
Ragdolls do not need any special grooming, just a quick brush once a week will do the trick. Just keep an eye out during the change of seasons for knots under their armpits. When it comes to exercising, a feather on a string will give her loads of exercise and is an excellent way to bond with your Ragdoll. Ragdolls do not need any special care as they are generally a healthy breed, but remember to keep their vaccinations and de-worming up to date.

Is there anything else you think is important about the breed (and specifically its care, genetic disorders) that our readers should know about in your opinion?
Make sure you buy from a reputable breeder who DNA-scans his or her breeding stock, as Ragdolls are genetically prone to PKD and HCM. Not all blue-eyed, pointed cats are Ragdolls. Some backyard breeders sell ‘ragdoll type’ cats at lower prices as the real deal. Make sure they are registered in South Africa at one of the cat registering bodies. Ragdolls are slow maturing cats, thus they need good quality food to help them grow. Not all Ragdolls have the ‘floppy’ trait, but even if they do have it, they do not like to be ‘dangled’ since it can hurt their backs as they are heavy cats.

Text: Linn Currie
Photography: Linn Currie, Theresa Fouche

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