HISTORY OF THE BREED
The Ragdoll Cat breed got its start in Riverside, California, during the 1960s. Ms. Ann Baker, breeder (now deceased), had a friendly white domestic longhair cat who had a reputation for giving birth to kittens with extraordinary amiable personalities. As she worked toward developing the breed that would become the Ragdoll, Baker collected a variety of longhair cats of different backgrounds (Persians, Burmese, and Birmans), focusing on excellent temperament, luxurious coats with Himalayan points, and large in size.

In 1971, Baker set up her own cat breed registry which she called the International Ragdoll Cat Alliance (IRCA).

In 1975, a group of Ragdoll cat breeders left the IRCA in hopes of introducing their cats to major registries. They were able to develop non-IRCA Ragdoll breed standards and were eventually adopted by The International Cat Association (TICA), the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA), and other mainstream registries.

IRCA is still in existence and IRCA Ragdoll cats are still considered separate from the mainstream and not recognized at major cat shows or by main street cat breeder organizations.

In 1979, TICA accepted the Ragdoll for championship status. In 1993, CFA granted the breed registration status. And, in 2000, Ragdolls gained championship status with the CFA. Today, these beautiful cats are recognized by cat breed registries worldwide.

THE BREED STANDARD
Body: The Ragdoll cat is of medium to large size, with no extreme features. The body is broad, solid, long, and full, with a muscular feel.
Head: The head is proportionately large with a broad, modified wedge shape that forms an equilateral triangle from the outside of the ears’ bases to the end of the muzzle. The muzzle is gently rounded, and males might display jowls.
Ears: The ears are medium sized, with wide bases and rounded tips. Ample furnishings may be present.
Coat: A Ragdoll cat’s coat displays far more non-matting guard hairs than wooly undercoat. Facial hairs are short. The coat’s length may be shorter in warm weather than in cold.
Color: Ragdoll kittens are born white. At full maturity, which takes place between the ages of 2 and 4 years, Ragdoll cats display a variety of colors and patterns in several beautiful hues including seal, chocolate, lilac, red, and blue, as well as in tortoiseshell and lynx. Many have subtle white markings on their faces and undersides. Mitted Ragdoll cats have white "snowshoe" feet and may also have white markings elsewhere.
Eyes: The eyes are large, with an oval shape. All purebred Ragdoll cats should have blue eyes.
Legs and Paws: The legs are of moderate length and heavily boned. The front legs often display shorter fur, while the hind legs show longer, feathery britches.
Tail: The Ragdoll cat’s tail is long and full, with an attractive plume.
Personality: Friendly, easygoing, cuddly, social