Ragdoll Kittens, Ragdolls & Ragdoll Breeder

Ann Baker of Riverside California developed this breed. She had noticed a marked difference in the kittens produced by the neighbor's feral white cat a Queen they called Josephine. After a car accident in which Josephine was severely injured and was taken to the University Hospital, she was treated and nursed back to health and eventually returned to the neighbor. Prior litters produced by Josephine were wild. After Josephine's return, Ann noticed subsequent litters seemed to demonstrate the ability to relax and become somewhat limp like a Ragdoll toy, therefore she named the breed RAGDOLL.

Photo by Helmi Flick

Ann was involved in a Black Persian breeding program and would often borrow a son of Josephine's named Blackie from the neighbor to sire progeny in her Black Persian Breeding Program. On such a visit to the neighbor to borrow Blackie, Ann noticed Blackies's half brother also a son of Josephine, Father Unknown, was the only kitten in that litter. He possessed white mitts in front and white boots in the back with a dark seal face ears and tail and Blue eyes and a white Blaze with a white tail tip. Ann was enthralled with this son of Josephine the half brother of Blackie and she named him Raggedy Ann Daddy Warbucks.

Another lady who lived in the mountains had acquired a previous litter of Josephine, upon her return move back to the neighborhood, Ann managed to acquire that litter from the lady. By now Ann owned a black female from a mating of Josephine and Blackie. She called this female Buckwheat, Ann was given another female a daughter of Daddy Warbucks. Ann named this female from Daddy Warbucks, Raggedy Ann Fugianna. Fugianna was a badly marked bicolor. She possessed a wide inverted V on the face and had white and dark color on the ears, and a great deal of white on the body. But soon the Matriarch of this small budding family would be no more. After several fights with the family dog while protecting her family, The Founding Queen Josephine and her remaining kittens were gathered up by the owner and taken to the pound where they were destroyed. From this small but sturdy family of the Queen Josephine sprang the RAGDOLL.

Photo by Helmi Flick

Fugianna was bred to her half Brother Daddy Warbucks and in that litter there were two Bicolors named Raggedy Ann Woo Wong and B'Wana. Buckwheat was bred to her half Brother Daddy Warbucks, in that litter was four kittens two were solid, their names were Gueber and Mitts, two were Seal. One was a mitted Male named Raggedy Ann Kyoto and a Female Chocolate Color point Named Raggedy Ann Tiki/ Ann separated them into Groups the progeny from Fugianna would be called the light side. The progeny from Buckwheat would be called the dark side. No one knows what happened to other littermates of the kittens, but is widely assumed they were incorporated into other lines that Ann was developing, The complete history of the Ragdoll is recorded in the book called the "Definitive Guide to the Ragdolls" Authors are: Lorna Wallace, Robin Pickering and David Pollard.

Sadly Ann Baker Passed away in January of 1997. I will always be eternally grateful to Ann for her 30 year devotion to her Breed the Ragdoll and to all of those who have followed, and have strived to perfect this Breed, and all who generously share the knowledge they have gained over the years and continue to work for the betterment of the Breed.

Description

The Ragdoll breeds true, it has never been necessary to reintroduce any other breeds to maintain it. The Ragdoll has large oval blue eyes, and has an exceptionally well balanced temperament. It wants to be where you are, and will follow you everywhere. It is intelligent, playful, and affectionate. it will easily adapt to other cats, dogs, children, people, even birds and ferrets.
This responsive Cat may, with training go for a walk on a leash or ride on the seat beside you in the car, It will fetch a favorite toy or crumpled paper tossed in play and bring it back time and time again for another toss, It will learn tricks such a "Shake Hands" or "How about a kiss" performing them promptly and prettily. Some will even give you a "High Five"

The Ragdoll is an irresistibly huggable cat, growing exceptionally large and heavy. Full maturity of size and color are not to be expected for at least three years. (Just when you think the Ragdoll has finished growing, it grows some more, sometimes well after it's third birthday.) Adult males may reach eighteen pounds or even larger. Females will weigh about five pounds less and be a few inches shorter.

Adding to it's cuddliness is it's unique characteristic of going limp in you arms when you pick it up, and it's unusual semi long to long silky, Non Matting , Low Shedding fur which flows into a luxurious ruff and full plumed tail with long flowing pantaloons. The Tufts in their ears and between the toes and large size gives this cat the overall impression of great strength and grace.

The Ragdoll is a cat of great beauty, and it is pure joy to be owned by such an exquisite creature. They are addictive and most people cannot stop at just one. You may find that friends come to visit more often, and will readily tell you they came to visit the Cat.
Beware !!!! The beauty of these cats may Attract "Cat-Nappers."
If Grandma and Grandpa live with you, they may give the excuse that they didn't make their beds because the Ragdoll was still in bed and they did not want to disturb it. Then Uncle Joe who rarely visited and certainly had no use for cats, suddenly starts stopping by on a regular basis with toy mice and little bags of treats. Well !!! Congratulations you've got a RAGDOLL.

5 Patterns

Colorpoint: Will have a colored mask on the face, nose, ears, paws, with colored paw pads and tail. With a lighter contrasting body.

Mitted: Will have point color on the face, nose, ears and tail, However they will have white mitts on the front paws and white boots on the back legs. they will also have a white chin and ruff and the stomach will be white.

Bicolor: Will have a point color mask but is interrupted by a white inverted V , It's muzzle will be white It's nose will be pink, it's ruff, front legs, chest, stomach and back legs will be white. paw pads will be pink. They also have a saddle, when viewed from a distance they appear to be wearing a mask and a cape.

Lynx Point: Will be all of the above patterns, but it will have subtle tabby markings as well. it will have the appearance of wearing white eyeliner, and the inside of the ear will be white, with white tufts. Often lynx kittens give the appearance of miniature lions.

Tortie Point: Torties can be any of the above patterns but will have a mixture of the basic color with Cream or Red. These can be striking cats. Some will look like one side of the face is one color and the other side is another. or they can look like some one just flung a paint brush at them and color flew everywhere, I Find Torties to be especially affectionate and loving.

Colors

Seal Point: Dark Brownish Black Point color with dark nose leather and paw pads. Body color can vary from light beige to a warm brown.

Blue Point: A Blue Grey with blue nose leather and paw pads. Body color can be ivory to a bluish white.

Chocolate Point: Point color looks like milk chocolate, nose leather will be dark rose color, paw pads will be a fleshy pink. Body color is ivory.

Lilac Point: Point color will have a bluish Lilac tone, nose leather will have a lilac tinge, paw pads will be a coral color. Body will have a milky white color.

Red Point: Point color will be a very dark reddish orange. Nose leather will be pink, paw pads will be pink. Body color will have a deep rich creamy color.

Cream Point: Point color will be a dark creamy color Nose leather and paw pads will be pink, Body will be a light creamy color.