Ragdoll: color variations, character and content rules

Ragdoll refers to cats of large and loving breeds. They are popular among breeders and are favorites of all households. From the material in this article you will learn how these cats look and where they came from, what their nature is and how to properly provide them with proper care.

Ragdoll in translation means "rag doll." She owes her appearance to a Persian breeder from Riverside (USA), who bred Persian cats. The origin of the breed, which is the only one with a patent, originates in 1963. Anne Baker, noticing an Angora cat from a neighbor, decided to tie her with a Burmese cat belonging to the Pennels family.

Both parents were calm, flexible and obedient. It is not known for certain whether the accident caused the cat's complaisance, as a result of which she could become relaxed and even inhibited. However, Josephine (that was the name of the female) was very devoted to those who fed her. The cat had a beautiful and spectacular appearance, and all her neighbors especially liked her bright blue eyes.

The born kitten, Daddy Warbuks, and his descendant, Fugianna, were the first individuals to be recognized by the National Cat Association of Cat Lovers. Kittens were extremely amorphous, they could be slowed down and squeezed as much as desired. They inherited the static mother, had a furry coat and large blue eyes.

In the future, the breeder decided to pay attention to the breeding of new cats, paying particular attention to maintaining the quality of the breed.Her main idea was to obtain a cat breed with a peaceful and complaisant character. At one time, the American Ragdoll Club introduced requirements for its members prohibiting the use of other species for breeding this breed. It was important for them to preserve the external signs and traits of character.

Ragdoll has a truly unique appearance. Representatives of this breed have a proportionally developed body, they are considered one of the largest domestic cats. The weight of an adult cat can reach 12 kg, while the female weighs about 3-4 kg less. The size of animals is also impressive.

Sometimes ragdolls are confused with their closest relatives - Burmese cats, which is caused by a characteristic color. However, the standard in cats clearly outlines its symptoms. The shape of the head resembles a wide modified wedge with slightly smooth contours. The skull is flat, small, the forehead is slightly rounded, the muzzle is rounded.

Ragdoll's eyes are large and oval. They are spaced moderately wide and slightly inclined (external angles slightly elevated). The cat's profile is somewhat curved, it ends with a straight neat nose, the chin of the breed representative is well developed, and the bite is correct. The ears of cats are small, they are wide at the base and rounded at the ends, slightly inclined forward.

The neck of the cat is quite powerful, it is proportional to the head and body. The body itself is not long, it seems to someone rather stocky. The chest is powerful and wide, a fat fold may be observed on the stomach. Paws are large, rounded, they differ in length - the hind legs are longer than the front ones. Between the fingers there is pubescence.

The body of the cat's body is massive, the back is heavier. The width of the shoulders is comparable to the width of the pelvic part. The tail of the representative of the breed is long and thick, although it tapers towards the end. It is covered with long hair. The cat's fur coat itself is quite thick and silky.

The standard allows its length to be large and medium. However, the breeders' priority is precisely the long-haired type. Moreover, the length of the coat on different parts of the body is different. For example, it is longer on the tail, stomach and sides. The factory owners also like thick cheeks of cats, but the standard does not include some slanting eyes of individual cats, a Roman nose and an excessively thick undercoat.

Three types of ragdolls are known today. The selection includes the following: colpoint, mitted and bicolor. Each of them has its own nuances.

• Colorpoint implies a light shade of the fur coat on the body, shaded by dark points on the head, legs and tail. The mask covers the forehead. The lightest shade is on the chest and neck.

• Mitted (or glove color) has similar distribution of points. The difference is the white color of the paws. A strip of white color runs from the chin and down through the breast, stomach, ending at the base of the tail. At the same time, there is less white on the front paws, the color of the hind legs forms the so-called boots.

• Bicolor there is nothing but a two-tone color. There is a clear contrast between areas of different colors. In such cats, a white mark in the shape of the letter V is visible on the face. A dark pigment captures most of the forehead, the area around the eyes, and it is on the cheeks. The back is lighter in comparison with a dark point, it can be spotty.

This makes each color variety special in its own way. For example, laylak point (or lilac color) in the breed is considered the most unique and rare. The main color of the fur coat of these cats is snowy white, the contrast color is the shade of ivory with a subtle gray-pink undertones.

The standard recognizes point those hairs that are dyed evenly along the entire length.Brown point (or chocolate) is basically a touch of warm baked milk. It is shaded by marks of a shade of milk chocolate, for which it received such a name. It is noteworthy that kittens are born white, and get their final color by the age of two.

A blue point (or the so-called blue point) is nothing more than a fur coat with a basic light gray tint and dark gray points (marks) with a bluish undertones. Seal point is a classic Siamese color. The main background color is a touch of light tan, the color of the marks is dark brown.

It is worth considering that black or red cats are not included in the standard. If you are trying to sell such a kitten, you can be completely sure that he is not a representative of this breed - the "rag doll" does not have such colors.

Ragdolls are extremely socialized pets. They are very sociable and need constant communication and attention. Their habits and visual characteristics indicate phlegmatism. However, despite some relaxation, the movements of cats are graceful.

This is not to say that they are incredibly jumping, which is explained by a decreased muscle tone. However, they love to play with the owners, as well as demonstrate their agility. At the same time, a large part of the representatives of this breed likes to sit on the pens, chat with the owner. Cats are far from idle, but when they get into their hands they literally relax and dissolve in their arms.

At the same time, the pet can sit for a long time even in a position that is not quite convenient for him. This must be taken into account by the breeder, because if an animal in an inconceivable pose needs to urgently jump to the floor, it can injure him. It is necessary to put down furry hands and knees so that they can land on all four legs.

A malleable kitten or adult cat will not resist if children do it. He will like the grip, but the risk is that the careless movement of the child will harm the pet. At the same time, the fluffy may not immediately respond due to the reduced pain threshold.

He agrees to endure a long journey and a change of scenery, but not the loss of precious communication. He will not take revenge on the owner for separation or severe reprimands - this is not his nature.

Since childhood, kittens have a good memory and quick wit. They are devoid of any aggression, show curiosity and love to be in the center of events. Neither kids nor adults do not go into conflict, they are not their instigators. Pets do not like loud screams or aggressive music. From time to time, they like to enjoy the silence and need their place. Without him, they often sleep in the master's bed.

Noteworthy is the fact that cats often grow monogamous. The male often takes care of the female for a long time, and this period can stretch for two to three years. Individual males rarely allow themselves to cover more than two females. Other interesting character traits include the ability to yield. These pussies do not enter the battle and do their best to prevent situations that could lead to this.

Ragdolls are affectionate and gentle, sitting on the hands of the owners, they only occasionally allow themselves to "talk". Their voice differs from the sometimes heart-rending sound of ordinary domestic cats: it is more calm and quiet. Moreover, the ragdoll will not make unnecessary sounds without doing anything. To make him angry, you need to try very hard.

They quickly get used to the tray, scratching post, their place.They love various toys and can play with them both with the owner and without him, if taught to them from childhood.

The life of the breed in question depends on various factors. Key criteria are conditions, quality of content. Despite the fact that most of the representatives of the breed live to 12-15 years, life expectancy can vary. It is important to provide cats in panties balanced nutrition, timely vaccination and preventive examinations.

Reduce life inability to roll over in the air, which is fraught with injury. In addition, the average life expectancy is affected by the diseases that cats of this breed are exposed to. For example, among pets there are individuals with hip dysplasia. In view of this, they may have lameness or even complete immobilization.

With age, other cats have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In order for the pet to live longer, it is necessary to treat its health with increased attention, regularly examining the work of the cardiovascular system. It is worth noting that development in individuals of this breed is slow. The period of physical maturation in them lasts an average of four years.

Those who decide to start furry ragdolls will have to consider many of the rules for their maintenance. For example, you will have to take care of buying the necessary things and utensils, buy personal hygiene products, find time for daily examinations, games, walks and other communication.

Ragdolls have a long coat, and therefore during licking and molting it will be on all things at home. Despite the fact that the pets are quite clean and try to rid themselves of excess hair on their own, you can’t do without brushes, combs and furminator. Whoever says anything but without constant hair care, the appearance of cats will not be so beautiful.

Comb out the fur coat at least once a week. During molting, this can be done more often (two to three times a week). If you use a comb with a comb-trimmer, this will not only remove the new hairs that impede growth, but also massage the skin. Wools that have died out can accumulate in a fur coat. When a cat licks itself, then most of them get into her stomach.

The use of brushes will reduce the amount of dead hair, which, in turn, is good in the heat, when it is especially difficult for animals because of the length of the coat. To facilitate the processing of the coat, the crest of the furminator is selected taking into account the length of the fur of the cat's age. A simple device that looks like a safety razor will easily remove dead hair without spending a lot of time. The distance between the teeth of the accessory is selected based on the thickness of the fur coat.

You need to teach your pussy hygiene from young claws. Over time, she will calmly relate to them, despite her dislike of water. Bathing it too often is not worth it: this is stressful for the pet. The multiplicity of the procedure will depend on the place of residence of the animal. For example, apartment cats need less washing than their brothers, often walking on the street.

For swimming, you need to purchase special zooshapuni. In addition to them, manufacturers of soap products offer rinsing agents so that the hair of animals is obedient and silky. Immediately after bathing, you can not comb the hair - this is done after drying. The noise of a hair dryer can scare the complaisant pets, and therefore you can not always count on it.

Eyes should be cleaned with special wipes, removing dirt from the corners of the eyes. In the absence of napkins, you can use a natural fabric with a soft texture to get rid of litter.As for the ears, they are cleaned regularly, getting rid of earwax with a towel moistened in warm boiled water.

Despite the fact that ragdolls are scratched very rarely, they still need to cut their claws. To reduce the duration of the procedure and not to exhaust the animal, you can buy a nail clipper. Using it to cut the length is easier and faster. At the same time, overgrown claws can be trimmed no more than 1 mm at a time. In addition to a claw cutter, you can purchase a claw claw so that your pet can sharpen its claws without looking at upholstered furniture or wallpaper.

The toilet for the pet is selected based on the size and what the kitten is accustomed to. As a rule, when he is taken from the nursery, he already knows what it is, and therefore the box should be similar to the one he went to with the breeder before the purchase. Over time, it will be possible to change the size of the tray, pick up options with the desired height of the sides.

Given the weight and dimensions of a ragdoll, he should take the tray with high sides and a removable frame. This will save the space surrounding the tray from scattering granular filler, when the cat will rake excrement with its paw, and not falling into the tray during bowel movements. To prevent an unpleasant odor from spreading around the house, it is better to take a wood filler. Sand or sawdust is not suitable for this: time after time they will appear as a path from the tray to the toilet doors.

You need to take the tray on the rubberized legs. As a rule, such products do not need rubber rugs for the box, they do not slip and do not turn over. The plastic must be strong and thick, which is especially important for models with a grill (under the weight of the cat, the material should not bend). The size of the product is selected so that the cat inside the container can turn. If he is cramped, he may look for another place for the toilet.

The choice of a couch for a pet depends on the preferences of the owner and his financial capabilities. The size should be sufficient for comfortable placement of the animal, while the model can be very diverse. For example, it can be distinguished by its shape, the height of the sides, other options have a so-called entrance. They can be open and closed.

From the first day of stay in the house, the baby should have its own berth. In this case, the crib can be soft and low. The danger lies in the fact that pets tend to hide their ailments.

If the budget for the purchase is unlimited, you can buy a cat two couches. This will protect the upholstered furniture, and will give the cat himself calm and relax. Do not buy such cats hanging loungers to minimize the risk of an accidental fall. As for the options for houses in the form of a game complex, the ragdolls do not need complex structures of several floors. However, one-story closed-type options with two or even three entrances are quite suitable for recreation and for active games.

The dishes of the cat need to choose convenient. If it is cramped, the pet will constantly rub against its edge with vibrissae, which is associated with tactile sensations that are extremely unpleasant for him. In addition, with the small size of the dishes, the pet can simply throw out the contents from the bowls to eat it without touching the walls of the containers.

A bowl of clean water should always be at the pussy, do not create situations in which the animal will be forced to look for fluid in different places at home (e.g. in the bathroom sink or in the kitchen). Moreover, the water in the bowl should always be fresh, it must be constantly changed.

Ragdolls are very fond of outdoor walks, but in most cases they themselves can not walk without incident. Such walks for them can turn into stress, because pets are not accustomed to the aggressive behavior of street animals (in particular, dogs). Before them, they are defenseless, as well as in front of fast-moving cars. To minimize the chance of injury to the animal, for a walk you need to purchase a harness or collar.

The accessory will not let the pet get lost, because he himself will not be able to find his way home (applies to both kids and adults). Staying outdoors is good for cats: it strengthens weak immunity. Often, hunting instincts wake up during the pet's walk. However, cats literally go limp and forget about everything, as soon as they again find themselves in the hands of the owner.

Each time after a walk, you must inspect the cat for fleas or ticks. If a problem is identified, it is urgent to visit a veterinarian who will select the type of drug for parasites and tell you how to use it correctly. You can’t pull with such troubles: parasites multiply very quickly, which causes great discomfort to cats with fluffy hair.

When buying a kitten in a nursery, the breeder acquires a baby with a veterinary passport and pedigree. At the moment, the baby is vaccinated, but the further vaccination schedule will depend on various factors. Typically, the veterinarian himself sets the time for visiting and making this or that vaccine. As a rule, these are regular vaccinations against parasites.

The time of vaccination may vary depending on the state of health of the pet. For example, if the cat is sick, the procedure is postponed until he recovers.

An excellent appetite is inherent in ragdolls, and there is no such sin as obesity behind them. Cats of this breed should not be given milk, because their body does not digest it well. Owners of furry say that in most cases, ragdolls rarely eat natural food, preferring industrial food. Cats with pleasure eat not only their dry variety, but also canned food, which they consider a special treat.

Cats need vitamins and minerals. They do not need porridges, as well as food from the human table: its use can harm the health of the pet. Moreover, he should not be anything fatty, fried and smoked. Food purchased in a specialty store must be appropriate for the age and type of cats.

When choosing a feed, it is worth considering that it is far from universal, its composition is different, as is the level of quality. Cheap feeds are not rich in vitamins, and often do not have any cat health benefits at all. The choice of manufacturer must be treated responsibly. For example, well-established, according to some breeders, the products of companies Almo Nature and Schesir.

Do not immediately take the food in a huge package, as it is likely that it may not be suitable for a particular pet. It is important to give ragdolls meat from time to time, but here there are some nuances. For example, pork is contraindicated for these cats; meat should be lean. Chicken or beef will do.

It is not easy to buy a kitten of this breed in our country, since there are only a few nurseries in the Russian Federation. Despite the fact that kids can be purchased from breeders in narrow circles of cat lovers, the choice is complicated by the class of cats. In most cases, the buyer will be offered a pet kitten (a kitten that is completely healthy, but not suitable for breeding).

These three-month-old pussies cost customers 20,000-40000 rubles. Their relatives of the class "brid", recommended for participation in breeding, are much more expensive.

Despite the fact that kittens are born white, color spots begin to appear on the 10th day from the moment of birth. They are taken from the nursery when the babies are already three or four months old, when they have changed teeth, the shape of the head and body has formed.

Sometimes the period of caring for the female is quite long, and the female simply does not allow a partner. It is desirable to happen to animals in the male’s place of residence, so that he feels confident and is not distracted by the development of the territory.

The cat is brought to the cat on the second or third day of estrus, leaving the owners of the cat for several days. The female estrus itself is relatively calm: cats do not emit heart-rending screams, do not roll on the floor, behave quite adequately. It is impossible to cross ragdolls with other breeds. At a time, a cat can bring three or four kittens, the education of which will be engaged in itself.

Cats are considered excellent mothers, they carefully monitor each baby, protecting it from accidental fall, learn to eat from a bowl.

Mating cats produce after its body is fully formed. As a rule, a couple of leaks are missed. The male at this moment may already be unleashed. It is not recommended to wash the cat before mating, so that there is a smell that attracts the cat.

The nature of ragdolls can be different, as evidenced by the comments of breeders left on forums and information portals of the Internet. The owners note that these cats have a quiet and gentle disposition, they are helpful and incredibly gentle. Some representatives of the breed are very active, they can wake their owners in the morning, biting their fingers, running around with the ball. Others even take courage and steal food from other pets living in the house.

However, most commentators indicate: Ragdolls often ask for their hands and literally hang on them, without ceasing to rumble and enjoy the attention of the owners. They lull not only themselves, but sometimes breeders, can silently look into the eyes for a long time. But with regard to upbringing, one cannot do without it: cats need to be taught the rules recognized in the house, in addition, they need constant monitoring.

Breeders have different opinions on nutrition. The reason for this is the individual preference of the pets themselves. Some of them are accustomed to dry food, and therefore may refuse natural food. Moreover, the owners believe that dry food is enough. Other breeders are sure that without natural food, the cat will not receive vitamins and nutrients for good health. Therefore, they feed their pets low-fat meat and seafood.

For how to care for and maintain ragdoll cats, see the next video.