Ragdoll: character, care and predisposition to diseases
Ragdoll
Cat rag dolls, human friends, cat "mascots " - these are just a few of the terms that the owners give to the unusual breed of cats, namely Ragdolls.
This breed owes its name to an unusual phenomenon - raised on the hand, slack.
So far, we do not know why this is happening.
It is most likely related to breeding work when distinguishing the breed:
They looked for calm, sociable animals, loving interaction with people, and with low nervous tension.
- History of the ragdoll breed
- Ragdoll color and appearance
- Ragdoll character
- Ragdoll care
- Hair
- Ears
- Claws
- Eyes
- Teeth
- Ragdoll disease
- Ragdoll heart disease
- Mucopolysaccharidosis
- FIP
- Stones in the bladder
- Hairballs in ragdolls
- Gum and periodontitis
- Is it worth choosing a Ragdoll cat??
History of the ragdoll breed
History of the ragdoll breed Ragdolls are a relatively young breed, its origins date back to the 1960s, when Ann Baker, a Californian breeder of Persian cats, found a kitten who was hit by a car, which she called Josephine.
Fortunately, nothing serious happened to the animal, and after taming it was supplemented by Mrs. Baker's breeding cats. There is also an anecdote that the accident caused partial paresis in Josephine's kittens.
However, anyone who has the slightest understanding of genetics knows that this is not true.
It is now believed that Ragdoll is a cross between three races:
- Burmese,
- Burmese,
- Persian.
Officially, the breed was registered in the USA in 1965.
Interestingly, the owners of cats of this breed established a separate relationship, not related to Mrs. Baker, and named their cats Ragamuffin.
This was due to the fact that until 2005 this breed was patented - so it could not be "used " without the consent of the owner.
It is also worth mentioning the extraordinary stories that Ann Baker invented to make the breed famous, e.g. that in the genes of the breed there were elements of raccoons and people, and aliens participated in the work on the creation of the breed.
Unfortunately, this story ends badly for Josephine - the great mother of the breed. Mrs. Baker's husband, tired of all the noise and attitude of his wife, allegedly put the kitten down with her offspring.
Ragdoll color and appearance
Ragdoll color and appearance Currently, breeders have a big problem in determining one standard of this breed.
There are, in fact, many associations of admirers of this breed.
Some of them describe one color as characteristic, the other they do not accept such coloration.
Generally speaking, we distinguish three types of the breed's color:
- Colorpoint - pigmentation only at the tips, similar to Siamese,
- In gloves, differently in socks - white ends of all limbs,
- Bicolor - white color on all limbs and the face, on which it creates a characteristic pattern of an inverted V letter.
Kittens of this breed are born white - only when they reach 8-10 weeks they take on colors and only after they are finished 3-4 years their color and hair are fully developed.
Their hair is soft, half long and silky.
When it comes to the overall appearance of the animals these are cats quite large.
Males can even gain weight up to 10 kg, females, they are slightly smaller, they weigh up to 7 kg.
They reach full maturity at the age of approx 3 years.
They reach an age of approx 15 years.
They are cats with a massive build - the so-called. thick bone.
The head is quite large, when viewed from the front it takes the shape of a triangle.
Eyes large, intense blue - this is a distinctive feature of the breed.
The ears are wide at the base and pointed.
The chest in representatives of this breed should be wide and well developed, as is the rump.
An interesting fact is that ragdolls have a predisposition to accumulate fat around the abdomen.
The limbs of these cats should be strong and massive, in proportion to the rest of the body.
Their hind feet may be slightly longer than the front feet, and may be hairy between the toes.
Long, fluffy tail.
You can also see what a Ragdoll cat looks like in the video below
Ragdoll Cat Breed
Watch this video on YouTube
Ragdoll character
Ragdoll character It is the unusual nature of this breed that has provided her with so many followers.
These cats are exceptionally calm, loving and trusting.
Are extremely patient - they are perfect for a home with small children.
Representatives of this breed also have no problem with the presence of other animals - on the contrary, they feel good in their company.
They adapt perfectly to live in smaller apartments, they only need the attention of the owner.
Until recently, there was an opinion that these cats are resistant to pain - this is not true.
It is their extraordinary patience that leads to sometimes dangerous situations - the ragdoll will let you know that something hurts later than representatives of other races.
Also note that this breed he hates loneliness.
So if you often spend your time outdoors - choose a different breed.
These cats they are also not suitable for release outside, because their overconfidence is a threat to them.
Ragdoll grooming
Ragdoll grooming Hair
The ragdolls' hair cover is their trademark.
It does, however, require some attention.
At least once a week (and more often), brush your kitten's hair.
Remember about the hairs between the fingers - they are often the cause of slipping or sticking of various foreign objects.
It is best to cut hair like this, if the cat in the house agrees to it.
Ears
Check your kitten's ear canal once a month.
Check that there is no disturbing discharge in it.
Also, remember to remove hair from your kitten's ear canal - often they are the cause of inflammation.
Claws
Remember to regularly trim your cat's claws.
You can shorten his cat's claws once a month.
Eyes
You can rinse your Ragdoll's eyes once a week with a sterile solution, e.g. NaCl.
I am not a fan of using infusions or tap water for this purpose.
If you notice reddened conjunctiva, third eyelid or disturbing discharge from the eyes - take your pet to the vet.
Teeth
Ragdolls have a racial predisposition to gingivitis.
Therefore, once in a while, e.g. once a month check that the cat's gums are not red.
You can also ask for a dental checkup from a veterinarian, e.g. during a vaccination visit.
Ragdoll disease
Ragdolle is one of the youngest cat breeds.
Unfortunately, it is associated with a fairly large relationship in the group of animals (approx 45% of the gene pool are genes derived from Ann Baker cats).
Such a phenomenon, in turn, predisposes to the occurrence of diseases or predisposes to the occurrence of certain diseases.
They are, among others.in.
Ragdoll heart disease
These cats often have problems with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
This is a heart disease that causes heart failure, blood clots and arterial embolism, and can sometimes lead to sudden cardiac death.
Most often, the disease manifests itself at age 2-5 years, however, it may also appear later.
As a result of this disease, there is a pathological thickening of the heart wall.
This in turn leads to disturbances in his work.
In advanced cases, pulmonary edema and blood clots may occur in the lumen of the blood vessels.
Symptoms of heart disease in a cat include:
- decrease in appetite,
- breathing problems,
- tiredness,
- fainting.
This disease does not appear immediately, because the gene that causes it causes abnormal heart remodeling - sometimes it even lasts 2 years.
Therefore, a possible cardiological examination of the cat should be performed just after 24 months.
There is also a genetic test to detect gene mutations MyBPC3 - responsible for the formation of this disease entity.
Mucopolysaccharidosis
Recent studies have shown that ragdolls, especially those with Australian genes in their genotype are more likely to suffer from mucopolysaccharidosis.
The gene responsible for this condition Feline Mucopolysaccharidosis VI gene leads to corneal opacity, problems with movement in cats (the disease affects the joints).
Although this disease is quite rare in Poland, there is a genetic test to detect it.
It is worth asking the breeder about the result.
FIP
Ragdolls are one of the breeds predisposed to developing FIP.
It is caused by a mutant Corona virus and, unfortunately, is often fatal.
Stones in the bladder
These cats also have a greater predisposition to develop bladder stones.
That is why diet and checkups are so important - once a year, urine tests, blood tests and possibly ultrasound.
Hairballs in ragdolls
Due to their beautiful hair, this breed has more problems with the so-called. with hair crutches.
To prevent them from occurring, brush your cat regularly and add to the food decompressors.
Gum and periodontitis
Breed cats Ragdoll they also have problems with their gums more often - inflammation or eosinophilic gingivitis.
To prevent this, you can brush your cat's teeth regularly or use special antibacterial gels, e.g. Dentisept.
This will force frequent gum checks and will have an antibacterial effect on your Ruff's teeth.
Is it worth choosing a Ragdoll cat??
Is it worth choosing a ragdoll?? Ragdolls are cats with a pleasant character, suitable for living in a block of flats.
They will work well if there are small children in the family, but you need to remember about proper care.
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