Ragdoll: color variations, character and content rules

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

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

Both parents were calm, docile and obedient. It is not known for certain whether the accident was the cause of the cat's appeasability, as a result of which it could become relaxed and even inhibited. However, Josephine (the so-called female) was very committed to those who fed her. The cat had a beautiful and spectacular appearance, and all the neighbors especially liked its bright blue eyes.

Born kitten Daddy Warbuks and his descendant Fugianna were the first individuals of the breed, which were recognized by the national association of cat lovers NCFA. Kittens were extremely amorphous, they could be shaken and squeezed as much as necessary. They inherited the static nature of the mother, had a fluffy fur coat and big blue eyes.

In the future, the breeder decided to pay attention to breeding new cats, paying particular attention to preserving the qualities of the breed. Her main idea was to get a feline breed with a peaceful and docile character. At one time, the American Ragdoll Club introduced requirements for its members, prohibiting the use of individuals of other species for breeding this breed. For them it was important to preserve external signs and character traits.

Ragdoll has a truly unique appearance. The representatives of this breed 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 - the Burmese cats, the reason for which is the characteristic color. However, the standard in cats clearly outlines its characteristics. The shape of the head resembles a wide modified wedge with slightly smoothed contours. The skull is flat, small, slightly rounded forehead, rounded muzzle.

Ragdoll's eyes are large and oval. They are set moderately wide and slightly tilted (the outer corners are slightly raised). The feline profile is somewhat bent, it ends with a straight, neat nose, the representative's chin 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 tilted forward.

The cat's neck is quite powerful, it is proportional to the head and torso. The body itself is not long, to someone it seems, rather, stocky. The breast is powerful and wide; a fatty fold may be observed on the belly. Paws of pets are large, rounded, they differ in length - the back is longer than the front. Between the fingers there is a pubescence.

The body of the cat body is massive, the back part 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 narrows towards the end. It is covered with long hair. The very same cat fur coat is quite thick and silky.

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

To date, there are three types of color Ragdoll. The selection includes such: kolopoynt, mitted and bicolor. Each of them has its own nuances.

• Colourpoint implies a light shade of a fur coat on the body, shaded by dark points on the head, legs and tail. The mask covers the area of ​​the forehead. The lightest shade falls on the breast and neck.

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

• Bicolor there is nothing like a two-tone color. There is a clear contrast between areas of different colors. These cats have a white V-shaped mark on their face. The 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 the dark point, it may be spotty.

This makes each type of color in its own way special. For example, a lilac point (or a lilac color) in a rock is considered the most unique and rare. The main color of a fur coat in such cats is snow white, the color-contrast is a shade of ivory with a subtle gray-pink subtone.

The standard recognizes the point of those hairs that are painted evenly along the entire length. The brown point (or chocolate) is based on the shade of warm baked milk. It is shaded by marks of shade of milk chocolate, for which he received such a name. It is noteworthy that Kittens are born white, and the final color is acquired by two years.

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 (markings) with a bluish subtone. The force point is a classic Siamese color. The main background color is a light tan, the markings are dark brown.

It is worth considering that the standard does not include cats of black or red color. 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 phlegm. However, despite some relaxation, the movements of cats are graceful.

This is not to say that they are incredibly jumping, which is explained by reduced muscle tone. However, they love to play with their hosts, as well as demonstrate their quickness. At the same time, a considerable part of the representatives of this breed likes to sit on the handles, to communicate with the owner. Cats are far from idle, but when they fall on their hands, they literally relax and dissolve in their arms.

In this case, the pet can sit for a long time even in a position that is not at all convenient for him.This must be taken into account by the breeder, because if an animal in an unimaginable position needs to immediately jump to the floor, it can injure him. Put on the hands and knees of the Fuzzies need so that they can land on all four paws.

Will not resist ductile kitten or adult cat, if they take care of children. Ticking will be to his liking, but there is a great risk that careless movement of the child will harm the pet. In this case, the fluffy may not immediately respond due to the reduced pain threshold.

He agrees to endure a long move 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 character.

Since childhood, kittens are notable for good memory and ingenuity. They are deprived of any aggression, show curiosity and love to be in the center of events. Neither kids nor adults go into conflict, they are not their instigators. Pets do not like loud cries 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.

Remarkable 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 over two to three years. Individual males rarely allow themselves to cover more than two females for life. Other interesting traits include the ability to give in. These pussies do not engage in battle and do their best to prevent situations that may lead to this.

Ragdolls are tender and gentle, sitting on the hands of the owners, they only occasionally allow themselves to "talk." Their voice is different from the sometimes heart-rending sound of ordinary domestic cats: it is more calm and quiet. And without Ragdoll, there will be no extra sounds. To piss him off, you need to really try.

Quickly get used to the tray, claw, his place. They love various toys and can play with them both with the owner and without him, if they are taught from childhood.

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

Shrink a life resource can inability to roll over in the air, which is fraught with injury. In addition, the average life expectancy is influenced by diseases affecting the cats of this breed. For example, among pets there are individuals with hip dysplasia. Because of this, they may experience lameness or complete immobilization at all.

With age, other cats have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In order for a 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 fluffy ragdolls will have to take into account many of the rules of their content. For example, you will have to take care of buying the necessary things and utensils, buy personal care products, find time for daily inspections, games, walks and other communication.

Ragdoll wool is long, 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 wool on their own, without brushes, hairbrushes and furminator it will not work. Whoever says but without constant grooming, the appearance of the cats will not be so beautiful.

It is necessary to comb a fur coat at least once a week. During molting, this can be done more often (two or three times a week). If you use a comb with a comb-trimmer, it will not only remove new hairs that prevent growth, but also massage the skin. Coats that are dead can accumulate in a fur coat. When a cat licks itself, most of them fall into its stomach.

The use of brushes will reduce the amount of dead wool, which, in turn, is good in the heat, when animals are particularly hard because of the length of the coat. In order to facilitate the processing of wool cover, the furminator comb is selected taking into account the length of the fur of the cat's age. A simple device, similar to a safety razor, will easily remove dead wool without spending a lot of time. The distance between the teeth of the accessory is selected based on the density of the coat.

To hygienic procedures pussy need to be taught with young claws. In time, she will calmly relate to them, despite her dislike for water. It is not necessary to bathe her too often: it is stress for the pet. The multiplicity of the procedure will depend on the place of residence of the animal. For example, apartment cats need to be washed less often than their brethren, often walking on the street.

For swimming, you must purchase special zooshapuni. In addition to them, manufacturers of soap products offer rinses to ensure that the animal hair is docile and silky. Immediately after bathing, you cannot comb the wool - it is done after drying. The noise of the hair dryer can frighten the docile pets, and therefore it is not always possible to rely on it.

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

Despite the fact that Ragdolls scratch extremely rarely, they still need to shear the claws. To reduce the duration of the procedure and not exhaust the animal, you can buy a claw cutter. Cutting length is easier and faster with it. At the same time, you can trim off the grown claws no more than 1 mm at a time. In addition to the kogterezka you can purchase a kogtetochku so that the pet can sharpen the claws, without aiming at the 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 the breeder before purchasing. Over time, you can change the size of the tray, pick up options with the desired height of the sides.

Considering the weight and dimensions of the ragdoll, tray should be taken with high sides and removable frame. This will save the space surrounding the tray from scattering the granulated filler, when the cat rakes up excrement with its paw, and not falling into the tray during defecation. To the unpleasant smell does not spread around the house, it is better to take wood filler. Sand or sawdust are not suitable for this: time after time they will manifest themselves as a path from the tray to the door of the toilet.

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

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

From the first day of stay in the house, the baby should have its own sleeping place. This bed 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 two beds for the cat. This will save upholstered furniture, and the cat itself will calmly relax and rest. Do not buy such cats sun beds to minimize the risk of an accidental fall. As for the options of houses in the form of a gaming complex, Ragdolls do not need complex structures of several floors. However, single-deck versions of the closed type with two or even three entrances are quite suitable for recreation, and for active games.

Ware cat needs to choose comfortable. If it is cramped, the pet will constantly rub on its edges with vibrissae, which is associated with extremely unpleasant tactile sensations. In addition, with a small dishware, a pet may simply throw the contents out of the bowls in order to eat it, without touching the walls of the containers.

A bowl of clean water in a pussy should always stand, you should not create situations in which the animal will be forced to look for liquid in different places at home (for example in the bathroom sink or in the kitchen). And the water in the bowl should always be fresh, it must be constantly changed.

Ragdolls love walking in the fresh air, but in most cases they themselves cannot walk without incident. Such walking for them can turn into stress, because pets are not accustomed to the aggressive behavior of street animals (in particular, dogs). They are defenseless in front of them, as well as in front of fast passing cars. To minimize the chance of injury to the animal, to walk, you must purchase a harness or collar.

The accessory will not allow the pet to be lost, because he himself will not be able to find his way home (this applies to both kids and adults). Staying in the fresh air is good for cats: it strengthens the weak immunity. Quite often hunting instincts wake up during pets' walking. However, the cats literally go limp and forget about everything in the world, as soon as they find themselves again in the hands of the owner.

Every time after a walk, you must inspect the cat for the presence of fleas or ticks. If a problem is identified, an urgent visit should be made to the veterinarian, who will select the type of drug for parasites and tell you how to use it correctly. To pull with such troubles can not be: parasites multiply very quickly, what causes great discomfort for cats with fluffy fur.

Buying a kitten in the nursery, the breeder gets a baby with a veterinary passport and pedigree. At the moment, the baby is vaccinated, but the further immunization schedule will depend on various factors. Usually the veterinarian prescribes the time of the visit and the introduction of a vaccine. As a rule, this is a regular vaccination against parasites.

The timing of vaccinations may vary depending on the state of health of the pet. For example, if a cat is sick, the procedure is postponed until its recovery.

Ragdollam has an excellent appetite, and behind them there is no such sin as obesity. Cats of this breed should not give milk, because their bodies do not digest it well. Fuzzy owners point out 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 to be a special delicacy.

Cats need vitamins and minerals. They do not need porridges, as well as food from the human table: its use can damage the pet's health. In addition, it can not be anything fat, fried and smoked. Food purchased in a specialty store must be appropriate for the age and type of cats.

When choosing food it is worth considering that it is far from universal, its composition is different, as is the level of quality. Cheap food is not rich in vitamins, and often does not have any benefit for cat health. The choice of manufacturer must be treated responsibly. For example, according to the assessment of some breeders, the products of companies have proven themselves well. Almo Nature and Schesir.

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

It is not easy to get a kitten of this breed in our country, since there are only a few nurseries in the Russian Federation. Despite the fact that babies 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 kitten of the “pet” class (a kitten that is completely healthy, but not suitable for breeding).

These three-month-old pussies cost buyers 20,000–40,000 rubles. Their brid class congeners recommended for participation in breeding are much more expensive.

Despite the fact that the kittens are born white, the spots of color are beginning 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 had a tooth change, and the shape of the head and body has been formed.

Sometimes the period of care for the female is quite long, and the female simply does not allow the partner. The case of animals is desirable in the place of residence of the male, so that he feels confident and not distracted by the development of the territory.

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

Cats are considered excellent mothers, they closely watch every little one, protecting him from accidental falling, they learn to eat from a bowl.

Knitting cats produce after its body is fully formed. As a rule, a couple of chutes are missed. The male at this point may already be untied. It is not recommended to wash the cat before viscous, so that the smell that attracts the cat remains.

The nature of ragdolls can be different, as evidenced by the comments of breeders left on forums and information portals on the Internet. The owners say 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 up their owners in the morning, biting fingers, run with the ball. Others take courage at all and steal food from other pets living in the house.

However, most commentators point out: Ragdolls often ask for their hands and literally hang on them, continuing to hum and enjoy the attention of the owners. They lull not only themselves, but sometimes even breeders, they can stare in the eyes for a long time in silence. But as for upbringing, one cannot do without it: cats need to be taught the rules recognized in the home, and besides, they need constant monitoring.

Regarding nutrition, breeders have different opinions. The reason for this is the individual preferences of the pets themselves. Some of them are accustomed to dry food, and therefore may refuse natural food. And the owners believe that dry food is enough. Other breeders are confident that without a natural food the cat will receive less vitamins and nutrients for good health. And because they feed pets low-fat meat and seafood.

For information on grooming and maintaining Ragdoll cats, see the following video.