If you’re reading this, you’re probably wondering if a Ragdoll cat is right for you and possibly your family and about Ragdoll cat personality traits. I’ll be talking about the personality of this beautiful breed of cat and how to look after them to keep them happy and, hopefully, healthy, so you can make that decision…
Ragdoll cats get their name from the fact that they go limp when you pick them up. They get this trait from the Birman and Persian breeds and it may be a mutation. Some breeders have tried to breed this trait out, as it could be dangerous to the cats, in some situations. Some people, unfortunately, believe that breed doesn’t feel pain because they are so docile!
They are a gorgeous semi long-haired breed. Ragdoll cats have colour-point coats and blue eyes. But what is their personality like? Cats, like people, are unique, but cat breeds do have some traits in common. Like other cat breeds, Ragdolls are curious and intelligent.
Ragdolls are Docile
They are very docile. Ragdolls are very calm and well known to be friendly with other pets and kids. So they’re a great family pet. Just make sure the other pets are friendly too! They are a very relaxed breed, so it’s important to watch that young children and other pets aren’t bullying them or being rough with them because they don’t mind being handled.
This can be a good thing for you as an owner and for them too in some cases though. Like I mentioned earlier, they are semi long-haired, so this means their coat will need regular brushing, so they don’t get mats. This is good they won’t mind this, and will probably actually enjoy it. Another way to help your feline friends is to grow or buy and give them cat grass to chew to help with digestion and hairballs.
You might also want to trim their claws at home, if your cat scratches or they seem overly long. Ragdolls typically aren’t aggressive and usually don’t play using their claws, so this may not be necessary. This is actually simple and easy with the right clippers.
I do this with my two cats (DSH tabby and Persian) and usually only if they get stuck on a mat or scratch at something. And of course, please be careful you’re only trimming the ends of the claws, not too far down where the quick is. If you’re not comfortable doing this, you could bring them to the vet or a groomer.
They are the most “trainable” breed of cat, so you could probably get them to use a scratching post pretty easily if you didn’t want to bother trimming their claws or bringing them somewhere to get this done. I would also doubt that there would be any litterbox training issues!
This will probably also be good when you’re going to the vet with them. If you have pets, especially cats, you know what a battle it is to get them into a carrier and to the vet!
Ragdoll Cats are Affectionate
Ragdoll cats are affectionate and are also called puppy-cats because of their puppy-like behavior, like following you around and they love attention. Some people even train them to retrieve their toys!
Since Ragdolls are so affectionate and docile, you might want to make sure that your neighbors, if any, don’t mind a visitor. That’s if you want to allow them to be an outdoor cat as well as indoor. They might not put up a fight if somebody, probably, well meaning, but not always, tried to take them home.
I would probably have a catio, or outdoor enclosure and supervision, if you wanted to give them fresh air. Or just keep them in. Ragdolls actually prefer to stay inside most of the time.
They would also make a great companion for someone with a disability or an elderly person, perhaps even more so than a family pet, because of their calm, sweet nature. Ragdolls enjoy being a lap cat.
Another adorable, quirky thing about Ragdolls is that they are fascinated by running water, so you may want to let the faucet run a bit sometimes for them or get a pet fountain. You might want to put a little bit of water in the tub for them to swim in too, if they show that they want to go in, but please watch them carefully to keep them safe.
As I mentioned before, they are puppy-like, so enjoy following you around and snuggling on your lap. Make sure this isn’t going to annoy you and that you have plenty of time for this. Otherwise a more typically independent cat might be more suitable for you…
Physical Characteristics and Health Issues
Some health issues to look out for in this breed are urinary tract issues, such as urinary crystals and infections. They are also prone to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or HCM. This is a thickening of the heart walls which leads to less efficient pumping of blood in and out of the heart. Thankfully, DNA testing has allowed breeders to only breed cats without the particular gene that’s responsible for this and this has reduced the number of cases.
As far as lifespan goes, this breed typically lives to between 12-15 years. Of course this will depend on care and if they have any health conditions. Some cats could live a shorter life and some could live longer.
Ragdoll cats are one of the largest domestic breed of cat. Females are 8-15 pounds and males are 12-20 pounds.
Conclusion
So, to sum this big, beautiful breed up, the Ragdoll is a sweet natured, affectionate, intelligent cat that could fit into almost any household. Just make sure other pets are friendly too and children aren’t going to be rough with them.
They would do well with a single person, an elderly person or someone with a disability. Someone who can give them lots of affection, doesn’t mind being followed around, having their lap occupied and can keep up with grooming their coat
