CHILDREN’S WORLD - PETS - RAGDOLL CAT

RAGDOLL CAT English word ragdoll translated into Croatian language means a doll made of rags. This cat derives its name from the fact that it fully relaxes - like a rag doll - when it is taken in hands. To its name also contribute that cat’s gentle temperament and nature. This species was bred in the 1960-ties in USA, by combining the non-purebred white Persian cat and the holly Birman cat. It was recognised for the first time in 1965 in USA, where it became very favoured. It was imported into Great Britain in 1969 from the breeding house Baker. In 1975 Mr Dayton founded an international association of fanciers of ragdoll cats, and already in 1985 that cat is found also in Germany and France. Since then the interest for that peculiar cat breed has been constantly rising so that in 1992 it was also recognised by FIFé. The breed Ragdoll inherited from the Persian cat its strongly built body and calm character as well as an excellent accommodation to living in flat. From the holy Birman it inherited the “pointed” marks on head, legs and tail. There exist many tales about the origin of this breed. Very popular is the one about a mother of the Ragdoll breed (a domestic, long-haired cat without a pedigree, named Josephine) that was hit by car in high pregnancy. It was carried to a laboratory at California University where she recovered, but her character was changed. She became well-natured and her body would completely relax like a rag doll when somebody would take her in hands. The kittens that she bore inherited her nature. Mrs Ann Baker bought several kittens of the first and second generation and created a new breed - Ragdoll. In the meantime Mrs. Baker continued to selectively propagate the bought cats favouring the characteristics, as size, gentle behaviour and tendency to relax when taken in hands, as well as “pointed” marks. Mrs. Baker wanted to protect the name Ragdoll and thus founded her own association called International Ragdoll Cat Association (IRCA) and set high standards to those who wanted to possess and especially breed and sell Ragdoll cats. It lasted until 1975 when the already mentioned Mr. Dayton managed to break the IRCA standard and when Ragdoll cat started to be recognised by all major international associations of cat admirers. However, even today it is claimed that all cats of the breed in fact originate from their first breeder, Mrs. Ann Baker.