The Ragdoll is a large cat breed with semi-long silky hair and bright blue eyes.
“ Ragdolls are best known for their docile, placid temperament and affectionate nature. The name Ragdoll is derived from the tendency of individuals from the original breeding stock to go limp and relaxed when picked up.”
American breeder Ann Baker developed Ragdolls in the 1960s. The Ragdoll breed was first established in the 1960s by Ann Baker, a breeder in Riverside, California. To develop the Ragdoll breed, Ann first bred a white longhaired female domestic cat, Josephine, to a seal-mitted male, Daddy Warbucks, and a solid black male, Blackie. The kittens from Josephine’s litters had the same loving and relaxed personality that Ragdolls are known for. Ann Baker continued to develop her Ragdoll breeding program by selecting cats that had the same look and temperament she wanted for the program. Her program continued to grow when other breeders contracted as franchises under her. In 1971, Ann Baker started her own registry for Ragdolls, the International Ragdoll Cat Association (IRCA). Under this association, Ragdolls were not allowed to be registered in other registries. Eventually, some breeders broke off from the IRCA hoping to help the Ragdoll breed gain more recognition. Among these breeders included the husband and wife team, Denny and Laura Dayton, who helped with getting the Ragdoll breed recognized by major cat registries.”
