21 Ragdoll Mix Cat Facts: Size, Colors, Blue Eyes, Hypoallergenic

Are you interested in getting a Ragdoll breed of cat? Then you found the right place to learn more about what there is to know about this very loveable breed. In this article I am going to tell you about their origins, appearance, personality, healthcare and grooming, and more interesting facts about this adorable breed.

Also Read: Albino Cats’ Difference From White Cats

Origin of Ragdoll Mix

The Ragdoll is a relatively young breed, having come into existence sometime in the 1960s. A breeder named Ann Baker, who was from Riverside, California developed this breed with a domestic longhair named Josephine and other longhaired cats within the vicinity of Baker’s home. Josephine’s long white coat was dominant enough to conceal a seal mitted or a black tuxedo pattern.

Its ancestors had gentle and placid personalities, were of large sizes and had beautiful Himalayan-patterned long coats. And thus, the breed began. Their name was taken from the fact that these cats loved to go limp into the arms of any human that picked them up, very much like a ragdoll.

Also Read: Rise of the Bald Cats: The Strange and Beautiful

Ann Baker made quite a few strange statements regarding the cats’ development, like CIA experiments, alien influence, and human genes being infused into them, but really those were all just claims without any concrete basis. The other breeders seceded from Baker and started the Ragdoll Fanciers Club International, aiming to standardize the breed for it to be recognized by cat registries.

They started registering the breed in 1993 and gained full recognition by 2000. Now, most registries recognize the breed. It’s also not bred with other breeds.

Appearance

Ragdolls are one of the largest cat breeds, with females weighing up to 4-7 kg (9-15 lbs.), and males from 7-9 kg (15-20 lbs.). They are considered as half or semi long haired cats. Their fur is very soft and silky, with longer ones near their neck and rear and a long and bushy tail. They have rounded ears which, are large, and have strong bodies.

It is a kind of pointed cat, which means that its fur is completely white at birth. The first traces of their true color only appear after 10 days and will not fully develop until the age of 4. The oval, blue eyes are there from day one.

They come in a variety of colors and can be sorted by the original and new breeding. Color aside, this breed is relatively easy to take care of as compared to other long-haired cats. Brushing and combing can be done at least twice a week.

How Do I Know If My Cat is a Ragdoll Mix

The easiest way to know if your cat is a Ragdoll mix is to know the parents of your cat. If you learn that one of the parents of your cat is a Ragdoll, then your cat is a Ragdoll mix. The parent doesn’t even have to be a purebred, as the traits can still be carried over. 

If you do not have access to such information, the next best way to tell is to be familiar with the traits associated with Ragdolls. If your cat is a Ragdoll mix, then your cat should exhibit at least some of these traits.

For example, the very first trait you should look out for are blue eyes – that’s one of the best-known qualities. If your cat has blue eyes, then you might be in luck. 

Colors and patterns are also acceptable traits to look out for, but you should proceed with caution since Ragdolls come in a variety of colors and patterns. 

Size can be a factor to look out for since Ragdolls are typically a larger breed of cats. Understandably, your cat may be smaller if its Ragdoll ancestor has already bred with smaller cats in the past. 

Lastly, the coat is an effective character to check. Although Ragdolls have medium to long hair, their hair sheds very little and does not get matted as much as other cats with long hair. 

Are They Purebred?

Seeing as it is a mix, Ragdoll mixes by nature are not purebred. Being a Ragdoll mix simply means that your cat has some ancestry with Ragdoll blood. This is also the case even if both parents are purebred of two different breeds. Even if one parent is a purebred, the resulting litter will be a mix as long as the other parent is not a purebred. 

The only way to ascertain a purebred Ragdoll would be to have papers proving its pedigree, typically by an authorized cat association and through a DNA test. Without papers, DNA analysis should also be able to determine if a cat is purebred or not. 

Personality

These cats are gentle, docile creatures. As mentioned above, they flop over in the arms of practically anyone who holds them, even children. They are very trusting, so it’s somewhat hard to leave them unsupervised because every stranger is a friend.

This breed loves their humans, snuggling with them, following them around, joining in family activities, and more. You can even get them to learn tricks as they are surprisingly good at learning new things. They’re not even that vocal, and even their meow is gentle and sweet. Sweetest and affectionate cat breeds

They have really nice manners and love to stay on the same level as their humans, unlike most cats. One might even say that this cat breed has the temperament of dogs.

Health & Grooming

There are certain health problems that this breed may face, and the cause can possibly be genetic. These include: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a heart disease that comes from a genetic mutation. You can have your cat’s DNA tested to see if they have inherited this disease. Also included are a risk of calcium oxalate bladder stones and FIP (feline infectious peritonitis).

Ragdolls have to get used to being groomed from a very young age. Since they’re pretty laid back, it won’t be a problem as long as you’ve conditioned them early on. In fact, they will love the attention.

To clip their nails, make sure that your cat is absolutely still, then take one paw and press on the pad of their foot to extend their claws. Cut the nail between the pink tissue within the nail and the tip. Keep your nail clippers in a vertical position to avoid splintering your cat’s claws.

Apart from regularly clipping their nails, you have to comb out their long fur to remove dead hair and prevent them from getting hairballs. You will need a wide-toothed comb and a slicker brush, and using these two brushes, comb your cat’s fur once a week.

If you don’t do this, their fur will get matted. The areas you should really focus on are the armpits, behind the ears, and the neck. Matted fur is harder to comb out and will hurt your feline friend. They may not like the experience, and it could make it harder for you to groom them again in the future.

Ragdoll Mix For Sale: Where Can You Buy It?

With its rising popularity, you should be able to find many places that sell Ragdoll mixes. Since it is a mix, you would have more access and avenues for purchasing one compared to if you wanted to buy a purebred. 

The first place to check would be online. In this digital age, many people sell just about everything online. You can potentially find Ragdoll mixes in Facebook groups catered to selling cats. 

You might also want to check your local shelters and adoption centers. While availability is more limited in these places, you would be saving them if you get one from these places. 

How Much Does It Cost?

The price is definitely dependent on where you decide to get them. While the range might be $200-$1000 or more, you should be able to find Ragdoll mixes on the lower end of that range if you get your cat from the shelter. On the other hand, you should expect to pay a premium if you get your Ragdoll mix from a breeder. 

Other factors that can affect the price can include the qualities of the mix. For example, one that has more traits similar to that of a purebred should be more expensive than one with less similar traits. 

Types of Ragdoll Mix

Any kitten produced with Ragdoll blood can be considered a Ragdoll mix. However, there are some mixes that are more popular than others, typically due to the exotic result from another purebred parent.

The most popular Ragdoll mixes would include:

• Ragdoll Tabby mix
• Turkish Angora Ragdoll mix
• Ragdoll Siberian
• Ragfold-Scottish Fold
• Ragdoll Norwegian Forest Cat
• Himalayan
• Birman
• Russian Blue
• Ragdoll Bengal
• Snowshoe
• Ragdoll British Shorthiar
• Ragdoll Munchkin
• Perdoll-Ragdoll Persian
• Ragdoll Siamese
• Maine Coon Ragdoll
• so much more. 

Interesting Facts To Know

Variety

The breed comes in a variety of coats, but generally, they have a light-colored body with a dark face, legs, tail, and ears. There are different colors like lilac, seal, chocolate, cream, blue, or red. They also come in four patterns: mitted, van, bicolor, and colorpoint. These specifics may matter more to breeders and those interested in putting their cat in the spotlight, but all Ragdolls share the same laid-back personality.

Love Water

They love any form of water but are exceptionally privy to the sound of running water. Their curiosity is piqued when they hear this sound and they would most likely come running to investigate.

Algonquin Hotel Cat

There is a historic hotel in New York City named the Algonquin Hotel. This hotel has had 10 resident cats ever since the 1930s. The current reigning cat of this hotel is… you guessed it, a Ragdoll named Matilda.

Lap Kitty

It is the best type of kitty if you want a snuggler. Most cats are independent and prefer exploring by themselves. They even get into mischief and sometimes act as if they are the boss. They aren’t like this. They prefer to stay close to their humans and love cuddling and snuggling with them.

Is a Ragdoll a Good Family Cat?

If you’re worried about it getting along well with your family, don’t worry. They do well with humans of all ages, cats, and even cat-friendly dogs. As I mentioned before, they have the temperament of a gentle puppy. You can even get them to play fetch if you teach them right.

Ragdolls are just one of the mixed breed cats that you can choose from when picking the right kitty for your household. But they really are one of the best cats to have around, even in a home with other pets and young children in it. While they’re a relatively young breed, that doesn’t mean that they are any less adorable than the other cat breeds out there.