Published on 05/4/2008

The Ragdoll breeds of cats are large and spectacular-looking with sumptuous coats that are moderately long, flowing with the lines of the body.

Adopting Kittens: The Ragdoll Appearance Description

The Ragdoll breeds of cats are large and spectacular-looking with sumptuous coats that are moderately long, flowing with the lines of the body. Your first impression of a Ragdoll might be that of a beautiful toy for grown-ups. They are just gorgeous and irresistible to look at or to touch.

Physical Description

• Quite large
• Beautiful blue eyes
• Soft plumed tails
• A moderate-type cat having no extreme features
• Altered males may reach 20 pounds or more with an average range of 10-16 pounds
• Females may reach 15 pounds with an average range of 8-12 pounds
• Ragdolls have good longevity
• They typically live for 12 to 15 years or more and remain healthy and vigorous
• Naturally have a fat pad on their abdomen even when they are underweight
• Light-colored bodies have darker Siamese-type points on the face, legs, tail and ears
• In three of their four coat patterns, white markings partly cover the dark points.
• Their soft coats feel more like cashmere than cat fur

Ragdolls have four coat patterns that are:

1. Pointed
2. Mitted
3. Bicolor
4. Van

Each pattern comes in six colors that are:

1. Seal
2. Blue
3. Chocolate
4. Lilac
5. Red
6. Cream

Points may be:

1. Solid
2. Lynx (tiger-stripped points)
3. Tortie (Tortoiseshell points)

Mitteds look like:

• Pointeds that went wading in whipped cream and sneaked a taste
• Their mittens and boots are soft, fluffy white, and so are their chins

Bicolors look like:

• They lay down in whipped cream and dunked their faces in for a deep drink
• All four legs, their underbodies, chest, and an upside-down V marking on their faces are white
• They may have a splash or two of pure white on their backs
• The tail, ears, and the outer part of their masks show the darker markings

Vans look like:

• They went swimming in whipped cream
• Their crystal white bodies contrast dramatically with their point markings and blue eyes
• Only the top of the mask, ears, and tail, and perhaps a few spots on the body show darker markings

Ragdolls are slow to mature and may take up to four years to reach full size, weight and coat. Kittens are born pure white. Their colored point markings develop gradually, with full point color coming in at 2 years.

CFA accepts bicolors and vans for showing. Mitteds and pointeds are registered.

Source: The Cat Fanciers’ Association Complete Cat Book, By CFA and Its Associates

Written by: Connie Limon. Visit “Adopting Kittens” at http://smalldogs2.com/AdoptingKittens to find a complete online reference for choosing and caring for the perfect kitten, which matches you and your lifestyle. For a variety of FREE reprint articles visit http://www.camelotarticles.com

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