05/05/2025
Happy 😽😽😽😽😽😽International Ragdoll Day 🎉🎊🎉🎊🎉🎊
Celebrating our blue-eyed fluffy angels!
Today, on May 5th, we celebrate International Ragdoll Day – a tribute to one of the most beloved and unique cat breeds in the world. It was on this day in 1965 that Ann Baker of California registered the first Ragdoll cat – the legendary Josephine – marking the beginning of something truly special.
Origin & History
Josephine was a white, semi-feral cat who, after surviving a car accident, began giving birth to kittens with exceptionally calm and gentle temperaments. Ann Baker, amazed by their personalities, crossed Josephine with Birman- and Persian-type cats. That’s how the Ragdoll breed was born.
THE ORIGIN TREE OF THE RAGDOLL
The Ragdoll breed began with a handful of cats:
1. Josephine – a white, semi-feral Angora-type cat
2. Daddy Warbucks – a Birman-type male with a calm temperament
3. Blackie – a solid black male who added bone and mass
4. Fugianna – daughter of Josephine, mother of the bicolor line
5. Buckwheat – daughter of Josephine and Blackie, founder of the mitted/colorpoint line
From these cats came the foundation of the breed:
* Fugianna Line – bicolor
* Buckwheat Line – mitted
* Daddy Warbucks – foundational sire
All purebred Ragdolls trace back to these original lines.
ANN BAKER AND THE PATENT
Ann Baker patented the Ragdoll name and created IRCA (International Ragdoll Cat Association).
For over a decade, she controlled the breed’s development strictly. Breeders signed exclusive contracts, couldn't register their cats elsewhere, and had to follow IRCA rules.
In the 1980s, a group of breeders broke away from IRCA and began registering Ragdolls in TICA, CFA, and FIFe – launching the breed to global recognition and freedom.
Breed Personality
Ragdolls are truly angelic in spirit.
* Patient, affectionate, and incredibly social.
* They love people and tend to follow their humans around – like little dogs.
* Perfect for families with children and other pets.
* They adore being cuddled and often go limp when held – hence the name "Ragdoll."
Genetics & Colors
Ragdolls are pointed cats, which means their coat color is temperature-sensitive.
* They’re born white and develop color on their cooler body parts (ears, tail, legs) over time.
* Their blue eyes are due to the cs/cs (Siamese colorpoint) gene.
* Accepted colors include: seal, blue, chocolate, lilac, red, cream, and variations like tortie or lynx.
* Patterns: colorpoint, mitted, and bicolor.
Some breeders also work with mink or sepia Ragdolls (darker coats, aqua or gold eyes), though these are not accepted by traditional registries like TICA or CFA as standard Ragdolls.
Fun Facts:
* Ragdolls mature slowly – reaching full size and color at 3–4 years of age.
* Males can weigh up to 10 kg (22 lbs), making them one of the largest domestic cat breeds.
* Their silky coat lacks an undercoat, which means less matting and easier grooming.
* Their gentle nature makes them ideal therapy cats.
* They have a reduced hunting instinct – perfect for indoor living.
On Ragdoll Day…
Share a photo of your Ragdoll, tell us their story, or simply celebrate them with love. Let’s show the world how extraordinary these cats truly are.
