CATXDOG

It is best known for its docile and placid temperament and affectionate nature. It is perhaps the gentlest and most easy-going of breeds. They are non-aggressive to the point that many cats cannot or should not be let outside for prolonged periods as many will not defend themselves and most do not hunt. The name "Ragdoll" derived from the fact that many of these cats go completely limp and relax when picked up. Ragdolls have a sturdy body, short legs, and a thick coat with Siamese -style points. Their coat is exhibiting the pointed pattern in three

varieties: colorpoint, bicolor, and mitted. Coat colors can be seal, blue, chocolate, and lilac point colors, either with or without markings on the face and feet. In some associations, they are also available in non traditional colors, such as red (flame), tortie and lynx point. Their semi-long coats need minimal care and do not usually become matted with regular combing.

ORIGIN: The breed had its origin in California in the 1960s with a cat named Josephine, a white, long-haired cat who belonged to Mrs. Pennels, neighbor of Ann Baker who was a breeder of Persian cats, mostly blacks, before she started working on Ragdolls. Like many cats in the area, Josephine was half feral and she often produced kittens. At one time Josephine was hit by a car and Ann Baker´s neighbors, who worked at the local university, rescued her and she was nursed back to health. During this time Josephine had to stay indoors and she became somewhat tamer. When she had her next litter, the kittens were born in the house where Ann Baker first noticed them. Josephine´s previous kittens had been half wild like Josephine herself, but after the road accident they were quite the opposite. They were very relaxed and social, in fact Mrs. Pennels regarded them as a real nuisance! It is not quite clear what exactly was so different in those kittens and how they came to be that way. At later time several wild and scientifically impossible stories were put out by the colorful breed founder regarding the origin and development of the Ragdoll breed, including extraterrestrials , kittens' traits and personality being affected by the mother's being hit by a car, and genetic alteration using human genes. None of these legends are scientifically supportable.