Ragdoll cats are beautiful felines famous for their size and floppiness. They are not the most energetic animals, but they are quite friendly and tend to be affectionate and laidback.
This makes them wonderful family pets because they can be playful but will also stick to their humans like Velcro.
Breed Overview
Colors:
Creamy white with red to orange points
Suitable for:
Active families
Temperament:
Friendly, sweet, affectionate, loving
Flame Point Ragdolls, also called Red Ragdolls, are gorgeous, loving cats with luxurious medium to long fur. Flame point is just one color variation of the Ragdoll. They can also be seal, chocolate, lilac, cream, fawn, cinnamon, and blue. This breed is quite large, with some cats weighing up to 20 pounds!
Flame Point Ragdolls have a creamy white body with red points, which means they have reddish-colored fur on the face, tail, legs, and ears. The points can range from a light orange to a deep fiery red.
Ragdoll Cat Characteristics
The Earliest Records of Ragdolls in History
Ragdolls were developed in 1963 by Ann Baker in Riverside, California. Ann was breeding a specific cat at the time, a kind of experimental Persian, when she noticed that a white Angora-type cat by the name of Josephine had given birth to unique kittens. They craved human affection, were calm, and had coats that didn’t mat. They also went limp when someone picked them up.
These are all the characteristics of the Ragdoll that we know today. Ann took three kittens and started line breeding them to lock in those traits, and the resulting offspring were called Ragdolls.
Other than Josephine, the three cats that led to the Ragdoll were Daddy Warbucks, a seal point-mitted male; Fugianna, a seal bicolor cat; and Buckwheat, a black furry cat.
How Ragdolls Gained Popularity
Six years after the origins of these cats, the first Ragdolls were sold in 1969 to Laura and Denny Dayton, who started breeding the cats, which is where today’s Ragdolls can trace their ancestry. Unfortunately, Ann decided that she wanted total control of the Ragdoll breed. Over time, breeders of the Ragdoll stopped working with her.
The Daytons continued to breed Ragdolls from the original lines until the ‘80s. The Daytons were pivotal in the history of these cats and created the standards for the breed today.
Formal Recognition of Ragdolls
Ann Baker established the International Ragdoll Cat Association in 1971, which set out strict rules on the breeding of this cat. But the Daytons formed their own association, known as the Ragdoll Fanciers Club International (RFC), in 1975.
Ragdolls were formally recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) in 1993, but The International Cat Association (TICA) recognized the Ragdoll as early as 1979.
It was in 2006 when the RFC added the red gene for both registration and championship status. The red pointed color of the Ragdoll is also a part of the standardization of the breed in the CFA and TICA.
Top 10 Unique Facts About Flame Point Ragdoll
- Flame Point Ragdolls are born all white. The orange and red points slowly appear as they age, typically when they are adolescents or adults.
- Flame Point is somewhat of a rare color for Ragdolls but is quite popular. The rarest is lilac, followed by chocolate and red. In any case, these cats may not be easy to find.
- All Ragdolls have blue eyes, so if you find one that doesn’t have blue eyes, they’re not a Ragdoll but likely a mixed breed.
- Ragdolls were named as such because of their tendency to go limp in your arms when you pick them up.
- Ragdolls all have medium to long fur but don’t tend to mat as much as other cats with long hair.
- They are often referred to as “puppy cats” because they tend to follow their people around and will even play fetch.
- Ragdolls are often the size of a small dog. When you add in that fluffy coat, they can weigh up to (and sometimes over) 20 pounds. These cats are big!
- They are a quiet breed and are not known for being chatty.
- Ragdolls are slow growers compared to other breeds and are not fully grown until they are about 4 years of age.
- They are among the longest-living cats out there, with an average lifespan of between 15 and 20 years. Keep in mind that this life expectancy is for indoor cats only.
Does the Flame Point Ragdoll Make a Good Pet?
Flame Point Ragdolls, or any other Ragdoll cat, absolutely make excellent pets! They are fantastic with children and other pets, including dogs. They are gentle and relaxed but still playful enough to entertain the kids.
Just keep in mind that these cats are laidback and not that talkative, so you’ll want to find another breed if that isn’t your cup of tea. They can sometimes act almost dog-like with their love of playing fetch, and they are friendly and intelligent.
Ragdolls need a fair amount of grooming because of their semi-long plush coats, but they might only require brushing about once a week with a stainless-steel comb. You should also do the usual trimming of the nails every few weeks and brush their teeth a few times a week.
Conclusion
The Flame Point Ragdoll is a beautiful cat that makes a loving companion suitable for most families. Their unique way of flopping when you pick them up and those blue eyes make them popular cats, and they are also loyal and loving.
Since they are so people oriented, they need someone to be home with them most of the time. This way, they get all the attention and love that they deserve. So, if you decide to get yourself a Flame Point Ragdoll, you’re in for one of the best pets that you’ve ever had!
Featured Image Credit: Carolyn R, Shutterstock