Ragdoll Cat Facts - 12 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Ragdolls

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We sure do love our Ragdolls. Getting to know your babies means learning about their individual personalities as well as the fun facts about their breed.

Here are some of my favorite things about the Ragdoll breed.

Some Fun Ragdoll Cat Facts!

1. They ALL have beautiful blue eyes.

This isn’t a surprising fact. Ragdoll eyes may come in different shapes and shades of blue. However, it is important to note that ALL purebreds have blue eyes.

If your Ragdoll has shades of green or yellow in her eyes then she is probably a mix. I have read of some websites referring to Ragdolls as having other shades to their eye color.

This is NOT true of the breed.

2. They’re one of the largest domestic breeds of cat.

When we see photos of Ragdolls, their cuteness almost makes you think they’d be dainty.

However, Ragdoll cats are actually one of the largest breeds of domestic cat. This isn’t all just fluff either. Not only can they reach weights of 20 pounds but when you add in their medium to long coat, these guys can be the size of a small dog!

3. They have dog-like personalities.

Some cats have personalities that are similar to a dog.

Ragdolls take the best traits from dogs such as loyalty and playfulness. They are fiercely loyal to their families and love being near their humans.

Ragdolls will even wait patiently outside a door for their owner to come and play (Sometimes, I see a little paw reach under the door and beckon me to open the door!)

They love to play just like any other cat but they have also been known to play a game of fetch (mine like a scrunched up ball of paper). Each of my Ragdolls played fetch first time, automatically, without any training. Ragdolls also tend to carry around their favourite toys in their teeth – trotting along like a satisfied puppy.

Some are even known to excitedly greet their owners at the door – but don’t expect them to bring the newspaper!

4. Ragdolls are quiet by nature.

Although mine are talkers, this breed is generally quiet. This can be a good thing although the breeder where I got my first Ragdolls warned me that they are so quiet they don’t show distress or pain.

I found this to be true, when my male Blue point, MacIntosh had a bladder issue. He displayed no signs of discomfort at all and even continued to lie on my lap and purr.

He was “business was as usual”. Luckily, I noticed his frequent trips to the litter box and took him to the vet.

5. Ragdoll Kittens are born pure white.

Their colour and pattern develop sometime between one to two weeks of age. Then the breeder is able to tell what colour/pattern they will be.

The breeder is also able to predict what the possibilities of colour/pattern combos of a litter of kittens will be because of the colour/pattern of the parents.

(If you’re adopting a Ragdoll kitten, learn more about how to care for your new kitty in our Ragdoll Kitten Guide!)

Seal Mitted Female Kitten and Blue Poin Male Ragdoll Kittens

6. Ragdolls are fully grown at 4 years of age.

Ragdolls are what is known as a “slow-maturing” cat. What this means is that they aren’t considered fully grown adults until age 4.

During this time, they can continue to grow in size and you may not minor changes in their pattern. Some have been know to continueto grow even into their 5th year.

7. Ragdolls have an above average life span.

Ragdolls are actually one of the longest living cat breeds. While there is a lot of debate on the average age for a Ragdoll, it is generally agreed that they live between 15-20 years.

Keep in mind, this is for an indoor-only cat. Having an indoor/outdoor cat or an outdoor only cat exposes them to many potentially life-threatening diseases and risks that can lower this average.

Read more on How Long Do Ragdoll Cats Live?

Clearing up Ragdoll Myths

A few supposed “facts” about Ragdolls are actually just myths. It’s important to clear up a few of these for you guys in case you’re considering adopting a Ragdoll cat.

8. They aren’t ALL cuddly, floppy, snugglers.

OH BOY! This is one Ragdoll cat fact I need to clear up!!!

Many Ragdolls are cuddlers and love to be held, but not all.

Ragdolls have their own unique personalities. How a Ragdoll is raised could influence whether or not they will be floppy or snuggly, but not always.

Don’t adopt a Ragdoll expecting an instant floppy cat. It’s a feature of this breed but not a quality they all have.

9. Ragdolls are NOT hypoallergenic.

This myth comes from their lack of an undercoat.

Excessive shedding of this undercoat is what causes many allergies. Other allergies are caused by cat saliva which, of course, will still be a factor with a Ragdoll.

10. Ragdolls DO shed.

As just mentioned, Ragdolls lack an undercoat which means that they shed less, need less grooming, and don’t get matted hair.

However, they DO still shed. Their coat is rabbit-soft but you can still expect it to shed regularly like any other cat.

Learn more about the most attractive trait of the Ragdoll: their magnificent coat.

What You Need to Know About the Amazing Ragdoll Coat

11. Ragdolls DO feel pain.

Because Ragdolls are quiet, calm, and loving, it may be difficult for you to catch the cues that help you know they are in pain.

Many cats howl or simply start acting “not themselves” when they are sick.

You may need to pay closer attention to your Ragdoll since howling is not typical for this breed. This doesn’t mean that they don’t feel pain – just that they are better at hiding it and dealing with it, than most breeds.

12. Ragdolls are NOT deaf.

This myth comes from an association with their blue eyes.

Deafness is more common in cats with blue eyes; however, this is true mostly for pure white cats.

Ragdolls come in a variety of colours and do not have the same mutation as the pure white cats.

Bottom line? There’s a LOT to love about a Ragdoll cat.