Our cats
About the Ragdoll
The story of the ragdoll begins in the United States, specifically in Riverside, California, when Ann Baker, a breeder of Persians, witnesses an accident. Josephine, a long-haired, blue-eyed, rather wild white gutter, was hit by a car. She was treated and recovered without visible after-effects.
The rest is not always clear, as there are many legends about the origin of the ragdoll. According to one version of the story, Josephine became a very gentle, docile and easily handled cat as a result of this accident. As her kittens also showed these characteristics, Ann Baker chose to give this new breed the name Ragdoll: ragdoll in English. At the time, Ann Baker even claimed that they were insensitive to pain. This is of course a fable without any scientific basis.
In the United States, the Ragdoll was recognised as early as 1965. In Europe, the first Ragdolls, direct descendants of Josephine, were imported to Great Britain in 1981 by the cattery "Blossom Time", which was instrumental in establishing the breed in Europe. In 1985, the Ragdoll was introduced in Germany and in 1986 in France.
The Ragdoll lives up to its name : it's a a real "rag doll". He is easy to handle, gentle in character and very pleasant to live with. Sociable, he gets along well with the other animals in the house.
Even if he knows how to be quiet when he is alone, he needs company, and in particular that of his human whom he will follow everywhere in the house, which earns him a reputation of "glue pot".
He's very affectionate and cuddly, making him an ideal companion.
The Ragdoll is not an outdoor cat. A little clumsy and, above all, far too trusting, he won't be able to cope with all kinds of aggression. In the end, securing your indoor or outdoor space is quite simple, and will help you avoid the worst. You can also opt for walks with a suitable harness.
He'll do very well in apartments, or in houses with no access to the outdoors. However, you'll need to look after his physical and mental health, stimulating him with games and providing him with everything he needs (perches and scratching posts in particular).
He is very attached to his human and needs company. He is very cuddly by nature and will follow you wherever you go. He also appreciates the presence of other pets. Our kittens are all socialized and in contact with dogs.
The Ragdoll, like all cats, is a natural drinker. Feeding a cat exclusively kibble can be detrimental to its health, so wet food should always represent at least 50% of its diet.
BARF, home ration, industrial food... what should you choose? BARF is an alternative to industrial food, based on raw meat, meaty bones, abas, oil and fruit and vegetables. The household ration, on the other hand, is based on COOKED animal proteins and includes starchy foods. It may be tempting to opt for this type of food, but you need to bear in mind that you need to be vigilant about nutritional balance. To avoid nutritional errors, you'll need to work out the typical meals and quantities beforehand. Pâtée, and to a lesser extent kibbles, have the advantage of providing all your cat's nutritional requirements, provided you choose quality products.
As a strict carnivore, cats derive their metabolizable energy from fats and proteins. These must be of animal origin and of the highest possible quality. So be careful if the first ingredient is "cereals" or "meats and by-products". You should also select a product with a high protein content (at least 38% on a dry matter basis), and a low mineral content (less than 8%).
The Ragdoll is a breed with few health problems. Nevertheless, like all breeds, it is predisposed to certain hereditary diseases, which can be eradicated by genetic testing.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) are the most common diseases affecting Ragdoll cats. HCM affects all cats, whether purebred or not. A specific DNA test for HCM in Ragdoll cats is available. All our breeding cats are negative to these tests and therefore cannot produce a positive kitten (two negative parents cannot produce a positive kitten).
In addition to negative HCM tests and regular kidney ultrasounds, our cats are tested FiV/FeLV negative for feline leucosis or feline AIDS. However, no FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis) test is yet available.
Ragdoll standard
General aspect
The ragdoll is a large cat, as males can weigh up to nine kilos as adults and females 4 to 6 kilos. To reach this size, they have a slow growth, spreading for the males until the age of 2 or 3 years.
Their body is rectangular, rather long and strong. A lack of muscle or thin bones would immediately disqualify the cat. The chest is broad and round, however the width between the front and rear legs is the same.
Their body is rectangular, rather long and strong. A lack of muscle or thin bones would immediately disqualify the cat. The chest is broad and round, however the width between the front and rear legs is the same.
Size
The Ragdoll is one of the larger cats and has a rather imposing build. Tall, massive with a muscular body that defies that of the Maine Coon.
Male size : 33.00 cm to 38.00 cm
Female size : 30.00 cm to 35.00 cm
Male weight : 3.00 kg to 9.00 kg
Female weight : 3.00 kg to 8.00 kg
Male size : 33.00 cm to 38.00 cm
Female size : 30.00 cm to 35.00 cm
Male weight : 3.00 kg to 9.00 kg
Female weight : 3.00 kg to 8.00 kg
Coat / Dress
The Ragdoll cat's coat is medium-length with little undercoat, for easy, gentle care. The coat is silky and fine. Nevertheless, it needs to be combed regularly, throughout the year, to avoid the formation of wads that can turn into tangles. Brushing should be more frequent at moulting time (spring/autumn), when the hair falls out more. Bathing is not necessary, except in certain cases, when products adapted to cats must be used.
Behaviour
The most striking characteristic of the Ragdoll is that it gives itself up completely when you hold it in your arms: like a cuddly toy, it lets itself go completely, with its paws dangling, without any nervousness - which is not the case for all cats in this situation! It is therefore an ideal companion for children, as it is peaceful, cuddly and extremely patient.
Appearance
The Ragdoll is known to have a soft and flexible body which it manages to relax completely. It can sleep in probably any position as if it had no bones. This does not mean, however, that the Ragdoll does not feel pain or that he can be held in any way you like. He must be supported firmly with both hands when being carried, otherwise he may get hurt.
Anecdotes
The Ragdoll can be completely loose, as if it had no bones, like a rag doll.
This is a relatively new breed that was created in California in the 1960s.
The Ragdoll was introduced to France in 1986.
The Official Book of Feline Origins listed 76 Ragdolls in 2003 and over 2700 registrations in 2019.
Download the Ragdoll standard in .pdf
Frequently asked questions
- Who are we ?
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We are an animal loving couple. Sheep, dogs, cats and chickens live with us in harmony in our small Burgundy farm, near Clamecy (2 hours from Paris).
The adventure with the ragdoll started in 2011 with the adoption of our first cat, Gaïa, a seal mitted, who has unfortunately left us since. In 2021, a new adventure started with Cindy, a blue bicoloured cat who comes from Poland.
All our animals live with us, in our home, and stay with us for their whole lives: we can't see it any other way, as we consider our cats to be full members of our family. ❤️
Although we are a family-run business, we have been ACACED holders since 2017 (Session n°1899 held at 77255 Brie Comte Robert, lle-de-France region), and comply with all the administrative and hygienic standards that are essential for the health of our babies! 😻 - How are kittens socialised ?
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The socialization of our kittens is one of our priorities. They evolve with us, in our family, with our other cats and dogs from their youngest age.
They are of course handled on a daily basis and we also make sure that they are exposed to different sounds (hoover, hair dryer...), in order to prepare them for various situations. 🐾 - At what age are kittens ready to join their families ?
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Although legal adoption is possible from the age of 2 months, kittens continue to learn from their mother and siblings. Through play, they acquire self-control and regulate their behavior by retracting their claws, controlling their impulsiveness and inhibiting the intensity of their bites. Mom, for her part, regulates their outbursts as needed and serves as a role model for them. 🍼🐥
We take it to heart that our babies are successfully socialized, which is why none of them joins their family for life before the age of 3 months. It's also a guarantee for future families that they'll have a cat that's right at home ! 🐱 - Can ragdolls adapt to indoor life ?
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The ragdoll is a breed perfectly adapted to life indoors. They are generally unsuspecting of outside dangers and don't know how to cope with various assaults. 😺
However, like all cats, he needs mental stimulation and play to develop fully. It's therefore essential to provide him with an enriching environment inside your home, with toys, scratching posts and comfortable resting areas for him to express his natural behavior.
Spending time with him is also essential. Ragdolls need interaction with their human, and need time to play, be stroked and pampered. 😻 - Can the ragdoll adapt to indoor living ?
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The ragdoll is a breed perfectly suited to an indoor life. They are generally unsuspecting of outside dangers and do not know how to deal with various aggressions.
However, like all cats, he needs mental stimulation and play to fully develop. It is therefore essential to provide a nurturing environment within your home, with toys, scratching posts and comfortable resting areas for your cat to express its natural behaviour.
It is also essential to spend time with your ragdoll. Ragdolls need interaction with their human, and need time to play, be petted and pampered. - Which illnesses are tested ?
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We take great care to ensure that our cats are healthy and free from genetic diseases.
We therefore carry out regular health tests on our breeding cats to ensure that they are in good health and do not carry genetic diseases potentially transmissible to their offspring. The tests we carry out include the detection of feline leukemia (FELV) and the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), which are common viral infections among cats.
We also test our breeding cats for the cardiac hypertrophy (HCM), genetic heart disease. We perform this test using the cat's DNA, which enables us to detect the disease very accurately and reliably.
Finally, we ultrasound-test our breeding cats for the polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a genetic kidney disease.
However, it's essential to understand that despite our best efforts, it's always possible for certain health problems to arise later in a cat's life. Diseases can have complex causes, involving environmental factors, complex genetic interactions and other elements that may be beyond our control. So we can't be held responsible for illnesses that may occur once kittens have grown up and left our cattery.
It is important that new owners understand that they are responsible for their cat's care once it is in their home. We strongly encourage our customers to take out pet health insurance to cover unforeseen veterinary expenses and to help them cope with any illness or injury. - How much does a kitten cost ?
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The price of a HelloSweety kitten may vary according to conformity to the breed standard : kittens that perfectly meet the standard criteria will be more expensive than those with minor defects.
Kittens with high conformity to the breed standard, in terms of physical characteristics and general quality, are considered exemplary representatives of their breed. They generally have a higher potential for breeding and exhibiting in cat shows. 🦄
This is why the price of kittens may vary depending on their conformity to the breed standard. Kittens with high conformity may command a slightly higher price, as they represent the pinnacle of the line and are more likely to pass on desired traits to their offspring.
However, it is essential to note that all our kittens, whether they are considered exemplary representatives of their breed or not, are loved and cherished alike. Each kitten has its own unique charm and personality, and all are wonderful pets.
Finally, it is important to note that the purchase price of a kitten should not be the only factor to consider when adopting a pet. Cats require regular care, vet visits and a quality feed, which is an additional cost. It is essential to consider all the financial aspects related to the adoption of a kitten before deciding. - How to book your kitten?
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✨ You liked our philosophy and would like to adopt a kitten from
and we thank you ! ✨
In order to inform us of your desire to reserve your future kitten with us, please do not hesitate to tell us in a few words about your adoption project, we'll be happy to read you and get back to you quickly! 🤩