Blue Point Ragdoll: the Gentle Puppy of the Cat Species

Undoubtedly the sweetest, most gentle, and loving cat with its striking blue eyes, Ragdoll is a wonderful pet to keep. This large cat is charming, laid back, and not very demanding, making an excellent pet for someone too busy for the more attention-seeking breeds. The Blue Point Ragdoll is a particularly sought-after specimen of the breed, consequently the pricier one as well.

Coming in an elegant white color, the breed displays a few color patterns such as the color point, bi-color, and mitted. The patterns formed in the fawn, blue, seal, cream, and cinnamon colors contrast against the white for a very attractive and charming cat. But this cat is so much more than just looks. It has a whole of character and quality to offer, provided you are willing to invest in her.

Background

The origins of the Ragdoll are partially clouded in mystery. The breed’s matriarch was a free-roaming, long-haired, white-colored cat named Josephine, whose exact ancestry is not known. What we do know is that her charm and beauty attracted a cat breeder, Anne Baker, who bred her with some of the other breeds she owned, leading to the birth of kittens that went on to form the foundation for this breed.

Cats from this litter were later mated to a Seal Point and another completely black cat to develop the Ragdoll we love and appreciate so much today. With careful selection, the breed was developed to have its remarkably affectionate behavior and distinctive appearance. 

Overall

The Ragdoll is a medium to large cat breed. Noted for its elegant white coat, vivid blue eyes, and attractive colored patterns (point, matted, and bi-color) that contrast beautifully against its light background. As evident from the name, the Blue Point Ragdoll accompanies a charming bluish-white point pattern to go with its white background.

Head

Ragdolls have a modified wedge head, with medium-sized ears set wide apart, large blue, oval eyes, a rounded muzzle, and a strong neck.

Body

Their bodies consist of a burly build, strong boning, beautiful, well-proportioned bodies, fuller chest, and a slightly curved profile. Slow to mature, it takes them three years to fully gain their looks and another year to mature.

Fur

The non-matted, silky smooth, flowing, moderately long fur renders a regal look about these tiny beings. Consisting of a minimal under-coat and a moderately long outer coat, the fur is thicker and longer around the ruff, hind legs, and tail, whereas the face, shoulder blades, and forelimbs display crisp, short fur.

Legs & Tail

Like the rest of their body, Ragdolls have strong, well-boned legs, hind limbs being longer than the forelimbs. The paws are large, round, and tufted, while their tail is long and plum.

Behavior & Temperament

Blue Point Ragdolls are delightful felines who take a particular liking to their humans. You do not have to be a cat person to admire the lovely kitty gazing sweetly at you from her unusual blue eyes. Her thick, soft plush fur calls out to the onlookers to pick up and cuddle with the squishy little creature, and if that is not enough to melt your heart, these cats have quite the reputation for going limp when picked up.

These are placid and docile, not carrying the restrain or, dare we say, attitude the felines are ‘notorious’ for. They would rather greet their humans at the entrance, follow them around the house, and would like to share their space. Happy floor cats, Ragdolls have an easy-going attitude, do not mind being held by and played with by kids, are generally happy around other pets, and can even learn to play and enjoy a nice game of fetch.

These superb attributes, combined with their desire to get petted by their humans, have earned them the title of “Puppy Cats.”

How to Care for Blue Point Ragdoll Cats?

Grooming

Blue Point Ragdolls are generally easy to keep. They have a silky, plush fur outer coat with an abundance of guard hair, leaving them pretty much water-repellent and minimal inner coat. Not big on shedding or matting, they do well with a weekly comb, done carefully to the skin and not just the surface hair.

Opting for a stainless steel or Greyhound comb can be an effective measure to remove the loose hair and keep them looking neat and sharp.

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Since they are light in color, you would want to maintain a bathing schedule and quickly follow it up with a thorough blow-dry to keep them spick and span. Other than that, all you need is a monthly nail clipping and a routine tooth brushing to maintain her looks.

Diet

But keeping your cat happy and healthy goes far beyond the looks. Providing her with a nutritious mix of foods is vital to ensuring her good health and wellbeing. Like the rest of her species, Ragdoll too is carnivorous, meaning the overwhelming majority of her diet should come from meat or other animal proteins.

Choosing a mix of dry and canned cat food, depending on your cat’s preference, from a reputable manufacturer can have long-term implications on your kitty’s health. Doing some background research, gauging your feline’s preferences, and discussing with your vet can help you arrive at the best decision for your pet.

Health Issues in Blue Point Ragdoll

Generally, cats may contract a few diseases if not taken care of properly. Proper vaccination, maintaining dental and oral hygiene, regular grooming, and routine visits to the vet can keep most of their health issues at bay. However, certain breeds have a higher susceptibility to particular health conditions, and looking for their signs can help for an early diagnosis and better quality of life.

Obesity

As is the case with most big cats, maintaining a healthy weight is quite the deal for a Blue Point Ragdoll. Owing to their susceptibility to overfeeding or inability to otherwise engage their pet, owners can make these cats feel bored or lonely, leading to overeating and consequently obesity.

These are big cats, and though they look bigger thanks to their long coat, you would be able to spot an overweight cat from a healthy one. Besides providing her quality, nourishing feed, it is also your job to get her enough exercise to keep her in good shape. Engaging with your cat, spending quality time, and playing with feather wands are great ways to bond with your pet and keep her body in good shape.

If the cat already weighs on the higher end, you may need a more aggressive plan than that. Choosing weight-management diets, pouring feed according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and finding creative food-based games like discovering kibbles in a food bag or under a basket turned upside down, can involve the creative means to help manage her weight.  

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)

Ragdolls have a predisposition to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. A condition of the heart muscles, HCM involves myocardial mass thickening, resulting in poor blood pumping abilities. The lower blood flow can give rise to further complications such as thromboembolism, causing blood clot formation in different parts of the body.

If undetected, the condition can quickly become life-threatening. Kittens with the genes for this disease on both their chromosomes develop the illness early on and may not live up to three years of age. Luckily, you can demand an HCM test result for the Ragdolls to ensure that the pet you add to your family is free of this condition.

If you already have a Blue Point Ragdoll and have no clue about its genetic susceptibility, watch her closely to notice any signs of lethargy, difficulty in breathing, and weight loss, then find her an appointment for a detailed check-up with the veterinarian as early as possible. Early diagnosis and treatment can save her from lots of pain and discomfort. It is for reasons like these that getting a detailed evaluation by a registered is recommended twice a year.

Similar Cat Breeds

• Want to explore more cats with a point pattern? Take a look at Lynx Point Siamese: Facts, Personality, and Pictures
• If you are interested in learning about more fluffy cat breeds, shuffle through 7 Incredibly Fluffy Cat Breeds of the Feline World
• Read about more cat breeds with similar blue eyes in Animal Kingdoms Finest Cats with Blue Eyes
• Fond of bigger, cuddlier cat breeds, find about them in Large Domestic Cat Breeds for Ardent Feline Admirers