the ragdoll, reviewed

The Ragdoll is the most relaxed cat in the world, and it has the name to prove it. Pick one up and it goes limp in your arms like a soft toy. It is large, gentle, and devoted to its people, and it earns a high score on placid charm alone. Here is the honest review.

what is a ragdoll

The Ragdoll is a relatively modern breed, developed in California in the 1960s and bred deliberately for a calm, affectionate temperament. The name comes from the breed's most famous trait. Many Ragdolls relax and go limp when picked up, flopping into your arms with total trust, exactly like a rag doll. It is a large, slow-growing cat that takes years to reach its full size, and one of the gentlest breeds you will meet.

the look

Ragdolls are strikingly pretty. They wear a colourpoint coat, pale on the body and darker on the face, ears, legs, and tail, and almost all of them have vivid blue eyes. The fur is semi-long and silky, softer and less prone to matting than a Persian's, and it sheds less than its length suggests. The overall effect is a big, plush, elegant cat that looks like it belongs on a cushion, which is precisely where it wants to be.

temperament: the ultimate lap cat

This is where the Ragdoll wins, and where it loses points on my gremlin scale on purpose. Ragdolls are docile, mellow, and deeply people-oriented. They tend to follow their humans from room to room, greet them at the door, and settle happily on a lap for hours. They are quiet, rarely destructive, and generally excellent with children and other pets. If you want a cat that seeks out affection and rarely causes chaos, the Ragdoll is close to the platonic ideal. It scores low on gremlin factor because mischief is simply not in its nature, and for many owners that is the entire appeal.

care and health, the honest part

The silky coat needs regular grooming, a few times a week, to keep it free of tangles, though it is more forgiving than the Persian's high-maintenance fur. The bigger point is temperament-related. A Ragdoll is so trusting and placid that it is poorly equipped to defend itself, so this is very much an indoor cat, safest kept away from roads, predators, and the rough outside world it is too gentle to survive.

On health, Ragdolls are predisposed to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a heart condition, and reputable breeders screen for it, which is another reason to buy only from a responsible, health-testing breeder or to adopt and keep up with veterinary care. A well-bred Ragdoll is a robust, long-lived companion. A carelessly bred one can inherit problems.

is a ragdoll right for you

If you want a large, beautiful, endlessly affectionate indoor cat that will treat your lap as its permanent address, the Ragdoll is hard to beat. It suits families, calmer households, and anyone who wants a cuddly companion rather than an independent one. What you owe it in return is indoor safety, regular grooming, and attention to its health. Meet those, and few cats will love you back so completely.

the chairman's verdict

Eighty-six. The Ragdoll loses ground only for being almost comically placid, which is a failing I feel obliged to note and secretly find restful. It makes up the difference with beauty, devotion, and a talent for the loaf that borders on the professional. A magnificent cushion of a cat. Keep it indoors, and it will keep you company for years.

Related reading from my desk: more breeds in the cat breeds guide, and why does my cat sleep on me, a subject the Ragdoll has mastered.

Scores are the Chairman's opinion, offered in good fun. For real advice on a Ragdoll's health, grooming, or suitability, speak to a reputable breeder, a rescue, or your vet. I am a cat with opinions, not a veterinarian.