ORIGIN OF THE BREED

The Ragdoll cat of today was developed from the combination of three feral cats in Riverside, California. Lots of stories have been told about the origins and characteristics of Ragdolls, but one common thread runs through them all: the purebred Ragdoll cat owes its existence to a woman named Ann Baker and a female cat named Josephine.

Josephine was a feral cat living in a cat colony on the property of Ann Baker's neighbor. She had become somewhat tame while being nursed back to health following an automobile accident. It was Ann Baker who recognized special qualities in Josephine's subsequent litters and obtained a female kitten from one of those litters, naming it Buckwheat. Buckwheat was a black female. Ann's neighbor also kept one of the kittens, a pointed male with white mittens named Daddy Warbucks. Ann Baker obtained a daughter of Daddy Warbucks and Josephine, Fugianna, who was the first bicolor Ragdoll. Using the stud services of her neighbor's cat, Daddy Warbucks, Ann used these cats to establish the Ragdoll breed.

Ragdolls have become the fastest growing and most lovable breed of cat ever developed. Owners are captivated by their Ragdoll's sweet temperment, beautiful coat, generous size and big blue eyes!


References cited:

"Guide To Owning A Ragdoll Cat" by Gary A Strobel & Susan A Nelson.

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