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40-477: Ragdolls are often known as " dog-like cats " or "puppy-like cats", due to their tendency to follow people around, their receptiveness to handling, and their relative lack of aggression towards other pets. Ragdolls are distinguishable by their pointed coloration (where the body is lighter than the face, ears, legs, and tail), large round blue eyes, soft, thick coats, thick limbs, long tails, and soft bodies. Their color rings are commonly tricolor or bicolor. The breed

80-431: A Barr body . Cells in which the chromosome carrying the orange (O) allele is inactivated express the alternative non-orange (o) allele, determined by the (B) gene. Cells in which the non-orange (o) allele is inactivated express the orange (O) allele. Pigment genes are expressed in melanocytes that migrate to the skin surface later in development. In bi-colored tortoiseshell cats, the melanocytes arrive relatively early, and

120-436: A torbie or, with large white areas, a caliby . Not uncommonly there will be a "split face" pattern with black on one side of the face and orange on the other, with a dividing line running down the bridge of the nose. Tortoiseshell coloring can also be expressed in the point pattern, referred to as a tortie point . Leonard Doncaster was the first to prove that tortoiseshell is the female heterozygote of orange and black,

160-459: A Ragdoll to reach mature size. They have a sturdy body, bulky frame, and proportionate legs. Their heads are broad with a flat top and wide space between the ears. They have long, muscular bodies with broad chests and short necks. Their tails are bushy and long in length, their paws are large, round, and tufted, and their coats are silky, dense, and medium to long length. Due to their coats tending to be long, they usually require brushing at least twice

200-599: A docile, placid temperament, affectionate nature, and a tendency to go limp and relaxed when picked up. Out of those early litters came Blackie, an all-black male, and Daddy Warbucks, a seal point with white feet. Daddy Warbucks sired the founding bi-color female Fugianna, and Blackie sired Buckwheat, a dark brown-black Burmese-like female. Both Fugianna and Buckwheat were Josephine's daughters. All Ragdolls are descended from Baker's cats through matings of Daddy Warbucks to Fugianna and Buckwheat. Baker, in an unusual move, spurned traditional cat breeding associations. She trademarked

240-578: A fear of it. A frequently active breed, Abyssinians will often climb upon their owners and perch upon their bodies to see. They also tend to welcome the company of friendly-minded dogs. Veterinarian Joan O. Joshua has said the "dog-like attachment to the owners" of Abyssinians causes "greater dependence on human contacts". This stands in contrast to the mere "tolerant acceptance of human company" based on "comforts" that multiple other breeds display. With their interest in playing with their owners combined with their curious intelligence, Abyssinians are nicknamed

280-670: A husband-and-wife team, Denny and Laura Dayton, broke ranks with the IRCA to gain mainstream recognition for the Ragdoll. Beginning with a breeding pair of IRCA cats, this group eventually developed the Ragdoll standard currently accepted by major cat registries such as the CFA and the FIFe . Around the time of the spread of the Ragdoll breed in America during the early 1960s, a breeding pair of Ragdolls

320-496: A life expectancy of 10.31 years compared to 11.74 overall. One study, utilizing Swedish insurance data, showed that of the common cat breeds, the Ragdoll and Siamese have the lowest survival rate, with a 78% chance of survival to 10 years. An English study of patient records found a life expectancy of 10.1 years. In a review of over 5,000 cases of urate urolithiasis , the Ragdoll was over-represented, with an odds ratio of 5.14. An English study reviewing over 190,000 patient records found

360-419: A week. Adults develop knickerbockers on their hind legs and a ruff around their necks. The breed is often known for its large, round, deep-blue eyes, though other cats may have that feature as well. The genes for point coloration are also responsible for these distinctive blue eyes. Deeper shades of blue are favored in cat shows. Although the breed has a plush coat, it consists mainly of long guard hairs, while

400-407: Is a cat coat coloring named for its similarity to tortoiseshell pattern. Like tortoiseshell-and-white or calico cats, tortoiseshell cats are almost exclusively female. Male tortoiseshells are rare and are usually sterile. Tortoiseshell cats, or torties , combine two colors other than white, either closely mixed or in larger patches. The colors are often described as red and black, but

440-416: Is a false assumption. Animals have individual characteristics based on their environment, particularly their past interactions with people. The nature of selective breeding for both canines and felines varies dramatically across different human cultures as well, with distinctive traits (such as fertility, lifespan, speed, etc.) receiving emphasis depending on the historical context. The feline temperament

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480-402: Is also called ginger. Therefore, a tortoiseshell cat may be a chocolate tortoiseshell or a blue/cream tortoiseshell or the like, based on the alleles for the (B) and (D) genes. Female cats are homogametic (XX) and undergo the phenomenon of X-inactivation , in which one of the X chromosomes is turned off at random in each cell in very early embryonic development. The inactivated X becomes

520-454: Is determined by which O-gene allele is present. Accordingly, the cat's coat will be either entirely orange or melanistic (respectively X Y or X Y). Very rarely (approximately 1 in 3,000 ) a male tortoiseshell or calico is born; these typically have an extra X chromosome (XXY), a condition known in humans as Klinefelter syndrome , and their cells undergo an X-inactivation process like in females. As in humans, these cats often are sterile because of

560-976: Is not only due to their large size and stature but also because of the cats' usually pleasant mannerisms plus their tendency to closely follow their owners and obey them. Maine Coon cats additionally are often trainable given their intelligence and affectionate nature. The felines have large and silky coats yet grooming is made easier given their desire to be frequently handled. According to the Cat Fanciers' Association , Maine Coons offer "hours of enjoyment with their antics but can at times be intrusive. Without question they want to be part of everything". The Manx breed displays behaviors akin to puppies, such as coming when their owners whistle or call their names. They are known for jumping and climbing about obstacles as well as burying things, even collecting and burying toys at times. Manx felines will also display strong affection generally. Dr. David Taylor, writer and founder of

600-470: Is particularly malleable to a wide set of environmental factors, especially sudden stresses. For example, after dangerous floods in Canvey Island , cats showed behaviors of psychological shock akin to human struggles. Well-raised kittens frequently demonstrate affection towards humans and a pleasant, docile nature regardless of pedigree. These broad traits are not specific to any particular breed, as

640-530: Is slowed, so that the pigment cells arrive late in development and have less time to intermingle. Observation of tri-color cats will show that, with a little white color, the orange and black patches become more defined, and with still more white, the patches become completely distinct. Each patch represents a clone of cells derived from one original cell in the early embryo. Male cats, like males of other therian mammals, are heterogametic (XY). The single X chromosome does not undergo X-inactivation, ergo coat color

680-818: The "Clowns of the Cat Kingdom." The Burmese breed typically displays the dog-like attachment seen in Abyssinians. They both also share the combination of high intelligence and tendency to stay close that makes training them to be on a leash practical. The Burmese are persistently more vocal than other breeds, this leading VCA Animal Hospitals to state that the typical one "enjoys engaging in conversation". Their energetic nature also encourages play to an extent far more commonly associated with dogs. Maine Coons are, according to Academy of Veterinary Nutrition Technicians President Kara Burns and Dr. Lori Renda-Francis, "often referred to as 'dog like'." This description

720-552: The "red" patches can instead be orange, yellow, or cream, and the "black" can instead be chocolate, gray, tabby , or blue. Tortoiseshell cats with the tabby pattern as one of their colors are sometimes referred to as torbies or torbie cats . "Tortoiseshell" is typically reserved for multicolored cats with relatively small or no white markings. Those that are predominantly white with tortoiseshell patches are described as tricolor, tortoiseshell-and-white, or calico (in Canada and

760-551: The International Zoo Veterinary Group, has said they are "positively dog-like". Ragdolls are named for an earlier tendency of the breed to go limp when picked up, and their tendencies to rest in a doll-like, bent position. They usually display a calm, relaxed temperament, with the animals often seeking physical affection from owners and following owners around. They sometimes play games such as fetch. Tortoiseshell cat Tortoiseshell

800-558: The Ragdoll to be less likely to acquire diabetes mellitus than mixed breed cats. The prevalence in Ragdolls was 0.24% compared to 0.58% overall. The Ragdoll is one of the more commonly affected breeds for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy . An autosomal dominant mutation of the MYBPC group of genes is responsible for the condition in the breed. The allelic frequencies of the mutation R820W were 0.17 in cats from Italy and 0.23 in cats from

840-598: The US in 2013. This reference states that the R820W prevalence is 30% in the UK. The HCM prevalence was found to be 2.9% (95% CI = 2.7–8.6%) in this study. Dog-like cat Dog-like cat (also canine-like cat , puppy cat , puppy-like cat , and so on) is a term in popular culture that refers to specific breeds of domestic cats that have unusual behavioral tendencies that are reminiscent of young domestic dogs . These are within

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880-640: The United States). Tortoiseshell markings appear in many different breeds, as well as in non-purebred domestic cats. This pattern is especially preferred in the Japanese Bobtail breed, and exists in the Cornish Rex group. Tortoiseshell cats have particolored coats with patches of various shades of red, grey, and black, and sometimes white. The size of the patches can vary from a fine speckled pattern to large areas of color. Typically,

920-415: The alleles are notated as an uppercase O for orange, or a lowercase o for not-orange. Tortoiseshell and calico cats are labeled X X , indicating O-gene heterozygosity. The (B) and (O) genes can be further modified by a recessive dilute gene (dd) which softens the colors. Orange becomes cream, black becomes gray, etc. Various terms are used for specific colors, for example, gray is also called blue, orange

960-541: The cat is a mixture of cells with different numbers of X chromosomes. In the folklore of several cultures, cats with tortoiseshell coloration are believed to bring good luck . In Ireland, tortoiseshell cats are considered to bring good luck to their owners. In the United States , tortoiseshells are sometimes referred to as money cats . In Japan, tortoiseshell cats are considered to bring good luck against shipwrecks. There are some additional interpretations of

1000-624: The cats often following owners from room to room as well as seeking physical affection akin to certain dog breeds. Ragdolls can be trained to retrieve toys and enjoy doing so. They have a very playful nature that often lasts well into their senior years. Unlike many other breeds, Ragdolls prefer staying low to the ground rather than the highest point in the household. The Ragdoll is one of the largest domesticated cat breeds. Fully-grown females weigh from 8 to 15 pounds (3.6 to 6.8 kg). Males are substantially larger, ranging from 12 to 20 pounds (5.4 to 9.1 kg) or more. It can take up to four years for

1040-564: The corresponding male being orange. In the course of his studies he discovered that the rare tortoiseshell male is often sterile. Tortoiseshell and calico coats result from an interaction between genetic and developmental factors. The primary gene for coat color (B), for the colors brown, chocolate, cinnamon, etc., can be masked by the co-dominant gene for the orange color (O), which is on the X chromosome and has two alleles : orange (X ) and not-orange (X ) that produce orange phaeomelanin and black eumelanin pigments, respectively. Typically,

1080-487: The felines are exposed to dogs and people who wish to harm them, with the cats possibly being too trusting and too friendly for their own good. Breeds known for these canine behaviors include the Abyssinian , Burmese , Maine Coon , Manx , and Ragdoll . However, dog-related behavior traits can appear regardless of breed. The cultural assumption that cats are distant from people and lack affection compared to dogs

1120-474: The imbalance in sex chromosomes. Some male calico or tortoiseshell cats may be chimeras , which result from fusion in early development of two (fraternal twin) embryos with different color genotypes; these torties can pass only one color to their offspring, not both, according to which of the two original embryos its testes are descended from. Others are mosaics , in which the XXY condition arises after conception and

1160-603: The lack of a dense undercoat results, according to the Cat Fanciers' Association, in "reduced shedding and matting". There may be a noticeable increase of shedding in the spring. Ragdolls come in six distinct colors: seal, chocolate, red, and the corresponding dilutes: blue, lilac, and cream. There also are the lynx and tortoiseshell variations in all colors and the three patterns. Ragdoll kittens are born white; they have good color at 8–10 weeks and full color and coat at 3–4 years. A UK study utilizing veterinary records found

1200-500: The luck of tortoiseshell cats, such as the one in England that describes an announcement of misfortune when a strange tortoiseshell cat enters a house. In England, if a woman dreams of a tortoiseshell cat, it can be interpreted as a warning that she should take care of her so-called friends. Some studies have found that people believe tortoiseshell cats are more likely to be aggressive and have owners report stronger prey interest -

1240-405: The more white a cat has, the more solid the patches of color. Dilution genes may modify the coloring, lightening the fur to a mix of cream and blue, lilac or fawn; the markings on tortoiseshell cats are usually asymmetrical . Occasionally tabby patterns of black and brown (eumelanistic) and red (phaeomelanistic) colors are also seen. These patched tabbies are often called a tortie-tabby ,

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1280-563: The myth that Ragdolls are pain resistant. Some breeders in Britain have tried to breed away from the limpness owing to concerns that extreme docility "might not be in the best interests of the cat". Breed standard marketing and publicity material describe the Ragdoll as affectionate, intelligent, relaxed in temperament, gentle, and an easy-to-handle lap cat. The animals are often known as "puppy cats", "dog-like cats", "cat-dogs", etc., because of their placid nature and affectionate behavior, with

1320-499: The name Ragdoll , set up her own registry—the International Ragdoll Cat Association (IRCA)—around 1971, and enforced stringent standards on anyone who wanted to breed or sell cats under that name. The Ragdolls were also not allowed to be registered by other breed associations. The IRCA is still in existence today but is quite small, particularly since Baker's death in 1997. In 1975, a group led by

1360-618: The scope of feline behavior , and may be enhanced through selective breeding . These behaviors, not specific to any breed, include following people around from room to room, the desire to receive frequent moments of physical affection such as being held and petted, a lack of aggression toward some fellow animals, and a placid nature. Certain owners may successfully attempt to train their cats to perform on command, such as via clicker training , akin to canines and other domesticated animals . While these attributes are found desirable for owners interacting with their cats , problems can occur when

1400-403: The skin surface. There are a number of alleles of this gene that produce greater or lesser delays. The amount of white is artificially divided into mitted , bicolor , harlequin , and van , going from almost no white to almost completely white. In the extreme case, no melanocytes make it to the skin and the cat is entirely white (but not an albino). In intermediate cases, melanocyte migration

1440-652: The standardized American Shorthair breed, will respond differently to others despite looking very similar, displaying dog-like or otherwise unexpected tendencies. Besides breed-based generalizations, a particular cat's behavior can be assessed by its restraint in using claws during play, its tendency to follow people, and its appreciation of close, frequent human contact. Abyssinian cats are known for demanding attention and showing depression if left alone too often. The closeness to their owners causes some of them to respond positively to feline leash training . Unlike most cats, Abyssinians often show interest in water rather than

1480-413: The two cell types become intermingled; this produces the characteristic brindled appearance consisting of an intimate mixture of orange and black cells, with occasional small diffuse spots of orange and black. In tri-colored calico cats, a separate gene interacts developmentally with the coat color gene. This spotting gene produces white, unpigmented patches by delaying the migration of the melanocytes to

1520-577: The upbringing of the animal is an important factor. Positive interaction with humans in the first few months of life is particularly vital. Most feline pets in the United States are considered to be " domestic short-haired cats ", a catch-all term for those with mixed or otherwise unclear ancestries but having related appearances. These types of felines are sometimes known as "moggies" in the United Kingdom. Several of those cats, or those of

1560-460: Was developed in Riverside, California , by breeder Ann Baker. In 1963, a regular, non-pedigreed, white domestic longhaired cat named Josephine produced several litters of typical cats. Josephine was not of any particular breed, nor were the males who sired the original litters. Ann Baker herself said that the original cats of the Ragdoll breed were "alley cats". Josephine later produced kittens with

1600-718: Was exported to the UK. Eight more cats followed this pair to fully establish the breed in the UK, where the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy recognizes it. The Ragdoll has been known to have a very floppy and calm nature, with claims that these characteristics have been passed down from the Persian and Birman breeds. Opinions vary as to whether this trait might be the result of genetic mutation or merely an instinctive reaction from being picked up as kittens by their mother. The extreme docility of some individuals has led to

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