The Ragdoll breed was initially developed in California in the 1960s and went through a somewhat confrontational period as different breeder groups differed over the standards and administrative arrangements for the breed registration.  By the 1980s Ragdoll cats were being exported to other countries and after about ten years the breed was eventually recognised in the United Kingdom.  Since the early 1990s it popularity has increased around the world and in many major countries is now in the top ten.

The Ragdoll is one of the larger breeds of cat, with long soft hair.  It requires grooming to keep the coat in good condition but is less prone to severe matting than some other breeds such as the Persian.  They tend to be very “laid back” in temperament, are often cuddly with humans, relax when picked up, and are sometimes said to be rather dog-like in their behaviour.  Their docile behaviour is probably inherited from Persian and Birman ancestry; in fact they are usually so docile that some breeders have been coming to feel that this relaxed manner is too much to be good for them

On the whole this breed is likely to inflict little claw damage on furniture as they do not get stressed very easily.  A Ragdoll will usually live peaceably with another cat, but generally prefers human family company.  Kittens are born white but adult colouring varies widely.

For several decades the breed name Ragdoll was a privately owned trademark controlled by an individual breeder, and only since 2005 when the trademark was not renewed has it been possible to use it widely.  As a result the name Ragamuffin started to become widely used, and there now are cat fancy societies with this breed name, such as the UK RagaMuffin Cat Society and the US-based RagaMuffin Associated Group (RAG).  Specialist breeders have focused on producing subtly different characteristics from the Ragdoll although the average owner would find it very difficult to tell the two breeds apart.

Ragdoll Cats – further information:
The British Ragdoll Cat Club
The Cat Fanciers Association (USA) Breed Profile

Video: The Ragdoll Cats of Crack O’ Noon!
The following video captured out attention on YouTube. We have no commercial connection with Crack O’ Noon Ragdolls but couldn’t resist showing their video.

Photographs of the beautiful and humorous cats and kittens of Crack O’ Noon Ragdolls, Colorado

Tags: cat breeds, cat video, ragamuffin cat, ragdoll cat

As is indicated by its name the Burmese cat originated in Burma (often known today as Myanmar) and was brought to the West in the years immediately before the 2nd World War. After the war the look of the breed diverged on opposite sides of the Atlantic so that now there are European Burmese and American Burmese cats. Although the ordinary cat lover might often be hard pressed to tell the difference the expert breeders and show judges have long debated the merits and demerits of the two.

The breed is good around people and enjoys being in a home with more than one cat.  The following YouTube video clip shows the playfulness of Burmese kittens.  I liked this when I saw it but have so far been unable to identify its producer or I would give them credit.

A Burmese cat is sleek and smooth which from the point of view of the owner is extremely convenient as its glossy coat needs little or no grooming by human hand. The Burmese has been described as the ultimate low maintenance cat. Although sleek and medium-sized people are often surprised at the weight of a Burmese as they tend to be very muscular. Colour varies from platinum and champagne to chocolate brown, and the eyes are often bright yellow or gold.

Burmese Cat Calendar from Amazon.com

Burmese Cats 2011 Square 12X12 Wall Calendar (Multilingual Edition) $11.69 Known to shadow their owners wherever they go, Burmese Cats relish the attention and affection people give them and they return the favor generously. A Burmese is truly an extrovert. Fans of this fabulous breed will cherish this Burmese Cats wall calendar...

UK visitors to our site can find Burmese cat calendarson Amazon.co.uk.

Tags: Burmese cat, cat breeds, cat video