Ragdoll Breed Standards...

CFA Breed Standard: Ragdoll

Updated: May 2 2005

POINT SCORE

GENERAL: the ideal Ragdoll is a medium to large, moderately longhaired, blue-eyed pointed cat. The point markings may be covered by a range of white overlay patterns. The head forms a broad, equilateral triangle, modified by a gently rounded muzzle. The eyes are large, vivid blue ovals. The rectangular body is large and long, broad and solid, with heavy boning. It has moderately long legs, and a long plumed tail. The naturally non-matting, moderately long coat has abundant guard hairs, with minimal woolly undercoat, and flows with the body. The Ragdoll is bred to conform as perfectly as possible to the moderate type of the foundation cats.

HEAD: size and shape: proportionately large and broad. Triangular shaped, where all sides are of equal length as measured from the outside of the base of the ear to the end of the gently rounded muzzle. Appearance of a flat plane between ears. Cheeks in line with wedge. Allow for jowls in adult males. When whiskers and fur are smoothed back, the underlying bone structure is apparent.

EYES: large, vivid blue ovals. Wide set and moderately slanted, complementing wedge.

EARS: medium-sized. Wide set and moderately flared, continuing the line of wedge. Wide at base with rounded tips, and tilted forward.

PROFILE: slightly curving; ending in straight, medium-length nose. Chin well-developed, strong, in line with nose and upper lip.

NECK: heavy and strong.

BODY: large and long, broad and solid, with heavy boning. Rectangular in shape, with a full chest and equal width across shoulders and hindquarters. Body firm and muscular, not fat. Moderate stomach pad on lower abdomen acceptable. Females may be substantially smaller than males. Allow for slow maturation in young adults.

LEGS: heavily boned, moderately long. Hind legs longer than front. Shorter fur on front legs, longer fur on hind legs, with full, feathery britches.

PAWS: proportionately large, round and feather-tufted.

TAIL: long, with full plume. COAT: the naturally non-matting moderately long fur is characterized by abundant guard hairs and minimal woolly undercoat. It flows with the body. Ruff preferred. Short on face, longer on ruff, shorter on shoulder blades, lengthening toward tail. Allow shorter coats in unaltered adults, and seasonal variations.

PENALIZE: coat: thick undercoat, standing off from the body. Eyes: small or round. Eye color: very pale blue; or blue so dark as to appear black. Nose: roman nose. Body: cobby body low on legs. Short tail; non-directional lump on tail.

DISQUALIFY: nose: any break. Color: body and point color other than those listed; eyes other than blue. Various: directional kink in tail. Crossed eyes. Extra toes.

(The above penalties and disqualifications apply to all Ragdolls. Additional penalties and disqualifications are listed under each pattern description.)

RAGDOLL COLORS

BI-COLOR PATTERN: mask: white inverted "V" remains within outer edge of eyes. Symmetry preferred. Nose leather: pink. Body: chin, chest, and underside are white. Upper body may show white spotting. Legs and feet: all white preferred. May have minor dark spots. Paw pads: pink preferred, but mixture of colors on paw pads and fur acceptable because of two colors in pattern. (When determining color, point color of ears is the deciding factor.) Penalize: "V" extends beyond outer edges of eyes, or excessively asymmetrical. White marking on ears. Disqualify: "V" absent or has dark spotting. Extensive dark area on any leg.

VAN PATTERN: points: point color restricted to ears, tail and mask. Ear and tail color dense and clearly defined, with minor white spotting allowed. Mask may be limited to upper part of mask which may show gradual fading of color. Body, legs and feet: pure, glistening white; minor spotting allowed. Nose leather and paw pads: pink. Penalize: more than twenty percent color on body. Disqualify: total absence of point color on head or tail.

COLORS (all patterns): the six point colors are seal, blue, chocolate, lilac, red and cream. Point colors may be solid, shaded, or smoke; lynx (including tortie-lynx); and parti-colored (or tortie). All Ragdolls are pointed, but points are partially overlaid with white in the Bi-color and Van patterns. Body: even, subtle shading is permissible, but clear color is preferable. Allowance should be made for darker color in older cats as Ragdolls generally darken with age, but there must be definite contrast between body color and points. Points: (except for white overlay) mask, ears, legs, feet, tail dense and clearly defined. All of the same shade. Mask covers entire face including whisker pads, and is connected to ears by tracings. Mask should not extend over the top of the head. No ticking in points. Stomach pad may have darker shading.

SEAL POINT: body even pale fawn to cream, warm in tone, shading gradually into lighter color toward stomach and chest. Points: deep seal brown. Eye color: blue. Nose leather and paw pads: same color as points, as applicable (see specific pattern).

CHOCOLATE POINT: body ivory, shading gradually into lighter color toward stomach and chest. Points: milk-chocolate color, warm in tone. Eye color: blue. Nose leather and paw pads: cinnamon-pink, as applicable (see specific pattern).

BLUE POINT: body bluish white, cold in tone, shading gradually to white toward stomach and chest. Points: deep blue. Eye color: blue. Nose leather and paw pads: slate colored, as applicable (see specific pattern).

LILAC POINT: body white. Points: frosty grey with pinkish tinge. Eye color: blue. Nose leather and paw pads: lavender-pink, as applicable (see specific pattern).

RED POINT: body clear white with any shading in the same tone as points. Points: bright apricot to deep red, deeper shades preferred, with lack of barring desirable. Eye color: blue. Nose leather and paw pads: flesh or coral pink, as applicable (see specific pattern).

CREAM POINT: body clear white with any shading in the same tone as points. Points: pale buff cream to light pinkish cream, with lack of barring desirable. Eye color: blue. Nose leather and paw pads: flesh to coral pink, as applicable (see specific pattern).

SEAL LYNX POINT: body cream or pale fawn, shading to lighter color on stomach and chest. Body shading may take form of ghost striping or ticking. Points: seal brown bars, distinct and separated by lighter background color; ears seal brown with paler thumbprint in center. Eye color: blue. As applicable, see specific pattern: nose leather: seal brown permitted, pink edged in seal brown preferred; paw pads: seal brown.

CHOCOLATE LYNX POINT: body ivory. Body shading may take form of ghost striping or ticking. Points: warm milk-chocolate bars, distinct and separated by lighter background color, ears warm milk-chocolate with paler thumbprint in center. Eye color: blue. As applicable, see specific pattern: nose leather: cinnamon permitted, pink edged in cinnamon preferred; paw pads: cinnamon.

BLUE LYNX POINT: body bluish white to platinum grey, cold in tone, shading to lighter color on stomach and chest. Body shading may take form of ghost striping or ticking. Points: deep blue-grey bars, distinct and separated by lighter background color; ears deep blue-grey with paler thumbprint in center. Eye color: blue. As applicable, see specific pattern: nose leather: slate-colored permitted, pink edged in slate preferred; paw pads: slate-colored.

LILAC LYNX POINT: body glacial white. Body shading may take form of ghost striping or ticking. Points: frosty grey with pinkish tone bars, distinct and separated by lighter background color; ears frosty grey with pinkish tone, paler thumbprint in center. Eye color: blue. As applicable, see specific pattern: nose leather: lavender-pink permitted, pink edged in lavender-pink preferred; paw pads: lavender-pink.

RED LYNX POINT: body white. Body shading may take form of ghost striping or ticking. Points: deep red bars, distinct and separated by lighter background color; ears deep red, paler thumbprint in center. Eye color: blue. Nose leather and paw pads: flesh or coral pink as applicable (see specific pattern).

CREAM LYNX POINT: body color clear white. Body shading may take form of ghost striping or ticking. Points: bars of pale buff cream to light pinkish cream, distinct and separated by lighter background color, ears pale buff cream to light pinkish cream, paler thumbprint in center. Eye color: blue. Nose leather and paw pads: flesh to coral pink, as applicable (see specific pattern).

SEAL-TORTIE POINT: body pale fawn to cream, shading to lighter color on stomach and chest. Body color may be mottled with cream in older cats. Points: seal brown variably mottled with red and/or cream. Eye color: blue. Nose leather and paw pads: seal brown; flesh or coral pink mottling desirable, as applicable (see specific pattern).

CHOCOLATE-TORTIE POINT: body ivory, may be mottled in older cats. Points: warm milk-chocolate variably mottled with red and/or cream. Eye color: blue. Nose leather and paw pads: cinnamon, flesh or coral pink mottling desirable, as applicable (see specific pattern).

BLUE-CREAM POINT: body bluish white to platinum grey, cold in tone, shading to lighter color on stomach and chest. Body color may be mottled in older cats. Points: deep blue-grey variably mottled with cream. Eye color: blue. Nose leather and paw pads: slate-colored; flesh or coral pink mottling desirable, as applicable (see specific pattern).

LILAC-CREAM POINT: body glacial white; mottling, if any, in the shade of the points. Points: frost grey with pinkish tone, variably mottled with pale cream. Eye color: blue. Nose leather and paw pads: lavender pink; flesh or coral pink mottling desirable, as applicable (see specific pattern).

SEAL-TORTIE LYNX POINT: Body cream or pale fawn, shading to lighter color on stomach and chest. Body shading may take form of ghost striping or ticking and/or cream mottling. Points: seal brown bars, distinct and separated by lighter background color; ears seal brown with paler thumbprint in center. Variable mottling of red and/or cream overlays the markings of the points. Eye color: blue. As applicable, see specific pattern: nose leather: seal brown permitted, pink edged in seal brown preferred, flesh or coral pink mottling may be present; paw pads: seal brown, or seal brown mottled with flesh or coral pink. NOTE: these cats resemble lynx points more than tortie points.

CHOCOLATE-TORTIE LYNX POINT: body ivory. Body shading may take form of ghost striping or ticking and/or cream mottling. Points: warm milk-chocolate bars, distinct and separated by lighter background color; ears warm milk-chocolate with paler thumbprint in center. Variable mottling of red and/or cream overlays the markings of the points. Eye color: blue. As applicable, see specific pattern: nose leather: cinnamon permitted, pink edged in cinnamon preferred, flesh or coral pink mottling may be present; paw pads: cinnamon, or cinnamon mottled with flesh or coral pink. NOTE: these cats resemble lynx points more than tortie points.

BLUE-CREAM LYNX POINT: body bluish white to platinum grey, cold in tone, shading to lighter color on stomach and chest. Body shading may take form of ghost striping or ticking and/or cream mottling. Points: deep blue-grey bars, distinct and separated by lighter background color; ears deep blue-grey with paler thumbprint in center. Variable mottling of cream overlays the markings of the points. Eye color: blue. As applicable, see specific pattern: nose leather: slate-colored permitted, pink edged in slate preferred, flesh or coral pink mottling may be present; paw pads: slate-colored, or slate mottled with flesh or coral pink. NOTE: these cats resemble lynx points more than tortie points.

LILAC-CREAM LYNX POINT: body glacial white. Body shading may take form of ghost striping or ticking and/or cream mottling. Points: frosty grey with pinkish tone bars, distinct and separated by lighter background color; ears frosty grey with pinkish tone, paler thumbprint in center. Variable mottling of cream overlays the markings of the points. Eye color: blue. As applicable, see specific pattern: nose leather: lavender-pink permitted, pink edged in lavender-pink preferred, flesh or coral pink mottling may be present; paw pads: lavender-pink, or lavender-pink mottled with flesh or coral pink. NOTE: these cats resemble lynx points more than tortie points.

Ragdoll allowable outcross breeds: none.

CCA Breed Standard: Ragdoll

* Please note that the CCA Breed Standard for the Ragdoll is currently under revision

General

The Ragdoll is a hybrid breed resulting from mating of a White Persian and a Seal Point Birman. The resulting progeny was then mated to a Sable Burmese, thereby establishing the original lines in the 1960. The breed is an exceptionally large, heavy, firm and muscular cat. They have large, oval, blue eyes and medium size ears which are set high on a modified, wedge shape head. The nose is twice as long as it is wide with a gentle break. Overall, the cat is broad at the chest and hindquarters. Its high hindquarters make the back appear to tilt forward slightly. Large, round and tufted paws balance heavy-boned, medium-length legs. The coat is medium to long.

BODY TYPE/CONFORMATION (30)

BODY (20) - The neck is strong, heavy set and short. Chest full and well expanded, giving the impression, in repose, of subdued power. The body is long and muscular, being heavier in the hindquarters. There is a tendency for a "fatty pad" on the lower abdomen (the Greater Omentum). The mature specimen is as broad at the shoulders as it is at the hindquarters.

LEGS & FEET (5) - Medium in length with medium-to heavy boning. Hind legs are slightly higher than front legs, thus giving the line of the back a slightly forward tilt in appearance. The feet are large, round and firm, with feather tufts.

TAIL (5) - Long, medium at the base with a slight taper.

HEAD TYPE (30)

SKULL (20) - Medium in size, shaped in a broad modified wedge with the appearance of a flat plane between the ears. Cheeks are well developed and taper to a rounded, well developed muzzle and chin with a medium jaw. The nose has a gentle break, extending to twice the length of the breadth of the break. Neck is short, heavy and strong.

EARS (5) - Medium in size. Broad at the base with a slight tilt forward. There are medium furnishings in the ears. Rounded at the tip. Tufting is desirable.

EYES (5) - Large, oval and widely set. Their aperture is set on a bias. The desired eye colour is China Blue" in all colours and patterns. Preference is given to depth, evenness and brilliance-of colour.

COAT TEXTURE & LENGTH

Medium long to long, with preference given for greater length. The coat texture should be thick, soft and silky. It coat lies with the body and breaks as the cat moves. The coat is longest around the neck and the outer edges of the face giving the appearance of a bib. The coat is short on the face and increases in length from the top of the head down through the shoulder blades and back. On the sides and stomach, the cat is medium to long. The fur on the front legs is thick and short to medium in length; whereas on the hind legs, it is to be medium to long, thick and feather-like.

COLOUR (20)

Colourpoints: Depth of colour is the same to the base of the coat. There may be soft shading of colour on the body. The colour of the points ears, mask, feet and tall) should be well defined and evenly matched. The mask covers the cheeks, whiskers, pads, nose and eyes with a patch of colour extending over the forehead but not past the middle of the ears. There is a small area in front of the base of each ear that is lighter in colour than the mask. The chest, bib and chin are much lighter in shading than the points. The body colour is a shade lighter than the points but darker than the chest, bib and chin. Point colour must be even on front and back paws.

Mitted: Depth of colour is the same to the base of the coat. There may be soft shading of colour on the body. The colour of the points (ears, mask, feet and tail) should be well defined and evenly matched. The mask covers the cheek, whisker pads, nose and eyes with a patch of colour extending over the forehead but not past the middle of the ears. The mask is either complete or may contain a teardrop drop or hourglass patch of, white. This patch of white may not extend into the nose leather or extend beyond the base of the ear. The nose leather must be that of the colour and no pink allowed. There is a small area in front of the base of each ear that is lighter in colour than the mask. The chest, bib and chin are white. The lower portion of the bib extends to a white strip on the underside. The two front feet will have white mittens that are evenly matched and scalloped. The two back legs will be entirely white and the white will extend no higher than to mid-thigh but must go entirely around the hock. Where areas are white, paw leather will be pink.

Bi-Colour: Depth of colour is the same to the base of the coat. The colour of the points (ears, mask, around the outer edges of the inverted "V" and tail) to be well defined and evenly matched. There is a small area at the base of each ear that is lighter in colour than the mask. The white in the mask starts in a point on the forehead in the shape of an inverted "V" and extends down the face covering the nose whisker pads, chin and flows into the bib. The inverted "V" on the face not to extend beyond the outer aperture of the eyes. The inverted "V" must be balanced on each side. The chest, stomach and all four legs are white. The colour spotting on the back will be a shade lighter than the points with random white spotting or colour patches of any size or shape. The ratio may be of any percentage. All leather will be pink.

CONDITION (10)

The cat to be firm and muscular. Extremely well balanced with no fat except at the Greater Omentum. Physically and temperamentally; being loving and gentle to handle. The overall cat gives the impression of subdued power.

COLOURS ACCEPTED FOR CHAMPIONSHIP

All three , patterns recognized in the following colours: Blue Cream Point, Lilac Cream Point, Seal Tortie Point, Chocolate Tortie Point, Red (Flame Point) Cream Point, Chocolate Lynxpoint, Lilac Lynxpoint, Seal Lynx Point, Blue Lynx Point, Red Lynx Point, Cream Lynx Point, Seal Point, Blue Point, Chocolate Point, Lilac Point, Seal Tortie Lynx Point, Chocolate Tortie Lynx Point, Blue Cream Lynx Point, Lilac Cream Lynx Point.

BREED ORIGIN: Persian, Birman and Burmese Hybrid.

REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS: No Foundation Allowed.

SHOWING REQUIREMENTS: No Foundation Allowed.

ALLOWED ANCESTRY: White Persian, Seal Point Birman, Sable Burmese, Ragdoll

OBJECTIONS		DEDUCT
1.	Narrow head, short or Roman nose, severe nose break.	2-7
2.	Large, small or pointed ears.	1-3
3.	Pale eye colour; round or almond shaped eyes.	1-3
4.	Narrow chest, cobby body, long or thin neck.	2-7
5.	Short legs, slab shanks, splayed toes.	2-5
6.	Short tail, blunt tip.	1-3
7.	Mats or tangles, dry, coarse, or short fur on bib and body (seasonal variations shall be recognized).	2-7
8.	Ticking in the points.	1-3
9.	Colour spotting down beyond first joint of legs except in Colourpoint pattern.	3-5
10.	Spotting on stomach or any area designated to be white.

 

WITHHOLDS
1.	Any white in Colourpoints. Chin darker than ruff.
2.	Lack of white chin in Mitted and BiColour patterns.
3.	Nose leather other than point colour.
4.	White on ears or tail in any pattern.
5.	White whiskers in Colourpoints.

 

 

TICA Breed Standard: Ragdoll

    

    

CATEGORY: Pointed.

DIVISIONS: Solid Division, Tabby Division, Tortie Division and Particolor Division (mitted and bicolor patterns). 

COLORS: All pointed colors.

 GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The ideal Ragdoll grows large and heavy. Full maturity of color is not achieved until 2 years old and full weight and size is not expected for at least 4 years. The cat is firm and muscular with no fat except on the lower abdomen. Overall impression is of subdued power.

ALLOWANCES: Lighter eye color in dilutes. Seasonal changes in coat length and texture. 

PENALIZE: 

General: Short tail, pointed ears, short legs; cobby body, Roman nose. 

Mitted: Any dark spotting on white mittens, lack of white belly stripe, white on ears and/or tail.

Bicolor: Pigment on stomach; whiskers other than white, white on ears and/or tail, white beyond the outside edge of the eye, or pigment on any area designated white.

WITHHOLD ALL AWARDS:

General: Any eye color other than blue.

Pointed: Any white.

Mitted: Lack of white chin.

Bicolor: Any dark markings on area of white mask.