Ragdoll Cat Forums

By man, I mean my cat. I rescued "Carson" from the Humane Society last January. He was a stray and the Humane Society believed him to be a Himalayan. I am almost positive that he is in fact a ragdoll(blue or seal mitted). I've grown up with Persians and have never had any other breed, but I have to admit that I have absolutely fallen in love with the Ragdoll breed. "Carson" is such a funny character! Not a day goes by where he doesn't make me laugh out loud from his antics. He is quite the lover, too. While I can go on and on about how awesome of a cat he is, I've been looking to get a few questions answered about him.

1. Is he a blue or seal color?

2. Does he match up well with the breed standard? He was unaltered when they found him, so I'm wondering if he may have come from a cattery.

3. Is there any way to tell how old he is? The humane society thought that he was 3(last january), but he was almost all cream colored when I got him and over the last year has become much more shaded. I was reading online that ragdolls mature slower and reach full color around 2 or 3 years of age...I was thinking that he may be turning 3 this year.



Thanks for any help, I really only know stuff about Persians and have been wanting to get the "Ragdoll scoop" from knowledgable people. The pictures I'm going to post aren't the greatest, but I think will give a good overview of him. The pictures were taken about 6 months ago, and his shading had gotten much darker and more pronounced since then. His eyes are a medium blue color, but you can't really tell from the flash!

looks like a blue mitted, but Im not expert lol

[forgot to add...very cute and welcome to the forum.

Thanks! I'm glad I found this forum...planning on being a frequent visitor. I'm looking for a companion for Carson, so I'm sure I'll be able to get tips from everyone here!

The only way to know if a cat is a Ragdoll is by getting him from a reputable breeder with papers from a recognized registry. Few cats in shelters are the breed, or even part of the breed, they are called. This is even more true of Ragdolls because there are many fewer Ragdolls and they have always been expensive. In addition, the majority of breeders alter the kittens before they go to their new homes.

From the pictures, he seems a blue and the Ragdoll pattern would be mitted. Based on the color below the hock on the back legs and, more importantly, the dark chin, were he a Ragdoll it is not likely he would have been a breeding cat.

He sounds wonderful. Many people have gotten Ragdolls because their moggies had one or more Ragdoll characteristics and they wanted to have a better chance of repeating them in their next cat. So, if he is not a Ragdoll, perhaps he is a moggie Ragdoll ambassador.

Thanks, Jan. I had read about the absence of a white chin being a disqualification for the breed. The left side of Carson's chin is white, but dark over the rest of it. He wasn't at the shelter long. They found him on Christmas eve and I adopted him on Jan. 3. He is very curious and always interested in investigating open doors which is why I thought he could have gotten out of somebody's home and be a ragdoll. He sure looks like one, though! When I pick him up he slumps over my shoulder and is content just hanging out all day long.

Yes, Ragdolls can get out, but that would mean someone kept him whole for years and did not go to the shelters to get him back. (Some mitted Ragdolls have dark chins, so that would not mean a cat is not a Ragdoll. However, there are a lot of pointed longhaired mitted cats out there that are not Ragdolls.)

Welcome to the forum. Whether Carson is a Ragdoll or not he is cute indeed.

Well, I guess Carson's companion can be a ragdoll and we'll just not tell Carson that he might be a moggie, lol...kinda like telling a child that they're adopted!

Carson is beautiful and has that raggie flop down pat!! I love how he lays on his stomach with his legs stretched out straight behind him! Whether ragdoll or not -- I hope that you stay around the forum and let keep us in pics with this lovely guy.