The Origin of Ragdoll Cats

It is very debatable how long the Ragdoll cat has existed. It is improbable and untrue that Ann Baker, who created the legends, ever employed skunk genes or extraterrestrial or human DNA to genetically change cats' personalities and generate floppy kittens who don't feel pain. Dr. Andrew Nash performed a single clinical check on two Ragdoll cats in Glasgow (UK) in 1990–1991 and found that they were healthy feline family members.
'Burmese' experimental Persians were produced by Californian Ann Baker, who started the early work with the breed in 1963. She worked in a laundromat, and Mrs. Pennels, the owner, kept around 40 to 50 semi-feral cats on her farm. Josephine, a white 'Angora type' cat, was one of the cats. Ann observed a difference in the kittens Josephine gave birth to after she was nursed back to health after being hit by a car while pregnant.

Ann Baker

Ann observed that the resultant kittens were huge in size, had a beautiful disposition, and craved human interaction. They possessed non-matting fur, a calm temperament, and when handled, they became limp like a ragdoll for children. Before she was tragically put to death by Mr. Pennels for being too possessive of her most recent brood and attacking their dog, Josephine had numerous litters of kittens.

Josephine and her Kittens

Ann purchased three of Josephine's progeny and started line breeding to create the new breed she called the "Ragdoll." The initial three cats that served as the Ragdoll breed's cornerstone were:A seal-mitted cat with a nose, Daddy Warbucks.blaze and a tail with a white tip.A sealbicolor named FugiannaBuckwheat is a sturdy, dark, thick-furred self.
Although Josephine and the dads were semi-feral cats, their lineage was unknown, and these cats and their progeny have been likened to various breeds including Birmans and Burmese.Ann began a breeding program that resulted in the colorpoint, mitten, and bicolor patterns from her initial cats and their progeny. Early in 1969, Denny and Laura Dayton purchased one breeding pair of Ragdolls from Ann Baker, marking the first known sale of Ragdolls. These two cats, who were given the names Rosie and Buddy, laid the groundwork for what is now known as the Blossom-Time Cattery.

Denny and Laura Dayton

The majority of today's Ragdolls may trace their roots back to these humble beginnings by the Daytons. The Daytons worked extremely hard to promote the Ragdoll breed with Ann from 1969 to 1973, but Ann insisted on maintaining complete control.Ann founded the International Ragdoll Cat Association (IRCA) as her own registrar in 1971. In 1975, she filed for a trademark on the Ragdoll moniker and franchised 'breeding stock' under binding agreements. She believed that the Colourpoint and Bicolor patterns would eventually vanish and that her goal was to create a breed that looked like Daddy Warbucks.
Over the years, Ann developed a strong eccentric and paranoid personality, and many of the initial buyers of her Ragdolls, including the Daytons, ceased doing business with her. Many other early breeders and owners protested against franchising, refusing to take part in such a system. Up until the 1980s, the Dayton family were breeding Ragdolls from the original lines.

Blossom Time Ragdolls Floppy (Bicolor) Loveable (Mitted) and Pip (Colorpoint)

The Daytons' 13 years of Ragdoll breeding may be viewed as a pivotal point in the breed's history, aiding in the preservation of the Ragdoll breed standards that we all know and love.The Daytons founded the Ragdoll Society and the Ragdoll Genetic Chart, with Denny acting as the organization's founding president. Additionally, they launched the first Ragdoll Cat newsletter and over time, they had a significant impact on the registration of Ragdolls with all the different international cat organisations.