The history of the Ragdoll is a fascinating subject, full of myths and controversy. What is fact is that Mrs Ann Baker who was a Persian cat breeder started this breed by aquiring three foundation cats, one a seal mitted male with a white nose blaze – Daddy Warbucks who’s Dam was a white non pedigree cat (Josephine). Ann also took ownership of two of Josephine’s daughters – Fugianna sired by Daddy Warbucks and Buckwheat whose sire was unknown.
Ann went on to mate Daddy Warbucks and Buckwheat together and in June 1965 the first Ragdolls were born – Raggedy Ann Kyoto and Raggedy Ann Tiki. Ann then went on to start her breeding programme. Ann referred to the kittens born to Tiki as the “dark side” and those born to Fugianna “the light side”.
There was a lot of fascinating history between this point and 1981 when Pat Brownsell (Patriarca cattery) and her friend Lu Lu Rowley (Petil-Lu Cattery) imported the first Ragdolls to the UK and a lot of history since then.
Please take the time to read all about this wonderful cat and its beginnings. There is so much to tell I’d have written a book if I was to explain it on this page.
A great place to find out more on the Ragdoll is on the Ragdoll clubs websites.
Please see my links page to access these clubs.