Читать книгу 77 Things to Know Before Getting a Cat - Susan Ewing M. - Страница 20

If you’d like a laid-back cat with no interest in climbing your bookcases or jumping onto your countertops, the Ragdoll may be just the cat for you. Developed in the 1960s by California breeder Ann Baker, the Ragdoll is a large cat (males can weigh up to 20 pounds [9.1 kg]) that makes a gentle companion. Ragdolls typically play without extending their claws, and they enjoy being around people. Ragdolls come in three color patterns: mitted, bicolor, and colorpoint, the latter of which allows for no white.

The Ragdoll matures slowly, taking about four years to reach full size. Because Ragdoll kittens can have rapid growth spurts, owners must make sure that they have plenty of food. If your young Ragdoll licks his plate clean, you should offer a little more food until he is full. Once your cat has stopped growing, you should determine a measured amount of food to keep him healthy but not fat.

Persian kitten

Ragdoll

Life expectancy for a Ragdoll is twelve to seventeen years. Health concerns include bladder stones and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). There is a test to check for the genetic mutation that causes HCM, so make sure the breeder has tested both parents.