Ragdoll cat - description, history and standards of the breed, basic recommendations for care and maintenance

The Ragdoll cat is affectionate and pliable. In addition, she is known for her lazy, phlegmatic character. By competing on these qualities, she can collect all the cups and medals in international competitions. For some people, this is an absolute flaw, but for others, it is a charming character trait.

Historical reference

There are three theories about how the Neva Masquerade appeared: 1. A hybrid of Siamese and Siberian representatives. 2. A cross between Siberian and Himalayan cats. 3. The mutation process that affected the genes of Siberian cats.

Neva masquerade cat

There is still no clear opinion about the appearance of the breed, but all experts agree that the Siberians were the ancestors. The year 1988 is interesting because the first representatives of Siberians with color-point colors were brought to an exhibition in St. Petersburg. It was here that the judges had to determine the breed of the animals. The unusual coloration gave the cats their name – Neva Masquerade. Recognition by world felinological associations occurred in 2009.

Good to know. Some people are allergic to cat fur, but hair has nothing to do with it. The reaction occurs to antigens found in saliva, and it transfers to the fur when the animal is licked. Neva masquerade cats have a minimal content of such antigens, and therefore the breed does not cause allergic reactions.

History of the origin of ragdolls

Ragdoll cats are unusual not only for their ability to completely relax. The history of the appearance of this breed is also unique. The founders of this breed were the cat Josephine and the cat Black. Josephine had long, beautiful white fur, while Black had black fur.

These animals lived next door, so their owners quickly agreed on mating. As a result of mating, quite beautiful, but very harmful kittens were born. They did not want to obey, were sloppy, and difficult to tame.

One day the cat accidentally got hit by a car. This situation became fatal, because after it Josephine gave birth to completely different kittens. Her offspring began to have a sweet, easy-going character. Such drastic changes greatly inspired the owner of the cat, whose name was Ann Baker.

Rejoicing at the change, Ann decided to breed a completely new breed of cat. She wanted to get a very beautiful animal with an ideal character. Anne took on different Persian cats to work on her project. And after a short period of time she managed to breed a new breed. She named her "Ragdoll".

Interesting fact: The breed was developed to combine the best qualities of Burmese and Persian cats. Ragdoll kittens turned out to be very beautiful, had an easy-going character, and were distinguished by their friendliness.

The widespread distribution of ragdoll dogs began in 1981. Then two major breeders became interested in this breed. They lived in Great Britain and brought these cats to their homeland. There the animals gained enormous popularity and already in 1987 the Ragdoll Breed Club was created.

Breed Features

It is quite difficult to confuse representatives of this breed with someone else, especially if you look at their appearance: • body: animals are distinguished by their strong build and large size. The weight of cats reaches 8–10 kg, while smaller cats weigh 6–7 kg. Body length – average; • the head is trapezoidal in shape with a low forehead and regular profile. The cervical region is short and strong; • medium-sized ears have a slight forward slope, the base is wide, and may have tassels and brushes; • eyes are round in shape, large in size with an oblique set, the color of the iris is deep blue; • the tail is well furred; • the coat is semi-long, hair grows in tufts between the toes, there is a collar on the neck and thick pants on the hind legs.

Features of the Neva Masquerade cat breed

Variety of suits

Neva Masquerade Dogs can have several color variations: • seal point – light hair grows on the body, the muzzle has a dark mask, the legs have dark-colored toes, a tail and ears; • seal tabby point – stripe-shaped markings are located on the ivory-colored main coat; • red point – considered rare, there are red markings on the light coat; • blue point – blue, cool shade of coat; • tortoiseshell (tortoiseshell) – the three-color coloration of Neva masquerade cats, mainly manifested in cats.

Interesting to know. Kittens at birth are white in color because... The genes responsible for dark color are sensitive to heat and at this stage the hair structure is not yet pigmented until the temperature becomes colder.

The breed standard does not allow lilac-chocolate shades, the Persian type and the absence of undercoat.

Video

* We invite you to watch a video about the Sacred Burmese . In fact, in front of you is a playlist in which you can select and watch any of 20 videos about a given cat breed by simply clicking on the button in the upper right corner of the window. In addition, the material contains quite a lot of photos. By looking at them you can find out what Sacred Burma looks like.

Rate the material!

[Total votes: 0 Average: 0]

The Sacred Burma is a fairly ancient breed. It is known for certain that these creatures lived in Buddhist temples in Burma back in ancient times. Beautiful animals protected them from plunder and protected them from the influence of dark forces. Today, the Burmese is one of the most popular cat breeds, which never ceases to amaze its owners with its level of intelligence, calmness and friendliness.

What is the character of the Neva Masquerade

It is difficult to find flaws in the character of furry pets. The animals are incredibly calm, very tactful and completely unobtrusive. Trying to attract attention, the pet is capable of pacing in front of its owner for a long time, however, if a person does not have time to communicate, at the moment, cats will not throw a tantrum. They will wait patiently for a more opportune time.

Character of the Neva masquerade cat

Neva Masquerade Dogs have an attachment to their owner and other household members; they place their animals first among all other representatives of the human race. Cats will not avoid guests, but they will not mistake them for family members either. Kittens can be called real friends of children; cats will not use their claws during games. But it’s still worth keeping an eye on the interactions between children and animals to avoid unpleasant moments. As they grow older, the four-legged animals remain active and willingly engage in games.

The high intellectual abilities of Neva Masquerade cats allow the animals to quickly adapt to a new home, remember their nicknames and learn to go to the litter box. Rancor is not typical for representatives of the breed, and even if they have had negative experiences in the past when interacting with people or other animals, they will not take revenge. If another animal is brought into a house where there is a four-legged pet, then cats build a relationship with it without any problems. The furry pet is patient with both dogs and the feathered inhabitants in the apartment.

basic information

The sacred Birman cat is of medium size, light weight, and belongs to the long-haired type. Beautiful appearance matches a pleasant character.

Estimation of breed characteristics

Water treatments

Bathing is recommended only when cats are very dirty or the pet needs to be prepared for exhibition events. Before bathing procedures, the bath should be covered with a rubber mat to prevent the animal from slipping. It is recommended to plug the ears of the Neva Masquerade with cotton wool to prevent water from entering. To dry the fur, use a towel or hair dryer, depending on the pet’s preferences. In the latter case, drying is carried out as quickly as possible to prevent hypothermia. The process is completed by combing the pet.

Popular colors of sacred Birmas

Temple cats are characterized by different variants of color points, including gray-blue and dark brown markings, red or chocolate, and lilac. The main background varies from pure white to cream. Markings are allowed only on the face in the form of a “mask”, ears, tail and limbs. The “socks” on all paws should be white without impurities. On the hind legs, the “socks” end in a “spur.” The color of the pads may vary.

Burmese kittens are born with a snow-white coat color. Dark o appear a couple of months after birth. Over the years, the coat darkens. The coloring is fully established only when the animal becomes sexually mature.

The following defects are considered disqualifying:

• An eye color that differs from the standard bright blue;
• Strabismus, silvery shine of the iris;
• The presence of white and colored marks on the animal’s belly and chest;
• Tail of non-standard size and structure;
• Lack of white “socks”;
• White spots in places of colored wool.

Thanks to its incredible silkiness, the Burmese cat's fur does not form tangles. The animal does not need particularly thorough daily brushing, like Himalayan cats. This fact is often decisive in the process of choosing a pet.

Externally, the temple cat is very similar to the Siamese. The two breeds differ in the presence of white “socks”, the length of their coat and their character. Siamese are stubborn and very active and have a loud voice. The Burmese always maintain an aristocratic calm, meow quietly, but, like the Siamese, they are incredibly smart.

Eyes, ears, teeth, claws

To cleanse the eyes of cats from dirt washed away by tears, they are systematically wiped using cotton swabs; they are pre-moistened with tea leaves or water. The ears are treated monthly. To do this, use cotton swabs and vegetable oil. The procedure is carried out as carefully as possible so as not to damage the delicate skin of the ears. Also, do not allow oil to get inside the ear. Special foods with plant fibers will help prevent the formation of tartar. When using a natural diet, Neva Masquerade cats are given special treats that allow cats to brush their teeth. For cleaning, you can also use a toothbrush with a special paste; purchase it in a specialized store.

Neva Masquerade breed

Even if there is a scratching post in the apartment, it is worth periodically inspecting your pet’s claws, which may grow back. The haircut is done with a nail clipper that has a limiter. Approximately 2 mm of the claw is cut off, namely its transparent part.

By two months

The babies still suck their mother’s milk, but they are already eating soft food themselves. It is given 5 times a day. The daily food intake is adjusted to 100 g.

For the full formation of jaws and teeth, it is recommended to add a little dry food to the food, but you can switch to it completely, only gradually.

They begin to teach the little ones how to groom: they comb their long hair, clean their ears and eyes. Do it gently and gently so that they enjoy the procedures!

Deworming is carried out and the first vaccination is given.

What and how to feed

There are only three options for providing food to cats: • using industrial food - one of the simplest and most convenient. The owner does not need to prepare food for the pet, moreover, the food is saturated with essential vitamins and minerals, they do not have to be added separately; • natural diet – consists of meat and fish products, vegetables and fermented milk components. A significant disadvantage is the daily preparation of food for the Neva Masquerade; • mixed diet – this combines industrial feed and natural products. However, experts do not recommend this option due to the high risk of imbalance in the animal’s body, which leads to serious problems with the digestive system. Each pet owner decides for himself which feeding method to choose.

Neva masquerade cat

If we talk about a natural diet, then the Neva Masquerade should receive lean varieties of meat: • poultry; • beef; • a rabbit; • offal; • curd products; • fish.

On a note. You should refrain from giving liver; this product, in excess, causes changes in the color of the cat’s coat. If the choice is made in favor of factory feed, then it must be of at least premium grade.

Ragdoll care

Ragdoll cats develop very slowly and require appropriate care. First of all, a balanced diet. These animals have an excellent appetite, which is due to their large size. Despite their good appetite, cats are not at all prone to obesity.

In addition to quality food, these cats need vitamin and mineral supplements. There is no need to buy them yourself. Your veterinarian will help you select the necessary supplements. You can read more about diet in the next section.

Important fact: The animal’s fur requires a lot of attention from the owners. Ragdolls have beautiful, long hair. It needs to be brushed daily so that the animal has a neat appearance.

For this process you will need a wide-tooth comb. It will help remove “dead” hairs in a timely manner. These cats have no undercoat, so their fur rarely gets tangled. The cat's shedding will occur at the end of winter and last until the beginning of spring. At this time, owners need to be patient and comb their pet more often.

When caring for a cat, special attention must be paid to its teeth. The animal's teeth should be brushed every day. And as a preventive measure for diseases, you should visit a doctor for a deeper cleansing of tartar. In order for your cat to have healthy gums, you must give him solid food. Ragdoll cats rarely need to be bathed.

This breed is very afraid of water. When bathing, you should use professional shampoo to keep the coat shiny and silky longer. After bathing, the cat needs to clean its ears and trim its claws.

Health of the Neva Masquerade

Due to their natural origin, representatives of the breed have excellent health. Congenital anomalies and diseases are very difficult to encounter in cats. An extremely rare case in older kittens is the manifestation of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Periodic veterinary examinations and regular vaccinations help maintain excellent health of Neva Masquerade Dogs. If you create favorable living conditions for animals and provide them with the right diet, the pet can live about 20 years.

Ragdoll breeding

Ragdolls are very rare in the CIS countries, therefore they are quite popular and in demand. It makes sense to think seriously about breeding them. Representatives of this breed are large and mature very late. Cats fully mature only at four years of age.

Before this time, it is extremely undesirable to breed a cat, because early mating and pregnancy can lead to serious health problems. An important advantage of this breed is painless estrus. The bitches are in heat calmly. The animal does not scream or demand a cat, so the owners may not even notice this period in their pet.

To breed a cat, you need to start looking for a cat. In our country, this issue should be approached with extreme caution. Unfortunately, there are a lot of “fake” ragdolls. A breeding animal of this breed is very expensive and extremely difficult to find. For mating, you should choose a strong cat that has no genetic diseases and has all the necessary vaccinations.

After mating, the pregnancy period begins. It is easy, because the bitches of this breed are in excellent health. During childbirth, it is better for the owner to be present with his pet. This will make the cat feel better.

During one pregnancy, a cat usually bears three kittens. Kittens are born weak and mature slowly. They open their eyes only on the fourteenth day after birth. Until about three months, kittens should be close to their mother. Until this time, they cannot be given to new owners, because Ragdoll kittens are very vulnerable.

How to choose a kitten

Buying a pet is a responsible matter, and therefore you should only contact a nursery that breeds this breed and make inquiries about it in advance. A thoughtless choice of place of purchase can lead to the purchase of a mongrel cat. After choosing a nursery and going there to meet the animal, it is recommended to pay attention to the following things: • the conditions in which the cats are kept; • external characteristics and character of existing pets; • the health of the selected kitten and its age.

Neva masquerade kitten

If all the criteria suit the potential owner, then all that remains is to look at the documents. The kitten must have a veterinary passport and pedigree if there are purebred parents. The first document indicates the dates of vaccinations carried out to date. It is recommended to take the animal to a new home as soon as the kitten is 3 months old. Earlier transportation and weaning from the mother negatively affect the health of the pet.

Neva masquerade cats may have appeared not so long ago, but they only had a short time to become everyone’s favorites. The point lies not only in attractive appearance, but also in a balanced character, goodwill and good health. Such a pet can become a real member of the family.

If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl+Enter.

Interesting Facts

The history of Holy Burma includes several impressive records. For example, Antigone gave birth to an impressive litter of 19 kittens from a Siamese cat. And the Australian Catalina proudly bears the title of one of the oldest cats in the world. She was born in 1977.

The favorite of the famous Romy Schneider is the cat Balzac de Ranchipur. The owner often took pictures with her pet. Fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld received such a cat as a gift from singer Baptista Giabiconi. He fell in love with the fluffy beauty with all his heart and even dedicated his collections to her.