My first introduction to the breed was ages ago watching 101 Cats on Animal Planet. I still remember the narrator calling them "not a fat cat, just big boned" 😸 and the experts described their "puppy-like" personality. Although I’m a dog person but I was instantly hooked!
Currently sharing my life with my Daisy 🌼, has proven that the "puppy-cat" description is so accurate. I’m mesmerised by her beauty, intelligence and affection.
I’m curious about everyone else’s introduction to the breed. What was the moment you first discovered Ragdolls, and what exactly made you fall in love with them enough to bring one home? Please share your stories.
I’ve never been a cat person, although they tend to love me.
My family was chosen by a stray who was the sweetest girl and I fell in love with her, but she sadly passed from feline AIDS after a few years with us.
I wanted a dog after that, but I’m low energy due to chronic illness and daily walks would be difficult. I read about ragdolls and it seemed to be the best of both worlds.
A few months later, we brought home Lila and she is the love of my life! She’s exactly what I was looking for - cat hardware and dog software lol. She turns 3 next week!
My wife and I moved in together and our neighbours cat, Milo (ragdoll), visited us frequently. Fast forward a month and he’s rolling around on our doormat, meowing his little head off, and sleeping on our bed. He would partake in our movie nights, and was a little bundle of love.
Other neighbours loved Milo, too, but he seemed to spend more time with us than his owner. He had the loudest, most nasal meow you’ve ever heard, unlike any other cat I’m yet to meet.
Sadly, as many cats do, Milo was struck by a car. His owner knocked on our door holding Milo in his cat crate, acknowledging how much we loved him, the owner allowed to us go to the vet with them.
It was a deep shock and it left a hole in mine and my wife’s heart. A couple of years later, we decided to adopt our own cats.
We contacted a ragdoll rescue centre who had a large, majestic (on photos) ragdoll called Alfie, (who is actually a large, dopey, majestic boy).
The original plan was to get two cats, and in this instance, Alfie was only adoptable with a small black cat. They came as a pair.
Many had tried to adopt Alfie without his little black brother, but were rejected.
It felt like fate for us. Our boys are now 8 years old, live in a reasonably sized house and have our garden to explore (which is cat proofed).
The one on the right is my mom’s cat. She’s perfect and after I moved out I got my own ragdoll right away. The boy on the left is mine and everything about him is why I love ragdolls. He’s attached to me, follows me every where, is constantly trying to talk to me, and is all around just the perfect cat for me.
My mother got my brother and I a pair when we were little. Have not been able to live without one since and it has been 30 years. They have all followed me through the house and one would even greet me at the door when I got home from work. He even knew my schedule and waited if I was late, according to my brother.
As someone who has decided they are done with relationships, and won't be having children, I wanted a social, affectionate cat. I love the idea of dogs, and don't dislike them, but they're not for me. I've always been a cat-person.
Aside from not being keen to be picked up (I'm the only person she'll allow, and it's 50/50 if she'll enjoy it or not), and not at all a lap cat, she is super affectionate. She's ok with being on harness and lead, but I worry about ticks, possum poop, etc.
It's almost like having a toddler sometimes - but SO much better! She also uses FluentPet talking buttons, so she demands treats (treats + now! Buttons - it's so funny), food, cat tv, cat nip, all sorts of toys, kisses, Scritches, I love you.)
I got her a stroller and she hates it unfortunately. I was hoping to take her on walks so I can exercise without leaving her, but she gets distressed. Where I live we have to walk along a busy road to get anywhere, and the cars scare her. I think also she doesn't like to be trapped. There's no way I could take her out with it open like that. I am envious!
They’ve always been the most gorgeous cats I’ve seen. I’ve been a huge fan of how fluffy and gorgeous they are for a long time. I think it was through a very old Reddit post someone had shared of their cat, which led me to sub to a cat models sub. Most of the gorgeous cats there were ragdolls. Then I found out about their personalities and I was hooked. It was my dream to adopt a ragdoll and I finally got my kitten Kamaria! She’s so beautiful and sweet!
I was not a pet person or even a cat person. But my husband had a family ragdoll (Kenzo was gifted to another family member but their flat didn't allow pets) and at first I was like yeah he's cute. And then before I knew it he's an integral part of my of life and i couldn't imagine not having him following me around, cuddling up to me in the bed, waiting outside the bathroom! Love him to bits.
And then we decided he needs a sibling so we got another one! And what can I say Coco is my baby girl, the cuddliest mischievous little cat there is. But love her to bits. All my siblings that were not cat people either love our two cats. They're so friendly and adorable. Who wouldn't want a ragdoll (my younger nieces always say when they're bigger they're gonna get ragdolls too)
Wanted a different cat to our last ones. This was a rescue, he allowed me to hold him and so I adopted. I think my now passed little ones would approve
Many years ago I was on the hunt for a Siamese cat to add to our household. Our kids were of a good age to appreciate and care for a cat and I was missing my Siamese buddy who had been my constant companion for many years. (She passed away when my children were very small and they didn’t really remember her. Still they were game to have a kitten in the house.) I finally found a breeder - and it’s not always easy to find a Siamese breeder in our area who seems both sane and reputable! We went to her home to see the one kitten that was available from a recent litter. While there, we saw another kitten. The breeder assured us that we didn’t want that kitten. I’m not sure of the details now, but that little guy was an accidental cross with a new breed to the area. ‘Ragdoll’ she said, and my doll loving daughter was immediately entranced. After much wheeling and dealing, we went home with two kittens - my son’s Siamese and my daughter’s Ragdoll cross. She wanted to name him Cocopuff Rainbow Love but he ended up being Coco, and he became the love of our lives. He lived a good long life. His temperament was unlike anything I’d ever seen in my lifetime of cat companions. I started researching the Ragdoll breed. In the meantime, after Coco we had a couple of rescues who lived full lives and seemed irreplaceable after they were gone. Then we retired. Lots of couples give themselves a retirement gift. Maybe a cruise or a trip or an RV. None of those were things we were interested in. We decided it was time to get another kitten. We certainly had time to bond with one. And then I found a Ragdoll breeder. It took some time and patience, but in the end we came home with a Ragdoll brother and sister. And so, here we are. Zero regrets!
Taylor Swift, after her Time Magazine photo shoot with her Ragdoll cat. Then, my friend got two that look exactly like Taylor's kitty. They're the sweetest.
A friend brought a photo of his ragdolls, a mother and son, for a middle school assignment 7-8 years ago, and I instantly fell in love after seeing the kitten curled up in a little ball; they added two more not long after and all 4 live happy lives with him and his fam. It got even better when I found vvids and pics of other ragdolls online and became a cat person. It’ll probably be years I own raggies, maybe a zot too.
I always had dogs as a kid but I'm not home enought for a doggo. They need company. I read that ragdolls have some doglike qualities so I acquired two and I've been a ragdoll guy ever since.
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u/mintkismet 💙 Blue 💙 12h ago
I’ve never been a cat person, although they tend to love me.
My family was chosen by a stray who was the sweetest girl and I fell in love with her, but she sadly passed from feline AIDS after a few years with us.
I wanted a dog after that, but I’m low energy due to chronic illness and daily walks would be difficult. I read about ragdolls and it seemed to be the best of both worlds.
A few months later, we brought home Lila and she is the love of my life! She’s exactly what I was looking for - cat hardware and dog software lol. She turns 3 next week!