Ragdoll History

In the early 1960’s (1963) a woman named Ann Baker began developing the Ragdoll breed. She originally was a breeder of Persians. Ann borrowed from her neighbors, the Pennels, a cat that had the appearance of the Sacred Cat of Burma. She bred this cat to Josephine who was a white angora cat and that union produced Daddy Warbucks. Ann also acquired Josephine’s daugher, Buckwheat, from the Pennels. Ann mated Daddy Warbucks to Josephine and produced Fugianna. Keep in mind that NONE of these were Ragdolls at the time, but they became the foundation cats in creating the Ragdoll breed. It is from these four cats – Josephine, Daddy Warbucks, Fugianna, and Buckwheat – that Ragdolls are descended. In 1966, Ann registered the 1st four Ragdoll cats; Daddy Warbucks, Kyoto, Tiki and Fugianna. At the beginning of the breed, it was of utmost importance to keep inbreeding to a minimum to expand the gene pool. Ann established what she referred to as a “light side” and a “dark side”.  It is important to note that this designation was not related to color of the cats at all. Ann believed that better litters were achieved when employing the light side/dark side theory, and she indicated that Fugianna was the light side and Buckwheat was the dark side. Ann mated Daddy Warbucks to Buckwheat, and they produced a litter of four kittens in the summer of 1965- two solid-colored kittens and two pointed ones. Ann named the two solids Gueber & Mitts.  The two pointed kittens were a seal mitted male named Kyoto, and a seal colorpoint named Tiki.  Kyoto, Tiki, Daddy Warbucks and Fugianna were the first cats Ann registered as Ragdolls on December 30, 1966. The two solids were never registered as Ragdolls. This is why, as a ragdoll breeder, we do NOT breed solid cats. All our Ragdolls are the traditional blue-eyed and pointed. Over the years, the offspring of Ann’s breedings would become known for good temperament, large size, non-matting coat and striking appearance. Josephine is not mentioned beyond the very earliest days, but rather it was her offspring who played the primary role in continuing the Ragdoll breed. Ragdolls are the second largest domestic cat breed, but don’t let their size fool you, they are loving, playful and friendly. From 1965-1969, Ann appeared to build up and increase her breeding stock. The first record of Ragdolls being sold is in early 1969 when Denny and Laura Dayton bought a breeding pair of Ragdolls from Ann Baker. They named the cats Buddy and Rosie. It is from these small beginnings by the Dayton's that most of our current Ragdolls trace their ancestry.

(reference: Ragdoll History)