Ragdolls are loving, smart and playful. They show affection to their people by greeting them, following them around, sitting in their laps and snuggling in bed. Ragdoll cats can also learn tricks and certain behaviors with positive reinforcement.
As one of the world’s largest domestic cats the Ragdoll is believed to have originated in California. There are several opinions on the breeding pair that were responsible for creating the Ragdoll breed
Ragdolls are mostly a loyal breed, known to relax like a doll in the arms of anyone who holds them.
Ann Baker, a breeder who lived in California during the 1960s, is credited with creating the Ragdoll. Baker took a domestic longhaired white female that was found running wild in her neighborhood, and bred her with another long-haired cat.
Read: List of Ragdoll Cat Colors
The resulting kittens were the progenitors of the Ragdoll breed. By selecting for traits like a friendly personality and long, plush fur, Baker eventually produced the big, soft kitty we know and love today – RAGDOLL
It is a relatively new breed
Ragdolls, a name based on the cats’ tendency to loll in a lap or be carried around without resistance.
One of the cats in the original Ragdoll bloodline may have had Siamese-like markings, or Baker mated that first cat with Birman, Burmese, or Persian cats. However, since nobody quite knows which cat breeds Baker used to create the Ragdoll, the origin of the breed’s classic color-pointed coat remains a bit of a mystery.
The Cat Fanciers Association began registering Ragdolls in 1993, and they achieved championship status in 2000.
Read: Cat Breeds – Ragdoll Cat Personality
The Ragdoll cat is second only to the Exotic in popularity, according to the 2017 Cat Fanciers’ Association registration stats. In The International Cat Association, it ranks second following the Bengal.
Source: http://mentalfloss.com/article/78233/8-friendly-facts-about-ragdoll-cats