History

The Ragdoll history is controversial, so I will briefly tell you what I have grown to understand:

The Ragdolls originated in the early 1960's by Ann Baker of Riverside, California.  It is believed that a free roaming white Persian (Angora) type cat named Josephine was hit by a car while pregnant.  Luckily, the accident had no effect on Josephine or her kittens.  Because of the accident, attention was brought to her kittens, thus noticing that they were very large, had beautiful blue eyes, long non-mating fur, remarkable disposition and a true loving nature.  The originator, knowing she had something special, kept some kittens and bred very carefully with a Birman type sire and bred again to a Burmese type sire.  The kittens with the desired look were kept in order to achieve what we now call the Ragdoll.