Ragdoll vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Bobtailed cats have a naturally shortened tail due to natural genetic mutation. The cat’s original appearance genetics were modified so as to bring about an improved strain that comes in all colors and coat types.

The cat descended from a short-tailed kitten, Yodi. His kittens also had a short tail. Two women selectively bred the cats to be large and strong with a wild look but with a pleasant nature.

The cats used in the development of the breed were domestic shorthairs and longhairs. They are now pedigreed cats without tails.

In 1989, the International Cat Association accepted the American Bobtail into its new breed category, giving it full recognition in 2002. They were accepted for registration by the Cat Fanciers’ Association in 2000. This is the world's biggest registry of pedigreed cats.

It was in the 1960s that a regular domestic longhaired cat with white fur produced several litters of cats. There was one litter where the kittens with a docile temperament, seemed to go limp when picked up.

Anne Baker set out to start a breeding program and all Ragdolls are descended from Baker's cats. In fact, the cat credited as the original Ragdoll was a cat with the name Josephine, and Ragdolls are sometimes called ‘the daughters of Josephine.

Baker set up her own registry, the International Ragdoll Cat Association. The IRCA still exists, but another pair developed the Ragdoll standard that is accepted by major cat registries. Today. The biggest international Ragdoll breed club is the Ragdoll Fanciers' Club International.

The American Bobtail is a cat that came about in the 1960s. It is well know as the cat with a bobbed tail. It’s not as vocal as many other cat breeds. It’s not a slender cat but is sturdy and and strong weighing between 3 and 7kg. Their double coats can be short- or long-haired. The coat comes in different patterns and colors, including orange, cream, black, brown, chocolate etc with a shaggy texture. He sheds quite a bit. The body of the American Bobtail is faily long. Its ears are medium-sized and wide-based with rounded tips, the eyes are almond shape. The eyes can be gold, yellow, green or blue. What is interesting is that the hind legs are much longer than the fore legs, and the feet are round.

Tmperament:

Bobtails are friendly cats, enjoying being in the company of their human family as well as with strangers. They are loving and affectionate to the entire family as opposed to just one person.

They’re quiet cats but will chirp when happy and excited. They get on well with all members of their human family and that includes children and the dogs.

They’re intelligent cats too and they can be taught to walk on a leash and to also perform some tricks. There are some people who say that their Bobtails act more like dogs than cats. These cats are sensitive and can sense when their owners are happy or sad and will come and sit with you when you're feeling sad and alone.

The beautiful Ragdoll cat is a large, heavy-boned cat. Sometimes they can be 9kg in weight. It has a soft, silky coat that can be semi-long to long.

The cat has remarkable blue eye and the beautiful silky coat comes in several shades such as cream point, chocolate point, seal point, and others.

The ears are medium-sized and, the legs long and strong and the oval-shaped eyes are blue. The cat is known as a pointed breed, which means that the body is lighter in color than the points.

Temperament:

Ragdolls are casual, even-tempered, laid-back kind of cats. They are playful but not particularly energetic so you won’t find these cats leaping onto top perches such as what other cats do.

These docile cats love to be petted and pampered and carried around. It literally goes limp with pleasure at being loved and pampered by its human companions. He’s such a friendly cat who, much like a dog, will even greet you at the door and learn to play some games.

This amicable cat gets on well with children and other pets in the home, making a splendid family pet and he can even learn to walk on a leash.

Many people want a dog as a pet but aren’t able to keep one and then the American Bobtail becomes the ideal alternative. These cats aren’t known for their solitary personalities like the many other cats there are and they genuinely love to spend time with their human family. Some will even behave like a dog and be there to meet you at the door when you arrive home.

He is a fairly large, amicable cat and is affectionate and adaptable to your lifestyle. He enjoys all kinds of lifestyles and loves to curl up next to you on your travels, being the perfect road trip companion.

The American Bobtail is a therapeutic cat and is sensitive to the moods of its human family. He gets on well with children and other pets in the family and just wants to be a family member.

By bringing an American Bobtail into your home and your heart, you’ll have discovered the most wonderful feline companion there is.

The Ragdoll really is a splendid cat for any family that loves pets. They are such loving cats and adore being pampered by their human owners.

These cats get on well with children and other pets, and because they are such mild-mannered cats, you never find a Ragdoll striking out in anger. That is why it is so important that children be taught kindness and gentleness with animals like the Ragdoll and not to take advantage of its good nature.

Playful and entertaining, the Ragdoll is bursting with his own unique personality – a super feline companion for the whole family.

When you buy a kitten from a breeder, always do research on the breeder so as to avoid a host of health issues down the line.

Apart from the typical cat health problems, the Bobtail is a healthy breed of cat. With proper care from you at home as well as veterinary care, these interesting looking cats can live up to anything between 12 and 20 years.

All cats, whatever the breed, can succumb to any one of the many cat diseases there are. A high-quality diet, a loving, caring lifestyle, the appropriate vaccines and parasite treatment can all help to keep your Ragdoll as happy and healthy as possible.

Ragdolls are generally healthy cats but you may want to look out for bladder stones. Another disease to watch for is a heart condition known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This heart disease causes thickening of the heart muscle.

While the disease is usually found in older cats, there is also a juvenile form that affects younger cats, and often young Ragdolls.

Sometimes there aren’t symptoms, and if your cat has labored breathing, loses his appetite or has vomiting, you may need to get your Ragdoll to the vet who will listen to his heart for abnormalities.

Keep a close eye on your cat’s weight.

Keep the litter box of your Bobtail scrupulously clean.

Your American Bobtail needs the best quality food there is full of vitamins and minerals if he is to remain healthy. The cat’s diet will depend a lot on his activity levels and general health, but it should always be high protein food. Your vet will always help you with some guidelines on feeding your cat.

Every cat needs exercise, and even though these cats aren’t as energetic as other cats, they are active indoors and out and are also playful. You will need to provide it with some puzzle toys and a climbing tree to keep him mentally and physically active.

Brush his medium-length fur twice a week to keep it shiny and silky.

Trim his nails carefully and check his eyes and inside his ears for abnormal discharges.

Vaccinate your cat to keep it protected from life-threatening cat diseases and take him to the vet immediately you suspect something is wrong.

Even though the Ragdoll’s coat is long and silky, it’s the kind of coat that doesn’t require too much maintenance. Certainly, you’ll want to comb and brush it once a week.

The other grooming he requires is regular nail trimming.

Understand your Ragdoll’s eating habits. Remember cats are carnivores and this means that their diet has to be made up of meat. Food puzzles are great for these cats but whatever snacks and treats you give your Ragdoll, make sure that they are healthy for a cat and don’t give your cat digestive problems.

Provide your Ragdoll with a litter tray and make sure to remove the feces every single day.

Cats are prone to periodontal disease, but while it has become the latest trend to brush your pet’s teeth, this can be upsetting and traumatic for a pet. A good diet can help to keep teeth healthy. Your vet can look inside your pet's mouth to see if any teeth need attending to.