Ragdoll vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison

It is believed that this unusual cat came to the United States on ships – kept by sailors who thought of them as a good luck charm and to keep the mice population under control.

These unusual cats became popular in the 1800s as ship cats but the cats soon began to be seen in port cities on the Eastern coast of the United States as well as Canada, and their numbers began to increase.

It is also believed these interesting cats were brought specifically to the Boston area.

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 Polydactyl cat is unusual in that the cat has been born with something odd about it. It has more than the regular number of toes on just one or more of its paws.

Normal cats have a sum of 18 toes, with 5 on the front and 4 on the back but with Polydactyl cats you may find as many as 9 digits on their front and back paws.

American Polydactyl cats are medium to large in size with strong, muscular bodies. The cat can weigh up to 6kg. The head is broad, the ears wide-set and pointed and the coat can be any color, pattern and length.

Temperament:

These cats are easy-going, relaxed, and social. They’re hardy too and they’re able to enjoy being outdoors and indoors.

They’re affectionate with their human family and are also playful and energetic. It is prepared to be friendly with dogs and children too, but it is also able to act independently and get on with things. The Polydactyl cat is distinctive but also a very popular cat breed.

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.

The American Polydactyl cat is such a down-to-earth kind of cat that you can welcome him into your home with ease.

Easy to look after, this lively and interesting cat will fill your home with love and companionship, and just a few extra toe nails to clip!

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.

With good care, these cats can live to be between 14 and 16 years of age. You need to be diligent with keeping this cat’s nails trimmed because depending on the placement of the toes, the nails could become a nuisance, growing in the wrong direction and cutting into he cat’s flesh.

Keep the nails trimmed as necessary. To avoid possible injury to your pet, your veterinarian can safely trim your cat’s claws.

Always pay attention to your cat's behavior as well as taking note of your cat when you groom him as both are good ways to discover whether anything is amiss with your polydactyl cat.

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 an eye on your cat’s paws as their extra toes can make it that they are at a higher risk of hooking on a carpet or some other material, but this can be managed with regular nail trimming.

Daily needs:

Provide your cat with all the things he needs to make his life pleasant while in your care. He’ll need feeding and drinking bowls, a nice warm, dry bed, a litter box, stimulating toys, and things such as a scratching post and cat climbing tree.

Diet:

Cats are meat-eaters, and they need protein from meat for health. Some cooked chicken and beef can be a real treat for your pet. Grains and carbohydrates should only play a very small role in your pet’s diet. Too many grains can lead to malnutrition and obesity as well as problems with your cat's organs.

Always take into account your cat’s age because different life stages mean different energy levels and therefore different nutritional needs.

Take your sick cat to the vet when you see he is not his usual self. Make sure you keep up to date with all his vaccines and anti-parasite treatments.

Spaying and Neutering:

One of the most important health decisions you’ll make for your Polydactyl cat is to have your pet spayed or neutered. The procedure is common and performed in your vet’s office every day.

It offers lifelong health benefits. It improves your pet’s behavior and keeps them close to home too. Spaying a female cat will prevent uterine infections and breast cancer, and for males, it can prevent testicular cancer.

Best of all, it helps to prevent yet more kittens into a world overrun with stray cats and rescue centers jam-packed with unwanted kittens and cats.

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.