The following is a general description of the Ragdoll patterns, but it is worth remembering that it is for guidance only.  Mitted and bi-colour Ragdolls homed as pets, may be ‘mis-marked’ but this does not make them any the less lovable.  Ragdolls mature slowly and do not obtain their final coat colour until they are approximately four years old, so the kitten which joins its new family will look very different once it grows up.

Colourpointed Ragdoll

The points (mask, ears, tail and legs) are darker than the rest of the body. The nose leather and pads match the point colour and when the Ragdoll is mature, the mask covers the entire face.

Mitted Ragdoll

As with the colourpointed Ragdoll, the points are darker than the main body colour.  The nose leather is the same colour as the points.  The chin, bib, chest and under body are all white.  The front paws have white mittens and the back hocks have white boots.  The paw pads are pink.  Sometimes a mitted Ragdoll will have a white nose blaze.

Bi-coloured Ragdoll

The bi-colour has an inverted white ‘v’ on the mask, which extends from the forehead, between the eyes, down to the chin, covering the nose and whisker pads.  The bib, chest, under body and legs are white.  The nose leather and paw pads are pink.  The remaining points, that is the rest of the mask, the ears and the tail, are dark.

Seal

The points are a deep, dark seal brown, contrasting the general body shading which ranges from a milky coffee to a dark cocoa colour.

Blue

The points are slate blue/grey in colour, with the general body colour shading to a silvery/ivory colour.

The following colours are included for information only.  In the UK they are all but extinct from the gene pool, with some believing they were never true colours and just paler versions of seal and blue.

Chocolate

The points are milk chocolate in colour and the main body shade ranges from cream to ivory.

Lilac

The points are a frosted lilac/pink colour, with the body shading to a warm magnolia hue.  The eyes are generally paler blue.

These four colours can overlay the colourpoint, mitted and bi-colour patterns.

Red(Flame) Series and Tabby(Lynx) Ragdolls

There has been some controversy among some regarding these colours, with suggestions they are not true Ragdolls. However this argument is unfounded and it is known that Ann Baker worked with red and tabby Ragdolls in her early breeding programme. Her belief was that Ragdolls are defined by temperament and not by look and all the colours and patterns she worked with were indeed Ragdolls in every way. In June 2003 the GCCF gave the red and tabby Ragdolls Championship status.

Red

The body is pale cream in colour, with the tummy and chest being lighter. The points range from flame orange to red.

Cream

The body is off-white, with lighter colouring to the tummy and chest. The points are cream.

Seal Tortie

The body colour is shades of cream or beige, with lighter colouring on the tummy and chest. The points are seal brown, intermingled with patches of red. The points are seal, intermingled with red shades.

Blue Tortie

The body is blue-white or creamy, intermingled with with shades of cream, with lighter colouring on the tummy and chest. The points are blue, intermingled with cream.

Tabby

The tabby pattern can overlay any of the colours mentioned above, including the reds, creams, and torties. Tabby Ragdolls have distinct tabby markings of broken stripes and rings on the points. The ears are solid without striping and there is an 'M' marking on the forehead.

The Red and tabby series can overlay any of the three patterns, colourpointed, mitted or bi-colour and bring to the breed stunning looking Ragdolls.

Photos to follow........