The story of the Ragdoll begins in California in the 1960s. It brings together cats, breeders, memorable disputes and a story that, as it became a legend, grew somewhat embellished over time.
Josephine, a cat who became a legend
In Riverside, Ann Baker set out to develop a new breed from cats in her neighbourhood. At the beginning was Josephine, a white longhaired cat whose descendants would form the first core of her breeding programme. Daddy Warbucks, Fugianna and Buckwheat played essential roles in this emerging genealogy.
Ann noticed a gentleness and relaxed disposition in some of these cats that she wanted to preserve. She named them “Ragdolls”, referring to their tendency to relax when held by someone they trust.
But a far more extraordinary story became attached to the breed’s birth: after being hit by a car, Josephine was said to have given birth to transformed kittens, exceptionally docile and insensitive to pain. In Ann Baker’s accounts, mysterious interventions and secret experiments added to the legend. Yet an accident cannot alter the hereditary traits of offspring in this way, and Ragdolls feel pain just like all other cats.
From the first Ragdolls to the Daytons
In 1966, Daddy Warbucks, Fugianna, Kyoto and Tiki were among the first cats registered as Ragdolls. The breed now existed on paper, but its future still had to be built.
In 1969, Denny and Laura Dayton acquired a pair, Buddy and Rosie, from Ann Baker. Under the Blossom-Time cattery name, they became major figures in the breed’s development. They traced parentage, gathered genealogical information and worked to introduce these large blue-eyed cats to a wider public.
A breed that escaped its creator’s control
Ann Baker intended to retain control over her cats and their breeding. She founded her own registry, the IRCA, and introduced a particularly restrictive system of contracts. Disagreements multiplied over control of catteries, recognition by cat associations and participation in shows. The small community split.
The Daytons and other breeders pursued an independent path. The Ragdoll Society was founded in 1975, the first step in the history of the club that would become the Ragdoll Fanciers Club International, or RFCI. Behind these name changes and administrative struggles lay a practical goal: to give the Ragdoll a standard, recognition and a future beyond Ann Baker’s organisation.
The Ragdoll discovers the world
Thanks to this collective effort, the breed gradually found its place in shows and homes. The first Ragdolls arrived in Great Britain in 1981, then in France in 1986. Their large size, blue eyes and affectionate presence won hearts far beyond California.
The RagaMuffin, another branch of the story
In 1994, another split occurred among breeders who had remained associated with the IRCA. A group chose to leave the organisation and continue their work under another name: the RagaMuffin. Descended from cats in Ann Baker’s programmes, then developed through its own breeding choices and crosses, it became a distinct breed with its own standard and a much wider variety of coats.
The return of the name Cherubim
Ann Baker had already used the name “Cherubim” to describe the whole of her different lines. This historical name is now returning in a very different context: cats related to the Ragdoll, distinguished by their mink, sepia and fully coloured coats.
TICA recognised the Cherubim within the Ragdoll breed group in 2025; LOOF followed with recognition from 1 January 2026. The Ragdoll retains its definition as a blue-eyed colourpoint cat. Despite their historical connections, Ragdoll, RagaMuffin and Cherubim are therefore not three interchangeable names.
A story to preserve and tell
From Josephine to today’s catteries, the Ragdoll owes its existence to selective breeding continued over several generations. Behind its popularity are foundation cats, breeding choices and enthusiasts who dedicated part of their lives to this breed.
This page gives only the broad outlines. Over time, I have gathered the stories of the key figures, the early genealogies, the disagreements and historical documents. If you are interested, I invite you to discover them in the Chronicles from the past, where I unfold this adventure chapter by chapter.
