Ragdoll Coat Colors And Patterns Explained
A Guide to Ragdoll Coats and Point Breeds
Ragdoll Coat Colors
In the Ragdoll world many use terms like "traditional colors" and "non-traditional colors".
A Ragdoll being one of the traditional colors does not mean it is from traditional lines.
A Ragdoll that is not from traditional lines can come in "traditional colors".
All traditional line Ragdolls can only come in some of the "traditional colors".
Below are a series of 5 pictures showing Blue Point Mitted Ragdolls. The first 3 are from traditional lines. The last 2 are not because their mother is a Tortie (Red Gene). They are accepted, can be shown and titled but they can never be considered traditional line because of having Tortie in their pedigree. This is why checking pedigrees is so important.
Traditional Lines
Traditional Lines
Traditional Lines
Not Traditional
Not Traditional
Accepted Ragdoll Breed Standard Colors
Seal Point, Blue Point, Chocolate Point and Lilac Point Ragdolls.
Blue is the dilute of Seal. Lilac is the dilute of Chocolate.
Red Point and Cream Point Ragdolls.
Cream is the dilute of Red. Both colors as well as the Tortie overlay come from the Red gene.
What Colors Can Traditional Line Ragdolls Be?
Seal Point, Blue Point, Chocolate Point and Lilac Point Ragdolls.
Additional TICA Recognized Colors
Cinnamon and Fawn are recognized by TICA but not by CFA. They are unable to be shown or receive titles. Most Ragdoll breeders do not have them in their cattery because they were first made by a breeder cross-breeding with Somali cats which are very different in type, build, traits, etc. than a Ragdoll. Somali are long, slender, athletic and a lot more independent than Ragdolls are.
"Fluff"
Blue Point Mitted
"Green-Bean"
Blue Point Bicolor
"Takumi"
Seal Colorpoint
"Frosty"
Blue Point Mitted
"Icicle"
Blue Point Bicolor
Understanding Ragdoll Patterns
Ragdolls are a point breed which means they only have blue eyes. Not aqua, teal, green or any other shade or color. Being a point breed affects every part of their coloration. The point gene (cs) is recessive so it requires both parents to be cs/cs or carry the gene. Ragdolls are cs/cs.
How Point Breeds Work
Being a point breed means Ragdolls are born white. A Ragdoll's coat colors and pattern reach full development around 2-3 years of age. The points or ends of the cat are darker than the rest of them (face, ears, legs, feet and tail). It is a genetic mutation that involves temperature-sensitive pigment production. Warmer areas have reduced pigment production making the cooler extremities darker.
Ragdolls are born white
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Their color develops slowly
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Color takes 2-3 years to develop
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Fun Fact: The 3 pictures above show SnootBoop Blueberry (Purple collar) as he grows up so you can see how a Ragdoll's color develops. He is a blue point mitted Ragdoll.
(Pictured at 2 days old, 12 weeks old and 1 year old)
Ragdolls Come in 3 Main Patterns
The 3 main Ragdoll patterns are Mitted, Colorpoint and Bicolor.​​ Regardless of what color or pattern overlay (Tortie, Lynx and Torbie) a Ragdoll has, it will always still be 1 of the 3 patterns.
​Fun fact: Pairing 2 mitted together is how you can get all 3 patterns in 1 litter.
Bicolor comes in variations: True bicolor, high-mitted, mid high-white and high-white/van. High-mitted are what we most commonly see here in the U.S. because they happen from pairing 2 mitted Ragdolls together. True bicolor and high-mitted are visually identical.
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Ragdoll Coat Pattern Overlays
Ragdolls can have 1 of 3 pattern overlays: Tortie (from the Red gene), Lynx (tabby stripes) or Torbie (both Tortie and Lynx together).​
The pattern overlays can come in any of the colors listed in the Ragdoll colors section. Torties come from the red gene so one of their colors will always be red or cream (dilute). Having tortie, lynx or torbie in their pedigree means they are not from traditional lines.
​Lynx stripes follow the rules of whatever pattern they come in (bicolor, colorpoint and mitted). Torties follow no rules with their mix of colors being allowed anywhere even if it "breaks" pattern.
"Plum"
Blue Tortie Point Bicolor
"Elsa"
Blue Tortie Point Bicolor
"Elsa"
Blue Tortie Point Bicolor
​​You can see 2 blue tortie point bicolor Ragdolls above. Their colors are blue with cream (from the red gene) since they are dilute. You can see Elsa's blue and cream sides just like Plum's.
Fun fact: Plum is Elsa's mom!
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