Do Ragdoll Cats Have Blue Eyes? Considering cat breeds, Ragdoll cats are deemed to be one of the more elegant breeds. Their dazzling blue eyes and thick fur catch the eye of any curious pet-seeker. Today, Ragdolls are without doubt one of the more sought-after varieties of cats.
Ragdolls live harmoniously with other pets within the home and are blessed with trusty, friendly, and soothing poise.
The most striking feature of a Ragdoll is its characteristic blue eyes. But do all Ragdoll cats possess eyes of a blue hue? This article will explore this much-debated subject.
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Do Ragdoll Cats All Have Blue Eyes?
Whilst most cat enthusiasts would celebrate the beautiful blue eyes of a Ragdoll as the most significant feature of this breed, surprisingly not all Ragdolls cats actually have blue eyes.
Purebred Ragdolls do indeed have blue eyes, but mixed breed Ragdolls could boast green, darker blue, or even gold eyes that transform during the months of transitioning between kitten and cat.
What is a Ragdoll Cat?
It is thought that the first-ever Ragdoll kittens were born in California in the 1960s, from a mix of Birman, Burmese, and white Persian cats developed by the American cat breeder Ann Baker. The name ‘Ragdoll’ originates from the floppy posture that the cat assumes when picked up.
A Ragdoll cat is substantial and noble in appearance, with large paws, a luxurious coat, and a full, long tail. Compared to other breeds, Ragdoll cats are often larger, but not judged as overweight, despite their traits of being prone to overeating.
Male Ragdoll cats of adult age normally weigh between 15 and 20 pounds, and females Ragdolls in adulthood usually weigh between 10-15 pounds.
In terms of personality and attitude, Ragdolls cats are most appreciated for their relaxed temperaments and their enjoyment of gameplay, and dislike of more mischievous behaviors that other breeds may participate in.
The most popular Ragdoll color is the seal point, followed closely by the blue point. We are entranced as cat lovers by the good looks of the Ragdoll.
V-shaped markings are a strong characteristic in Ragdoll cats, as are their large round eyes, often startlingly blue.
Blue Eyes: A Beautiful Ragdoll Trait
All Ragdoll cats have huge, oval eyes, almost adopting a round shape. In exploring the subject of whether all Ragdoll cats have blue eyes, it is true that traditional Ragdoll cats have white fur, with eyes of a blue distinctive shade. This blue ranges from a paler heather-blue to a darker royal blue.
According to The International Cat Association (TICA), blue eyes are the most important feature of a traditional Ragdoll and are essential for the cat to be deemed purebred.
On the other hand, non-traditional Ragdolls cats, set apart from the purebred cats, may possess eyes of various colors, including aqua, gold, or even green. Examples of non-traditional Ragdoll cats are Sephia, Mink, and Solid Ragdoll cats.
Whilst breeders prefer Ragdoll cats with vivid blue eyes, non-traditional Ragdolls are still classed as the same much-loved, special breed.
In more recent times, Ragdoll breeds such as Solid, Sepia, and Mink have been fully accepted as purebred Ragdolls cats by certain cat associations, whilst others still find a strong distinction between non-traditional and traditional breeds.
Ragdoll cats also boast unique patterning on their fur; there are three different types:
- colorpoint,
- mitted,
- and bicolor.
Eye color in Ragdoll cats is dictated by the same genes that influence this patterning.
Whilst the majority of purebred Ragdoll cats do have two striking blue eyes, in a small proportion of the Ragdoll population, only one blue eye is present. Ragdoll cats are typically deaf on the same side as the blue eye.
Do Ragdoll’s eyes stay blue?
In some circumstances, Ragdoll’s eyes will remain dazzling blue throughout life, whilst in others, this color may change.
The color of a Ragdoll kitten’s eyes will typically mature after three months. In the case of purebred, traditional Ragdoll cats, their eyes will stay blue from birth until they reach the brink of adulthood and beyond.
Non-traditional breeds, like the Solid, Sephia, and Mink Ragdolls may possess green, gold, or aqua eyes at birth which could develop more of a blueish hue in adulthood.
Ordinarily, however, non-traditional Ragdoll cats will feature eyes of aqua coloring by the time of adulthood.
Classical Eye characteristics of a Ragdoll Cat
Arguably, the most distinctive feature of the Ragdoll cat is the beautiful blue eyes this breed boasts.
But there are some other eye characteristics which make this breed unique and celebrated by owners and breeders alike.
Classical eye characteristics of the Ragdoll cat include:
- Ragdolls have no eyelashes on their eyes.
- Ragdoll cats develop a roundness to their eyes when staring.
- Their unique third eyelid gives the same level of protection as eyelashes.
- Ragdolls do not have eyebrows above their eyes.
- The eyes of Ragdolls are coated in thin hairs, called vibrissae, which function in the same manner as whiskers.
- Ragdoll cat eyes have a third eyelid, which provides an extra layer of protection alongside the eyelashes.
- The darker markings of Ragdoll cats can give the impression of eyeliner, particularly alongside their blue eyes.
- Ragdolls, like most cats, have strong night vision due to their retinas adept skills at harnessing the low light.
- Ragdoll owners have described their cats as being intuitive and expressive. Their large eyes reveal much emotion.
- When a Ragdoll blinks slowly, it is thought to exhibit affection and love.
- When a Ragdoll is experiencing confrontation, it may stare intently.
Coats of Color
Whilst the characteristic brilliant blue eyes of a purebred Ragdoll cat are most distinctive, the silken, plush coat of the breed is highly recognizable to perhaps the same degree as eye coloring.
The fluffy Ragdoll coat often resembles similar to rabbit fur, with guard hairs and a unique and regal ruff around the neck.
Ragdoll cats are snow-white from birth, and their fur remains white until ten days later when more interesting colors begin to form on their bodies. The full effect of this color development will only appear when around two years in age.
A term used to describe the coat of Ragdoll cats is ‘pointed’ when the tips of the fur darken at the tips. This darkening in color occurs at the tail, face, legs, ears, and feet.
This fascinating pointed patterning on Ragdoll cats can be chocolate, red, or even described as lilac, seal, cream, and blue, reminiscent of their blue eyes.
Some modern variations of the Ragdoll can possess striking tortoiseshell markings or rare colorings such as flame, lynx, and turtle. Here are some of the most common pattern variations that you may find in Ragdoll cats:
Colorpoint Ragdoll
A Colorpoint Ragdoll cat will have classic Siamese-cat-style markings with a point-colored mask, ears, feet, nose, paws, and tail. A Colorpoint Ragdoll cat won’t have any white on them at all.
Mitted Ragdoll
An endearing and loveable trait of the mitted Ragdoll cat is the white “mittens” on the front feet and white “boots” on their legs. White stripes also feature on the neck, chest, and stomach.
Bi-Color Ragdoll
A bi-color Ragdoll cat will have darkened ears and tail with distinctive point-colored markings, with white stomach, paws, chest, and legs.
Van Ragdoll
This proud cat has a white body, with color on the ears, tail, and face.
Ragdolls with Odd-Color Eyes
Some Ragdoll cats do not have two bright blue eyes, and in fact, may only have one. Heterochromia, or odd-color eyes, is a characteristic of some Ragdolls, particularly the non-traditional Mink and Sepia breeds. It may be that one eye is a vivid blue, whilst the other is a lighter shade.
This unusual imbalance in color is a hereditary condition, when melanin is stopped from making contact with one eye, leading to the eye adopting a colorless surfacing.
Heterochromia is not symptomatic of any issue and is caused by the gene which creates the classical white fur in Ragdoll cats. In this way, only white-furred Ragdolls are born with odd-colored eyes. Despite this, the most prolific eye coloring of the Ragdoll remains two blue eyes.
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Final Thoughts
Without a doubt, blue striking eyes are one of the most striking, notable features of the sought-after Ragdoll cat. As this article has explored, the bright blue eyes of the Ragdoll are a definite characteristic of the breed, but not all Ragdolls have blue eyes, and a cat can still be classed as a Ragdoll breed without possessing blue eyes.
Research has indicated that all purebred Ragdolls do indeed have blue eyes, but mixed breed Ragdolls may have green, gold, or eyes of a somewhat different blue. Like humans, the eyes of a Ragdoll change and transform in color as they age from kitten to adult age.
But despite these intricacies and variations in color, the Ragdoll remains one of the most beautiful, desirable cat breeds today.