Ragdoll Genetics

Ragdoll Genetics is a very complicated subject, and although we could endeavour to provide as much detail as possible, there is always more that can be sought and found. We have therefore decided to provide only a basic introduction here, specifically, genetics relating to colour and pattern . Please click onto the Contact Us icon (at top) if you require further information.
 
Until recently, Ragdolls have been available in only FOUR colours and THREE patterns:
 
  Colours:
A Lighter shade of the Seal (Photo Soon) A Lighter Shade of the Blue (Photo Soon)
Seal Blue Chocolate Lilac

 

 




 

 

 

 

Patterns:

Pointed Mitted Bicolour
NOTE: Coloured Nose, Ears, Front Feet and Back Feet NOTE: Coloured Nose and Ears BUT ALL FEET are White NOTE: Coloured Ears, ALL Legs are White and has a WHITE inverted V on the face.

 









 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As a general introduction, mitted and bicolour ragdoll cats are simply pointed cats who have had their paws, legs and/or faces painted white!

Ragdoll cats have two types of white markings in their gene pool.

The Van Gene - only found in bicolours

The White Spotting Factor - found in mitteds and bicolours

As both of these white generating types are dominant over non-white colours, a pointed cat (NO WHITE) will NOT have either of these gene types.

FIRST - Lets look at what colours you can expect when you mate your beautiful ragdolls. Dependant upon parental genotype, that is, whether the parents carry the blue and/or chocolate dilutes, you could expect the kittens to fall into one of the following categories:

seal x seal

all seal
3/4 seal and 1/4 blue
3/4 seal and 1/4 chocolate
9/16 seal and 3/16 blue and 3/16 chocolate and 1/16 lilac

seal x blue

all seal
1/2 seal and 1/2 blue
3/4 seal and 1/4 chocolate
3/8 seal and 3/8 blue and 1/8 chocolate and 1/8 lilac

seal x chocolate

all seal
1/2 seal and 1/2 chocolate
3/4 seal and 1/4 blue
3/8 seal and 3/8 chocolate and 1/8 blue and 1/8 lilac

seal x lilac

all seal
1/2 seal and 1/2 blue
1/2 seal and 1/2 chocolate
1/4 seal and 1/4 blue and 1/4 chocolate and 1/4 lilac

blue x blue

all blue
3/4 blue and 1/4 lilac

blue x chocolate

all seal
1/2 seal and 1/2 blue
1/2 seal and 1/2 chocolate
1/4 seal and 1/4 blue and 1/4 chocolate and 1/4 lilac

blue x lilac

all blue
1/2 blue and 1/2 lilac

chocolate x chocolate

all chocolate
3/4 chocolate and 1/4 lilac

chocolate x lilac

all chocolate
1/2 chocolate and 1/2 lilac

lilac x lilac

all lilac

- Mating ragdoll cats with the following patterns will generally give you patterned kittens as thus:

pointed x pointed = ALL pointed

pointed x mitted = 1/2 pointed and 1/2 mitted

pointed x bicolour (white spotting factor) = ALL mitted

pointed x bicolour (van gene) = pointeds and bicolours

pointed x bicolour (white spot AND van gene) = mitteds and bicolours

mitted x bicolour (white spot) = 1/2 mitted and 1/2 bicolour

mitted x bicolour (van gene) = points and mitteds and bicolours

mitted x mitted = 1/4 pointed and 1/2 mitted and 1/4 bicolour

bicolour x bicolour = ALL bicolour

NOTE: The above matings are intended as a guide only - unusual kitten patterns can, and do, occur - such as ALL WHITE kittens from bicolour x bicolour (if BOTH bicolours in question carry both the white spotting factor AND the van gene). And surprise surprise - a bicolour x bicolour mating can also produce all three patterns with NO all white kittens.

As you can see, Ragdoll genetics can become very confusing. If you require further specific details about certain matings, or other genetic information, then please Contact Us and we will attempt to enlighten you.