FAQ: Genetics, Breed Standards, and Accurate Classification 

 

What Is a True Ragdoll?

 

This information is for educational purposes and is intended to help prospective buyers understand breed identification and genetics. If you own a Ragdoll like cat, mink, sepia, solid, or blue eyed white cat, you are welcome here. This information is not about exclusion. It is about accurate breed identification and transparent representation.

 

Q: What defines a true Ragdoll?

A true Ragdoll is not defined by appearance alone.

A Ragdoll is a specific pedigreed breed, developed from a closed ancestry and defined by both genetics and breed standards, as recognized by major registries.

A true Ragdoll must be:

• Pedigreed within the Ragdoll breed

• Blue eyed

• Colorpointed

• Semi long coated

• Large, soft bodied

• Exceptionally docile and people oriented

Blue eyes and points are required traits, but they are not exclusive to Ragdolls. Other breeds may share these traits and are not Ragdolls.

 

Q: Why are blue eyes and colorpoints required for Ragdolls?

Ragdolls must carry two copies of the temperature sensitive colorpoint gene (cs/cs).

This gene:

• Produces permanent blue eyes

• Creates the pointed pattern with darker extremities

• Is genetically required for the Ragdoll breed standard

However, having this gene alone does not make a cat a Ragdoll.
Breed identity requires documented Ragdoll ancestry and adherence to the breed standard.

 

Q: Are all blue eyed or pointed cats Ragdolls?

No.

Many breeds share blue eyes and colorpointing, including but not limited to:

• Siamese and Thai

• Birman

• Himalayan

• Balinese

• Neva Masquerade

A cat must have documented Ragdoll lineage and meet the breed standard to be a Ragdoll.

 

Q: What are Cherubim cats?

Cherubim are not Ragdolls.

Cherubim are cats that descend from Ragdoll ancestry, but represent a separate branch that does not meet the Ragdoll breed definition.

Under The International Cat Association (TICA), Cherubim are classified separately due to their genetics.

Cherubim cats express:

• Mink (cs/cb)

• Sepia (cb/cb)

• Solid (C/C or C/c)

These genetic combinations prevent true Ragdoll colorpoint expression.

 

Q: How do Cherubim differ from Ragdolls?

Eye color
Ragdoll: Blue only
Cherubim: Aqua, green, gold, or mixed

Color pattern
Ragdoll: Colorpoint only
Cherubim: Mink, sepia, or solid

Coat type and appearance
Ragdoll: Plush, semi-long coat with lighter body color and clearly defined points
Cherubim: Often denser and darker overall coat appearance, with less contrast between body and extremities due to mink, sepia, or solid expression

Required gene
Ragdoll: cs/cs (temperature-sensitive colorpoint)
Cherubim: cs/cb, cb/cb, or C variants

Breed status
Ragdoll: Ragdoll
Cherubim: Separate classification

Registry treatment
Ragdoll: Ragdoll breed
Cherubim: Distinct branch

 

Cherubim may share coat texture, size, and temperament traits with Ragdolls due to shared ancestry, but they are not Ragdolls.

 

Q: Can a kitten be registered as a Ragdoll if only one parent is a Ragdoll?

No.

Neither The International Cat Association (TICA) nor Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) allows a kitten to be registered as a Ragdoll unless it meets both pedigree and breed standard requirements.

Registration as a Ragdoll requires:

• Verified Ragdoll ancestry

• Compliance with the breed standard

• Correct genetic expression

 

Q: Are mink, sepia, solid, or BEW cats rare Ragdolls?

No.

They are not rare Ragdolls.
They are different genetic expressions that fall outside the Ragdoll breed definition.

The term “rare Ragdoll” is a marketing phrase, not a registry recognized classification.

 

Q: How does TICA handle this today?

Under The International Cat Association (TICA), this distinction is now explicit.

• Ragdoll cats that are blue eyed and colorpointed are registered.

• Cats accepted as linked to the ragdoll ance that are mink, sepia, or solid are registered as Cherubim

• These cats may come from Ragdoll lineage, but they are not classified as Ragdolls under TICA’s current breed structure

This means a cat can have TICA registration papers while being classified as Cherubim rather than Ragdoll, based on genetics and phenotype.

 

Q: How does CFA handle registration?

The Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) maintains a more traditional approach.

• CFA Ragdolls must meet the breed standard: blue eyes and pointed coloration

• Cats that do not meet the standard are not accepted as Ragdolls for championship showing

• CFA registration tracks pedigree and breeding records, but breed standard conformity determines show and breed status

 

Q: So why might a cat have papers but not be a true Ragdoll?

Because registration reflects lineage and registry classification, not marketing claims.

• In TICA, non-pointed cats from Ragdoll lines are formally classified as Cherubim

• In CFA, only cats meeting the Ragdoll standard are recognized as Ragdolls

• Papers indicate where a cat comes from, not whether it fits the traditional Ragdoll definition

 

Q: Does this mean mink or sepia cats are rare Ragdolls?

No.

They are not rare Ragdolls.
They are different genetic expressions that fall outside the Ragdoll breed standard.

The term “rare Ragdoll” is a marketing phrase, not a registry recognized classification.

 

Bottom line

• Registration papers do not override genetics

• TICA clearly separates Ragdolls and Cherubim by genetic expression

• CFA restricts Ragdoll status to blue eyed, pointed cats

• Accurate representation protects buyers and preserves breed integrity

 

Ethical breeding starts with transparency.