Is British Shorthair Ragdoll Mix Right For You?
For many pet parents, choosing a family cat is easier said than done. Often, they have the criteria for what they want in their minds.
However, when they start doing research, confusion starts to set in.
It is made worse after visiting a shelter/ pet store or talking to people about different cat breeds.
There are so many things to put into consideration. With the endless popular breeds out there, arriving at the best fit can be a hard nut to crack.
Well, we are here to help make the process of getting a new kitty easier and more informed for you.
If you are thinking of getting a British Ragdoll Ragdoll mix, you are especially in luck.
What should you expect from this cat? Is the breed as affectionate and friendly as her parents? Are there any health concerns she is predisposed to? How about her grooming, exercise, and diet needs?
We will answer all these questions for you…
The British Shorthair
Since the British shorthair (BSH) and Ragdoll mix is a cross between two purebred cats, knowledge of each parent breed is necessary.
To start us off, let’s look at the BSH.
This breed needs no introduction. She’s popular among cat lovers and enthusiasts -perhaps not as popular as the Ragdoll but she has charmed her way into many hearts.
The British shorthair was developed in the 1800s after breeding Egyptian cats and European wildcats.
The breed was a major hit that it won the first cat show in London.
Sadly, it came to the point of being endangered. Breeders had to mate the few survivors with the famous Persian cat to keep a healthy bloodline.
With her soft lush coat, the BSH is hands down one of the most adorable cat breeds out there.
You can almost mistake her for a living teddy bear. Her weight and height range from 7-17 pounds and 12-14 inches respectively. This means she’s medium to large in size.
Her coat is thick, dense, and available in many colors and patterns.
Besides a dense coat, a BSH has a broad chest, thick legs, chubby cheeks, and rounded heads.
As for personality, this breed is friendly, easy-going, and deeply affectionate.
She enjoys belly rubs and petting in general. Sure, she can be no-nonsense when she wants to, but for the most part, she’s pure bliss.
From entertaining and tolerating children to existing with other pets if socialized to having an even temperament around the house, the BSH is a wonderful pet to own.
The Ragdoll
Despite being popular, the Ragdoll is a fairly new breed. Its history only goes back to 1960 when Josephine, a long-haired queen, gave birth to kittens with beautiful coats and unusual markings.
Breeders paid special attention to the kittens and soon enough named the breed “Ragdoll” for her tendency to have a loose-limbed state when picked up.
This breed is one of the friendliest, most loyal, and most affectionate companions in the cat world.
She loves human attention deeply, loves people and animals, and has a go-lucky attitude at home.
The breed measures 15-20 pounds in weight and 9-11 inches in height. This means that she’s heavier but shorter than the British Shorthair.
She’s very muscular and has a long furry tail.
Like the BSH, she comes in many colors such as chocolate, seal, flame, lilac, cream, and blue.
Her eyes are blue in contrast with those of the BSH which are mostly gold/copper.
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What Is The Mix Like?
1. Physical Characteristics
From the above information, you can tell that a BSH Ragdoll mix is a medium-large cat with a weight ranging from 7-20 pounds. Height averages 9-14 inches.
It is impossible to predict the skin color, eye color, and coat pattern of this mix. There are more than 12 coat color varieties.
You may end up with a white, blue/gray, chocolate, lilac, flame, red, seal, blue, or black kitty. Patterns include calico, color-point, tri-color, solid, tabby, or bi-color.
No matter the outcome, this mix has a beautiful luscious coat.
If she lies on her Ragdoll side of the family, her coat will be denser than if the BSH genes become dominant. She may take on the Ragdoll’s long furry tail.
Expect a stocky body supported by long or short muscular legs.
In general, this mix will have a teddy-like appearance that’s just hard to resist.
2. Temperament and Personality
Both the Ragdoll and the British shorthair have amazing personalities.
They say an apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree. This couldn’t be truer for a cross resulting from these two breeds.
She will warm your heart with her affection and friendliness.
When she trusts you, she will sit on your lap and let you touch her.
She loves to follow her owners from room to room – purring away and giving head rubs.
This kitty will also make good friends with other people and pets if socialized as kittens.
While this designer cat loves human company, she also values her personal space.
Don’t be surprised if she swats at you for petting her too much or walks away from you when you request her to play.
She loves “alone time’ as well as being with you.
3. Care and Maintenance
Like all other cats, a British Shorthair Ragdoll mix is an expert at grooming herself.
You will always find her licking her coat to rid it of dirt and parasites. However, because of her dense fur, she needs brushing lest loose hairs become a problem in your home.
If her coat looks like that of a Ragdoll, you may have to increase the frequency of brushing. Else, weekly brushing will suffice.
Fortunately, both parents do not have an undercoat, so shedding is not as bad.
Other grooming routines include regular vet trips, dental care, and frequent nail trims.
4. Exercise and Diet Requirements
The Ragdoll BSH mix is not a very active cat breed. She’d be happy to lounge most of the time only chasing after rodents or running around occasionally.
If you are looking for a gentle and calm house cat that doesn’t cause a lot of drama, this one is ideal.
She’s quiet, non-destructive, relaxed, and just sweet. Get her enough toys and scratching posts to keep her occupied.
Additionally, offer her two 15-minute sessions of play to burn off some energy.
Regarding her diet, this cat doesn’t have special needs. As long as she eats a meat-based diet, she’ll grow and develop well.
The only thing to watch out for is obesity. If overfed, this rather laid-back feline can gain weight fast.
Work with your vet to come up with a solid meal plan for your kitty.
5. Health Concerns
The British shorthair is a fairly healthy dog breed. Both parents get to live to 15-20 years without a ton of health issues.
However, like all cats, they are prone to a number of health conditions. These include the following.
- Heart disease
- Kidney disease
- Respiratory tract disorders
- Mouth and gum disease
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
To keep any health condition at bay, get your kitten from a reputable breeder. They should give you the medical history of the kitten’s parents.
Additionally, visit the vet frequently, offer the cat a quality diet, check her portions, and get her moving.
In Summary…
Is the British Shorthair Mix right for you?
Well, if you want a chubby, friendly, social, and affectionate cat with a beautiful coat, the mix fits the description.
She only just has independent streaks, heavy grooming needs, and a high risk to certain health conditions.
You decide what fits your lifestyle!
Image sources: 1, 2, 3
Hi! I am Eleanor Price. I started this website after my cat, Louie, almost died from a case of botulism (a type of food poisoning often caused by bacteria that grow on food items). Turned out that my cat’s diet was the problem. I have made it my duty to provide the best information and recommendations about everything cat lovers need to know about their felines’ health and wellbeing. My goal is to find the most informative content on anything feline-related and share it with fellow hardworking kitty lovers.
