My Ragdoll Cat Adventures Part Three → Welcome To Ragdoll Cats For Life

5th Feb Blog Post 182 The Top Shelf

I was proud of Leo on saturday. He has finally made it to the top shelf of the catio in the garden. I had forgotten there was a top shelf as none of the boys have ever tried to get up that high before (and I do still get worried they will try to jump the fence one day). Leo being the most nimble made the jump from the top of this box that is inside the catio to the narrow top shelf section. There is a little ramp as well but he tried that before and nearly fell off it. He was enjoying himself prowling along and looking down at me, Jack and Charlie. Charlie was very jealous. He was meowing at me as if to say ‘Mummy I want to go up there too!’ I explained to Charlie how to get up there and he looked up at the box and the shelf but was not brave enough to jump. I also showed him the narrow ramp but after taking a few steps on it he retreated as I think it is too narrow for him to feel safe. Sunday and today Leo has been on the top shelf again. Think he likes being up high. To come down, he now jumps off the shelf straight to the ground. I was worried the first time he did that in case he hurt his feet or something but he was fine. Mummy is obviously worrying too much! You forget just how skilled cats are jumping and balancing.

What Is A Ragdoll Cat?

The Ragdoll cat as legend has it, was descended from Josephine a feral cat living in California in the 1960s. She was struck by a car and after she recovered, her kittens produced all the winning traits that would become the hallmark of the Ragdoll cat including large heavy build, soft downy fur, docility and laid-back personality. The original bloodlines of Ragdolls can be traced back to Ann Baker’s Ragdoll cats. It was she who developed the breed from the original Josphine. Ragdolls are beautiful, friendly, loving cats know as gentle giants of the cat world.