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Seal Point Ragdoll Cats: Facts, Origin & History (With Pictures)

Brooke Billingsley

By Brooke Billingsley

Sealpoint Ragdoll on blue background

Ragdoll cats are a well-loved cat breed because of their loving and gentle temperament, as well as their large size and luxurious coat. There are multiple colors and patterns that the Ragdoll coat comes in, with pointed markings being the most common.

Seal point Ragdoll cats have markings that are likely in line with what you would imagine when thinking of a traditional Siamese cat. They have seal coloration on their points, which is a shade of brown. This brown color appears on the face, ears, legs, tail, and some areas of the body, while the rest of the body is a lighter color, often in a shade of cream, white, or tan.

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The Earliest Records of Seal Point Ragdoll Cats in History

The Ragdoll cat breed is relatively young, only having been developed in the 1960s.1 These American cats were developed by Ann Baker, a Californian who was known to take in stray cats.

All Ragdoll cats are descended from a single stray that Ann took in. Ann’s cat, Josephine, was a white domestic longhair cat that had offspring that met the criteria that Ann was looking for in a cat.

Josephine’s kittens had a loving, gentle temperament, as well as an appearance that Ann loved enough to continue breeding. From there, the popularity of the Ragdoll quickly grew, with multiple people beginning their breeding programs from the offspring of Josephine. The seal point Ragdoll was one of the original color and pattern developments of the Ragdoll breed.

seal point ragdoll kittens on blue background
Image Credit: Linn Currie, Shutterstock

How Seal Point Ragdoll Cats Gained Popularity

Ragdolls quickly became popular after Ann started her breeding program, and within a few decades, they weren’t uncommon to find in homes across the United States. The seal point coat is one of the more common coat types in the Ragdoll breed, so it didn’t take much for these cats to gain popularity.

Seal is only one of six point colors recognized within the Ragdoll, with the other five being chocolate, lilac, cream, red, and blue. Some people may prefer the more exotic and less common Ragdoll cats, but the traditional seal point is cute and endearing all on its own.

Formal Recognition of Seal Point Ragdoll Cats

By 1965, the Ragdoll was a well-developed and recognized purebred cat breed. The seal point Ragdoll was one of the original color and pattern combinations that were accepted within the breed.

It wasn’t until 1993 that the Ragdoll was allowed to register with the Cat Fanciers’ Association, but by 2000, the Ragdoll was a fully recognized breed within the CFA. This recognition included the seal point Ragdoll cat.

seal point ragdoll cat
Image Credit: Kanashi, Unsplash

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Top 3 Unique Facts About Seal Point Ragdoll Cats

1. The points aren’t the only parts of the seal point Ragdoll that is brown.

Their noses and paw pads are also a rich, deep brown color.


2. Seal point Ragdoll cats have beautiful crystal blue eyes.

While not all Ragdolls have blue eyes, the seal point coloration almost always comes with blue eyes. In fact, eye colors other than blue in Ragdolls are often indicative of other breeds being mixed in.


3. Ragdolls are one of the largest domestic cat breeds

Some males can reach up to 20 pounds while still being at a healthy weight for their build and size.

hepper-cat-paw-dividerDo Seal Point Ragdoll Cats Make Good Pets?

Seal point Ragdolls don’t have a different temperament or build than other Ragdoll color and pattern varieties. Ragdolls are large cats that are usually between 12–20 pounds, but they are gentle giants. They make excellent pets, and many people consider Ragdolls to be dog-like in their behaviors.

They are often intelligent cats that love to participate in games, like fetch, solving puzzles, and even going for walks. They are usually good with children and other pets, making them a good addition to a variety of home environments. They are generally healthy cats as well.

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Conclusion

The seal point Ragdoll is a beautiful cat that exemplifies the Ragdoll breed perfectly. The seal point Ragdoll was one of the earliest color and pattern combinations that were accepted within the Ragdoll breed standard. They have a rich brown coloration on their points, as well as their nose and paw pads, as well as lovely blue eyes.

The Ragdoll is a great cat breed that is known for its gentleness and affection, as well as its sense of adventure and acceptance of people and animals. The seal point Ragdoll should have a temperament and appearance that matches the breed standard.

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Featured Image Credit: Linn Currie, Shutterstock

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