Ann Baker created the Ragdoll cat breed in California during the 1960s.
Baker was a Persian cat breeder in Riverside, California. The breed’s foundation female was a white, long-haired cat named Josephine, whose kittens had notably gentle temperaments and relaxed when handled. Baker selectively bred those kittens and established the name Ragdoll, referring to their tendency to become limp when picked up.
Baker later created her own registry and attached unusual breeding rules to the cats, but most modern Ragdoll breeders work through established cat organizations instead. The breed is now known for a large body, blue eyes, a pointed color pattern, and semi-long fur.
The relaxed behavior should not be treated as a medical trait or guaranteed response: individual cats vary. Ragdolls are also sometimes confused with Birman cats because both are long-haired, blue-eyed, and commonly have pale bodies with darker points.