Calico Ragdoll: Complete Guide

Standard Ragdolls are known for their light-colored and lush body fur, darker colorpoints, and blue eyes. But, is it possible for a Ragdoll to be calico?

In this comprehensive guide, we will answer that question, as well as, learn about their physical and temperamental traits. We will also discuss how to best take care of this breed and offer you some tips on how to find the right breeder.

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Calico Ragdoll: Breed overview

Other names	Tortoiseshell Calico Ragdoll cat, Tortie Calico Ragdoll
Size	Large
Weight	16 – 20 pounds
Height	9 – 11 inches
Coat Colors	White, Black, Orange
Child Friendliness	High
Feline Friendliness	High
Training Difficulty	Moderate
Grooming Upkeep	Moderate – High
Exercise Needs	Low – Moderate
Health	Moderate
Lifespan	12 – 15 years
Kitty Costs	$500 – $2,000

What is a Calico Ragdoll?

Since a standard Ragdoll is characterized by her light-colored body coat with colorpoints and also her blue eyes, some feline owners may wonder, “are there Calico Ragdoll cats? 

A Calico Ragdoll is a Ragdoll mix whose body coat has three colors – black, orange, and white. The three colors are in patches with white being the most predominant.

Tortoiseshell Calico Ragdoll cat also has tortie points on her face, ears, tail, and feet. 

RELATED: Tortie Ragdoll Cat (Complete Guide)

It should be pointed out that only females can be Calico Ragdolls since the male genes cannot produce both the black and orange colors in their bodies.

So, can Ragdoll Cats be Calico?

Purebred Ragdolls cannot be Calico. Calico Ragdolls got their name only because they share the same physical and temperamental qualities as a Ragdoll, but their coat color belies their purebred nature.

Tortoiseshell cat vs Calico

The main difference between Tortoiseshell cat and Calico is that Tortoiseshell cat has two colors in her coat, namely, red or orange and black, that resembles the pattern of a tortoise shell while the Calico cat has three colors – orange, black, and white.

READ ALSO: Orange Ragdoll Cat (Complete Guide)

Calico Ragdoll genetics

The Calico cat Ragdoll can only be females since two XX chromosomes are needed to produce  both the black and orange color in the body.

The male cat having the XY chromosomes cannot produce both colors making a male calico cat of any breed very rare. It is estimated that only 1 in 3,000 male cats can be Calico or tortoiseshell.

Do cat registries recognize the Calico Ragdoll cat?

No, unfortunately, Ragdoll Calico cat is not recognized by both The International Cat Association (TICA) and the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA).

Calico Ragdoll physical appearance

Ragdoll cat Calico will have long bodies, wide chests, and bushy tails similar to the standard Ragdoll.  They have a medium-sized head that sits on a short neck that has a more fluffy coat compared to the rest of the body.

Calico Ragdoll cat eyes

Calico Ragdolls can have blue, gold, green, or hazel eye colors. This sets them apart from the standard Ragdoll which can only have blue eyes.

Calico Ragdoll size, height, and weight

Calico Ragdoll cats are large domesticated female cats. They will reach their full height, length, and weight by the time they are 4 years of age.

Age	Height (Females)	Weight (Females)	Size (Females)
3 months	3-5 inches	3-4 pounds	8-10 inches
6 months	5-6 inches	5-8 pounds	10-12 inches
12 months	6-7 inches	8-18 pounds	13-16 inches
24 months	7-9 inches	18-20 pounds	17-19 inches

Ragdoll Calico coat colors and types

Ragdoll Calico cats have single-coated medium to long silky coats. Patches of black, orange, and white fur are visible on their body with white being the most dominant. 

DON’T MISS: White Ragdoll Cat (Complete Guide)

Dilute Calico Ragdoll

Dilute Calico Ragdoll cat will have less intensive black and orange coloring. The black in a Ragdoll Dilute Calico will appear greyish blue while the orange will be a light, creamy color.

Blue Calico Ragdoll cat

Blue Calico Ragdoll cat is the same as a dilute Calico Ragdoll with muted black and orange coloring.

RELATED: Blue Point Ragdoll (Complete Guide)

Calico point Ragdoll

Calico point Ragdoll is similar to a Tortie Ragdoll having a light-colored body with points that have mottled patches of black and orange but with some white patches in between. 

Seal point Calico Ragdoll

Seal point Calico Ragdoll has dark brown points in their face, ears, legs, and tail. Their body coat will have the calico pattern of mostly white and some patches of black and orange.

CHECK OUT: Seal Point Ragdoll (Complete Guide)

Calico Ragdoll black and white

Calico Ragdoll black and white presents a predominantly white coat and some black patches. The orange patches can appear minimally.

Calico Ragdoll black and white kitten is always female. Male Calicos are extremely rare and if they survive upon maturity, they are always sterile.

Ragdoll long hair Calico Cat

Ragdoll long hair Calico cat has medium to long-length hair similar to most Ragdolls.

Ragdoll short hair Calico Cat

Since Calico Ragdolls are mixed breeds, some may exhibit shorter hair lengths than the standard Ragdoll. For a Ragdoll to be short-haired, one parent must also be short-haired.

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Calico Ragdoll personality

Ragdoll Calico Cats have almost the same personality as their standard cousins. They are calm and very docile which resembles the qualities of dogs.

But, since the Calico Ragdoll is not  purebred, it can also display some of the personality of its non-Ragdoll parent. 

Studies suggest that cats with Calico or tortoiseshell coat patterns tend to be more aggressive compared to single-colored cats.

Researchers think that the genes responsible for aggressive behaviors are related to the genes responsible for their color. Some aggressive behaviors include hissing and swatting.

READ NEXT: Are Ragdoll Cats Talkative Or Vocal?

Do Calico Ragdoll make great family pets?

Yes, Calico Ragdolls make good family pets since they are mostly gentle and obedient due to their Ragdoll heritage.

Although Calico cats, in general, show slight aggressive behaviors, the Calico Ragdoll would likely be less sassy. They are very playful with their owner, especially with children, and are unlikely to cause any harm. 

Are Calico Ragdoll affectionate cats?

Yes, Calico Ragdolls are very affectionate and enjoy being petted and cuddled, but they also show a bit of independence or aloofness every now and then because of their mixed parentage.

Overall, Calico Ragdolls are very sociable and they love the company of people and enjoy being near their family members all the time.

You may be interested in: Why Does My Cat Sleep On My Pillow? 13 Reasons Why!

Calico Ragdoll training

Calico Ragdolls are easy to train because of their sociable and docile nature. Use a reward-based method, like giving them food treats or petting them for good behavior, to encourage them to follow your commands.

Another method is to use clickers which lets them associate a certain sound with a specific command.

Calico Ragdoll exercise requirement

Calico Ragdolls only requires a minimal amount of exercise. Twenty minutes of play a day is enough to keep them physically active.

They have a particular fondness for ball fetching, hide-and-seek, and laser light chasing.

Calico Ragdoll grooming and cleaning

Calico Ragdolls are low-maintenance cats even though they have long furs.

Regular brushing will keep their coats healthy and minimizes hair balls that could irritate their digestive tract. 

Bathing them once a month is enough to remove dirt from their long hairs.

Wipe their eyes with a damp cloth to clean any discharge and clean their teeth with an enzymatic toothpaste that will lessen plaque formation.

Grooming Needs	Grooming Frequency
Hair Brushing	3-4x weekly.
Nail Trimming	As needed.
Teeth Brushing	2-3x weekly.
Bathing	Once a month.
Eye Care	Check weekly.
Ear Care	Check weekly.

Calico Ragdoll food and diet

To keep your Calico Ragdoll healthy, feed her with ½ to ¾ cup of wet cat food that you can divide into 2 servings. Mixing kibble dry food with canned food is highly suggested. 

Calico Ragdoll health issues

Ragdolls are not immune from gene-related diseases. Even if they are bred by responsible breeders, Calico Ragdolls can still be prone to the following health issues:

1. Urinary Tract infections

Problems in the urinary tract such as cystitis are quite common among Ragdolls. The symptoms are having a hard time urinating and blood in the urine. 

2. Hairballs

Cats including Calico Ragdolls are obsessed with cleanliness and this is why they lick their coats all the time. Constant licking causes them to ingest some of their hair which leads to the formation of hairballs in the digestive tract.

If they are unable to regurgitate the hairball, it can cause vomiting and lethargy. 

3. Obesity

Compared with other cat breeds, Calico Ragdolls are not very active and adventurous. This laid-back personality is what makes them prone to gain weight. 

Calico Ragdoll lifespan

If Calico Ragdoll is cared for properly, she can live from 12 to 15 years. 

Calico Ragdoll breeder

It is not uncommon to hear horror stories about purchasing the wrong cats because they are sickly or badly-tempered.

Since you’d be shelling out a huge amount of money for a Calico cat, you might as well learn what to look for in responsible cat breeders and to help you, here are some factors to consider:

• Choose a registered cat breeder who is an active member of any cat association such as The International Cat Association
• It’s better to buy a Calico kitten who is raised underfoot, meaning, she grows up inside the home rather than from an outside cattery.
• Responsible breeders screen the parents for genetic diseases before using them for breeding.
• Responsible breeders will not release the kittens to their new owners until they are 12 weeks old. 

Calico Ragdoll kittens

Adopting a Ragdoll Calico kitten is a life-changing event because she will be a part of your life for the next 12 or more years.

So here are some tips on what to look for when buying a Calico Ragdoll kitten:

• The kitten should be happy and playful
• Take your time to inspect the Ragdoll Calico kittens. They should have bright eyes, no nasal and ear discharge
• The Ragdoll Kitten Calico should neither be skinny nor overweight 

How much do Calico Ragdolls cost?

A Calico Ragdoll can cost from $500 to $2,000. Factors like the breeder’s location and reputation, the number of available kittens in a litter are the reasons for varying prices.

Plus, bear in mind that a Calico Ragdoll is not always available, hence the price tag can be quite steep.

But, if you’re lucky, you may find a Calico Ragdoll in adoption centers at a much lower cost. 

Calico Ragdoll for adoption

Adopting a pet is a noble act because you give these animals the chance to live in a loving home. Here are two (2) adoption sites where you may find Calico Ragdolls for adoption:

You may want to check out Specialty Pure Bred Cat Rescue (purebredcatrescue.org/choosing-the-right-breed/ragdoll/). Depending on the cat breed, the adoption fee ranges from $75 to $600. 

Another place to go to is Aden Ragdolls (ontarioragdollcats.ca/adoption-info/) located in Ontario, Canada. You may fill up and submit an adoption form to reserve your kitten. 

Places to find Calico Ragdoll kittens for sale

Calico Ragdoll kittens may be hard to come by but you can directly contact the two (2) breeders we’ve listed below if they have or can help you find the Ragdoll kitten of your choice.

New York Divine Dolls Ragdolls (nydivinedolls.com) raise their cats in a home environment. In case they have Calico Ragdolls, the reservation fee is $500.

Ragmeister Ragdolls (ragdoll.org) have Ragdoll kittens that are 100% health guaranteed and have pleasant personalities. 

Finding a healthy Calico Ragdoll cat for sale

For adult cats, here are two (2) possible places where you may get a healthy Calico Ragdoll. 

Try to visit the webpage of Chewy (chewy.com/g/cat-ragdoll_ga1) because they have a list of adoptable Ragdoll cats aged 1 year and up, so they may probably have Calico Ragdoll for sale.

Ragmeister Ragdolls (ragdoll.org/retired-breeders) occasionally have retired female adult Ragdoll cats for sale. These retired breeders are aged 2 to 5 years old and the adoption fee is $250. 

Ragdoll Calico Mix

A Calico Ragdoll Mix is not easy to find because a great majority of Ragdoll breeders prefer not to crossbreed their blue-eyed ragdolls with non-blue-eyed Ragdolls such as a Calico. You may probably find a Ragdoll Mix with patience and perseverance. 

You may also like: Blue Eyed White Ragdoll (Complete Guide)

Ragamuffin Calico Ragdoll cat 

The Ragamuffin cat breed can be as sweet and people-oriented as Calico Ragdoll, hence, if these two (2) cats are bred together, you can expect the offspring to be as docile and gentle. But it takes a lot of research and patience to find a Ragamuffin Ragdoll Calico cat.

Calico Ragdoll: Pros and Cons

We’ve created a table below of what’s good and what’s not so good about Calico Ragdolls to help you figure out what you can expect from this lovely cat breed. 

Pros	Cons
Playful.	Can be clingy.
Does not mind being held by humans.	Not hypoallergenic.
Gentle with kids.	Suffers from separation anxiety.
Affectionate.	Prone to gene-specific health issues.
Good with other pets.	They shouldn’t be allowed to go out by themselves.
Laid-back personality.	Tends to be vocal.

Is the Calico Ragdoll right for me?

A Calico Ragdoll is oftentimes compared with dogs in terms of temperament. She is sweet, affectionate, and has a friendly disposition towards people of all ages and other animals.

Hence, she is perfect for anyone looking for a furry companion, minus the blue eye distinct physical trait of a Ragdoll cat breed. 

Related Questions

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Resources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ragdoll

https://kalantry.lab.medicine.umich.edu/research/calico-cat