They say that the origin of this race is a combination between a not true to type Persian long-hair (gave the ragdoll's size) and a holy Birmanees (who is responsible for the range of colouring of the seal mitted variety). Also other races, such as Burmees, the holy Birmane and others have played an important role in the beginning.

The legend says that the white Angora (named Josephine) had an accident while she was pregnant and got seriously injured and when she gave birth to the babies she was able to bear an abnormal pain. Nowadays we know that it is impossible that an accident can have such an influence on a nest little cats. This all started in 1963 in Riverside, Californië, U.S.A.

In 1965 the ragdoll was recognized in the U.S.A.

In 1975 Ann Baker, the fancier of this race, applied for a patent for the name ragdoll, so she had complete control over this race. Some of her customers, namely Laura and Denny Dayton were able to get out of this patent and have continued the development of the ragdoll, namely Ragdoll-Cattery "Blossom Time".  This is the reason why the ragdoll has become the beautiful race of today

In the beginning of the nineties the first ragdoll was bought in the Netherlands. It was not yet a recognized race then, but due to the regular shows, this race has also been recognized. However the people of the Netherlands must get new types abroad in order to prevent inbreeding. Also in Belgium the ragdoll has become more and more familiar.