Ann Baker was a breeder and she had a Cattery in Riverside, California. She bred Balinese cats and Persians. Ann tried since 1963 to develop a new breed. In 1964 she finally succeeded. To develop the new breed, she borrowed from her neighbors, the Pennels, a cat that looked like a Sacred Birman. She had her white angora cat Josephine mated by this male. Daddy Warbucks was born. Later on, Ann confirmed that Daddy was the only kitten in that litter. Ann confirmed also that Daddy’s father was unknown and not documented. That makes it difficult to go futher into the history of the breed before that time. Josephine was later mated by Daddy Warbucks and Fugianna was born. Ann got from the Pennels the daughter of Josephine, Buckwheat.

Josephine, Daddy Warbucks, Fugianna and Buckwheat were not Ragdolls at the time, but they laid the foundation for this new breed. Josephine was not mentioned after this period again, but her descendants played the leading role in the development of the Ragdoll breed.

Because the kittens were relaxed in her arms, that reminded her of the in America very popular ragdolls Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy and so the new breed became the Ragdoll. She chose the name Raggedy Ann for her cattery.

Daddy Warbucks, Fugianna, Kyoto and Tiki (kittens from Daddy Warbucks and Buckwheat) were the first Ragdolls to be registered in 1966. From 1964 until 1969 Ann did not sell Ragdolls but she kept them all for her breeding stock.

(Ragdoll Historical Society, History & Development of the Ragdoll Breed, Ragdoll History, The beginning)