The Difference between Ragdolls and Cherubim Explained

Ragdoll and Cherubim: When it comes to breeding or buying a Ragdoll, the pedigree tells the real story. Understanding how to read a pedigree—and the difference between Ragdoll (RD) and Cherubim (CB) in the TICA Ragdoll Breed Group—helps breeders, exhibitors, and owners make informed, ethical decisions.

Ragdoll vs Cheribum Comparison. Images used with permission.

Why Ragdoll and Cheribum Pedigrees Matter

A pedigree reveals ancestry, clarifies whether a cat is pointed (RD) or not traditionally pointed (CB), and shows where “variants” (mink, sepia, solids) appear in the background. Importantly: having a variant somewhere deep in the pedigree does not stop a pointed kitten from being an RD. Phenotype at birth (pointed vs. not traditionally pointed) determines RD vs. CB—not the presence of a variant many generations back.

Tip: Some databases/registries also show RAG for pointed Ragdolls and RGD for Ragdoll variants (non-pointed). You might see entries like RGD 32 (mink), RGD 31 (sepia), or RGD solid.

Step 1: Read a Ragdoll Pedigree on PawPeds

1. Go to the PawPeds Ragdoll database and search the registered name.

2. Display up to 10 generations.

3. To investigate beyond 10 generations, open any ancestor’s page (many people start with the four grandparents) and continue ancestor-by-ancestor. There isn’t a single “20-gen view”—you navigate forward by opening ancestors, not just the 10th-generation row.

   
   

Step 2: RD vs. CB in the TICA Ragdoll Breed Group

• Ragdoll (RD) = pointed only (blue eyes due to the pointed pattern).

• Cherubim (CB) = not traditionally pointed varieties: mink, sepia, and solids (eye colors vary by color category).

Category	RD (Ragdoll)	CB (Cherubim)	Notes
Pattern & eyes (phenotype)	Pointed only (colorpoint, mitted, bicolor); always blue-eyed	Not traditionally pointed: mink (32), sepia (31), solids; eyes can be aqua/green/gold/hazel/blue (varies)	EMS cues: 33 = pointed; 32 = mink; 31 = sepia
Classification & showing	Registered/shown as Ragdoll (RD)	Registered/shown as Cherubim (CB)	Both are in TICA’s Ragdoll Breed Group
What decides RD vs CB (at birth)	Pointed kitten = RD	Not traditionally pointed kitten = CB	Two CB parents can produce RD kittens if both carry the pointed allele; a CB ancestor doesn’t stop a pointed kitten from being RD

Crosses and outcomes (phenotype decides):

• RD × CB → pointed kittens are RD; not traditionally pointed kittens are CB.

• Two CB parents can produce RD kittens if both carry the pointed allele (e.g., minks or solids carrying cs).

Seeing a CB ancestor does not disqualify a pointed kitten from being RD.

Ragdoll Pattern Comparison: Pointed vs. Mink vs. Sepia

Note: Mink and sepia Ragdolls are pointed cats, but they are not Siamese points. They are other types of genetically different points produced by the Burmese gene. Only cats with the Siamese point genotype (cs/cs) are genetically guaranteed to have blue eyes.

Trait	Pointed (cs/cs) – Siamese point	Mink (cs/cb) – Tonkinese point	Sepia (cb/cb) – Burmese point
Eye Color	Blue (genetically guaranteed)	Aqua	Gold, Green, or Aqua
Coat at Birth	White, darkens with age	Color present at birth	Darkest from birth
Coat Contrast	High	Moderate	Low
Genetics	cs/cs (Siamese pattern)	cs/cb (Tonkinese pattern)	cb/cb (Burmese pattern)
Breeding	Can be bred with all patterns	Can be bred with pointed or mink	Requires mink or sepia parents

Both mink and sepia Ragdolls share the pointed pattern gene, but they differ from traditional pointed Ragdolls in coat color, contrast, and eye color. These variations originate from the introduction of the Burmese gene into the Ragdoll breed.

Key points about mink and sepia Ragdolls:

• Pointed Pattern: All three—traditional pointed, mink, and sepia—show the pointed pattern, meaning their extremities (ears, face, paws, and tail) are darker than the rest of their body.

• Mink Ragdolls: Mink Ragdolls have a richer, warmer coat color than traditional pointed Ragdolls. Their color is visible at birth, unlike traditional pointed kittens, which are born white and darken as they mature. Minks typically have aqua-colored eyes.

• Sepia Ragdolls: Sepia Ragdolls are the darkest of the three patterns, often with minimal contrast between points and body color. They can have green, gold, or aqua eyes, though gold is common and aqua may appear depending on lineage.

• Breeding: Mink Ragdolls can be bred with either traditional pointed or other minks. Sepia Ragdolls are produced when both parents carry the Burmese gene—meaning both are mink or sepia.

• Contrast: Traditional pointed Ragdolls have the highest contrast between points and body color, minks have moderate contrast, and sepias have the least.

  
  

Step 3: What Breeders Mean by “Traditional”

“Traditional” is a breeder convention, not a separate registry status. It typically means:

• Allowed colors/patterns: seal, blue, chocolate, lilac in colorpoint, mitted, bicolor.

• No red/cream, tortie/torbie, lynx in the line (by convention).

• No outcrosses for ~10+ generations (some aim for 15–20+).

• Pedigree shows only pointed Ragdolls in those generations (i.e., no mink, sepia, or solid entries within the chosen depth).

That said, you can still have a perfectly legitimate RD that isn’t “traditional” by this stricter convention. “Traditional” is about foundation purity goals, not whether the cat can be shown or registered as RD.

If you’re marketing a kitten as “traditional Ragdoll,” provide a 10+ generation printout showing only pointed Ragdolls (no 31/32/solids) and only the four foundation colors. If your kitten is pointed but has variants further back, it’s still RD—just not “traditional” by the stricter foundation standard.

PawPeds EMS (Easy Mind System) coding Cheat Sheet (Ragdoll use)

Additional EMS/TICA Breeder Notes

BEP – Blue-Eyed Pointed White Some breeders use the term BEP (Blue-Eyed Pointed White) to describe a pointed Ragdoll that is genetically white due to the white spotting (dominant white) gene, but still exhibits blue eyes caused by the colorpoint gene. This is different from BEW (Blue-Eyed White), which can occur in any breed and refers simply to a completely white cat with blue eyes, regardless of whether it is pointed. In EMS codes, a BEP would still be written as w 61 if registered as white, but in breeder discussions, “BEP” clarifies that the cat is pointed under the white coat.

Bottom line

• RD vs. CB is decided by the kitten’s phenotype (pointed = RD; non-pointed = CB).

• Variants in the background don’t change a pointed kitten’s RD status.

• Use PawPeds to trace lines, but remember: beyond 10 generations, you open ancestors to keep going.

• “61” flags BEW (white with blue eyes), not “blue-eyed” in general Ragdolls.

While Ragdolls and Cherubim have distinct differences in appearance, classification, and pedigree history, both are wonderful, loving cats with their own unique appeal. This guide isn’t meant to declare one “better” than the other, but to give you the knowledge you need to make an informed choice when purchasing or breeding. By understanding how phenotype, registry rules, and pedigree details work together, you’ll be better equipped to choose the cat that best fits your goals—whether that’s showing, breeding, or simply welcoming a beautiful companion into your home.

Reference List: Common TICA Breeder Acronyms

Below are some you might hear in TICA Ragdoll breeding circles:

• RD – Ragdoll (pointed)

• CB – Cherubim (non-pointed: mink, sepia, solid)

• BEW – Blue-Eyed White (w 61)

• BEP – Blue-Eyed Pointed White (pointed cat with dominant white covering the pattern)

  
  

  Please note that the colorpoint pattern can be referred to as pointed as well.