Ragdoll "parents" -- this thread''s for you! Brag and post photos here!

[omieluv]

Date: 12/8/2007 12:59:23 AM
Author: AmberGretchen

Date: 12/7/2007 10:36:08 PM
Author: kittygirl
Look at his tongue sticking out.

Oh kittygirl - look how grown up he looks!!! He''s turning into such a handsome guy

I love how as his color darkens his little blaze is becoming more and more apparent.

Lynn - good point about Ragdoll Central. One of these days I must get over there to get some opinions on Mr. orphan Ollie

Yes, Ragdoll Central is a great resource for anything raggie! They love pictures, so post as many as you want of Mr. Ollie., however, not sure they are going to be able to give you much information on Ollie. When I 1st posted there about oprhan Omie, the "experts" basically said that without papers, they would not be able to confirm anything about her. However, they all accepted her for what she is because they are all kitty lovers.

 

[omieluv]

What cute pictures of Bailey!!

 

[Snooper]

I''m back out of lurk dome! When I saw kittygirls avatar, I had to find this thread again!!!! What a cutie! I love the blaze!

BigDiamonds, congrats on the new kitty!! So adorable!

AmberGretchen, great view for your cats! Mine are jealous!

Lynn B what a cute flop your baby is doing So content looking

 

[AmberGretchen]

Thanks Omie - that''s sort of what I figured about the papers part. I know for the dogs I work with at the shelter, even when we have a dog that looks exactly like a purebred, they are reluctant to call it that without having papers (although we certainly get purebreds with papers too - really goes to show that being a reputable and good breeder goes beyond simply breeding purebred dogs or cats with the papers to prove it, as no good breeder would ever let their dogs or cats end up in a shelter

)

Thanks Snooper - they really do love it there. Actually that whole side of our apartment is windows, and they love to run from room to room following whatever bird or squirrel has caught their fancy. We''re thinking of getting them little kitty walking jackets and leashes for the holidays so they can try going outside - I''ll definitely post pics if we do!

 

[Snooper]

Ok, the only thing that brings me comfort is knowing that a lot of my friends have this... LOL but have you thought of a pet stroller?? My cats didn''t care for leashes even though they wear collars... But the pet strollers are fantastic! You might want to try that

I realize the pic is not of my ragdolls, but you get the idea

 

[omieluv]

Just thought I would group all links to Raggie related sites I have posted on this site for people wanting to learn more about obtaining a ragdoll, especially now that this thread has gained so much popularity.

Cat Associations
These are great starting points to learn about breed standards, show schedules and breeders. For anyone considering a raggie, I highly suggest attending a couple of cat shows for an opportunity to interact with these cats/kittens and meet breeders. Not only does it serve as a great networking tool to find a kitten, it is a great place to ask around for a retired adult.

The Cat Fanciers Association (CFA)- http://www.cfainc.org/
The International Cat Association, Inc. (TICA) - http://www.tica.org/html/english/home/
American Cat Fanciers Association (AFCA)- http://www.acfacats.com/index.html
The Traditional Cat Association (TCA) - www.traditionalcats.com

Rescue Organizations
Great places to find adult raggie cats. Typically, cats have been fostered, so each cat should have a profile, which will help you decide which cat would fit best into your lifestyle. Kittens are sometimes available, but usually older. Listed below are a few of the larger organizations.

**Ragdoll Rescue**
http://www.freewebs.com/ragdollrescue/
(for US site, click here: http://www.freewebs.com/ragdollrescueusa/)

**Ragdoll International** is a ragdoll breed club, that also has a rescue service
http://www.ragdollinternational.org/ragrescues.shtml
http://www.ragdollscfa.org/rag_rescue.php

**Purebreed Cat Rescue** specializes in raggies, persions, himmies, etc.
http://purebredcatbreedrescue.org/ragdoll.htm

Message Forums
You may also want to check into Ragdoll Central - http://www.ragdollcentral.com/phpBB2/index.php
This is a friendly community devoted to raggies and will be glad to refer you to breeders in your area. Not only will they refer you to breeders, but they can help you to determine good breeders from bad ones. Also, message forums can serve as an incredible resource through the life of your raggie.

Evaluating a Breeder
I am sure there are more tips that I have not listed but this is a good start. Also, check out this link, which will detail more about the breeder contract and visiting the breeder: http://www.petplace.com/cats/finding-and-choosing-a-purebred-cat-breeder/page1.aspx

1. How old do they keep kittens with their mothers (the "right" answer is 12 weeks, according to raggie experts)?
2. Do they keep both parents at location (hopefully they do not, as this can be a sign of a back yard breeder, but not always the case).
3. Are they members of any associations (listen for TICA and/or CFA & TCA if they say only USDA, run).
4. If so, how active are they in showing (this demonstrates their desire to maintain breed standards)
5. How many breedings does the breeder plan for each female each year? (if they breed a single female more than twice per year, that is a bad sign)
6. Ensure the home is reasonably clean. I visited a breeder's home and could not tell she had over 10 cats & kittens.
7. If they ask for money before viewing the cat, run. Should you decide to go forward & purchase a kitten, it is perfectly normal for a breeder to ask for a deposit, if the kitten has not been born yet, or is too young to leave the mother. The deposit should be deducted from the total cost of the kitten, however (find out if it can be refunded, not all will, but that is not necessarily a bad thing, more an FYI).
8. Do they have a contract? (if no, run)
9. If there is a contract, find out about guarantees & health certificates & declawing & genetic screening.
10. Are kittens raised in cages or are they raised in a family environment among other pets and children?

 

[Catmom]

Date: 12/12/2007 10:37:23 AM
Author: Snooper
I''m back out of lurk dome! When I saw kittygirls avatar, I had to find this thread again!!!! What a cutie! I love the blaze!

HI Snooper!!!!!!!

YAY, out of lurkdom!!!

 

[Harleigh]

Thanks for all of the great links, omie! They are a big help to those of us who would have no clue where to start looking.

 

[omieluv]

Date: 12/12/2007 11:16:43 AM
Author: AmberGretchen
Thanks Omie - that''s sort of what I figured about the papers part. I know for the dogs I work with at the shelter, even when we have a dog that looks exactly like a purebred, they are reluctant to call it that without having papers (although we certainly get purebreds with papers too - really goes to show that being a reputable and good breeder goes beyond simply breeding purebred dogs or cats with the papers to prove it, as no good breeder would ever let their dogs or cats end up in a shelter

)

Your shelter is different, as most give their animals a purebred label, even if they are not sure, in hopes to attract attention to their animals. For instance, if the dog looks like a golden retriever, that is what they will calll it, however, they usually disclose whether it has papers or not. When I adopted Omie, her profile stated that she was a Ragdoll mix because she did not have papers. Her foster mom originally bred and showed Persians and felt she was quite familiar with the ragdoll breed, so she believes Omie is a pure ragdoll. However, after everything I have read about ragdolls, she behaves nothing like one, her ears are not placed correctly, her tail is not nearlly as full as a ragdoll''s tail and her personality is nothing like what is typically described. None of this bothers me because I had never even known what a ragdoll was before I adopted her, so getting a ragdoll was not my goal anyway.
Getting back to the ragdoll mix issue. There are several "moggie" (mixed) cats out there that look like raggies, but are not raggies, which is why having papers is very important to validating the breed. When Ann Baker started the breed, she bred what was believed to be a moggie to an Angora. Origins of this "moggie" cat are not common knowledge, but believed to be inspired by Asian heritage (hence the pointed markings). Since Asian cats (e.g., Siamese), have been around for several hundreds of years, they are quite common as strays or in "oopsie" litters, it is not uncommon for mixed cats to carry "pointed" genes and then pass them down to their kittens and have a couple of kittens in the litter turn out with pointed markings, even if the parents have other markings. Of course, the ragdoll breed has progressed enough so that raggies are bred to raggies, which is how the pedigree further develops.

You are correct, good breeders make it very clear in their contract that they are to take over when and if the cat is to be given up. However, people are people and the cat ends up at a shelter anyway. Reasons for this could be the result of simply forgetting, being ashamed of giving the cat back, not being located near the breeder, etc.

 

[FireGoddess]

OMG Lynn I just saw Boo with DDIL. That picture is HILARIOUS!!!! *bonk*bonk*bonk*

AG all those kitties in the window look so cute (and funny!!).

Holly has taken to sitting in the window so she can bat more ornaments off the tree.

 

[Snooper]

Date: 12/12/2007 1:10:50 PM
Author: Catmom

Date: 12/12/2007 10:37:23 AM

Author: Snooper

I''m back out of lurk dome! When I saw kittygirls avatar, I had to find this thread again!!!! What a cutie! I love the blaze!

HI Snooper!!!!!!!

YAY, out of lurkdom!!!

Hey Catmom! I figured I''d see you on this thread!

 

[omieluv]

Date: 12/12/2007 1:27:39 PM
Author: Harleigh
Thanks for all of the great links, omie! They are a big help to those of us who would have no clue where to start looking.

People buy their pets from pet shops because it is quick, convenient, and because they lack necessary knowledge to make an informed decision. There are many drawbacks to purchasing a purebred animal from a petshop, which is why going through a reputable breeder (or shelter) is a better option. Since many pet shops source their animals from puppy mills and/or backyard breeders, the consumer has no idea of the animal''s health, which is especially important when considering a purebred animal. Reputable breeders will test their animals for genetic issues, which can save families years of heartache.

So my intention for grouping my tips into one thread is to help streamline the process for people, which will save time and provide a giant leap in their education. Also, many tips I posted can be applied for researching any cat breed, so hopefully many can benefit.

 

[Octavia]

I have to add my thanks to Harleigh''s here -- this thread has been an incredible resource.

BF and I have decided to hold off making any decisions until after the holidays, when things settle down. Then we''ll discuss whether getting a kitty is reasonable for us right now, or if it''s still a bit of a pipe dream. I have looked at a couple of rescue webpages, and there aren''t very many in our geographic area. Of the few I saw, most are older adults with special needs (no kids, only pet, etc.) and while this wouldn''t really be an issue for us right now, I don''t think I could choose a cat who would be unable to adjust if we turn into a "two kids, a dog, and a minivan" family a few years from now. Sweet and well-adjusted is a characteristic I think we''ll need, which is partly what drew me to ragdolls originally (as well as their fluffy gorgeousness). We''ll see, though -- there''s no rush right now.

I''ll certainly be lurking and watching for new temptations...I mean pictures, and will ask questions as they come up! Thanks so much to all of you so far!

 

[AmberGretchen]

Date: 12/12/2007 1:48:36 PM
Author: omieluv

Date: 12/12/2007 1:27:39 PM

Author: Harleigh

Thanks for all of the great links, omie! They are a big help to those of us who would have no clue where to start looking.

People buy their pets from pet shops because it is quick, convenient, and because they lack necessary knowledge to make an informed decision. There are many drawbacks to purchasing a purebred animal from a petshop, which is why going through a reputable breeder (or shelter) is a better option. Since many pet shops source their animals from puppy mills and/or backyard breeders, the consumer has no idea of the animal''s health, which is especially important when considering a purebred animal. Reputable breeders will test their animals for genetic issues, which can save families years of heartache.



So my intention for grouping my tips into one thread is to help streamline the process for people, which will save time and provide a giant leap in their education. Also, many tips I posted can be applied for researching any cat breed, so hopefully many can benefit.

Omie is absolutely correct - a pet store is a HORRIBLE place to buy any kind of cat or dog from. The dogs there especially were bred in horrible conditions, and many of those puppies go home with Parvo, which is usually deadly and always heartbreaking. Additionally, a purebred dog or cat that has been poorly bred will not only have MUCH higher odds of genetic health issues (everything from bad knees or eyes to heart problems to cancer), but they are not particularly likely to conform to the breed "standard" for behavior. This is why the families who go in and get a golden retriever puppy from a pet store are so misguided - a properly bred golden will be sweet, even-tempered, and mellow, a good family dog. A poorly bred golden may be aggressive, have a rage disorder, be neurotic and/or high strung, and, since most pet shop kittens and puppies separated from their moms and littermates too young, will likely have issues with biting as well.

I also wanted to add two comments to the breeder checklist above -

1. A good breeder will ALWAYS have a contract that requires you to spay or neuter the animal they are adopting to you, unless they are giving it to you with the express, stated purpose, of helping you start your own breeding operation. If this latter is the case, expect these animals to be significantly more expensive than a "pet" quality animal. Additionally, no kitten or puppy should ever fall into this category anyway, and here''s why:

2. A good breeder will be HEAVILY involved in showing and/or competing their animals. I can''t stress enough the importance of this. Its not so they are able to tell you you are buying a "champion" cat or dog, its because its the only way they can get objective feedback on whether their dogs or cats conform to the breed standard for appearance and temperament. If they don''t conform, they shouldn''t be bred at all. Hence, for an animal to be suitable for breeding, it has to be old enough to have been evaluated by a professional for conformation to appearance and temperament standards, which puts it outside the age range for kittens or puppies.

 

[AmberGretchen]

Snooper - that stroller is too cute!! I think we''ll try the walking jackets and doing the training with them that they suggest, but we''ll probably only get one at first and only try on our most adventurous kitty (the orange one) to begin with. If it doesn''t work though, the stroller could definitely be an option. Too funny!

FG - I think they are so cute all lined up in their windows. We''ve given up on the tree this year...they just can''t stay away from it, and its not worth the stress, so it pretty much stays in the closet except on the rare occasions when we''re around to supervise and want to have it out...

 

[omieluv]

Date: 12/12/2007 4:22:39 PM
Author: AmberGretchen

I also wanted to add two comments to the breeder checklist above -

1. A good breeder will ALWAYS have a contract that requires you to spay or neuter the animal they are adopting to you, unless they are giving it to you with the express, stated purpose, of helping you start your own breeding operation. If this latter is the case, expect these animals to be significantly more expensive than a ''pet'' quality animal. Additionally, no kitten or puppy should ever fall into this category anyway, and here''s why:

2. A good breeder will be HEAVILY involved in showing and/or competing their animals. I can''t stress enough the importance of this. Its not so they are able to tell you you are buying a ''champion'' cat or dog, its because its the only way they can get objective feedback on whether their dogs or cats conform to the breed standard for appearance and temperament. If they don''t conform, they shouldn''t be bred at all. Hence, for an animal to be suitable for breeding, it has to be old enough to have been evaluated by a professional for conformation to appearance and temperament standards, which puts it outside the age range for kittens or puppies.

Thanks for adding #1. Can''t believe I forgot to note the spay/neuter clause! As for your second point, I hint around showing in my checklist, but I did not stress it enough, good catch on that one too!!

If I think of it, I can add these points to the post I created...

 

[Lynn B]

Date: 12/12/2007 1:34:32 PM
Author: FireGoddess
OMG Lynn I just saw Boo with DDIL. That picture is HILARIOUS!!!! *bonk*bonk*bonk*

FG, awwww, thanks! I love it! I swear you could hear him purring in the next room!
And how are your two lovely ladies doing? Isn''t it time for some new. pictures. please?! xoxoxo

Omie and AG:
Great posts for potential new kitty-parents -- THANK YOU!

ALL: Thank you for all the new posts and wonderful pictures! MY, don''t we have a HANDSOME group of furbabies?!!!

 

[Catmom]

Oh my goodness, I love, love, LOVE all the new kitty pics and the information that has been given is just great!! These cats are just so gorgeous I can''t stand it!

I have some new pics of my boy I thought I would share even though he''s only an "honorary" raggie.

 

[Catmom]

Here he is acting like the black sheep of the family.....

 

[Snooper]

I love the coloring of your new addition Catmom! Is it the picture or are his limbs darker than his body? Very cute and fluffy!

 

[Catmom]

Thanks, Snooper! Yes, his head, legs, tail and top of his body are black. Then he kinda of morphs into a chocolate brown on his sides and then he turns charcoal to silver underneath. His hair is also very curly underneath. When he was a baby he had the most gorgeous waves on the top of his head but they have since straightened out.

 

[Catmom]

Here''s another shot that shows his strange hair.......

 

[omieluv]

Catmom - OMG he is so beautiful!! Many raggies should envy him!

 

[Catmom]

Thanks Omieluv! He''s my big sweetie!

 

[omieluv]

I just want to run up to him and rub his tummy!! I love fluffy cats! Just wish my Omie would let me hug and rub her tummy, she is far too diva for that.

 

[Skippy123]

All these kitties are so cute and sweet!!! I love how fluffy your cat is Catmom (Michelle)!!

 

[AmberGretchen]

OMG Catmom I just got back from being out of town and saw your handsome boy!!! What a GORGEOUS BOY

Thank you so much for sharing your pictures of him

 

[Catmom]

Thanks Skippy and AmberGretchen! The big boy says Hi.

 

[rainbowtrout]

I''ve been holding out a bit I fostered a stray for a few weeks some time back and the three of them were hysterical, some pics for PS!

 

[rainbowtrout]

cranky kitty!