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ABOUT US . . . .
At Oscarkats
we are dedicated to breeding gorgeous, healthly, lovable little
stars - flop in your arm Ragdolls!
Our Cattery is located in Winnipeg, Manitoba
Canada 15 minutes from the Airport. We will ship to outside areas according
to need. We are a registered member of TICA, CCA and CFA.
Our Ragdolls are a part of our family.
Our kittens are born and raised inside our home with our two children
and our other pets. This ensures every kitten gets individual love and
attention everyday. They have silky soft coats, exceptional personalities,
incredible blue eyes and are a good Ragdoll size.
We are currently breeding colors in seal
and blue. The traditional patterns we are breeding are colorpoint, mitted
and bicolor. Our goal is to provide your family with a healthy, beautiful,
well socialized Ragdoll. Our cats and kittens are vet-checked regularly
and are free from all diseases. We are dedicated to finding these wonderful
cats good loving homes.
Please explore our site for more information.
Retired Breeders now
available please select our "Terms" link at the top right
hand side for more details.
We hope to provide you with a lovable
Ragdoll companion!
Kim & Rob
The Ragdoll Cat -
by Kim Spencer
The Ragdoll is famous for its tendency
to go limp when held, like a child's rag (doll) when picked up. It is
not the fact for all Ragdolls and the RFC (Ragdoll Fanciers Club) says
it is not mandatory for the breed; however my experience has been the
flop in your arms Ragdolls, one of the many reasons we fell in love with
the Ragdoll. These wonderful cats are very passive and relaxed. The largest
of all domestic cats; with males weighing 15 - 20lbs (neuters are generally
heavier). They have beautiful blue eyes and their long coats are like
rabbit fur - silky and non-matting. The Ragdoll has no known genetic defects
and they are not prone to any specific diseases. It's no wonder the Ragdoll
breed has become so popular world wide.
The sweet temperament of a Ragdoll is
very comparable to that of a puppy; they are dedicated, loving out-going
cats that are known for their fearless nature. They are very laid back
and if you're looking for a lap cat - this is the breed. Ragdolls are
non-aggressive and for that reason should strictly be an indoor cat. Ragdolls
are slow to mature and their full coat and color is not typically reached
until they are 2 - 3 years of age, full size is usually achieved at about
4 years. Kittens are born completely white or cream and color does not
start to show for about 3 or 4 days. It is quite remarkable that in such
a short time period the Ragdoll has become one of the most popular cat
breeds in the world!
Breed History
The Ragdoll's history begins
in the 1960s by the breed's founder - Anne Baker of California. She started
breeding Josephine a loving long haired white cat carrying Siamese markings
to other males exhibiting long hair and Siamese markings. Her original
breeders where strong and fancy free. Her dedication and selectiveness
in her breeders is what created the type standard for the "Ragdoll".
Over the years the history
of the Ragdoll has become intertwined with a series of myths and half-truths.
Ann Baker used to say that the amazing
calm nature of this breed is the result of a car accident endured by the
foundation cat, Josephine. Baker claimed that Josephine's injury, a broken
pelvis, had somehow caused a change that resulted in all Ragdolls to be
especially docile. As much as we would like to believe this it's seems
a little far fetched. Their passiveness is probably the result of the
types of breeds she choose to use in her breeding program.
To read more on the Ragdoll history I
found these links describe in detail the events leading up to the creation
of one of the most popular and wonderful breeds - the Ragdoll.
http://personal.inet.fi/koti/jonas.temp/starfire/history.htm
http://www.nzcatfancy.gen.nz/Breeders_lists/RagDoll%20History.html
Most of the information found at these
sites is taken from the book "The Definitive Guide to Ragdolls"
by Lorna Wallace, Robin Pickering and David Pollard - 1995.
Traditional
Colors -
Seal - points are deep seal
brown. The body color can range from fawn or cream to warm brown.
Blue - points are slate blue
or silvery blue gray. The body color is ivory to bluish white.
Very
Rare Colors -
Chocolate - points are light
milk chocolate color. The body color can range from ivory to cream. Paw
pads and nose leather are cinnamon. (very rare) Ensure you ask why this
kitten/cat is called a Chocolate. Many times they are really a lighter
seal which does not mean it is a chocolate.
Lilac - points vary from
frosty-gray lilac with a pinkish tinge. The body color is a warm magnolia
color. Paw pads and nose leather are a lavendar pink. (very rare) As with
the chocolate find out why this kitten/cat is a Lilac, most times it is
a blue mistaken for a lilac.
"New"
Colors -
Red - points are reddish
orange in color.
Cream - a dilute of red,
the points are a shade of buff cream.
Patterns -
Colorpoint -
has darker points than the rest of the
body. The contrast between the points and body can vary a lot. Strong
contrast is preferred. There is no white, though the body color may be
nearly white in some Ragdolls. The nose leather and paw pads should match
the point color.
Mitted - similar to the colorpoint
but with added white "mittens" on the cat's paws and a white
streak along the chest and abdomen. Sometimes a mitted Ragdoll may also
have a white "blaze" on the nose, which is usually accepted
in shows.
Bi-color - Bicolor also has
dark points, but the mask has an inverted "V" extending from
between the eyes to the muzzle. The body color is white with a "saddle"
on the back, which has a white area in the middle. The degree of white
in bi-colors varies. The nose leather and paw pads are pink.
- Mid-high
white bicolor has a broader "V" on the mask. Sometimes a breakthrough
spotting on the legs. The amount of white varies. Mid-high whites can
be shown, if they have a good "V" and no white in tail and
ears.
- High white bi-color/van usually has no
"saddle" on the back. The "V" on the mask extends
almost up to the ears. This pattern can sometimes be shown as a "Van"
if the cat is marked like a Turkish Van cat.
- High mitted is a mitted with two mitted
genes instead of one. There is often a little breakthrough spotting
on the limbs, but otherwise high mitted looks like a bicolor. If the
pattern fits the bicolor standard, a high mitted can be shown as a bicolor
**Lynx - Overlays any one of the
above patterns. Ticking or striping appears on all the pointed area except
the back or saddle. Lynx pattern comes in all colors and patterns
Pattern Predictions -
I have come across several pattern
predication charts. For simplicity I think this is the easiest to understand.
This is based on a litter of 4 kittens.
Bi-color and Bi-color - 1 color point, 2 bi-color, 1 high white.
Mitted and Bi-color - 1 color point, 1 mitted, 1 bi-color, 1 mid high
white.
Color Point and Color Point - all color point.
Color Point and Mitted - 2 color point and 2 mitted.
Color Point and Bi-color - 2 color point and 2 bi-color.
Mitted and Mitted - 1 color point, 2 mitted and 1 high mitted.
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