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.
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.
