Saturday, April 13, 2013

For Cuddly Ragdoll Kittens California Families Should Get In Touch With Local Breeders

By Camille Nicholson


If you want to purchase Ragdoll kittens California is the place to go. The breed was developed in that state by Ann Baker, a local cat-breeder. Ragdolls are named for their habit of going limp and floppy when picked up. The breed has gained a huge following among breeders, exhibitors and people who want a friendly, family cat.

They are large cats, often weighing twice as much as some domestic counterparts. Males reach weights of fifteen to twenty pounds with females being substantially smaller. These semi-longhaired cats are slow-maturing. With blue eyes and soft, silky coats, they are very attractive creatures. The coat consists mainly of guard hairs.

The original breeds used to develop the these big but beautiful animals were the Persian, long-haired alley cats and Birmans. They often appear to be a cross between a Maine Coon and a Siamese. The nose is straight so the breed escapes the respiratory problems that sometimes beset pug-faced cats. The paws are large and they have tufts of fur protruding from the ears.

Several colors are recognized and a number of dilutes. The white kittens begin to show their coloring between eight and ten weeks of age. By three or four years old, the color has developed fully. One coloration is known as pointed. The cat is one color but has darker nose, tail, ears and paws.

Another type is the mitted cat. These have white paws. The chin and belly are also white and some have a white blaze. If the cat has white legs, belly and an inverted 'V' on the face, it is known as a 'bicolor'. Similar to the bicolor is the lynx which has tabby markings.

All Ragdoll cats are descended from the few cats that Baker used to establish the breed so the genetic base is not large. This has led to some health problems for the breed. Only 63% of the breed live to ten years old or more. Many succumb to urinary problems. Another problem which besets the breed is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). This is a common feline problem and is generally genetic in origin. The heart wall thickens, causing the heart to pump less efficiently. This can result in the sudden death of the cat.

It is now possible to DNA test for HCM. Those cats which inherit the HCM gene from each parent are affected more severely and may die at a young age. Cats that inherit the gene from only one parent will show signs of the disorder later in life and the impact will be less severe. Breeders are now trying to eliminate the disease by breeding from cats that return negative results from testing.

The laid-back, affectionate disposition of the breed has led to its great popularity. The cats will follow you around and are happy to socialize with people and other pets. They are intelligent and will learn simple tricks. They are not at all aggressive and for their own safety, are best kept indoors. They only thing they do require is company. If you are out at work all day and the cat will have no company, some other breed would be more suitable. For cuddly Ragdoll kittens California families will be spoilt for choice.




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