Family- Feline Variety

Throughout the years my family has endured a wide variety of animals that have become members of our family. Snakes, lizards, tortoises, alligators, skunks, possums, exotic fowl, goats, rabbits, sheep are just a few of the animals we have hosted in our home. Folks in our hamlet would often ask, "What do you have living in your basement now?" I really think that they said that with a little fear in their voice (especially the ones who live on our street). We have had the usual dog and cat pets as our girls were growing.

At present we only have two great cats. They are a breed called Ragdolls. The Ragdoll is a large, blue-eyed, pointed cat with medium to long soft silky fur and a very laid-back and affectionate nature. They have a quiet voice in which they will often have conversations with you and, even as kittens, are playful without being destructive. On being picked up they will, when it suits them, lie in your arms like a baby, completely relaxed and floppy - hence the name - Ragdoll. They love human companionship and because of their easy going nature will not readily defend themselves when threatened so are essentially an indoor cat who should only be allowed outdoors under supervision.

The Ragdolls have an interesting history. The Ragdolls were originated by Ann Baker, a breeder in Riverside, California. It was in early 1960 that the breed was created. It is believed that a white Persian-Angora like cat named Josephine - with outcrossings to Birman-like and Burmese-like cats started it all!

Back then, Ann Baker advertised widely and mailed out literature promoting the breed to cat-lovers nationwide. Early publicity spread like wild fire and the breed quickly became an object of controversy. Baker’s breeding program consisted of a handful of breeders contracted under her. She was paid a royalty fee for every kitten sold.As time went on, Ann Baker’s statements and claims about the breed became strange, supernatural - and - very hard to believe. She publicized statements outlining how Ragdoll cats have human genes in them, that they are immune to pain & that they represent a link between us and space aliens.

In 1967, the Ragdoll breed was first recognized in the United States.

Photos of our two Ragdolls are presented at the beginning of this posting. The first is Belle who is a Bluepoint female. The second photo is of Max, our Sealpoint male.