Its Origin Clouded In Intrigue And ControversyThe fact that this breed of cat has beautiful blue eyes and highly recognizable color point coat is no accident or result of evolution. If we believe the breeder, Ann Baker, the original Ragdoll cats were the consequence of a government experiment back in the 1960's. It seems that one of her neighbor’s cats named Josephine, got into an accident involving a car, and for some reason was taken to a laboratory at the University of California. There was nothing special about Josephine. She was a non pedigreed Persian/Angora mix, white domestic long-haired cat, who by that time already had provided her owners with several litters, that was nothing special. Sired by several unknown Burmese-like cats, one of which had the Siamese point coloration, her litters tended typically to be playfully aggressive. The next litter following her surgery however, produced a litter of unusually docile and friendly cats. Mrs. Baker claimed that it was all part of a secret government genetic experiment. Genetic experts have rejected this theory and of course the government denied any such project. None the less when Josephine’s subsequent litter produced more of the “ragdoll” type kittens, Baker knew she was on to something. The name “Ragdoll” was coined because these original kittens, and all that have followed, have the tendency to go limp and completely relaxed when being picked up. Already a savvy breeder Mrs. Baker, believing she was on to something new and wonderful, bought several of the kittens and set out to create the new breed known as The Ragdoll cat.
No comments:
Post a Comment