Conference misery::feline_v1

    A lady who belongs to one of my clubs is a Ragdoll breeder and she
    lives in Medford.  I can get her number for you.  I think she will
    be displaying her cats at the Manchester Show (They cannot be shown
    for championship in CFA yet).
    
    Are you in the New England area? I don't know the regions attached
    to all the nodes yet.
    
    Frank

    I'm located in Dallas, Texas (DLO).  I would still appreciate her
    number as I do get up in your area for training occasionally.  Thanks!
    
    Pat
    

    Pat,
    
    You've moved since the phone book was published and ELF doesn't
    have your DTN.  I don't want to put a non-employee's phone number
    up on the network (we did have some crackpot messages earlier) so
    send me your DTN either in this note or by VAXmail @ TOXMAN::MECLER
    and I'll call you.  The lady's name is Dorothy Metcalf and I think
    she is the breed council president or some such title.  I'll try
    to call her and let her know you will be calling.  She loves telling
    people about her cats and the breed.  She does show in CFF rather
    frequently so if you don't get her on a weekend try a weekday evening.
    
    Frank

    I have heard these cats don't feel pain if injured (or very little)
    and that they are even more of a contortionist than most cats, hence
    the name "Ragdoll"??  How are there temperments and whats there
    geneology??
    

    There is a myth that Ragdolls do not feel pain.  It comes from the
    legend of the breed but is not true.  They are supposedly very limp
    but I am not speaking from experience.  The lady that breeds them
    says they have wonderful dispositions.  I'll ask Dorothy if she
    has any literature on the breeder that I can send to people asking
    for it.
    
    If you are in the New England area I think Dottie will have an exhibit
    of Ragdolls at the Seacoast show in Manchester.  I'll check with
    her and post a note.
    
    Frank
     

    re. 0
    
    If you want to find out everything you ever wanted to know about
    Ragdolls, either write or call Ann Baker in California. She originated
    the breed, and will send you a huge packet of information about
    them. She has classified ads in the major cat magazines.
    
    -Jeff

    Just an update.  Dottie Metcalf is supposed to have a display on
    Ragdolls at the Seacoast Show mentioned in Note 687.  For any New
    England Deccies interested in the breed it will be a chance to see
    some "up close and personal" as they say in the Olympic broadcasts

    I don't know if this should be posted here, but I just got off the
    phone with Ann Baker, the originator of the Ragdoll breed, and boy,
    is she a *strange* woman!  She was bad-mouthing all of the breeders
    listed under the Ragdoll section of the cats magazines - I mean
    *really* badmouthing their cats in detail.  She never let me get
    a word in edgewise and literally hung-up the phone when she was
    done saying her piece - no goodbye, no nothing!
    
    For those of you who are confused at this point, there are two ways
    in which you can obtain a Ragdoll.  The first way is through a breeder
    who has Ragdolls registered with the major cat associations, and
    the second way is through the International Ragdoll Cat Association
    (IRCA) run by Ann.  Her breeders, as she states it, have the authentic
    Ragdoll cats and adhere to a strictly controlled breeding program.
    One thing she did say about the other breeders is that their Ragdolls
    are overbred and the people who buy from them incur major vetinary expenses
    until the cats eventually die, apparently from genetic defects which
    cannot be cured.  Needless to say, she left me *very* confused and
    somewhat apprehensive about purchasing a Ragdoll from a breeder
    listed under the Ragdoll section of the cat magazines.  Then again,
    she didn't seem to be playing with a full deck herself.
    
    Moderators - if you feel this reply should be deleted due to things
    better left unsaid, I will not be offended.  I am just hoping a
    more knowledgeable person can shed some light on this subject.
    

    I suggest trying a Birman.  Almost the same look, great personalities,
    very friendly, very little shedding.
    
    Jo Ann

    If you are looking for sweet dispositions & great personalities,
    maybe try Tonks or American Shorthair (Silver Tabbys) - both
    are VERY sweet and very loyal - they will love you to pieces!

    Another sweet, loyal cat is the Korat.  Very good disposition, sweet,
    gentle, lovable.  The kind of cat that will sit on your lap for
    hours as long as you pet it.  (Of course, This is a my unbiased
    opinion. :-))
    
    Holly, Tabbatha and Sterling Silver (who is a Korat)
    

    I have an adorable mitted/bi color, pet qualitly Ragdoll.
    
    He is about 13 months old, full of activity, sweet disposition,
    and has the most beautiful blue eyes you can ever imagine.
    
    Mocha loves water, (not to drink) play in, rained on, or sprayed.
    (Never do to try and train him with a sprayer bottle.) Another
    favorite is other cats. Never hisses or growls.
    
    He does shed, feels pain, (is under foot all the time) and is
    crazy for people food, no matter what.
    
    I would recommend this breed to any one. (Understand some are
    sickly, not him !!!)
    
    Barbara
    

    Finally, my dream is coming true!
    
    I'm getting a Ragdoll around the end of November from a wonderful
    breeder in New Jersey.  After speaking with practically every breeder
    listed in the back of Cats and Cat Fancy magazine, I finally decided
    on a breeder in New Jersey.  I chose her because she was very free
    in supplying me with both pictures (of her own cats - I got at least
    a dozen) and information.  I also wanted to visit the cattery and
    pick out the kitten myself instead of having it shipped, and she
    was close enough to the Massachusetts area.
    
    The cattery name is Purrlin and the breeder is Linda Swierczynski.
    A litter of four was born on August 28th and another litter is due
    around the middle of this month.  She is retiring from breeding
    once these two litters are sold.  If anyone out there is interested
    in contacting Linda (she's wonderful to talk to if nothing else),
    give me a call and I will give you her phone number.  As of yesterday,
    she only has three definite buyers (me included) so if you want
    a Ragdoll, Linda is the person to contact!
    
    Can't wait for November to get here!
    
    /Roberta
    

    Congratulations Roberta!  Ragdolls truely are beautiful.  I saw
    Dottie Metcalf and two of her dolls at a show a few years ago. 
    They were top on my list until I decided a short haired breed might
    be better with my alergies!
    
    Good luck and enjoy your new addition!
    
    Jeanne, Cali and Sam (who was my short haired answer to a Ragdoll!)
    

    Congratulations !!!!  I know you will enjoy your new baby.
    Promise to put lots of kitty stories in, Roberta.  We will
    be looking for them!
    
    Elaine

    CONGRATS ROBERTA!!!
    
    I know that's what you've always wanted.  Ditto on the cat stories.
    Make sure you put in loads of them!!!
    
    Holly
    

    Thanks for the encouraging words, Jeanne, Elaine, and Holly.  I
    am so excited and it is all I think about these days.  They say
    time flies, but it feels like it's at a standstill now!  Linda,
    the breeder, will be at the Boston show October 1st and 2nd and
    I can't wait to meet her.
    
    She just informed me that there are 2 sealpoint males in the
    first litter.  Exactly what I wanted, but now, Dana is eager
    for a blue so we are waiting to see what the 2nd litter produces
    (hopefully no blues :-).  However, if there are blues, I think I
    will let him have his way seeing as it took me a long time to get
    him to say yes to kitty number 3.
    
    Whatever we get, I will love it to pieces!
    

    Hey, Roberta, what great news!  But, I gotta tell ya...there's nothing
    in the world more gorgeous than those huge blue eyes and that brown
    brown fur...
    
    Keep us posted!
    
    Mary
    

    Roberta,
    
    I am ecstatic for you!! I am finally back from Never-Never Land
    and am overjoyed to hear the good news!  Congratulations.  I know
    you will love the little bugger to pieces.
                                   
    
    re: .18 (Mary)
    
    <   But, I gotta tell ya...there's nothing
    <   in the world more gorgeous than those huge blue eyes and that brown
    <   brown fur...
    
    Except maybe those huge blue eyes and that light grey/blue fur... 
    
    ;-)
    
    Jill