definitiveguide2ragdolls.myfreeforum.org :: Cat World

Allen · Aristorag

Who's seen the latest Cat World (Ragdoll Feature ) Question

on Lilac!!! I was shocked Shocked

Surly not ragdolls Exclamation

Allen

Chris · Princess Pushy

I have to say that I picked up the latest copy of Cat World yesterday and after reading the main feature ( just adored the photo of the Seal Mitted Smile

) I went on to look at the photos of the Lilac imports that have arrived in the UK.

I am hoping against hope that it is a bad photo (as we all know that they can sometimes be less than flattering Confused

) because if it is not, I think that it is there for all to see and no further argument is needed on why we do not want any future imports with Balinese in the background.

The ears are way too high, the face is long and angular and the Balinese 'look' is there for all to see. If this is what is still be produced after 4,5,6 generations, I fear for the future look of the Ragdoll here in the UK if our Registration Policy is not strictly adhered to.

As I have said, it may just be an awful photograph, but then why would anyone use a photo that was anything less than perfect for showing off their cats!!! Confused

This is my personal opinion and no offence is directed to either the breeder or the person who imported them.

Chris

Helen · Top Raggie

Hi Mic

Was the seal mitted Mojo? I was convinced it was Laughing

Helen x

Chris · Princess Pushy

Hi Michelle

[quote: I have to say that I picked up the latest copy of Cat World yesterday and after reading the main feature ( just adored the photo of the Seal Mitted Smile

)]

How odd is that!!! I had no idea that the Seal Mitted was Mojo I just knew that I LOVED his type!!!

Chris sunny

DFitten · Newbie

Hi

Could you explain to me what you are seeing when you look at the Balinese outcross. Please describe the look of the Balinese as you understand it to be.

Denise

Allen · Aristorag

Chris · Princess Pushy

Hi Denise

Here is a photo of a Balinese.

As I said in my previous post. I hope that the photo used in Cat World was a bad one which it may very possibly be, as if it is a true likeness then you can see that the lilac Ragdoll does not have the 'type' that we want in the breed.
Here is a photo of a couple of Ragdolls which, in my own personal opinion, have the correct 'type'

Click to see full size image

Click to see full size image

I am afraid that I cannot scan the photo into my computer at this time but if anyone else can then perhaps they would be kind enough to post it here!!

Chris

DFitten · Newbie

Hi Chris

Thank you for your reply. I found it helpful that you actually put up a photo of the Balinese and whilst this is a very lovely cat in its own right, it is not the cat that was used in the outcross. This is a modern Balinese and it was actually the Traditional Balinese that was used in the outcross. The difference between the two is vast and the modern Balinese has been arrived at over the years.

Australia had imported cats from the UK and were working with a very small gene pool. Unfortunately what they were seeing in their breeding was unacceptable heath problems which included heart murmurs, monorchidism and cardiomyopathy as well as cleft palate. As the Australians had such a small gene pool there was nowhere for them to go and in the light of this a license was granted to improve the vigour of the breed as well as to establish true lilac and chocolate. A maximum of four Balinese/Balinese variants were to be used and were chosen for their health, temperament and good breeding record. Matings for generation 1 progeny had to have taken place by March 1998 and at least one kitten from each eligible litter must have been registered by June 1998. Before being eligible for championship status the first 10 litters had to be inspected by at least 3 Group I judges to ensure that they conformed with the Ragdoll standard. This outcross programme was very strictly regulated.

This is only a very small account of the research I have undertaken on this outcross. The assumption being made is that the modern Balinese is the one used in the outcross. This is not the case and it was the Traditional Balinese that was used which has many characteristics in common with the Ragdoll and therefore makes a logical choice as outcross.

The cats featured in Cat World cannot look like a modern Balinese as this was not the outcross used. Maybe as you say they are just poor quality pictures but also people see what they want to see. We also see good and bad type in Ragdolls with no outcross. I do think it is such a shame that assumptions and false information is given about the Balinese outcross.

I have a picture on my website of a Traditional Balinese and there is also a link to his breeder Diane Varni. Please look for yourself at Diane’s Traditional Balinese and make up your own mind.

www.fineartecats.co.uk

michael scott · Raggie Cat

Well im very sorry but if people think the outcross cats in the cat world magazine are acceptable looking ragdolls it maybe time i gave up breeding the ragdoll

michael

Chris · Princess Pushy

I think the point has been missed sign6

I now feel the need for me to put my money where my mouth is and actually put down how I, personally feel about this whole subject.

It really doesn't matter which 'type' of Balinese has been used in the outcross the breed is NOT recognised in the Ragdoll Registration Policy lodged with the GCCF.

Breeders who want to register their kittens with the GCCF have to accept this and move on. To knowingly try to register kittens which do not adhere to the policy is not a reputable thing to do and will only compliacte matters and lead to more problems in the future.

I plead with breeders to PLEASE read the policy and act accordingly regardless of what Ragdolls they are registering. It is just not good enough to say that it isn't a problem and that they will carry on regardless!! This actually makes a mockery of the whole process.

The Policy was put into place back in 2002 and it is not for new breeders, who probably were not even breeding at that time, to come along and try to change things just because it doesn't suit them.

We, along with many others in the early 1990's, fought long and hard for the Ragdoll Breed to be recognised and to progress up the ladder. The people who were a part of that find it most disheartening when people who have only been in it a year or two start to criticise their hard work and try to change things just because they did not do the homework before buying ( and importing ) cats that do not adhere to the Policies put into place many years ago.!!

Nowadays, people can buy a Ragdoll, take it out and show it at Championship level with, it appears, no appreciation of what has gone on in the past to make this possible. I know that is not their fault, but a little bit of RESPECT for the work done to enable this to happen and why this breed is where it is today, really does need to be shown :-? :-?

Chris