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Ragdoll adalah jenis kucing dengan mata biru dan mantel colorpoint yang berbeda. Ini adalah kucing semi-intelek besar dan berotot dengan mantel lembut dan halus [1]. Dikembangkan oleh peternak kontroversial Amerika Ann Baker, yang terbaik adalah dikenal temperamen yang jinak dan tenang dan sifat kasih sayang. Nama “Ragdoll” berasal dari kecenderungan individu dari saham pemuliaan asli lemas dan santai jika diangkat.

Breed description

Temperament

Suatu titik Api kucing

Sifat jinak dan floppy Ragdoll adalah karakteristik berpikir akan diturunkan dari Persia dan berkembang biak dari  Birman. Ada pernyataan bertentangan mengenai apakah sifat ini mungkin hasil dari mutasi genetik [4] [5].. kepatuhan ekstrim dari beberapa individu telah menyebabkan mitos bahwa Ragdolls adalah nyeri-tahan. Beberapa peternak di Inggris telah mencoba untuk berkembang biak jauh dari limpness karena kekhawatiran bahwa kepatuhan ekstrim “mungkin tidak dalam kepentingan terbaik si kucing.” [4] [6] standar Breed menjelaskan Ragdoll sebagai kasih sayang, cerdas, santai di temperamen , lembut dan mudah untuk menangani [7] [8].

Karakteristik fisik

Ragdoll adalah salah satu ras kucing piaraan terbesar dengan tubuh kokoh, bingkai kaki besar dan proporsional. Seorang wanita dewasa beratnya dari 8 pound (3,6 kg) sampai 15 pound (6,8 kg). Pria secara substansial lebih besar, mulai dari £ 12 (5,4 kg) hingga 20 pon (9,1 kg) [2]. Gen-gen untuk pewarnaan titik juga bertanggung jawab untuk mata biru Ragdoll tersebut. Lebih intens nuansa biru disukai dalam acara cincin. Sementara berkembang biak memiliki mantel mewah, mereka terutama terdiri dari penjaga rambut panjang dan kurangnya hasil padat di lapisan bawah, menurut Asosiasi peternak Cat ‘, “mengurangi shedding dan matting” [9]. Ragdolls berkomitmen, yang tidak memungkinkan sertifikasi sampai musim ’08-’09 menunjukkan, sering akan bingung untuk Birmans. Cara termudah untuk membedakannya adalah dengan ukuran (Ragdoll yang sedang jelas lebih besar) dan warna dagu (Ragdolls memiliki dagu putih, sementara Birmans memiliki dagu berwarna), meskipun peternak mengakui dua oleh bentuk kepala dan boning.

Ragdolls datang dalam 6 warna yang berbeda – segel, coklat, api, dan sesuai “mengencerkan” seperti biru, ungu dan krim. Ini juga termasuk pola kura-kura dalam semua warna dan tiga pola. Semua anak kucing putih dilahirkan Ragdoll. Mereka memiliki warna yang baik pada 8 – 10 minggu dan penuh warna dan mantel pada 3 – 4 tahun. Ada tiga pola yang berbeda:

* Menunjuk – Satu warna gelap pada ekstremitas (hidung, telinga, ekor dan cakar)
* Berkomitmen – Sama seperti menunjuk, tetapi dengan cakar putih dan perut. Dengan atau tanpa kebakaran (garis putih atau spot pada wajah), tetapi harus memiliki “garis perut” (strip putih yang berjalan dari dagu ke alat kelamin) dan dagu putih.
* Bicolor – kaki Putih, putih terbalik ‘V’ pada wajah, perut putih dan patch kadang-kadang putih di bagian belakang (jumlah berlebihan putih, atau “putih tinggi,” di bicolor dikenal sebagai pola Van, meskipun hal ini doesn ‘ t terjadi hampir sesering pola lainnya).

Seekor Ragdoll dengan kaki gelap.

Pola sarung tangan mirip dengan pengecualian pada kaki dan perut.

Seekor kucing dengan mata biru mencolok. Patch putih ‘V’ terbalik pada wajah menunjukkan pola bicolor.

The Ragamuffin is a breed of domestic cat that first made its appearance in 1994. Ragamuffins are notable for their rather friendly personalities and thick, rabbitlike fur.

General description

Ragamuffins are a muscular, heavy breed of cat not reaching full maturity until approximately four years of age. The physical traits of the breed include a rectangular, broad-chested body with shoulders supporting a short neck. The head is a broad, modified wedge with a rounded forehead and a nose dip. Ragamuffins come in all coat colors and patterns with a medium-length coat that increases in length toward the stomach. Although the coat is thick and plush, it does not readily mat or clump and is easy to care for. Ragamuffins are bred to be sociable, intelligent, affectionate, cuddly companions that are playful throughout their lives.

The head is a broad, modified wedge with a rounded appearance. The forehead should be moderately rounded. The body should appear rectangular with a broad chest and broad shoulders and moderately heavy muscling in the hindquarters, with the hindquarters being equally broad as the shoulders. There should be a fatty pad in the lower abdomen. Fur length is to be slightly longer around the neck and outer edges of the face, resulting in the appearance of a ruff, and increasing in length from the top of the head down through the shoulder blades and back, with the coat on the sides and stomach being medium to medium long. Every color and pattern is allowable, with or without white. Some colors patterns, such as pure white, are rarer than others and are generally in greater demand.

They are adoptable as early as four months of age but do not reach full maturity until around four years of age. The Ragamuffin is an expensive breed, and costs can range from $900 to $1200 per kitten.

Color forms

Ragamuffins come in all patterns and colors, although colorpoints are not allowed under CFA standards.^[3] Their eyes can be any solid color, including odd-eyed (i.e., each eye having a different color).

Personality

The only extreme allowed in this breed is the very docile nature. The Ragamuffin loves people and is very cuddly and affectionate, with a tendency to go limp when held. While not terribly athletic, they love playing and climbing scratching posts, and some will even fetch toys. They greet family members at the door and will follow their people around the house. Because of their gentle nature, Ragamuffins are generally kept indoors for their own protection. They tend to be very vocal at times and are very lovable.

The Maine Coon is a breed of domestic cat with a distinctive physical appearance. It is one of the oldest natural breeds in North America, specifically native to the state of Maine,^[1] where it is the official State Cat.

The breed was popular in cat shows in the late 1800s, but its existence became threatened when long-haired breeds from overseas were introduced in the early 20th century. The Maine Coon made a comeback and is one of the most popular cat breeds in the world^[2]

The Maine Coon is noted for its large bone structure, its rectangular body shape, and a long, flowing coat. The breed can be seen in a variety of colors and are known for their intelligence^[3] and gentle personalities.^[2] Health problems, such as feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and hip dysplasia, are seen in the breed, but screening methods can help to reduce the frequency of these problems, including ultrasounds and genetic testing for heart problems and x-raying to look for hip abnormalities.

History

Origin

The ancestral origins of the Maine Coon are unknown.^[4] There are only theories and folk tales.

One such folk tale involves Marie Antoinette, the Queen of France, who was executed in 1793. The story goes that before her death, Marie Antoinette attempted to escape from France with the help of Captain Samuel Clough. She loaded Clough’s ship with her most prized possessions, including six of her favorite Turkish Angora cats. Although Marie Antoinette did not make it to the United States, her pets safely reached the shores of Wiscasset, Maine, where they mated with a Norwegian Forest Cat and evolved into the modern breed of the Maine Coon.^[5]

The face of a Maine Coon

Another folk tale involves Captain Charles Coon, an English seafarer who kept long-haired cats aboard his ships. Whenever Coon’s ship would anchor in the New England ports, the felines would exit the ship and mate with the local feral cat population. When long-haired kittens began appearing in the litters of the local cat population, they were referred to as one of “Coon’s cats”.^[6]

A folk tale which is biologically-based, though genetically impossible,^[7] is the idea that the modern Maine Coon descended from ancestors of semi-feral domestic cats and raccoons. This could have possibly explained the most common color of the breed (brown tabby) and the bushy tail, which is a characteristic trait. Another idea is that the Maine Coon originated between the matings of domestic cats and wild bobcats, which could explain the tufts of hairs that are so commonly seen on the tips of the ears.^[8] There have been reports of domestic cats breeding with bobcats.^[9]

The generally-accepted theory among breeders is that the Maine Coon is descended from the pairings of local short-haired domestic cats and long-haired breeds brought overseas by English seafarers (possibly by Captain Charles Coon) or 11th-century Vikings.^[8][10] The connection to the Vikings is seen in the strong resemblance of the Maine Coon to the Norwegian Forest Cat, another breed that is said to be a descendant of cats that traveled with the Vikings.^[11][12]

Cat shows and popularity

Cosey, the winner of the first cat show in the United States, 1895

The first mention of Maine Coons in a literary work was in 1861, when a black-and-white Maine Coon by the name of Captain Jenks of the Horse Marines was written about by co-owner F.R. Pierce. Pierce, who wrote a chapter about the breed in Frances Simpson’s The Book of the Cat (1903), owned several other Maine Coons.^[13] During the late 1860s, farmers located in Maine told stories about their cats and held the “Maine State Champion Coon Cat” contest at the local Skowhegan Fair.^[6]

In 1895, a dozen Maine Coons were entered into a show in Boston, USA.^[14] On May 8, 1895, the first North American cat show was hosted at Madison Square Garden in New York City. A female Maine Coon brown tabby, named Cosey, was entered into the show. Owned by Mrs. Fred Brown, Cosey won the silver collar and medal and was named Best in Show.^[15] The silver collar won by Cosey was purchased by the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) Foundation with the help of a donation from the National Capital Cat Show. The collar is housed at the CFA Central Office in the Jean Baker Rose Memorial Library.^[6]

In the early 1900s, the Maine Coon’s popularity began to decline with the introduction of other long-haired breeds, such as the Persian, which originated in the Middle East. The last recorded win by a Maine Coon in a national cat show for over 40 years was in 1911 at a show in Portland, Oregon. The breed was rarely seen after that. The decline was so severe that the breed was declared by some as extinct in the 1950s, although this declaration was considered to be exaggerated and reported prematurely at the time. The Central Maine Cat Club (CMCC) was created in the early 1950s by Alta Smith and Ruby Dyer in attempts to increase the popularity of the Maine Coon. For 11 years, the CMCC held cat shows and hosted exhibitions of photographs of the breed and is noted for creating the first written breed standards for the Maine Coon.^[6]

The Maine Coon was denied provisional breed status—one of the three steps required for a breed not yet recognized by the CFA to be able to compete in championship competitions^[16]—by the CFA three times, which led to the formation of the Maine Coon Cat Club in 1973. The breed was finally accepted by the CFA under provisional status on May 1, 1975, and was approved for championship status on May 1, 1976. The next couple of decades saw a rise in popularity of the Maine Coon, with championship victories and an increase in national rankings. In 1985, the state of Maine announced that the breed would be named the official State Cat.^[17] The Maine Coon is the second most popular cat breed in the Cat Fancier’s Association.^[6]

Breed description

Illustrating the size difference between a mixed breed female (left) and a male Maine Coon (right)

Maine Coons are one of the largest breeds of domestic cat. Males weigh anywhere between 15 and 25 lb (6.8 and 11 kg) with females weighing between 10 and 15 lb (4.5 and 6.8 kg).^[18] The height of adults can vary between 10 and 16 in (25 and 41 cm) and they can reach a length of up to 40 in (100 cm), including the tail, which can reach lengths of up to 14 in (36 cm)^[19] and is long, tapering, and heavily furred, almost resembling a raccoon’s tail. The body is solid and muscular, which is necessary for supporting their own weight, and the chest is broad. Maine Coons possess a rectangular body shape and are slow to physically mature; their full potential size is normally not reached until they are around three or four years old.^[20]

In 2006, the Guinness World Records named a male purebred Maine Coon the “Longest Cat”. Verismo Leonetti Reserve Red (better known as Leo) measures 48 in (120 cm) in length, from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail, and weighs 35 lb (16 kg).^[21] Leo was the only kitten in his litter and was sired by a large dam Musicoons Tippy Tina of Verismo, and his sire was Musicoons The Cisco Kid of Verismo. Both parents were quite large, and given that Leo had all of his mother’s milk, this may have been what allowed him to grow to such a great size.

The Maine Coon is a longhaired, or medium-haired, cat. The coat is soft and silky, although texture may vary with coat color. The length is shorter on the head, and shoulders and longer on the stomach and flanks with some cats having a lion-like ruff around their neck. Minimal grooming is required for the breed, compared to other long-haired breeds, as their coat is mostly self-maintaining due to a light-density undercoat. The coat is subject to seasonal variation,^[22] with the fur being thicker in the winter and thinner during the summer.

Maine Coons can have any colors that other cats have. Colors indicating hybridization, such as chocolate, lavender, the Siamese pointed patterns or the “ticked” patterns, are unaccepted by breed standards.^[6] The most common color seen in the breed is brown tabby.^[23] All eye colors are accepted under breed standards, with the exception of the occurrence of blue-colored or odd-eyes (i.e., two eyes of different colors) in cats possessing coat colors other than white.^[22]

Maine Coon with a summer coat

Maine Coons have several physical adaptations for survival in harsh winter climates. Their dense water-resistant fur is longer and shaggier on their underside and rear for extra protection when they are walking or sitting on top of wet surfaces of snow or ice.^[24] Their long and bushy raccoon-like tail is resistant to sinking in snow, and can be curled around their face and shoulders for warmth and protection from wind and blowing snow and it can be even curled around their backside like a insulated seat cushion when sitting down on a snow or ice surface.^[25][26] Large paws, and especially the extra-large paws of polydactyl Maine Coons,^[27] facilitate walking on snow and are often compared to snowshoes.^[24] Long tufts of fur growing between their toes help keep the toes warm and further aid walking on snow by giving the paws additional structure without significant extra weight.^[26] Heavily furred ears with extra long tufts of fur growing from inside help keep their ears warm.^[24]

Many of the original Maine Coon cats that inhabited the New England area possessed a trait known as polydactylism (having one or more extra toes on the feet).^[24] While some sources claim that trait is thought to have occurred in approximately 40% of the Maine Coon population in Maine at one time, little evidence has been given to substantiate this claim.^[28] Polydactylism is rarely, if ever, seen in Maine Coons in the show ring since it is unacceptable by competition standards.^[29] The gene for polydactylism is a simple autosomal dominant gene,^[30] which has shown to pose no threat to the cat’s health.^[31] The trait was almost eradicated from the breed due to the fact that it was an automatic disqualifier in show rings.^[32] Private organizations and breeders were created in order to keep polydactylism in Maine Coons from disappearing.

Maine Coons are known as the “gentle giants”^[2] and possess above-average intelligence, making them relatively easy to train.^[3] They are known for being loyal to their family and cautious—but not mean—around strangers, but are independent and not clingy.^[25] The Maine Coon is generally not known for being a “lap cat” but their gentle disposition makes the breed relaxed around dogs, other cats, and children. They are playful throughout their lives, with males tending to be more clownish and females generally possessing more dignity, yet both are equally affectionate.^[24] Many Maine Coons have a fascination with water^[25] and some theorize that this personality trait comes from their ancestors, who were aboard ships for much of their lives.^[4]

Health

An all-white Maine Coon

Maine Coons are generally a healthy and hardy breed and have evolved to survive the New England climate. The most severe threat is feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), the most common heart disease seen in cats, whether pure bred or not. In Maine Coons, it is thought to be inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. Middle-aged to older cats as well as males are thought to be predisposed to the disease.^[33] HCM is a progressive disease and can result in heart failure, paralysis of the hind legs due to clot embolization originating in the heart, and sudden death.^[34] A specific mutation that causes HCM is seen in Maine Coons for which testing services are offered.^[35] Of all the Maine Coons tested for the MyBPC mutation at the Veterinary Cardiac Genetics Lab at the College of Veterinary Medicine located at Washington State University, approximately one-third tested positive.^[36] However, several Maine Coon breeders have reported cats that have tested positive by this method and have lived to 10 years and older without HCM characteristics by ultrasound testing. Additionally, several Maine Coon breeders have reported deaths of younger cats (less than 5 years) by HCM – as diagnosed through necropsy – for cats who tested negative for the gene. Ultrasound of the heart is thought to be a more reliable method for weeding HCM out of the Maine Coon population.

A brown-patched tabby Maine Coon

Another potential health problem is spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), another genetically inherited disease which causes the loss of the neurons in the spinal cord that activate the skeletal muscles of the trunk and limbs. Symptoms are normally seen within 3–4 months of age and result in muscle atrophy, muscle weakness, and a shortened life span. A test is offered to detect the genes responsible for SMA.^[37]

Hip dysplasia, an abnormality of the hip joint which can cause crippling lameness and arthritis, can be seen in Maine Coons. In a research survey finalized by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) in 2007, comprising at least 100 evaluations for each breed studied between January 1974 and December 2008, Maine Coons ranked number 27 at 23.5% for 994 evaluations. The Maine Coon is the only cat breed listed in the survey.^[38] However, this problem is thought to have been mostly eliminated from the breed due to careful screening.

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a slowly progressive disease that is possible among Maine Coons and was thought to plague only the Persian and Persian-related breeds. Symptoms typically occur around seven years of age and the effects are incurable. PKD generally leads to renal failure and is genetically inherited, so careful screening and testing are the only ways to prevent the disease from occurring.

The LaPerm is a recognized breed of cat. A LaPerm’s fur is curly (hence the name “perm“), with the tightest curls being on the belly, throat and base of the ears. LaPerms come in many colors and patterns. LaPerms generally have a very affectionate personality.

Breed profile

The LaPerm is a rex breed which originated in the USA and is now present in many other countries worldwide. The breed is genetically unique and not related to any other rex cat varieties, having a dominant gene causing their curly coats. They have an elegant and athletic build and are affectionate, active and outgoing in character. They are reputed to be hypoallergenic cats, provoking a significantly lower level of allergic responses than normal cats. Their most significant feature is their coat which is made up of soft waves, curls and ringlets, resembling a shaggy perm.

History

The first LaPerm was born in 1982^[1] and was a spontaneous mutation in an otherwise normal litter of kittens. The breed founders, Linda and Richard Koehl owned a cherry farm in The Dalles, Oregon, and had obtained some farm cats for pest control. One of these was an ordinary brown tabby shorthair called Speedy who gave birth to a litter of kittens which included a rather bald female kitten with tabby markings on her skin. The Koehls were initially concerned about the kitten’s appearance but she developed healthily and as she grew she developed a soft curly coat.

The kitten was given the name Curly and was given no special treatment, also working as a farm cat. In fact, she was nearly killed in an incident when she climbed into the warm engine of a pickup truck and was injured by the fan when the engine was started. She survived and became a house cat for a while recovering from her injuries and it was during this time that the Koehls came to fully appreciate her affectionate personality. She became pregnant and gave birth under a tree in the middle of a rainstorm one night. Linda Koehl heard strange noises and took a flashlight outside to find Curly fiercely defending her newborn kittens from barking dogs. Linda put the kittens into her pockets and took them into a warm barn to make them a safe nest in the hay. The next day when Linda was able to look at them in daylight she realized that all five kittens had the same appearance as their mother had at birth. All five were male and grew up to have the same soft curls. None of the five were neutered and their breeding activity led to many more curly coated kittens being born.

Linda found herself with a growing colony of unusual rex cats which included long and short coats. There was a range of colors and patterns including chocolate and colorpoints, due to the input of a local cat who had a Siamese mother. When people started commenting on her unusual cats and asking what they were, Linda did some research and realized that she had some kind of rex. She took some cats to a show to ask for feedback and was told by exhibitors, breeders and judges that she had something very special. Several key people in the USA cat fancies gave her their support and the breed has grown and to become a well established championship breed in the States with breeding programs in many other countries around the world.

The LaPerm breed is strongly allied with Native American culture ^[2] as the area where the Koehl’s farm is situated is in a sacred territory of the Wishram people, a Chinook speaking tribe who traditionally made a living netting, drying and trading salmon from the Columbia River. The area still contains rock carvings of the vigilant goddess Tsagaglalal. It is because of this that many LaPerm breeders give Native American names to their kittens and decorate their pens with this theme in mind when showing. Careful consideration was given to the naming of the breed; several possible names had already been used or were too clumsy sounding or close to something else so a name was chosen by Linda which evocatively brings to mind the breed’s most important feature: its curly coat, and follows the Chinookan tradition of adopting French words while incorporating the definite article to create a new word.

Description

The LaPerm is in many ways a cat of moderation with no extremes and is still true to its original type. It does however have a striking appearance because of its unusual coat. The breed standard^[3] describes a muscular foreign-type body, which is medium in size with longish legs and neck. The head is a modified wedge with gently rounded contours and a muzzle which slightly broad of the wedge. In profile the straight nose leads into a gentle break between the eyes up to a flattish forehead. LaPerms also have rather broad noses. Their flared ears are placed to follow the line of the face, while their almond shaped eyes are medium large and expressive.

Like other rexes, all colors and patterns are acceptable^[4], although tabbies, reds and torties are well represented reflecting their origins. Also the unusual colors from the early days of the breed have been selected for, so lilac, chocolate and colorpoints are popular. Tabby points are especially attractive. Newer varieties such as ticked tabbies, shadeds and darker points are also being bred. The curl tends to open up the coat showing off shading, ticking or silver undercoats.

The coat itself is described as having a unique textured feel. It is not silky, having a certain drag on the hand like mohair and the texture comes as much from the shape of the curls as from the mixture of different hair types. It should be soft and inviting, although the shorthairs will have more texture to their coats. The coat is rather loose and bouncy often feeling springy when patted, and stands away from the body with no thick undercoat. It is light and airy and judges sometimes blow on the coat to see if it will part. The coat varies according to the season and the maturity of the cat but is essentially wavy or curly all over with the longest and most defined curls in the ruff and on the neck often falling in ringlets. There is also longer curly fur inside the ears, tufts at the ear tips and “ear muffs”, or longer, silky hair on the backs of the ears. The longhairs have a curly plumed tail while the shorthairs have tails rather like bottle brushes, and both have long curled whiskers. Sometimes the coat falls into a natural parting along the back, jokingly referred to as “the parting of the waves”.

LaPerm Photos

Seal Point LH LaPerm	Brown Darkerpoints LaPerm	Red Tabby LH LaPerm	Black and White SH LaPerm
Lilac Point LaPerm Straight Hair Variant

The Kurilian Bobtail is a cat breed originating from the Kuril Islands of Russia. It has a semi-cobby body type and a distinct short, fluffy tail. The backs are slightly arched with hind legs longer than the front, similar to that of the Manx.^[1]

The Kurilian Bobtail is recognized by the World Cat Federation, The International Cat Association and the Fédération Internationale Féline but not the Cat Fanciers Association.