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Ann Baker believed an accident had effected
the genetic constitution of Josephine,
which accounted for the outstanding
characteristics in her offspring. In
Ann's opinion, the offspring represented a quirk
of nature, and there for were worthy of
being carefully bred to produce both a
beautiful and ultra-docile cat breed.
Were it not for
the events that were to occur over the
following years, Ann fondly remembered
for her diligence in developing a new
breed that is today one of the most
popular pure-bred cats since being
introduced in Australia back in 1988 and
the world.
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The
story of the Ragdoll begins with Ann
Baker, a breeder of Persians; she lived
in the Southern Californian city
Riverside.
It was the early
1960’s when a Mrs. Pennel one of Ann
Backer’s neighbours who owned a cat
called blackie; he was apparently a cat
of Persian type which Baker would often
borrow him to mate with her black
Persians. His mother also owned by Mrs.
Pennel’s was called Josephine, She was
also a blue eyed white cat of obvious
angora type, it appears her disposition
was not the most amicable that one could
wish for.
About 1963
Josephine was involved in a car
accident, according to Ann Baker, she
was taken to the local university to be
treaded, why she was taken to the
university and not to a veterinary
surgeon remains a mystery, however,
following her return to the Pennel’s
home she recovered and continued to
produce more litters. Ann Baker noticed
that the kittens born after
Josephine’s accident had unusual
characteristics, unlike their mother;
they were extremely friendly and
appeared to have a remarkable tolerance
for pain.
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They also had mat-free coats.
Further, when
picked up they became very floppy just
like a “RAGDOLL,” thus the name of
the breed chosen by the founder.
Ann
Baker believed the accident had effected
the genetic constitution of Josephine,
which accounted for the outstanding
characteristics in her off spring, in
Ann’s opinion, they represented a
quirk of nature, as such, they were
worthy of being carefully bred to
produce both a beautiful and
ultra-docile cat breed.
Were it not for the events that
were to occur over the following years,
Ann
Baker, who died
in 1997, would be fondly remembered for
her diligence in developing a new breed
that is today one of the most popular
pure-bred cats since being introduced in
Australia back in 1988 and the world.
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