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Expert: - 12/17/2011


Question
Thank you for taking time to read my question!

We recently adopted 2 cats from a local breeder.  They needed a patient pet home.  Therefore showing and breeding is not an issue, it is pure curiosity on my part.

The one cat (about a half a year old) has shorter fur than I am accustomed to.  It is not short like a DSH but more like a rex rabbit fur.  Dense and very velvety.

I know she is purebred, and she is the only one from her litter to have this type of fur.  Is this a fluke that crops up?  I imagine it would be a disqualification for show and breeding.  I am just curious though as I have never seen it!

Thank you!

Answer
Danielle,

There appears to be some variation allowed in Ragdoll coats. Without actually being able to feel the coat, it is hard to comment.  Also, what you may have on the 6 month old is kitten coat, as this breed is very slow to mature.

I am providing a link to the Cat Fanciers' Association Ragdoll standard # http://www.cfa.org/documents/breeds/standards/ragdoll.pdf #, but here is an excerpt form the part of the standard on coat:

"COAT: the naturally non-matting moderately long fur is characterized
by abundant guard hairs and minimal woolly undercoat. It
flows with the body. Ruff preferred. Short on face, longer on ruff,
shorter on shoulder blades, lengthening toward tail. Allow shorter
coats in unaltered adults, and seasonal variations."

Seasonal regards... Norm

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Norman Auspitz

Expertise

I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.

Experience

I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.


Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.

Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook

Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.

Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.

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