A breeding program for pets is a process that a reputable breeder carries out, and you should know what is involved in a Ragdoll breeding program.
Ragdoll breeding program is a set of practices that focus on producing Ragdoll cats with specific characteristics, such as temperament, appearance, and health.
If you are interested in this breeding program and want to know how a Ragdoll breeding program is done.
Then you need to spend some time on this article. After that, you can be an expert in a breeding program, but practice is essential.
I am discussing the point below, which is important, and you should keep learning carefully.
Table of Contents
Breeding Policy and Background of the Breed
The main purpose of the breeding policy is to advise breeders to improve their breeding practices.
Breeding policy considerations, such as:
- Agro-climatic conditions:- Local climatic conditions play a vital role in choosing the best breeds and combinations.
- Farmer’s willingness:- The Farmer must be willing to follow the guidelines
- Availability of quality semen:- Semen is the primary commodity of breeders, hence availability of quality semen is essential.
The breed’s background defines your breeding result, like characteristics, color, body type, health, lifespan, and quality.
Breeds are produced by genetic isolation, natural adaptation, or selective breeding.
Their development ratio is quick compared to normal evolutionary processes, but more slowly than in a laboratory.
Some breeds are exceptional; they can develop through natural forces or human intervention.
Ragdoll Breeding Program with the white Cat
The history of the Ragdoll cat breed was created in the early 1960s by Ann Baker. Its main purpose is to create new characteristics in cats, such as larger size, docile personality, and desirable color.
For that, the Ragdoll breeding program began with a white female cat named Josephine. Josephine was a long-haired domestic with a Persian-angora type appearance.
The process of creating the Ragdoll breed by Baker.
- Baker selectively bred Josephine’s offspring with other domestic longhairs.
- She also crossed them with other breeds, including Burmese, Birman, and Persian cats.
- He selected individuals based on their looks, temperament, and the criteria he had in mind.
- They trademarked the name Ragdoll and established their registry, the International Ragdoll Cat Association (IRCA).
- She imposed strict standards for anyone wishing to breed or sell cats under that name.
Types of Breeding Programs in Cats
Ragdoll breeding programs are primarily aimed at improving the Ragdoll breed standard. These come in various types, listed below.
1. Inbreeding
This type of breeding involves animals that are members of the same family, having the same common ancestors on both paternal and maternal sides of the pedigree.
They increase the inbreeding coefficient of the offspring as compared to the parents. They are also known as incestuous breeding.
2. Crossbreeding
This type of breeding involves animals that belong to two different breeds, having no common ancestors on both the paternal and maternal sides of the pedigree.
Their offspring have greater genetic diversity than their parents, and their coefficient of inbreeding is reduced.
3. Outbreeding
This type of breeding involves animals that are the same or similar breeds but come from a different lineage. Different traits are not necessarily the same and have no common ancestors.
Their offspring have greater genetic diversity than their parents, and their coefficient of inbreeding is reduced.
4. Line breeding
This type of breeding involves animals that are members of the same breed and same traits, but come from different lineages. Thus, there is no (or very little) common ancestry.
The inbreeding coefficient of the offspring will be maintained at the same level as that of the parents.
Ethical Ragdoll Breeding
Ethical breeding means prioritising the health and well-being of the Ragdoll cat and their kittens and involves many factors such as:
- Health testing: To protect from genetic diseases that come from their parents.
- Vaccinations: Vaccinations are essential for kittens to ensure their health and lifespan.
- Socialization: This can affect the temperament of a kitten, so good socialization is essential.
- Proper nutrition: Proper nutrition helps to grow healthy kittens in their initial stage.
- Responsible breeding: Where possible, spay and neuter kittens before adoption.
- Code of ethics: Comply with Code of Conduct, State and Local Laws.
- Transparency: Transparency is a key to determining the pedigree and health of a kitten.
- Communication: Communication helps to resolve the questions or concerns of new owners
The ethical Ragdoll breeding process requires more time, money, concentration, and effort to ensure their cats are healthy and well-socialized.
That’s why reputable breeders may charge more for their cats.
Breeding Program for Beginners
If you are a beginner and interested in a breeding program, then you should follow some points.
- Your goal should be clear as to which market you want to produce for and what the breeding objectives are.
- Check your current genetic resources, labor, feed, land, and buildings.
- Identify your constraints, such as conflicts between different types of breeding animals.
- Select a breeding animal with good conformation, temperament, and genetic diversity.
- Consider breeding strategies that consider breed selection, crossbreeding, or breed replacement.
- Monitor changes in their performance and measure your success over time.
- Balanced the environment, which gives a balanced rate of genetic gain and diversity.
- And then, research and practice are needed to support the breeding program.
In the beginning, you need a lot of research and practice to become a reputable breeder, but it is not an easy task.
Ragdoll Breeding Program at Home
If you are thinking of doing a Ragdoll breeding program at home, then you need a lot of research and practice, including careful record keeping, socializing the kittens, and making sure they get proper care.
If You Choose a Ragdoll Breeder, This Is Helpful for You
Isolate the female cat before the kittens are born.
Separate the female cat and kittens from the male cat until the kittens are weaned and have received their first vaccination.
After that, provide quality nutrition, vet regularly, a safe and calm indoor environment, and spend quality time with them.
FAQ
Q. How much do ragdoll breeders make?
Ans. It is difficult to say that, because every reputable breeder’s charges may vary.
Q. Who developed the ragdoll breeding program?
Ans. An American breeder, Ann Baker, developed the ragdoll breeding program in the 1960s.
Q. Which is the best ragdoll breeding program?
Ans. Ethical ragdoll breeding programs are considered to be the best.
Q. Where can I get the ragdoll breeding program?
Ans. International Cat Association (TICA) and the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA). Here you can get
Q. Is the Ragdoll breeding program free or paid?
Ans. The Ragdoll breeding program is paid; it’s not free.
Conclusion
The main purpose of a breeding program is to produce Ragdoll cats and improve their characteristics, physical appearance, overall health, and temperament.
This process required time, money, research, practice, and patience to do that with perfection, but some flaws remain.
If you are a beginner and thinking of doing a breeding program at your home, then you can do it.