author Sara Thornton DVM                       iCandy RagaMuffins

Putting together and developing a RagaMuffin breeding program is much more than buying a male and a female and allowing them to mate. There are a number of different factors to consider.

First is always health. Starting with vigorous individuals with clear health testing (Health Clearances), current vaccinations and regular parasite control is vital. Potential mates should also be genetically different enough to ensure healthy kittens (Coefficient of Inbreeding)

Evaluating individual type is necessary. Does the cat look like a RagMuffin should look? Each breed has a written standard. If one cat needs bigger, better shaped eyes to fit the standard, breeding to a complimentary mate that has that characteristic, or better yet, has a track record of producing the desired eyes is ideal. Getting a cat out to be evaluated by judges at a CFA or ACFA show may be of benefit for a breeder to get an unbiased opinion on a RagaMuffin.

Another  important consideration is temperament. According to research, the sire has more influence on the temperament of the kittens than the queen. Ideally, both parents should be good representatives of the RagaMuffin personality.

To sum it up, breeding is a complex process with the ideal product being a goal. The perfect RagaMuffin cat does not exist but striving toward that perfection is an art.

author Cristin Dillard                                                                                          Magnolia Rags

I am still a newer breeder. Magnolia Rags just had our third litter.

The day we anticipated so eagerly, quickly turned into a near nightmare. Breeding cats is not for the faint of heart. It’s very expensive when you breed for the health of the cats. High quality food, cat litter, cat shows, testing, and vet visits eat up the funds quickly. You learn very quickly that you aren’t in it for the money. And all the time preparing doesn’t always lead to smooth going!!

And thats where I was the Saturday before Easter. I knew my girl, Della, would probably have the babies that day Or on Easter. She had been clingy to me, and in and out of her birthing hotel. So that night, while I was ironing shirts, I realized she was in her box and starting to push. I checked in on her, got my pen and paper ready for writing down the births and weights etc, and sat down to wait. It was her first litter, and I was a little nervous. I was expecting 2-3 kittens. Two hours later the pushes got harder. I saw two little white feet emerge. I was not worried about it being breech. As my other queen had managed that just fine. But it wasn’t going to be easy for Della. She struggled to get the kitten out. Finally it was down to the head. I knew baby needed to get out quickly! But Mom was upset by this point and hissing at me as though I were causing the pain. It took my husband and me to manage to get the poor purple kitten out. I knew he was dead. It had been so many minutes. His gums were gray. Feet dark. I rubbed him. Cleaned out his nose and mouth. Did everything all the videos suggested. But nothing. I gave him a little breath. Rubbed and begged him to come back. Nothing. I told my husband he was gone. But suddenly he gasped! I rubbed him more and suctioned him and told him how brave he was!! He gasped again. Then again. Slowly his white skin colored pink. But there wasn’t time to celebrate. Della had feet dangling again! The same thing happened. Although it took less time to get baby out, he was also lifeless. I repeated the above, and he gasped minutes later. Slowly he too, began to come back to me. Talk about relief! I was never so happy for a small litter!!! I stayed awake with the new family until the wee hours, making sure they were breathing and finally nursing. When I saw the boys fighting over milk, I knew they were ok. Hopefully each passing day they grow stronger and don’t develop any complications.

So many think we breed for the money. Have all these cute kittens everywhere and life is good. But its not like that all the time. Its life and loss. Its litter boxes and vomit and hairballs. Its infertile hopes, and disappointments. We do it for the breed. We stay up late, pay the bills, and clean and plan and prepare, because we want RagaMuffins to be a name people recognize. A healthy beautiful breed for many to enjoy. Never take for granted the miracles we witness a long the way.

author Sara Thornton DVM                           iCandy RagaMuffins

What is a coefficient of inbreeding  (COI) and why is it important? The COI is a measurement of the amount of inbreeding in a specific population. In my case, the population of concern is the RagaMuffin breed of cats. According to  COI FAQS: Understanding the Coefficient of Inbreeding by Carol Beauchat PhD, “The coefficient of inbreeding is the probability of inheriting two copies of the same allele from an ancestor that occurs on both sides of the pedigree.”

Why is it important to know what the COI is in every breeding? Especially in a limited population like RagaMuffins, calculating the COI is one tool to maintain the health of the breed. A high coefficient is more likely to reproduce qualities that are not desired, thereby decreasing vitality and health of the breed. Think about it this way, sibling pairs or parent-offspring pairs are generally avoided in order to prevent genetic issues. But, in order to truly evaluate a pairing, it is important to go further back in a pedigree. Geneticists recommend evaluating using ten generations.

So, how does a breeder check the COI on a prospective pair? It’s simple, I use a computer program that has much of the RagaMuffin population history stored in it. The data lists cats from the very beginning- including random bred cats, Persians, Ragdolls, and Siberians along with a lot of RagaMuffins. More recently, Selkirks have been added as they are a permitted outcross in CFA. The main chore I have is to keep it updated as more cats join the breeding population of muffins. I input the names of the cats I want to breed, select ten generation inbreeding analysis and click!

My goal is to keep the coefficient under 10% as the geneticists generally recommend. That being stated, does not mean I would not utilize a higher number. As line breeding can produce harmful qualities, it can also increase the incidence of positive traits.  That is the art of being a breeder….figuring out what traits I want to avoid and what traits I want to ensure are reproduced. Health is number one. I do the genetic testing to give my kittens the best shot at a long and healthy life. By being cognizant of the COI, I can reduce the incidence of characteristics I want to avoid.

What happens if breeders do not utilize a coefficient of inbreeding? It seems so many do not understand  that a brief pedigree cannot be eyeballed and deemed safe. For three or four generations, there may be no replication of breeding animals, but further back, there could be substantial replication which leads to a high COI. This is of special concern in a smaller population in a rare breed.

Sara Thornton DVM                                                     iCandy RagaMuffins

The first of the month is a big day here at iCandy RagaMuffins. Every month for years. It’s the day I treat all animals to prevent parasites. The dog gets her heartworm pill along with her flea and tick medicine. The cats are on a program to meet their needs.

The RagaMuffin males and neutered pets have access to a fenced outdoor area completed with dirt, shrubs and trees. That means they all get flea and tick treatment. Yes, even in cold weather. It is not unheard of for a bit of warmer weather to produce the dreaded external parasites. I keep my cats on medication so they NEVER have a flea or a tick. It is much easier to prevent a problem than treat an existing one.

The breeding RagaMuffin females and kittens live in another area of the house. They are treated monthly with a medication that controls fleas, hookworms and roundworms. Even though they don’t go outside, after being a practicing veterinarian for many years, I know indoor only pets can still get fleas. In addition, since my show cats travel to shows and hotels, it is possible for one of the pests to take a ride back home. Internal parasite control is also imperative for the queens and kittens. Roundworms are commonly passed from mother to kitten in the uterus. By maintaining the adults on an appropriate parasiticide, it minimizes infestation of the kittens.

Proper parasite control is an important part of managing animals. I make sure all iCandy RagaMuffins and other pets in the house are up to date with a consistent program.

GC BW RW SantaCats Check Meowt of Xpressions (Piper)

GP Xpressions Check Meowt Too (Poppy)

Xpressions RagaMuffins

Showing my animals is not new for me, but it’s always been exciting. I started with horses, then dogs and now cats. I’ve had the pleasure to Grand, be awarded Regional Wins and blessed enough to have achieved the CFA Top RagaMuffin award. As exciting as all that has been, this past year a cat we bred was shown to a Grand Premier! Not only did Poppy Grand, but she did it on her first birthday! To be able to be there to witness this was a dream come true for me.

You may be asking yourself why this is so special. There are several reasons. Diana and Dennis (Poppy’s owners) had gone to a show in Oklahoma as spectators. They shared with us that they’d hoped Piper (Poppy’s future mom) would be there. She was. Diana had followed Piper on Facebook and had named herself President of Piper’s Fan Club. The friendship was almost instantaneous. Months later, as the friendship grew between us, they asked to be put on our waitlist for a pet. Poppy became part of their family (along with their other two RagaMuffins) and Diana and Dennis became part of our family. They caught the show bug and gifted Xpressions RagaMuffins with a Grand Premier!

Another reason this is so special to me is as a breeder of RagaMuffins my vision was successful. Breeders don’t just put two cats together and hope it works out. Many hours are spent over lineage and genetic testing. They look objectively at their cat’s assets as well as where their cats may need improvements. After all this is taken into account, breeders hope that they will have at least one kitten out of the litter worthy of showing. Then they are shown to several different judges (typically over a period of time), hoping that the judges find that your cat fits the standard. You compete not only with other RagaMuffins, but against other breeds that meet their standards. The top cats are given placements, points, and you begin the journey to a Grand title. It’s one thing to think your cat is beautiful, but to have several trained judges feel that too, is amazing! Showing can be addicting, but to be able to meet new lifelong friends in this process is priceless! By the way, Dennis and Diana are addicted. They have another RagaMuffin to show.

author Sara Thornton DVM                                               iCandy RagaMuffins

Why are cats so picky? Well, one reason is that cats develop taste preferences very early in life. If a kitten is not exposed to beef, for example, prior to five or six months of age it doesn’t really recognize beef as a food item later.

It is not just food flavors or ingredients that matter. It is texture and shape as well. If it was only fed round dry pellets as a kitten, it would be unlikely that it would accept flat shaped kibble later. If it only has canned slices in gravy, a switch to pate as an adult would not be welcome.

This is important to note as a RagaMuffin breeder or a pet owner. There may come a day that a cat needs to eat a specific food, whether prescription or not, for health reasons. In addition, a food may become unavailable and an adult may need to have a diet change.

At iCandy RagaMuffins, kittens are fed two premium kitten kibbles, so they get used to the different shapes. They are also fed various flavors and textures of canned food. As I serve multiple cats, I never know who likes what best; I am sure they have preferences. But, I do know the kittens are well prepared to go to their new homes with a base of exposure to foods that a pet owner may prefer to feed.