~RAGDOLL BREED STANDARD PROPOSAL~
~RAGDOLL BREED STANDARD PROPOSAL~
Ragdoll Breed Group Rational
Christine Lupo, Amanda Jimmink, Elizabeth Boatwright
“People talk about the middle of the road as though it were unacceptable. Actually, all human problems, excepting morals, come into the gray areas. Things are not all black and white. There have to be compromises. The middle of the road is all of the usable surface. The extremes, right and left, are in the gutters.”
--President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Breeders of blue-eyed pointed (BEP) Ragdolls and breeders of mink, sepia, and solid Ragdolls are working together to find a compromise in the advancement of the “New Traits” Ragdolls to the Championship class. The current Ragdoll standard only allows for BEP cats. The mink, sepia, and solids cannot show in the championship class. The authors of this proposal, under the governing regulations 31.4 and 33.9, respectively, in the TICA Registration Rules & Related Standing Rules, seek to establish a Ragdoll breed group to create a separate breed, namely Cherubim, for mink, sepia, and solid Ragdolls so that they may compete in the Championship class.
Ann Baker was the originator of the Ragdoll breed. While the BEP Ragdoll was the first focus of Ann Baker, she also developed other categories & breeding lines. These lines included all colors and patterns. All breeding lines developed by Ann Baker printed the following phrase across their IRCA Ragdoll registrations: “Registrar of Cherubim Cats.” When certificates of registration were transferred from IRCA to the TICA Registry, all cats in all colors were registered as Ragdolls in one grouping. As such, a breed group structure correctly reflects the Ragdoll/Cherubim relationship. The breed name Cherubim has been widely accepted by many Ragdoll breed section members, and we propose using Cherubim as the new breed name for the mink, sepia, and solid Ragdolls.
The TICA website states, “the strength of TICA lies in its members. Breeders, exhibitors, and cat lovers are invited to join TICA and participate in the most progressive registry in the world” (www.TICA.org). A total of 1088 members of the Ragdoll Breed Section joined TICA because they, too, believe it to be the most progressive registry in the world. The mink, solid, and sepia Ragdolls breeders trust this mantra and it is time for the mink, solid, and sepia Ragdolls to advance to championship status. This will allow them to have a written standard they can breed to so they can show and preserve their lines. To date, thirty-three exhibitors have internationally shown their solid, mink, and sepia Ragdolls for the purpose of submitting the application for the advancement of “New Traits” to the Championship class and request TICA recognize their cats. The authors propose the creation of a breed group which will allow the separation and coexistence of pointed and mink, sepia, and solid. This concession will seek to have the solid, mink, and sepia adopt the name of “Cherubim.” These concessions are made to ensure ease of passing a breed section vote and to receive recognition in a Ragdoll Breed Group Standard, on the TICA website, in the show halls and breed seminars for the Ragdoll Breed Group. Given the history and the genetic evidence of the origins of all Ragdoll cats, it is reasonable to see that the current barrier to the exhibition hall is not aligned with TICA founding principles.
The authors believe this would create a sense of belonging for many and ultimately increase the number of exhibitors (and spectators) if the mink, solid, and sepia are accepted for show and the current TICA Ragdoll Breed Standard is amended to reflect a breed group. The growth in membership within the Ragdoll breed section from September 14, 2023 (951 members) to October 24, 2023 (1088 members) is substantial. That is 13% growth in approximately a one-month period. The authors surmise that much of this occurred as a result of discussions of a breed group and the notice of intent to apply for advancement to championship “New Traits” status published on October 17, 2023 in the TICA Trend. The authors believe that this is indicative of members who breed mink, solid, and sepia Ragdolls acting upon their excitement over the possibility of earning titles and learning within the show halls.
Representatives, breeders, and exhibitors of all viewpoints have collaborated to determine an equitable compromise. The solution, based upon our unofficial poll, that will pass with a majority breed section vote is the creation of a Ragdoll Breed Group to separate the BEP Ragdolls from the mink, sepia and solid Cherubims (72% voted yes to being open a breed group, dependent on name). This will allow the BEP offspring of mink, sepia, and solid cats to be registered and shown as Ragdolls while also allowing Championship Status for the Cherubim (mink, sepia, solid) cats themselves. This document proposes the necessary changes to the Ragdoll Standard to accomplish the creation of a Ragdoll Breed Group (RD/CH) and allow for the advancement of the mink, sepia, and solid Cherubim into Championship. A Ragdoll Breed Group is, in Eisenhower’s words, our “usable surface.”
SOURCES:
Baker, Ann. Ann Baker’s Autobiography: Cherubims Research. Published by Business and Consumer Advocate of the Animal World. 1985.
Pickering, Robin, Pollard, David, Wallace, Lorna. The Definitive Guide to Ragdolls. Pontefract, W. Yorkshire: Ragdoll World. 1995. First Edition.
TICA Registration Rules & Related Standing Rules. 19 January 2023. Version A. 28 October 2023. https://tica.org/resources/our-publications/rules-regulations/file/1146-registration-rules-version-a-19-jan-2023-4
UC Davis Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Genetics Laboratory. Colorpoint Restriction. 28 October 2023. https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/test/colorpoint-restriction
Title - Ragdoll (RD) is changed to Ragdoll Breed Group (RD/CB)
Add line(s): The Ragdoll (RD) is a large semi-longhair, blue eyed pointed cat of moderate type. The Cherubim (CB) is a large semi-longhair, mink, sepia, or traditional colored cat of moderate type.
CATEGORY: RD - Pointed; CB - Mink, Sepia & Traditional.
DIVISIONS: RD - Solid Point Division; Tortie Point Division; Tabby Point
Division; Solid Point/white, Tortie Point/white, Tabby Point/white Divisions (mitted and bicolor patterns ONLY). CB - Solid Division; Tortie Division; Tabby Division; Solid & White, Tortie &white, Tabby & white Divisions (mitted and bicolor patterns ONLY).
COLORS:
RD: All pointed colors.
CB: All mink, sepia & traditional colors
Eyes: Large oval. Level set; moderately wide apart. Emphasis should be on correct shape, size and placement. Preference given to deeper tones in all colors.
RD - Blue, CB - Mink: Blue-Green to Green-Blue (Aqua); Sepia: Gold, Gold-Green (chartreuse) or Green Traditional: Bronze, Copper, Gold, Yellow, Green, or Hazel
COLOR/PATTERN:
SOLID POINT/SOLID DIVISION:
(RD) Pointed: Ears, mask, legs, feet and tail to be darker, well-defined color. Chest bib and chin areas may be somewhat lighter in color.
Even and lighter color on the body with minimal shading. Soft shadings of color are allowed. Definite contrast between body and point color. Allow for darker body color in older cats. Allow for undeveloped color in young cats.
(CB) Mink: Even, medium shade of body color, showing contrast to points. Allow for darker body color in older cats. Allow for undeveloped color in kittens and young cats. (CB) Sepia: Body color closer to that of extremities, showing slighter contrast to points. Allow for darker body color in older cats. Allow for undeveloped color in kittens and young cats. (CB) Traditional: Even solid color for solid-colored coats
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
The ideal cat of this breed group is a large semi-longhaired cat with a sweet personality. They are a well-balanced cat of moderate type, with no extremes, and no one feature overpowering another. The breed grows large and heavy but is slow to mature and may not reach full weight and size for four years. Full color is not reached until 3 years old. They are muscular cats with little fat except on the lower abdomen fatty pad.
WITHHOLD ALL AWARDS (WW)
General: Doming. RD- Any eye color other than blue. CB; Mink - Any eye color other than blue-green to greenblue (aqua), Sepia; Any eye color other than: Gold, Gold-Green (chartreuse) or Green, Traditional; Any eye color other than Bronze, Copper, Gold, Yellow, Green, or Hazel.
Hallelujah!!! The proposal for the TICA Advancement of New Traits as a Ragdoll/Cherubim Breed Group passed by a UNANIMOUS vote—that is absolutely fantastic, incredible, nothing short of spectacular and ground breaking! We would like to express our extreme gratitude to the TICA Board of Directors! The Ragdoll Breed Section is to be commended on their participation and input! I am still in shock, awe, and experiencing absolute euphoria! Congratulations to those who served as ambassadors for the solid, mink, and sepia Ragdolls (Cherubim) these many past years in “NT” and never gave up through the occasional stormy climate. Congratulations and hat tip to those who collaborated, supported, and pushed this initiative to pass—we are greatly appreciative for your partnership in this endeavor. I know that you also felt the sting of intermittent hailstorms. You are pioneers! We ARE a fabulous team! Elizabeth Boatwright, your contributions, grace, and honesty as a sounding board were invaluable. Amanda C. Jimmink, your guidance, leadership, and diplomacy, absolutely, was the glue that gently and logically coaxed all to openly communicate, embrace differences, and to overcome challenges. Now, comes the work of maintaining the momentum through documentation…To those who are currently on the Ragdoll Breed Committee and supported our proposal, you certainly will have my vote in the next cycle, and hopefully, we can elect a candidate or two who actually breed the Cherubim onto that committee. We need to get together to celebrate this mutual victory!!!🍾 🥂
~Christine Lupo
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