GP AW iCandy Fireball I’m really behind on blogging. No good reason for that. But, two weeks ago, I went to the CFA International show in Cleveland. This time I shared the journey with friend Alene Shafnisky who is showing iCandy Fireball this season along with her Turkish Angora, Sinend Seamus, another red
Late winter and early spring this year turned into a time of goodbyes. You see, it is retirement time for a number of RagaMuffins. I hate this more than anything else about breeding. I love these cats. But, when they are done showing/ breeding, I want what is best for them. And for most of
I am both a veterinarian and a breeder. I have been both a long time. I have been a licensed veterinarian for almost forty years. I bred a few horses many years ago, then bred Labrador Retrievers for almost 25 years. Now, I have been breeding RagaMuffins for more than eight years. Sometimes the
GC BWR RW iCandy Fudge Ripple- an excellent example of length, texture, and density of coat. The CFA RagaMuffin breed standard calls for a coat that is medium to medium long in length with the texture being soft, dense and silky. Sounds great doesn’t it? The truth is there is a spectrum
When I got my first RagaMuffin, one of the things I noticed on RagaMuffin breeder websites is that none of the cats looked alike. Coming from a background of pedigreed dogs, I found that odd. But, after consideration, I realized that this breed was still in development. When I made the decision to throw my
Earlier this year, RagaMuffin iCandy Raisinette went to shows looking to earn points for her grand championship. It is a mountain to climb for sure. Coming from the dog world, it is very different. In the dog world, the title of champion is quite an accomplishment. It takes a good dog and judges that
I recently bred iCandy Toffee Crunch to Adoremuffins Walnut. I think they will make awesome RagMuffin kittens. But the expected litter has a downside. You see, Toffee has type B blood. She is my only cat with this. Most cats are type A, some AB. In order to safely breed a type B female
When I was closing in on my 50th birthday, I was looking through a magazine called Cat Fancy that regularly arrived at my veterinary hospital. I have always had a passion for cats, so this was one of my favorite magazines to peruse. This issue featured a breed called the RagaMuffin. I read the
It’s been a while since RagaMuffin Nougat had a job. Actually, he hasn’t worked since before COVID hit. But, that changed last week. The animal talent agent emailed. It was a day both Nougat and I were available ( honestly, his schedule is pretty flexible). So, on his behalf, I accepted the work. Nougat
I got up one morning and proceeded to do my chores as usual. First things include letting the dog out, feeding the dog, and then going through the house feeding cats and scooping boxes. When I got to the nursery upstairs, I noticed right away that Gertrude’s solo kitten was not up in her play
Last Friday I hit the road in a packed vehicle with RagaMuffin iCandy Raisinette. It was the annual trip to the CFA North Atlantic Regional cat show and banquet. Believe me when I say it is a big deal in the cat world. First, the show is amazing. The decorations and rosettes are always
Last weekend, my friend Lisa and I packed up my Tahoe for a trip to New Hampshire in order to attend a cat show. It was RagaMuffin iCandy Raisinette’s first time out as a CFA grand champion and Lisa was looking for one point to complete her Oriental Short Hair Iceman’s grand premiership. The trip
I got an email the other day from the Cat Fanciers Association stating that this issue of Cat Talk magazine would be the last printed version, but subscribers would get it in both printed and digital this month. In the future it would be digital only. So, I clicked on the link to
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
The first of the month is a big day here at iCandy. 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
One of the most common comments I see on Facebook is a cat owner posting a picture of their beloved kitty and asking if it is a RagaMuffin. The answer is virtually always going to be no. Same with other breeds like Maine Coons. Unless you go to a breeder for a pedigreed cat,
In the cat show world kitties can be shown in kitten class from the day they turn 4 months old through the day before they turn 8 months old. Since Raisinette was born on 5/17, it means that she will age out of kitten class today! The top 25 kittens in each region at
iCandy Raisinette and judge Kathy Calhoun It was the typical cat show in Morgantown, Pennsylvania. A venue full of cat lovers vying for judges' points for their beloved kitties. I brought three RagaMuffins with me to show. iCandy Jolly Rancher was in championship class; iCandy Raisinette and iCandy Toffee Crunch were in kitten
RagaMuffin iCandy Raisinette at Cotton States Last weekend I took a trip to Atlanta for the Cotton States cat show. I've always heard what a great show it is, but have never made it there. I decided at the airport this was the year to go. A cat show friend (and
A number of years back, I was emailed a handout to help explain to people about the challenges involved with breeding RagaMuffins or any other cats. This was meant to eliminate surprises new breeders may encounter. The goal is to help one decide whether or not breeding is an adventure to pursue. I have