The Incredible Journey

        February 24th I flew down to Tampa to spend some time with Judi Morrison, of Rivendell Rags. Judi's a wonderful lady who not only entrusted us with our first two Ragamuffin kittens, Fiona and Glory, but also has been kind enough to be our mentor.  We had great fun visiting  with one another, talking about cats, and best of all, playing with cats.

     These are some of her girls, Sissy, Rose, Missy, and Patsy waiting for breakfast.  The time went by too fast!  There is nothing like learning first hand. Last night Betsy, a lovely blue patched tabby and white came back with me. (I'll post some pictures of her when she's settled in) We played hopscotch with stormy weather up the east coast but made it back safe. 

Timing is everything

Sometimes I think that irony is an actively acting force in the universe. We've been impatiently waiting for our boy Diego decide he likes girls. Our two queens have been more impatient than we are, but Diego's been clueless.  Since both girls are a year and a half old,  we'd planned to breed them this spring. Feet have been tapping, watches checked, my husband had even begun to joke that I'd picked a dud stud.  When would Diego grow up?  This would not do! We began madly planning, so  arrangements were made to have a stud, Rivendell Rags Grand Champion Black Sambo, to come up in February for Fiona. So, of course, it's this week Diego decides to notice the girls, and Glory goes out of heat.  Looks like he'll have to wait until next month to get lucky.   In the end, it's all good because we'll have two batches of super cute kittens this spring after all.

Rivendell Rags Gold-n-Glory of Soft Kitty

Settling in to the New Year

2012 has come and gone. It's been a big year for us. We got our first three Ragamuffins (though Fiona was picked out in 2011), had Ragamuffins accepted into the Canadian Cat Association, and traveled to our first shows.  

 The main thing that we're hoping for in 2013 is  our first litters of kittens.  So far Diego is still oblivious to the charms of the lady cats, but that can't last long.  January 10th is is his 8 month birthday.  I'd be surprised if he reached a year and hadn't clued in.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed for spring babies!

Boys are sinister

 Or at least left pawed according to an article HERE.   I'm going to have to watch our kitties and see this in action now.

Wild and wonderful world show

Late, late, late, I know. My husband was hording the picture on his iPad. But here they are at last, Diego and Fiona at the CFA world show in Columbus Ohio.  They are hanging out in their Sturdi pop up. Fiona finally relaxed the second day and was more mellow than I've ever seen her at a show. And it was an big show. There were near a thousand cats with a echoing hall ,a P.A. system that sounded like Charlie Brown teacher speak and a gym meet across the partition. I feared she'd be curled in the back of the tent the whole time but she actually started coming out of her shell. Maybe we just need exhibiting practice. 

What really made the trip was getting to met Laura , Lynn and Robin, fellow RagaMuffin breeders. And we got to hug new 'Muffins. Bonus!

And we have a Chaaaampion, my friends!

Well, in spite of not knowing top from bottom about cat shows, our lovely girl Fiona has earned the ribbons for CFA champion status.  Will we go on fighting 'till the end? I'm not sure. Fi just doesn't seem to like showing. It's not the handling, and it's not the driving.  Being in the show hall with all the other cats though, it makes her shy.  Even her favorite tuna only makes things tolerable. This Queen may only go a few more rounds, and then bow out of the spotlight if she doesn't perk up.

Play it again, piano cat

Lolcats have had their vindication. This weekend The Walker Art Center in Minneapolis held a Internet cat film festival. Can i haz a palme d'or, plz?