We saw our first picture of a Ragdoll in a television magazine in the spring of 1989 and started doing our home-work on the breed. We began our search for a kitten, phoning breeders all over the country only to be told we had to go on their waiting lists. It was Lulu Rowley of the original Petil-lu cattery, who phoned us in the September to tell us that there was a little girl available, a seal bi-colour. We made two trips two to Norwich see the baby, but we had to wait until the week before christmas for Lulu and her partner John to deliver 'Petil-lu Chichi' to our home.
Chichi was brought as a breeding girl, so it was'nt long before we were looking for a suitable stud boy. We decided to use a well known boy who lived on the south coast. (Stud boys were very few and far between then). Chichi went there twice, but due to a number of problems and our ignorance she never became pregnant. It was then we found a boy that lived about twenty minutes away from us, 'Dreamcats Jackthelad'............
Jack was owned by Gladys Breakspear, a very warm hearted, hope she won't mind me saying, slightly eccentric lady. To our delight Chichi became pregnant on the second attempt. only to lose all four babies at birth, they were all stillborn. It was because of this that Sharon trained as a Veterinary Nurse, she was so upset that she could'nt help them in anyway, I did'nt know what to do, yes, I had read all the books etc. But I do know now that my Vet during this time was a complete idiot and it was proberly his treatment that caused alot of the problems..............
Chichi was about three and a half years old when she lost the babies, after a great deal of thought we decided to have her spayed.
It was during one of our visits to Gladys in 1992 that one of her kittens took a liking to me, so much so that this little one just would'nt get off my lap. She was a little seal colourpoint. Gladys said she was five months old and no-one had taken any interest in her. (What a sales pitch) Well, what could I do.........???
Gladrags Littlepolly Flinders came home and was known as Sophie. Not long after two more Gladrags kittens, Liddlelamsidivi (Katie) and Egraine (Fudge) came home too. Sophie and Fudge were half sisters via their mum, Fawpawz Myfanwy, and Fudge and Katie half sisters via their dad, Dreamcats Jackthelad. The rest is history.........................
Ragdolls were originally registered in Britain with the C.A and alot were given new names when the breed was accepted by the GCCF, many breeders did'nt have GCCF prefix's. So alot of Ragdolls were given a GCCF prefix when they were registered. We took the opportunity to change the rest of the names also,.so, Petil-Lu Chichi became Adinnlo Calamity Jane .Sophie, Gladrags Littlepolly Flinders became Adouzlo Pocahontas, Katie became Adouzlo Annie Oakley and Fudge became Adouzlo Pistolpackinmama.
