Ragdoll Cat Forums

So I took all of your advice and have officially decided to get Buddy a kitty friend! I’m going with a different breeder this time around who lives much closer to me: http://www.celestrailcats.com/available-kittens.htm
I originally put a deposit down on “Millie,” a mitted seal lynx female – exactly the color, pattern, and gender that I wanted.



When I visited the cattery yesterday, I got to meet more of the available kittens. Lynne brought down Millie and her sister and two brothers for me to meet. They’re only seven weeks old, and it was their first trip out of the nursery into the general cat population, so they were pretty nervous. Millie was very tense (understandably so), and just wanted to hide under the couch. Her brothers and sister were timid too, but they eventually because more adventurous. Millie didn’t leave from under the couch – we had to shoo her out so I could hold her. Near the end of my visit she got more relaxed, but she still didn’t purr or look content in any way.

I was really hoping that I would be able to look at her and know that she was the right cat for me. I think Lynne knew that I was getting worried and she brought out some of the older kittens for me to see. One kitten, “Janet” is four months old and is a mitted seal tortie. I have NEVER liked torties – their coloring has just never appealed to me. Something about this little girl though….. She sprawled out in my lap and purred and purred and looked up at me with those big blue eyes….. She was laying at my feet for awhile while I was holding other cats, and I just couldn’t help thinking, “Oh crap. This is my cat.”



I also fell in love with a blue mitted boy, but he’s not really an option for me. At five months, he’s already bigger than nine month old Buddy, and he hasn’t been fixed yet. Apparently a couple came and wanted to take him home, but “Bentley” wasn’t having any of it. He did NOT want to go with them. He laid by my feet and purred and headbutted me, and I wanted to stick him under my arm and run out the door with him. If I didn’t already have Buddy, I would have taken Bentley in a heartbeat.

ANYway….I keep thinking that Millie would be the best choice because she’s ready to go home at the perfect time for my schedule and she’s exactly what I wanted. I’m sure that her personality will come out as she gets older and yesterday was probably just a fluke. I keep thinking about Janet too, although I kind of worry about the “tortitude” that people talk about. Then I got home and looked on the available kittens page and realized that I also should have asked to see “Anna.” Gah. Too many kittens!
Anyway, which kitten do you guys like better?

I would go with the one that you saw and the personality was wonderful. They are both adorable but I always think the kitten has a way of picking you. Of course, if you have your heart set on that pattern then I would take the other one because most likely you will end up loving that one as well.

They are both beautiful, but I agree with Deb about a kitten picking you. I originally went to the breeder's to see a seal lynx but when I got there she hid under the couch the whole time as well. Monkey on the other hand not only was playing and purring, he kept jumping into the cat carrier! I decided he was "meant" for me, and I've never regretted it Go with your heart though, they're both so cute that I don't think you could go wrong one way or the other!

Janet seems to want you, and if you really don't mind torti coloring, she is outgoing, and snuggly and seems very social. She does seem to have picked you. Isn't the whole tortiness just a myth? All cats are individual with their own personalities. I may be mistaken, but I don't see how being a torti would make them more rambunctious?
How do you know Millie will be more social when you get her home and still not scared? Can you go back and visit her again before you decide?

For my first kitten I wanted any pattern but a lynx. So what did I come home with- a seal Lynx female. And I thank my lucky stars every day because she is the most amazing animal and I can't imagine life without her. Whatever you decide, congratulations, and all will go well. It will be great to have two kittens.

I know what you mean when you say that torties don't appeal to you because I usually feel the same way. But she is super cute and after hearing about her personality I would feel the same way and pick her too! Trust your instincts, if "Millie" didn't seem like she was your kitty then she's probably not. Good luck with your decision! I'm excited to see what you pick!

Does the breeder live close enough for you to make another visit to see Anna as well? If it were the kittens first time downstairs then they would naturally be very timid and introverted. It would be better if you could make another visit and see all three kittens together and see how they interact with each other and with you. Whatever you do, don't rush into making a decision, they are always the ones you end up regretting!

She's about an hour and a half from me. I have a busy month coming up, but I could carve out some time to visit again. I just feel bad asking! I spent 2.5 hours there yesterday and I feel bad enough about that!

I personally think that personality is more important than color (even though I love torties) but the decision has to be yours.

(12-06-2009 05:07 PM)UberClaire Wrote: [ -> ]She's about an hour and a half from me. I have a busy month coming up, but I could carve out some time to visit again. I just feel bad asking! I spent 2.5 hours there yesterday and I feel bad enough about that!

Don't feel bad about asking to go back. As a breeder myself I welcome new families to visit as often as they can or want to, that way I can be sure that my kittens are going to the best homes where a lot of thought has gone into the decision.

Temperament is the most important. However, you may or may not see it when you visit. Our most reliable lap cats hid from us and had to go into the carrier immediately because they wanted to get down after being caught. They were standoffish for a long time after coming home. However, the breeder knew they were gentle, loving, people oriented kittens - and they are. So, ask the breeder about temperament in addition to relying on your own observations. If the breeder cannot identify one as more attentive, then pick the one that is attentive with you. (You may be seeing primarily the age difference. I would also not reject a kitten based on his being bigger.)