Colorpoints

Application Submitted in 2004 to CFA

To Advance Ragdoll Colorpoint Pattern To AOV Showing Status

AOV 2004 PROPOSAL
(AOV = Any Other Variety)

1. PROPOSED: Add an AOV color class for Colorpoint Ragdolls

RATIONAL: The Ragdoll breeders place a great deal of emphasis on controlling the location of the white spotting gene. The Colorpoint Ragdoll which contains no dominant white spotting gene, and has a complete absence of white, is an essential pattern in controlling the WSF in that it helps to prevent kittens of an extreme pattern, in both the Bicolor and Mitted patterns. Colorpoints are instrumental in selecting traits and quality of colors that are the very definition of any breed that is pointed. Good contrast in point, light body color, identification and refining of dilute colors with matching paw and nose leather and quality of barring on lynx's. These are all traits that are difficult, if not impossible , to determine when concentrating solely on the bicolor pattern. (See accompanying article, Review of Pattern + Prediction which shows a summary of 9 possible matings. The High White X Colorpoint will provide the breeder with the most perfectly normal Bicolor pattern). The colorpoints are also very important in order to maintain the health and vigor of our gene pool.

In trying to emphasize differences with similar breeds, the Ragdoll breeders have weighed their points more towards type. In order for Ragdoll breeders to maintain a high level of type, as well as pattern, they feel that it is extremely important that the Colorpoints be advanced into the AOV class so that CFA Judges may handle and adequately evaluate them.

2. If question 1 accepted, add the following description of the Colorpoint pattern (to be inserted after the Van pattern description): Colorpoint Pattern: Point color on all extremities of the body: mask, ears, legs, feet, tail. These should be well defined. Disqualify Any white spotting or locket, white toes, or hairs between toes or areas lacking pigment on paw pads.

Advantages to CFA of Accepting the Colorpoints for AOV

The Ragdoll breeders are strictly asking for AOV registration for the Ragdoll Colorpoints which have no white on them at all, absolutely none. They do not affect
(mimic) the Birmans.

WIAB definition of mimic:  A class of cats would be said to mimic either (a) the parents breed(s), or (b) an already existing breed, when such a class of cats so closely resemble (a) the parent breed or (b) already existing breed, that the defining features of the two groups are considered to be basically the same and the differences between the two groups cannot be said to definite.

The Colorpoint Ragdoll with it’s complete lack of any white on it, is not only different in color, but there is a vast difference of type, between it and the Birman.

In 2003 there were 4044 Ragdolls registered in TICA, of these 903 were Colorpoints, representing 22.3 %.  In 2003 there were only 119 Colorpoints registered in CFA, a difference of 784.  Why such a difference?  The Ragdoll breeders are breeding the Colorpoints and registering them in TICA where they can be shown for awards and for breeding.  In CFA they can only be exhibited and the judges are not required to call them up or to even handle them.  While some judges do call them up and handle them, many will not, and breeders become discouraged and not only quit bringing them out, but quit registering as well.

This difference of 784 represents a financial loss to CFA that would be at least partially avoided if the Colorpoints were accepted for AOV, where they would be handled by the CFA judges and adequately evaluated by them. At $10 per cat, CFA potentially lost almost $8000 in registration fees, and that is not counting possible entry fee’s, in
2003 alone.

Number of Cats shown in Championship class: Ragdolls:
All cats shown in Championship Class
2000-01.........237 33rd place
2000-01............34,639
2001-02.........273 32nd place
2001-02............32,899
2002-03.........324 28th place
2002-03............32,271
2003-04.........577 17th place
2003-04.............31,898

These numbers show that while all cats shown in Championship class decreased by 7.9%  The Ragdolls shown in Chmpionship class increased by a whopping 143.5%. The Ragdolls have moved from 33rd place up to 17th place while only being allowed to show 1/3 of our patterns


Number of GC & GP Ragdolls 
2002-03...........23
2003-04............32
2004-05............. 8

Number of DM’s: 3

We ask your help in keeping the Ragdolls on the move in CFA, so that we can contribute our fair share in keeping CFA the preeminent cat association in the world. We ask that you grant AOV registration to the Ragdoll Colorpoints