“Sepia” Ragdolls, be aware

In my search for a reputable Ragdoll breeder, I came across some questionable tactics. One of these tactics was to market sepia or mink colored Ragdolls as rare types and to charge up the wazoo for one.

First let me say that if you like this pattern or color on a cat, that’s totally fine. BUT…don’t think you’re getting some kind of holy grail rare Ragdoll. You’re not. This type is only rare because not too many reputable breeders even consider working with them seeing as how they can only be registered as a Ragdoll “Variant” and can not be shown at any association competition.

According to the TICA, the sepia or mink colors aren’t even mentioned in the breed’s traits.

“All pointed Ragdolls have beautiful blue eyes and come in 3 patterns: colorpoint, bicolor, mitted. The Ragdoll color pallet consists of seal, blue, chocolate, lilac, cinnamon, fawn, red and cream along with the tortoiseshell and lynx (or tabby) variations. Colorpoint Ragdolls have classic markings like the Siamese with no white anywhere on the body; mitted Ragdolls have white feet in the front looking like mittens and white to the hock on the backlegs looking like boots along with a possible white blaze on the face; bi-color Ragdolls have more white extending higher up the legs than on the mitteds, splashes of white on the back, a white underside and an inverted white V on the face.”  – TICA.org

Now, you may be thinking, I don’t care about showing my cat. Why would I give to figs about that? Who cares?

Here’s the main point: Trying to pass these cats off as “rare” or “unique” is simply a shady business practice to pass off non standard cats for top dollar. The breeders who do this may be lovely people. However, none of the websites I saw that claimed to be selling the rare sepia/mink Ragdolls even alluded to the fact that the colors were not recognized by the major cat fancier associations.

That seems underhanded to me. A buyer should know what they’re getting, and what they’re not getting. If you’re spending upwards of $700 dollars on a cat, you shouldn’t be bamboozled in the process. If you buy from a breeder, you’re not just buying a cat. You’re buying some assurances. One, that your cat will display some or all of the Ragdoll personality traits. Two, your cat is well bred and will have some kind of health guarantee for the first year at least. Three, your cat is in fact a Ragdoll and will be registered with the TICA.

If you care more about the color of the cat than supporting standardized breeding practices, maybe you should consider adopting from a shelter. There are some Ragdolls or Ragdoll mixes who get taken in. You’ll save money at the very least. And at most, you’ll end up with a super loving cat who’s got some of those Ragdoll qualities you were attracted to in the first place.

 

Pet food and the Beneful lawsuit

For anyone whose done a bit of research into pet food, it’s pretty clear the big brand name companies don’t always have their shit together.

Take for instance, Beneful. A current lawsuit claims the food is causing dogs to bleed internally. The lawsuit alleges that the dry dog foods include, propylene glycol, a chemical used in automobile antifreeze which is harmful to animals.

Because I work at a natural pet market, I’ve seen at least ten customers come in over the past few days searching for an alternative to Beneful. I’m so happy that people are paying attention to the suit. I think it’s always good when people take a look at what they’re feeding. There are so many great (and inexpensive) options out there for pet food, that aren’t necessarily stocked at the supermarket.

Sadly, this isn’t the first time a company has run into trouble like this. In 2007, a wave of recalls for melamine shook the pet food industry.

Here’s the good news. There is an awesome website where pet guardians can go to find out if the food they’re feeding is any good: Dog Food Advisor. Use this tool to research a brand and find out it’s ingredients as well as how they compare to other brands.

The main thing to remember here is that not all dog/cat foods are made equal. Often times, you get what you pay for. Sadly, that can result in the unexpected and heartbreaking loss of a beloved pet.

REVIEW: Primal Freeze-Dried Formula (Cats) Turkey

This food is awesome…but a tad expensive. I think of it as a good food to rotate in every other day or so for one meal for Phoebe. Doing it this way, the bag will obviously last me longer than if it were the only food I was feeding. Today, she bounded… and I do mean bounded toward the bowl, she was so excited. The great thing about this freeze-dried formula, in my opinion, is that I can put a good amount of water in it, and Phoebe remains interested. I know some people say their cats will turn their nose up at it if it’s too watery. This is thankfully not a problem for me at the moment, which means I can make sure Phoebe gets a healthy dose of water in her system.

Rating:

How it works: This formula requires you to basically mix up the dried nuggets with water.

What I think: It’s a super easy and quick way to do a super healthy raw(esque) diet without having to worry about thawing. According to Primal’s website, the difference between the freeze-dried and the frozen raw is just that the moisture is removed from the freeze-dried. The ingredients are essentially the same. I think it’s a good option to keep a bag handy on those nights when you’re pressed for time but still want to do something healthy for your pet. However, you pay for the convince, so keep that in mind if/when you pick this up. So far, Phoebe has loved this flavor, and I’m excited to try the others.

Ingredients: Turkey, Turkey Necks, Turkey Hearts, Turkey Livers, Organic Collard Greens, Organic Squash, Organic Celery, Cranberries, Blueberries, Organic Pumpkin Seeds, Organic Sunflower Seeds, Minerals (Zinc Sulfate, Copper Carbonate, Selenium), Almonds, Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Sardine Oil, Taurine, Organic Quinoa Sprout Powder, Dried Organic Kelp, Organic Cilantro, Organic Coconut Oil, Cod Liver Oil, Organic Ginger, Natural Vitamin E, Mixed Tocopherols (natural preservative).

Sources: http://www.primalpetfoods.com/product/detail/c/14/id/57 http://blog.primalpetfoods.com/post/28345132350/comparing-raw-and-freeze-dried-formulas

**No one paid me for this review. I bought the food on my own.