Black Ragdoll? or Norwegian Forest Cat? or Mix Breed?

oriane0654

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We adopted the most wonderful cat last year.  His name is Owen, and he is a little over 1 1/2 years old.  At first we thought he might be a black Ragdoll...  He's so relaxed and complacent, doesn't know a stranger, and will follow you around the house like dog.  He has soft, downy fur, with a sort of "under-down" beneath his main fur.  But, as he's gotten older, the black fur on his belly, under his arm pits, and around his neck has started to turn grey or smoke colored.  This makes me wonder if he might be Norwegian Forest Cat.   Maybe he is neither, and just a beautiful cat.  We love him to pieces and it really doesn't matter if we know...just curious to see if anyone can shed any light on his ancestry. 

Thanks!




 
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oriane0654

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Nothing.  No ideas?
 

di and bob

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All I know is he is absolutely gorgeous! With out papers it doesn't matter what he is, I'm sure he would be listed as a domestic long hair. He has to have some Ragdoll in him, I love that ruff and the long hair on his belly! He looks especially laid back too. Not all cats have that downy layer of fur underneath also, I've only owned two in my life that have that two layers of hair. All the luck, and I hope a breeder might give you some insight as to what he has in him.
 
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oriane0654

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Di and Bob...  Thank you!  He's such a floppy laid back cat, and has the sweetest disposition.  We love him!
 

biancavd

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Do you happen to have a good picture for me of just his face (front and side pics preferred - so I can check his eyes and face shape / nose + bridge etc) and a picture of him just standing so I can see his body size/shape a bit better? Thanks!
 
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oriane0654

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Biancavd, I will try to get one for you. :)
 
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oriane0654

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oriane0654

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P.s. - We adopted him from an animal shelter. He was about 3 months old when we adopted him, and they said that he was "owner surrendered."
 

biancavd

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I will honestly say I really suck at saying what breed a cat could be by looking at some pictures (It's not the same as seeing them in real), but the pictures in your first post really screamed at me and told me to ask for more pictures haha.

I asked for a profile and face picture (and body picture) so I could look between the Norwegian Forest Cat, Maine Coon and Siberian Cat. These 3 breeds look extremely alike, are all very big, and can only be seen apart by their profiles and body shapes.

Looking at the profile of your beautiful cat, I can assure you he isn't a Norwegian, nor do I doubt it's in there. It's not the right shape.

However, it really matches the Siberian cat, which was also my first guess when I saw your first post. This doesn't mean he is a siberian cat, but my guts tell me he does have it in him. Even the way you described his nature fits the Siberian Cat. So my guess would be that he's a beautiful Siberian cat, or a mix with Siberian in there.

You have a beautiful boy, enjoy him <3
 
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oriane0654

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Thank you.  Wow, yes, he does look a bit like a Siberian.  
 

biancavd

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Thank you.  Wow, yes, he does look a bit like a Siberian.  
He looks a lot like a Siberian. I'm still a new Siberian Breeder, but if a Maine Coon breeder can confirm to us he doesn't have the standarts of a Maine Coon (I still have some trouble telling them apart - but from what I know your boy doesn't qualify for a Maine Coon completely) I would even dare to say he might even be a purebred Sib. He really has the looks of one in my eyes. But I'm still too scared to say it now, so don't take my word on it yet. 

And it doesn't matter that much tho. He's a lovely cat, you should enjoy him whatever breed he is or whatever he has in him :D 
 
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oriane0654

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:) I appreciate your insight on this. Thank you. We absolutely DO enjoy him, and always will, no matter what his breeding is...but it's fun to know!  He has a sweet spot in our hearts and in our home.  He has such a gentle, curious disposition, and we can't imagine life without him.
 

biancavd

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Just a head's up - there's no such thing as a black Ragdoll. Plus they always have blue eyes. But sweet cat regardless.  :)
Actually there is. There is somethin called a solid Ragdoll. They aren't pointed and they don't have blue eyes.
 

truragdollover

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Some breeders have tried to produce black Ragdolls but until today, none of those black cats are regconised by any cat association. Just like with all breeds, when someone wants to change something about a breed, it takes time and may very well never
be accepted. Adding a new colour or a new patern to the Ragdoll like solid black, has proven to change the genetic to the point that its fur, hair texture, the chin
and the cheeks would be altered. The eyes of the
Ragdoll must be blue. A black Ragdoll or a Ragdoll
that has a different eye colour or odd-colour is not a
pure bred Ragdoll. Its genetic contains too much of
another breed or many other breeds still to be
considered a pure bred Ragdoll. Ragamuffin wich is
a relatively new breed comes in many different
colours and paterns including black.Their distinctive
personality that resembles the one from the Ragdoll,
comes from the Ragdoll it self who was part of the
breeding program can be mistaken for a true
Ragdoll. That being said, your black kitty is a beauty ! Please excuse my spelling. English is not my first language. :)
 
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wallycats

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I have no idea what he is, except he is BEAUTIFUL.  What a sweet-lot-o-fur!!  And that face!!

Your little girl is very pretty as well !
 

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Siberian Cats (and Norwegian Forest Cats) are quite rare in the US. Unless you happen to know that there's a not-quite-responsible breeder in your area, it's not likely. A Maine Coon type is more likely, as MCs were developed from the large longhaired farm cats common in the Northern US, but actual purebred MC background isn't too likely either. Probably a very handsome domestic longhair, no purebred background. But definitely of the gorgeous sort that a lot of people would like to develop a purebred from ;).
 
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oriane0654

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Thank you, Wallycats!

Willowy, he definitely is a handsome fellow.  He is neutered, so no breeding for him. ;) But he would have made a handsome dad. If we could have a dozen cats like him, we would!   I don't know anything about Siberian breeders in our area...I'm in Lexington, KY.  We got him from the Humane Society animal shelter and he was "owner surrendered."  
 

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Hi, any update on what breed? Or mix breed?

I'm in the same boat with my Magnus. He looks exactly like yours with the same mannerisms. He also flops like a ragdoll when you pick him up. Magnus is 1 year old now and his coat changed drastically like yours to a chocolate brown. I was convinced he is a "Chantilly - Tiffany " breed but I adopted him as a kitten from a shelter with no paperwork from any breeder. I now think he is mixed norweigien forest cat as he has tuffs between his toes

 
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