The history of the Ragdoll is very controversial with rumours of a car crash, skunk genes and alien or human DNA being used to genetically alter the cats disposition to produce floppy kittens that don't feel pain! All of this is far fetched and proven to be untrue. One clinical examination was undertaken of two Ragdoll cats by Dr Andrew Nash of the University of Glasgow in 1988 and his conclusions were that Ragdolls are normal members of the feline family. The early work with the breed began in 1963 with Ann Baker who lived in California and bred 'Burmese' type experimental Persians. She worked in a Laundry and the owner, Mrs Pennels, had semi-feral cats on her five acre property, one being a white 'Angora type' cat named Josephine. Josephine was nursed back to health after a car accident (probably making her, and therefore, future kittens, more friendly towards humans), after which Ann noticed a difference in the kittens born to Josephine. According to Ann they had a wonderful nature, were a huge size, had non-matting fur, and a non-fighting disposition, as well as having a low pain threshold. Josephine had several litters of kittens before she was sadly put to sleep by Mr Pennels for attacking their dog whilst defending her kittens. Ann was able to gain possession of three of Josephine's offspring that she deemed suitable to breed with, and began line breeding to produce the breed she named Ragdoll. They were Daddy Warbucks, a seal mitted cat with a nose blaze and white tipped tail, who Ann considered the true Ragdoll look. Fugianna, who was a seal bi colour and long and lanky like her mother. The third being Buckwheat, a thick furred black self (solid). These cats and their offspring have been compared to other breeds such as Birmans and Burmese but Josephine and the fathers were semi-feral cats and therefore their parentage was unknown. Ann began a regimented breeding programme which resulted in her producing Colourpoint, Mitted and Bicolour patterns from the three original cats and their offspring. In 1971 she set up her own registering body called the International Ragdoll Cat Association (IRCA). She patented the Ragdoll name in 1975 and franchised out 'breeding stock' under strict contracts. Her aim was to develop a breed who resembled Daddy Warbucks and she believed that in time the Colourpoint and Bicolour patterns would disappear. Ann became very eccentric and paranoid over the years and several of the original purchasers of her Ragdolls, such as the Daytons from the Blossom-Time Cattery, cut their ties with Ann. Ann lost many of her original Ragdoll breeding lines claiming her 'enemies' poisoned them, and so began using many types of cats from her various experimental breeding programmes, including rescue cats. The Daytons however, continued breeding with the original lines, and continued to breed Ragdolls until the early 1980's.  Two ladies, Lulu Rowley (Petil-Lu cattery) and Pat Brownsell (Patriarca cattery) bought and imported twelve Blossom-Time Ragdolls the first arriving in the UK in March 1981. With a good diverse breeding foundation, the UK was introduced to it's first 'home-grown' Ragdolls.......