Mixed Breed advice

[dontfalter]

I lost my cat this week is awful sudden circumstances and am heart broken. However from previous experience I know that the only way I can ever feel better is to move on quite quickly as the house is empty.

I've only ever had rescue moggies and now would really like a pedigree but I don't want to keep them inside as we live in a very quiet area and not sure how we would manage stuff like the Bifolds in summer or having the front door open with the children - won't they just run out?

So I was thinking if I went for say a Ragdoll cross or half Persian would they be more street wise and able to go out?

Or is it worth going for the full breed and maybe letting them have some supervised garden time?

I got my full Persians from a rescue. As long as the garden is enclosed. They are fine to go out. Though mine nip through the hole in the fence and go next door. They aren't the most dynamic of breeds anyway.

My friend has a half Persian and a full Persian. Bu fold doors are a nightmare for trying to get them in at night!

Don't get any cross breed cat especially ragdoll. If you want a pedigree cat pay the extra for a genuine pedigree (only registered cats are pedigree anything else is a lovely moggy). You are looking at around £700 and you should research a genuine breeder who health tests their cats and registers their kittens.

Cross breeds can avoid some of the health problems that pure breeds are prone to.

They really can't, genuine pedigree cats are usually health tested.

Thanks I think I was more hoping to avoid the you can't let them out at all as they have no common sense side of things... just wondering if they are half moggy they are more able to go out - the half Persians and half ragdolls I have seen are nearly £700 anyway!

They really can't, genuine pedigree cats are usually health tested
The same health problems that cropped up in the first place as a result of low genetic diversity crossing pure breed to pure breed you mean?

I would like a pedigree if I get another cat but I fully agree that moggies are often the healthiest and a crossbred depending on the cross and what the parents are (or aren’t) carrying can be healthier than the parent breeds.

The same health problems that cropped up in the first place as a result of low genetic diversity crossing pure breed to pure breed you mean?

Not forgetting that many of the 'desirable' features produced by the 'responsible' breeders (punched in faces, hairless skin, stunted limbs, folded ears, excessively pointed faces, excessive docility) are genetic abnormalities that actually harm the cat and cause a lower life expectancy. But as long as the owner has something 'cute' (and expensive) to keep indoors & show off that's alright.

Adopt a lovely moggie from your local rescue.

Not forgetting that many of the 'desirable' features produced by the 'responsible' breeders (punched in faces, hairless skin, stunted limbs, folded ears, excessively pointed faces, excessive docility) are genetic abnormalities that actually harm the cat and cause a lower life expectancy. But as long as the owner has something 'cute' (and expensive) to keep indoors & show off that's alright

I don’t agree with traits/genes that cause health issues like flattened faces, Manx and folded ear gene etc but as with dogs, a lot of health issues in pure bred cats are a direct result of breeding from too small a gene pool.

I am confused I messaged a lady to ask what breed her kittens were as she wanted £350 each for ginger and white kitten, black kitten and some others. She said they are mix breed and are well worth the money. She wasn't the only one on gum tree selling unnamed breeds for high prices but how can a ragamuffin sell for £200 and a mixed breed that she never told me the breed mixes be worth more money? Surely she and others are exploiting people or am I wrong and mixed breeds ate worth more

Your premise is flawed OP.

You don't keep pedigree cats indoors because they're delicate flowers who are too dumb to survive in the outside world.

You keep pedigree cats indoors because some fucker might steal them and you've lost your "investment".

Stick with moggies. Not only are you far less likely to lose them, you can let them outdoors, they're cheap/free, less likely to be wrong in the head, and perhaps most importantly you won't be feeding money into the eugenics programmes that are "pedigree breeding", with their production line for kittens with genetic abnormalities and health issues.

Ragdoll’s and Persians are recommended to be indoor cats not outdoors. I have Ragdoll’s and they are far too trusting and a little bit stupid to be trusted to free roam. They love my enclosed garden however.

I think if you want a pedigree get a full breed health checked one and do plenty of research because not all problems show at birth.

I’m sorry you lost your cat.

@Confused12377

I am confused I messaged a lady to ask what breed her kittens were as she wanted £350 each for ginger and white kitten, black kitten and some others. She said they are mix breed and are well worth the money. She wasn't the only one on gum tree selling unnamed breeds for high prices but how can a ragamuffin sell for £200 and a mixed breed that she never told me the breed mixes be worth more money? Surely she and others are exploiting people or am I wrong and mixed breeds ate worth more

Basically they are bog standard moggies. Even if the mother is a pedigree, the father is most likely an unknown aka "domestic shorthair", meaning no particular breed. Moggies are the most common cats, and rescues are jam packed with them. You can get a standard cat from a rescue for well under £100, which will include a full vet check, microchipping, all their vaccinations and neutering if they are old enough (and usually a voucher if they are too young).

The breeder you contacted is trying it on and taking the piss.

“You don't keep pedigree cats indoors because they're delicate flowers who are too dumb to survive in the outside world.”

Dunno, some are a bit.... unworldly - my neighbour has 2 ragdolls that get out, they do things like slew in the middle of the road when it’s sunny and just wander in other peoples houses to say hello.

My Siamese used to go out though, she just did cat stuff and came back in.

Sleep not slew, lol

You don't keep pedigree cats indoors because they're delicate flowers who are too dumb to survive in the outside world.

Err that's exactly the reason mine stay within the garden! Have you met many Persians?

You folks with examples of genetically brain-damaged 'purebreds' are not making my position any weaker. Poor dumb animals made that way by breeders going for a look. Please don't encourage the practice.

I've had both moggies and pedigrees, have loved them all, and I can see the case for both.

If you do decide to go the pedigree route, I would highly recommend Burmese, which are just like moggies but more intelligent and more affectionate. When I first took mine to the vet, she said that people who get a Burmese never go back to moggies. I've had Siamese and Tonkinese too, which are gorgeous and real characters, but more prima donnas and very demanding.

Having said that, I totally get that giving a home to a rescue cat is morally the right thing to do. And cheaper too! You will pay a top price for a pedigree, but IMO worth every penny.

Don't worry too much about your bifold doors. If you have young children, it will be impossible to keep all doors and windows closed in the summer, so I would just get used to letting them out. If you live in a quiet area away from busy roads, they will be as streetwise as any other cat.

We've never had any health problesm with our pedigrees by the way.