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That early morning I didn't know whether I'd be a success or not. I didn't know if I'd ever win a cat show final, but I knew I was giving this venture everything I had. More than anything I wanted to be a Ragdoll exhibitor & breeder. |
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Aristede, Daphne, Estelle and Brucie @ 6 months old -- December 2006 |
As with most cat breeders, I, too, loved cats from a very early age. Except with me various circumstances prohibited me from having any sorts of pets except for fish. I enjoy telling the story of when I was like 7 years old and I was once again begging for a kitten. My mother gave me a hug, and told me when I grew up I could have as many kittens as I wanted. Well, I ran with that one! (Not that I have more than I can handle by any means! RegencyRags is considered a micro-cattery due to the small number of cats I keep.)
When I had a place of my own, I answered an advertisement for free kittens in Long Beach, CA. I'd always wanted a calico, and the sweet-faced torbie I'm holding in the picture caught my eye. Like most free kittens she was only 5 wks old -- far too young to come home with me. But, back then I didn't know any better, so I took her home. I named her Celeste after one of the minor characters on 90210. She ate solid food like a pro, and never once pottied any place except her litter box. However, because she'd never been socialized properly, I had one independently minded kitten on my hands. By the time she reached 12 wks old she wouldn't let me come near her. By 16 wks she was destroying my home.
I kept her inside the house and replaced objects she'd destroy while I was out until her first birthday. It was when she tore up the edge of carpeting along my living room floor trying to get out of the house that I knew she needed a different type of home. I lived in the city with lots of traffic, so putting her outside wasn't the answer. With deep disapointment, I called my parents who agreed to let her roam their country property. She's done extremely well there and will turn 14 yrs old in Feb. 2010. She's still stand-offish, but I do enjoy our visits when I see my parents who live in Santa Barbara County.
Once I found Celeste her new home, I made it a goal to find out as much as I could about socializing and raising kittens so that they'd make good indoor pets because while I wanted to get another kitten to take her place, I wanted to make an informed decision this time.
It was literally by chance that I discovered the Ragdoll breed. I was at the Lakewood Mall browsing through half-off calendars when I began flipping through a picture-a-day cat calendar. My eye caught one caption about these really friendly, floppy cats called Ragdolls that went limp in your arms. I wanted one! At home I hopped on my computer and found out as much as I could about Ragdolls. Then I saw the cost -- upwards of $450. I immediately felt hopeless. I mean, where would I get that kind of money for a cat? A cat!
Like the Angels and their Rally Monkey, I regrouped and found ways to make extra money here and there. Looking back, I really did have great fun putting together that kitten fund. It took me exactly one year of savings to meet my goal. Then I had to drive all the way to San Diego to pick up my kitten because back then there were so few Ragdoll breeders in California.
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Ch. Dudley of RegencyRags @ 2 yrs old |
My first Ragdoll was a very mismarked seal bicolor girl I named Ponette 
after a French flick I'd seen the year before. She didn't exactly flop in my arms, though. More to the point, she was shy. That led me to my second Ragdoll, this time a show quality male I named Dudley. While Lil Duds, as we liked to call him, was a vast improvement over Ponette, I still wanted something more from a Ragdoll. I knew there was more potential for greatness in these beloved felines. Which brings me to the beginning of it all. In case anyone is wondering, Dudley and Ponette are living the life of riley in Santa Maria, CA, and they will never be forgotten in my heart.
| Dudley, Ponette & baby Josette |
From the very beginning my focus has always been on socialization. The hallmark beauty of each RegencyRags kittens is a delicate balance between breeding for personality and the show hall. I've since found out there are breeders who keep their breeding cats and kittens in their garage or in an outbuilding away from every day activities. Not me. Right from the start I kept my kittens in my bedroom where I could be with them all the time. Over the years I've fine tuned this process, but the fact remains that I stand by my promise to raise up the most socialized kittens that I can. And my buyers agree, so I must be doing something right!
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The very first kitten ever born to RegencyRags -- Ashling @ 1 wk old |
Anyway, that's a brief summary of our humble orgins. As far as plans for the future, well, I always have more plans. This year I've held back two new RegencyRags girls for my breeding program: Sukie and the brand new baby girl, Danielle. I've decided to retire Chi Chi and will most likely send Schuyler to a breeder friend of mine. I'd like to bring a new male into my cattery. Who that boy will be remains to be seen. It's such a difficult choice bringing in a new stud male that I keep waffling on what I should do.
| RegencyRags Miss Dior "Danielle" @ 8 wks old Chi Chi x Aristede |
For those of you out there living your dream, you know exactly how I feel right now. It's fantastic. A real rush, actually. I have the most incredible and supportive husband in the world, Craig. He's an attorney for a great firm in the Clear Lake area. His great employment allows me to stay at home full time with my cats and baby kittens. Plus, I can count on him to give excellent care to our feline family when I'm off exhibiting our prize babies (i.e Sabrina and Schuye). IWhen I married Craig, I was assured he'd be a great asset to RegencyRags due to the fact he flawlessly assisted Angelique in the delivery of her babies while I was at a cat show before we were even engaged. I call that devotion. I couldn't do any of this without him.
Craig and I are members of our local church, Gateway Community, the best Methodist church I've ever attended. It's a joy to meet once a week with our Life Group members. They're great with the cats and enjoy giving me a hand with the socialization of the kittens. I am a member of TICA, RFCI and RI. We support the local spay/neuter facility by donating $20. per kitten to help defer the cost of spay/neuter for low income families. Craig is a member of the Lions Club of League City and a former student of A&M. Gig'em Aggies! We don't have a collie for nothing, folks! ;)
May God bless all of you who visit this site,
Denise Saunders
November 2009
Okay, I did promise a picture of our latest pumpkin creations. Here they are: the ghost by our exchange student, Julia; the bat by Craig; and the perennial cat pumpkin by me. See below for my previous cat creation. ;) Watch for next year's pumpkins courtesy of the Saunders Family.
Note: Scroll all the way to the bottom for pictures of previous kittens.
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RegencyRags is a small hobby cattery located in the NASA/Clear Lake area of the wider Houston metropoliatan specializing in top show Blue Point and Blue Lynx Point Bicolors. My name is Denise Jordan-Saunders. And I approve this message. ;) Nov. 2008
The last year has brought a lot of changes to our household. Namely RegencyRags has relocated from Tomball, TX to League City, TX, which means that we are now in Galveston County. I like the hint of salt the ocean breeze brings with it into our suburban neighborhood. The cats like it here, too. We moved from a fairly small house into a very large one. I like to joke that this new house could hold two of my last!
Just as soon as we settled in, the hurricane hit. What an adventure! Being from Santa Barbara, I'd never experienced a hurricane before. And while RegencyRags is a micro-sized cattery with only three adult cats in residence, the hurricane hit when we had two litters of kittens. Hauling them into the car and driving them all over the state in search of safety left little to be desired. The cats did great, especially the kittens. It's the people who had the hard time. We packed and unpacked more litter and food and carriers and toys and scratchers than I care to elaborate. Yet it does make a good story! Once back at the house, we discovered the ceiling in the master bedroom had fallen in and briefly flooded much of the upstairs. Luckily we have laminate wood flooring so no mildew carpet smell in this house!
Then, in this whirlwind of moving and the hurricane hitting, Craig and I got married. We had a fabulous time and commend the staff at Heather's Glen Bed & Breakfast in Conroe, TX for all their help. My parents and my brother Kevin flew out from California as did my wonderful friend Heather of SnuggleRags and her husband. What a wonderful night. To my delight Heather brought with her the cutie girl ChiChi who is the daughter of CoCo Bear and the half-sister of our very own Daphne.
As you can see in this picture, Kevin has really grown up! I had the brilliant idea to ask him to be my Man of Honor and he said yes! I couldn't think of another person I'd rather have up there with me. I mean, Kevin really is the reason there is a RegencyRags!
So, now that Craig and I are married I am given to looking back on this past year. It's been another remarkable year for RegencyRags, albeit a busy one. I've not be able to do a lot of showing this year, mostly due to wedding planning. Yet I have a feeling that's about to change. My baby girl ChiChi just might grow up to be something to talk about. I really wanted to give her a Dark Shadows name, but since her mother is CoCo is just seemed fitting that she'd be ChiChi. I don't know!
Looking towards the future I see us continuing to improve the Ragdoll breed and giving the very best care to our kittens. Now that Craig is here he does his part to help as well. I've never seen a man more horrified than he when I thrust a kitten bottle full of formula at him and told him he needed to feed Tiffany. His look -- just priceless. But really, Craig is the best and I count on him to help me with the cats when I do get out to shows again. He really is great.
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January 1, 1999 marks the early beginnings of RegencyRags when I brought home my very first Ragdoll kittens from San Diego. Since that time I have championed many cats, yet nothing will ever beat the thrill of receiving my very first ribbon from Pascale Portales in the Alter ring.
Many years later I can claim many victories for RegencyRags, including my lasted triumph of breeding and showing Ch. RW RegencyRags Coquettish Delight (Daphne), the BEST Ragdoll Kitten for 2006/2007 in the Southwest Region, as well as the 13th Best All Breed Kitten in the Southwest.
Now with Daphne's baby kittens toddling about the house and their great-grandmother Josette nearing retirement, I can sit back and contemplate my achievements. As a breeder who strives to perfect the Ragdoll cat, my goals will never be absolutely complete, but I can say that I feel proud of my girls and the kittens we have brought into this world together.
First in line for thanks is my very special brother, Kevin. To him I owe the very foundation of RegencyRags. This dear teenage boy awoke at the break of dawn (or actually 
several hours before then!) to travel with me to the Arcadia shows once a month for nearly a year. It's Kevin who carried the heavy stuff, and carried out the smelly stuff, and heard all kinds of flack when he brought me the wrong brush from the Princess Kitty Backpack. It's Kevin who smiled in the worst situations and told me it would be okay, that one day we'd have champions.
In fact, it's Kevin who drove with me that crisp September morning when I picked up the one and only Angelique from such an Arcadia show. He took one look at her, then whispered in my ear, "She's going to Supreme." This young man has an eye for cats. His first love is Maine Coons. I promised to help him purchase his first show alter once he graduates from high school. I have one year to keep my promise. Anyway, hats off to you, Kevin. You deserve this special section in your honor. I love you with all my heart!
Special thanks to Jill Hopper of Dixie Willow who holds a forever place in my heart as the woman who became my first Ragdoll Mentor.
Also, to Valerie Knight of Abbocato who cared enough about the Ragdoll breed to share some of the best bloodlines available, adding a touch of panache to my breeding program.
Then to Laura Nielsen of Echoglen who gave me my first fighting chance at success when she placed my darling princess Angelique in my arms.
~Denise M. Jordan
July 2007
Aristede with Jay Bangle at the Oklahoma Show
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