Occhi – Ragdoll Kitten of the Month
Submitted June 25, 2021
I’d like to introduce you to my handsome Occhi Blu, (blue eyes in Italian) a Seal Bi-color kitten born March 20, 2021.
2020 was tough for most people including me. In the middle of the pandemic, I had lost my be-loved 13-year-old ginger Mainecoon mix and was bedridden from a compound fracture to my ankle. I hoped better days were in front of me.
In January 2021, we moved to a new home on the east coast of NC. We settled into our forever home but I was unsettled in my heart. I missed having a little fur face roaming around the house. I had cats as pets a majority of my life and I really missed it, but knew I had to take care of my-self first and heal not just a broken heart but a broken ankle.
I began my research on Ragdolls like a detective looking for clues about their unique color patterns, characteristics, breeders in my state and products that would help me once he arrived. That’s when I joined the Floppycats Facebook Group. I was getting great information about the breed, pictures of the different color patterns, as well as finding I breeders in my area.
I found three breeders that were close enough to drive to and I wrote heart filled emails to each of them about myself and what color pattern I was looking for. I fell in love with the Bi-colors
patterns because of their little pink noses and pink toe beans, (I was always sucked in by the blue eyes). I really wanted a kitten that didn’t remind me of my ginger boy in any way. I made a choice when I decided to get another cat, to honor them equally but differently. I wanted to totally love each of my kitties in very distinctive ways.
After writing my introduction email I had responses from the first two breeders but the one clos-est to us had a full waiting list until the Fall of 2021. I knew in my heart I couldn’t wait that long. The second breeder was promoting her kittens for sale on her Facebook Page and I didn’t feel a connection doing that.
When I heard from the third breeder, Angela Reid from Velvet Rags I was thrilled. I was hoping to hear from that Cattery. She told me my email touched her and that she would be delighted in helping me find the right kitten.
She had a couple of her queens that were pregnant and they were both bicolor litters, one due in February and one in March. She hadn’t started taking deposits, when she did, I immediately put a deposit down. I was happy to be on a waitlist and second in line to choose a kitten.
When Angela and I met in person, I knew I was at the right place. I was able to see the kittens that were born in February and had my sights set on a lynx bicolor. That wasn’t meant to be but I never gave up hope. When she let me know that the lynx kitten was not an option, she sent me a picture of Occhi. I couldn’t tell if he was mine or not, but when Angela told me his story, I knew I would be in love with him.
He was born from the last litter of one of Velvet Rags favorite queens Laila (now retired) and he was the first from (new king) Cyrano’s litter. He was named Cyrano de Bergerac because it was her children’s favorite story. She told me that Cyrano was purring shortly after he was born when they picked him up. Occhi was the only kitten from their litter. He was a one and only. I knew he was special and that he would be special to me.
It wasn’t until I actually met him at 6 weeks that I knew he was the one for me I looked in his blue eyes and saw the charmer that he is. He moved in with us on June 5, 2012.
It couldn’t be more accurate while writing this, he is a true floppy cat. He follows me everywhere, flops down where I am and just wants to hang. He loves when I talk to him and he loves discovering all the new exciting things around the house. Especially grocery bags!
He also loves carrying his toys into his tunnel and has just discovered all the wonders of outside while he sits up in his cat tree looking out the window.
A total purring machine, this loving kitten has filled my heart with joy once again. Angela was the angel that introduced Occhi to our family and he is my “new beginning” kitty.
Read More Ragdoll Kitten of the Month Stories
Thank you for reading! Submissions like these – the “Cat of the Week” and “Kitten of the Month”- are provided by their owners and reflect their individual experiences and practices. The information these submissions share does not necessarily reflect Floppycats’ recommendation or endorsement regarding cat nutrition or care. Always consult a qualified feline nutritionist or veterinarian for personalized advice on your cat’s dietary and health needs. If you want to learn more about species-appropriate nutrition, please visit our cat food page.
Hi, I’m Jenny Dean, creator of Floppycats! Ever since my Aunt got the first Ragdoll cat in our family, I have loved the breed. Inspired by my childhood Ragdoll cat, Rags, I created Floppycats to connect, share and inspire other Ragdoll cat lovers around the world,
I loved reading Occhi’s story — he is just ADORABLE! I am so glad he is healing your heart, while your ankle also heals (I have been there with an ankle broken in 3 places some years ago, so know what you are going through — no fun). Lots of love and all best wishes from my raggies, Dash and Jazlyn, and me.