Peg Horne Nelson

I fell in love with the Ragdoll breed in 1983, after reading about them in a magazine,. Over the years, I talked with several breeders, went to shows across the country, and made the decision that I would one day have a Ragdoll. That day finally came in 1999 when my daughter asked for my advise about what kind of cat would be best for her family. We found a reputable Ragdoll breeder just 30 miles away and visited the cattery later that day.<br><br> Micah, my first, was a very handsome blue point bicolor. I had also put a deposit down for a girl kitten out of an upcoming litter.<br><br> Not long after, my husband of 42 years died from a stroke. My heart was broken. The day after his memorial service, the breeder called and asked if I might foster a litter for a few weeks as she was sick in bed with the flu and needed help. I went the following day and got the litter, including my precious Payton, her mom and two siblings, all 7 weeks old at the time. Those kittens helped me get through the most traumatic time of my life. I enjoyed watching them romp and play. They made me laugh again. I was sad to see them go to their new homes, but Payton stayed with me and later became the first breeder queen for my new “Meriwidoz Ragdoll Cattery”. I’ve been photographing cats and kittens ever since.<br><br> My knowledge of genetics and pedigrees that I acquired over the years, plus an eye for what I wanted in my kitties helped me to create the Meriwidoz Ragdoll look and their floppy personalities.<br><br> I remarried in 2003 to a cat lover just like myself. I'm retired from breeding now but still have breeder friends around the world. <br><br> And I'll never again be without Ragdolls!