SolanaRanch What the Deuce (AKA Patman)

From SolanaRanch Last Patriot and Vividcats Deuces Wild

When Jon and I brought Deuce into our breeding program, we had a long-term vision: to combine leopard cat agouti (Apb) with a white countershaded pattern in hopes of one day creating a Bengal displaying black, yellow, and white coloration. We expected the project to take years. Then Patman was born.

Patman arrived as a buttercup-yellow kitten with striking black markings and a white belly—far beyond what we had imagined possible from the combination of Patty and Deuce. From the moment he appeared, we knew he was something special.

Ironically, we almost didn’t keep him. As a fourth-generation male, Patman had only about a fifty percent chance of being fertile. We even offered him in one of our first kitten selections, but fortunately for us, he was passed over. Rather than place him, we decided to take a chance.

That decision proved to be one of the luckiest we have ever made.

Patman’s kittens were consistently exceptional. Even today, many of the kittens he produced rank among the most beautiful we have ever bred. He had a remarkable ability to pass along rich color, striking contrast, and an unmistakable presence that made his offspring stand out from the crowd.

One mystery surrounding Patman is that a number of his male descendants experienced fertility challenges. We have several theories, including the possibility of interactions involving leopard cat ancestry or corin-related genetics, but the exact cause remains unknown. Fortunately, his daughters had no difficulty producing kittens, and through them Patman’s influence continues to shape our breeding program today.

Patman’s genetic makeup is Apb/A, C/cb, and TaM/TaB. He tested negative for both PK Deficiency and PRA-b. Most importantly, Patman’s most recent HCM screening was normal at eight years of age. Between his health, his unique genetics, and the extraordinary quality he produced, Patman remains one of the most valuable and influential cats in our pedigree.