Ragamuffin Cat Information and Personality Traits

A generally calm cat, the Ragamuffin is an ideal companion for those living in apartments and the breed adapts well to changes in routine.

Ragamuffin at a glance
The Ragamuffin Cat Breed

The Ragamuffin has a medium-sized head but her fur makes her face appear large.

Weight range:

Male: large: >5 kgs.
Female: large: >5 kgs.

Eye color:

Amber, Blue, Green, Gold, Hazel, Odd-eyed

Expectations:

Longevity Range: 8-13 yrs
Social/Attention Needs: Moderate
Tendency to Shed: High

Coat:

Length: Long
Characteristics: Silky
Colors: White, Black, Blue, Cream, Red, Brown, Lilac, Platinum, Fawn, Chocolate, Chestnut, Cinnamon, Lavender, Cameo, Silver
Pattern: Solid Color, Points, Mitted
Less Allergenic: No
Overall Grooming Needs: Moderate, High

Club recognition:

Cat Association Recognition:
ACFA
Prevalence: So-so

The Ragamuffin is a large, long-bodied cat. She is heavily boned with a long tail and a plush coat. The Ragamuffin appears even bigger than she is.

The Ragamuffin has a medium-sized head but her fur makes her face appear large. The ears are also medium sized and are set on the sides of the head to continue the triangular look of the face. The legs are long and strong. The chin should be well developed and the oval eyes should be blue.

The Ragamuffin comes in various colors and patterns. Some of these color patterns are the same as those of the ragdoll. The Ragamuffin with a color point pattern has a light body color with contrasting, darker, color on the extremities, mask and ears. The Bicolor Ragamuffin also exhibits dark points, but will show an inverted V on the forehead with the stomach, all four legs and the ruff being white. The Mitted Ragamuffin also shows points, but in this color pattern, the feet are white, as is the chin. In addition to these classic ragdoll color patterns, the Ragamuffin has various other colors and patterns.

The coat on the Ragamuffin can vary in length from semi-long to long. It is soft, plush and silky.

Personality:

The Ragamuffin is a placid cat but does not really go limp when you hold her. She is even tempered and gets along well with all family members. Changes in routine generally do not upset her. She is an ideal companion for those in apartments.

Living With:

The Ragamuffin tends to have a fatty pad on the lower abdomen. While this is acceptable in the breed, it is not an excuse for permitting her to become overweight or out of condition. The nutrition of the Ragamuffin should be controlled.

As a placid cat, the Ragamuffin needs interactive exercise in addition to playing room in order to keep her in shape. If need be, she should have her parent spend a dedicated period of time playing with her.

The coat on the Ragamuffin, while impressive, is easier to care for than it first appears. The coat should be brushed daily but this should be all that is needed in order to keep knots and tangles out of the coat.

History:

To learn the history of the Ragamuffin, begin with the history of the Ragdoll. Despite the colorful and completely impossible legend of the Ragdoll's origin, that beautiful cat is one of the most popular breeds. What can be verified is that the ragdoll was started in the 1960s in California. The Ragdoll may well have been a mix of the Burmese, Birman, and the Persian, but the cat credited as the original ragdoll is a white cat named Josephine. The Ragdolls are thus considered Daughters of Josephine.

The creator of the Ragdoll, Ann Baker, felt that in Josephine she had a cat that was so placid that she went limp when she was held, which is the origin of the name.

Eventually Ragdoll breeders disagreed on where they wanted the breed to go. One group wanted to continue to outcross the Ragdolls and wanted other colors and patterns to be accepted within the breed. This disagreement resulted in a new breed, one that could look almost identical to the ragdoll in color and pattern, or one that could look completely different.

This new breed was called the Ragamuffin, and they are also considered to be daughters of Josephine.

Related Pet Care Articles