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Ragamuffin |
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TranslationFrancis Vandersteen |
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OriginThe Ragamuffin is a cat breed originating in the United States. |
| This large cat is characterized by its Ragdoll ancestry. |
Standard |
| The Ragamuffin's standard is close to that of the Ragdoll. However, the Ragamuffin's nose is shorter and deeper than the Ragdoll's, which ends in a straight line. Instead of having a flat skull between the ears, it is well domed. It is also chubbier, and the ears tilt slightly forward. Breeders also take care with the almond-shaped eyes, whereas the Ragdoll's are more oval. |
A brief historical overview |
| The history of the Ragamuffin is directly linked to that of the Ragdoll. It was Ann Baker, a Californian already breeding Persians, who adopted the kittens of a half-wild, semi-long-haired alley cat in 1963. This cat, called Josephine, had been in a car accident and by the time she recovered, her character had completely changed. She was calm, gentle and affectionate. To Ann Baker's astonishment, kittens would inherit this trait. So she decided to start breeding a new breed called Ragdoll. Ann Baker was a rather eccentric person, and the stories she told about the breed's origins were contradictory and inconsistent. She wanted to keep control over the evolution of her breed and imposed strict rules on people wanting to breed her Ragdolls. In 1994, four breeders who disapproved of Ann Baker's practices split up and created a new breed called Ragamuffin. These cats were crossed with Persians, Himalayans and other semi-long-haired alley cats to differentiate this new breed from its ancestor. Ragamuffins were still allowed to be crossed with Ragdolls until 2010. The aim of this breed is above all to retain a gentle, affectionate character rather than a particular look. This breed is not yet recognized by many cat associations. Since January 1, 2009, the WCF has also recognized the breed. |
General appearance |
| The Ragamuffin is a semi-long-haired cat breed whose physique still closely resembles that of its ancestor. They are also large, slow-growing cats. They reach maturity around the age of three or four. They can then weigh up to nine kilos for a male and six kilos for a female. |
Behavior / characteristics |
| This breed is described as very docile, extremely affectionate and calm. They may not be very athletic, but they love to play. They like to live with the other people in the house and follow them around to take part in the day's activities. Ragamuffins are also described as trusting cats and therefore rather fearless. They should be kept indoors for their own safety. However, these traits are entirely individual and depend above all on the history of each cat, whatever its breed. |
Head |
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Cranial region |
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Head |
The head is triangular, with good cheek bones and a well rounded skull. | |
Facial region |
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Eyes |
Almond-shaped, giving it a very gentle appearance. | |
Body |
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Generality |
The body is rectangular, fairly muscular with a broad chest and powerful shoulders, but a fairly short neck. | |
Limbs |
| Legs are long and strong. | ||
Forequarters |
Hindquarters |
Coat |
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Coat and texture |
The coat is dense and very soft, similar to that of a rabbit. | |
Hair |
Hair is longest around the head, neck and under the belly. | |
Color and ticking |
All colors are permitted. | |
Authorized marriages |
| Cross-breeding with other breeds is permitted every five generations to maintain the health of the breed. |
English (United Kingdom) 
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