Raga muffins were considered a variation of Ragdoll cats, but later, it was recognized as a separate breed. A very sweet, friendly, big-sized, social, cuddly, affectionate, and lap cat. They need high maintenance.
Laid-back lap cats can survive in any condition. Longhairs and beautiful eyes with sweet gazes make people fall in love with them. The robust beauty takes 4 years to come to its full size. The longhaired breed can come in any color, but the Cat Associations don’t allow some colors for exhibition.
We will know everything about the breed in this article.
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Breed Specialty of Ragamuffin cats:
Personality: Sweet, easygoing, gentle, kid-friendly ( Obviously, kids should also be gentle and friendly), pet-friendly, intelligent tricky, cuddly but not lazy, and affectionate.
Length: 12 to 18 inches
Weight: 10 to 20 Pounds
Coat length and pattern: Long and Tabby, Tortoiseshell, Tuxedo, Calico, solid and smoky or shaded.
Coat color: Ragamuffins can come in any color.
Eye color: Blue in different shades.
Playfulness and activity: Medium
Life span- Generally up to 15 years, but if a health condition is very good, it extends for 18 years.
Allergenic tendency: Not much
Vocalizing: Low
Origin: USA
Ragamuffin kittens:
The beautiful kittens are cuter than the adults. They are born with totally white coats, but as they grow up, their coat color changes.
Usually need to stay with their mother for 12 weeks after birth, and their weight is about 3.7 lbs then. They reach their actual size and gain sexual power at 4.
If you want to Spey or neuter your kitty, they recommend doing it at the age of 1.
Ragamuffin VS mix breed:
Well, as Ragamuffin has many color variations, it’s difficult to find the difference between them. The only crucial thing is their affectionate and friendly nature. The mix-breed may not have the same nature.
Origin of the Ragamuffin breed:
The Ragamuffins are the cousin breed of Ragdolls. The breed was considered a variety of Ragdoll, but later it got an identity as a separate breed.
Ann Baker was an established breeder in Califonia, USA. She found a female cat on a riverside named Josephine with her several kittens.
Josephine’s breed was unknown, but she looked like a Turkish Angora. However, Ann Baker bought some kittens from Josephine’s owner and decided to create a new breed.
So she crossbred Josephine with some Burmese, Birman, and Persian cats. Ann Baker named the kittens Ragdoll because of their floppy nature.
Later, in 1971, Ann Baker established International Ragdoll Cat Association (IRCA) and trademarked the breed as Ragdoll cats.
Ragdolls have a very special coat pattern- Colorpoint. So, the breeders of IRCA decided to extend the coat patterns and colors. So, they crossbred Ragdolls with Himalayans and domestic longhairs, and a new breed took birth, named Cherubim.
Cherubim is the exact name of Ragamuffins.
In 1992, A group of Ragdolls breeders broke the IRCA to get a separate recognition for Cherubim. Because Ann Baker trademarked Cherubim. They wanted to respect Ann Baker’s contributions to creating a beautiful breed- Cherubim.
The breeders chose the name Ragamuffin (RagaMuffin). American Cat Fanciers Association (ACFA) first recognized Ragamuffin as a separate breed in 1994, and Ragamuffins got champion status in 2001.
So, the main point is Ragamuffin is the cousin of Ragdoll cats.
The appearance of Ragamuffin cats:
As I have told you before, Ragamuffins and Ragdolls are cousins, so they naturally resemble each other. If you don’t know the difference, you may be fooled.
The difference between Ragdolls and Ragamuffins is- Ragdolls come in with a pointed coat pattern, and the pointed portion is darker than the dominating color. In contrast, Ragamuffins’ coat patterns and the color are various.
The second difference is in eye color. Ragdolls have only Blue-colored eyes, and Ragamuffins have any eye color.
The Ragamuffins are a large-sized breed and sometimes larger than they are supposed to be. Long coats, lengthy bodies, and thick-dense coats make you happy with your beautiful furry friend.
They took birth with White coat color, but as they grow up, They appear in various colors and coat patterns.
If you adopt a kitten, you don’t know how your pet will look in adulthood. The Ragamuffins come into their actual shape and look at the age of four.
Round, floating, and wall-nut-shaped eyes with alert and expressive gazes will make you fall in love. Eyes can be any color and even odd looking.
Medium size heads and ears are proportionate with the body, and the short nose matches the face. Their tail is long and bushy.
There is a furry muffler near their neck area. Their legs are long and strong, and their paws are also big, strong, round, and lovely- able to hold the body weight.
Temperament and nature of the Ragamuffin breed:
Ragamuffins love to cuddle, but they do not lap. They love to play at a certain time of the day to stay fit and healthy. They’re very affectionate to their owners and also friendly with strangers. They’re friendly with the children, but you must teach your children to respect Ragamuffins.
The breed doesn’t like to stay alone at home, so if you keep another furry friend at your home, then it will be ok. They like to be held as their ancestors were Ragdolls. They don’t annoy you by meowing without any reason.
A beautiful, sweet, and lovely friend will make you happy after a busy day. Very suitable for first-time owners and families and also for apartment life.
They’re incredibly intelligent and trainable. The beautiful kitties are also very dependent.
You won’t need to find them. You can always get them around and follow you.
Caring, grooming, and exercising that Ragamuffins need:
Though the Ragamuffins have long, dense, thick coats, you don’t need to brush the coat daily. Once a week is enough, but it is careful in shedding season.
You should brush their teeth twice a week, trim their nails every 15 days, and obviously clean their ears regularly. Provide them with favorite toys, a scratching area, and a cat tree.
As they are not very active and playful, you have to engage them in playing and exercising. They’re a very intelligent breed. So training them is an easy task for you.
Health and problems that Ragamuffins are prone to:
Heart disease:
Every cat breed has this problem. Hypertrophic Cardio Myopathy (HCM) reduces heart functions by thickening the heart walls. It is a serious problem and causes death.
Diabetes and obesity:
Excessive feeding causes diabetes and obesity. So, be aware of these problems.
Polycystic Kidney diseases (PKD):
When cysts grow up on the Kidney- this is called PKD. This disease can fail the Kidney. It has no cure. The only prevention is the way. So, keep an eye on your pet’s urination.
Periodical disease:
It is called a gum problem. When gums are separated from the teeth, inflammation will be felt- it is a periodic problem. Regular brushing is the way to get rid of the problem.
Heterochromia: when cats get odd eyes means, 2 colors in 2 eyes- it’s called Heterochromia.
Besides, if your pet suddenly stops eating and becomes lethargic, it’s a digestive issue like Ulcer or Gastrocytis.
So, there is no way to go to your veterinarian after every 6 months to keep your Ragamuffin healthy and happy.
Food and nutrition tips for the Ragamuffin breed:
Ragamuffins are big-sized (Up to 20 Pounds), medium active, and playful but love to eat. So, be careful about their feeding. When you buy food, check that it is a real animal protein; no artificial food is good for the pet’s health. Feed them according to their age.
Enough protein, vitamins, minerals, Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, Anti-oxidants, and food supplements are essential for their skin and coat health and to prevent many diseases, including cancer. Ensure a proper vet-approved diet for your kitty.
Some interesting facts about Ragamuffins:
- The owners don’t understand that their kitten Ragamuffins look will go where when they’ll reach adulthood. That means kittens are white-colored, but it will be changed in adulthood.
- They’re the 33rd most popular cats.
- They’re the rebels. They broke IRCA to get a separate name.
- They tend to go limp. As they originated from Ragdolls. It is not a dangerous habit.
- Not suitable for streets, they should always be kept indoors because of their incredibly soft fur.
Differences between male and female Ragamuffins:
In most cases, males and females are the same. Both are affectionate, friendly, and docile. The difference came at one point. Males are territorial and try to mark their territory inside the house, while females are independent and sociable but trainable.
The other point is their size and weight. Males come with 20 pounds of weight and 18 inches of length, and females are a bit smaller. Otherwise, they are the same at the rest of the points.
What are the differences between Ragamuffins and Ragdoll breeds?
What is a ragdoll?
The name `Ragdoll` came from the breed’s special trait- and this is they get floppy and lazy when you take them. Besides, they are popular for their royal beauty. They’re highly sought-after with laid-back personalities, long coats, and blue eyes. They’re regal, loving, poisoned, and playful.
They love to roam around you and want to spend time and keep an eye on you- a very adorable trait. One of the largest domestic cats has a real royal vibe.
The breed name is Ragdoll because of being Floppy. They’re colloquially known as ‘Floppy cats.’
What is a Ragamuffin?
You now better know to read the article about what a Ragamuffin is. If you want to know more about Ragdoll, then read my article about Ragdoll cats.
