BREED PROFILE:
Getting to Know the Ragamuffin
By Laura Gregory
from The Cat Fanciers' Association Complete Cat Book
When you first see a RagaMuffin from a distance - you will find yourself in awe. There lies a gorgeous, massive cat with large expressive eyes that are just begging for you to come closer. You will not believe its sumptuous color, its soft coat or the substantial size of its body. As you approach this beautiful cat you will find yourself drawn by its eyes that welcome your attention and at the first touch of its luxurious coat, you will think you are in heaven.
RagaMuffins come in all coat colors and patterns. These are striking cats whether their coats are solid color, tabby, colorpoint, tortoiseshell or mink with or without some white on the body. Its coat pattern and its symmetry are not considered terribly important but all RagaMuffin breeders love the unique patterns and varieties that come naturally within the breed.
Their coats are medium-long and fully furred - similar to the coat of a rabbit. RagaMuffins are low maintenance cats. Although their coats are thick and plush, surprisingly they do not readily mat or clump and are easy to care for. Their overall softness makes you want to continually pet them, and when you do these massive cats love every minute of your attention and just keep purring.
RagaMuffins are classically large cats, with females averaging between ten and fifteen pounds and males averaging between fifteen and twenty pounds. Some of them get much larger. Each is heavily boned and fully fleshed, with a tendency toward a fatty pad on the lower abdomen. They are fully mature at four years of age and have a long life expectancy. As a general rule, RagaMuffins are strong and healthy with no known genetic health problems within the breed.
A RagaMuffin's personality is one of extreme sweetness. While this is hard to describe, it is best understood when you are owned by one of these cats. Over time, you begin to understand their exceptional personality and how it differs from that of most other cats. RagaMuffins form a strong bond with their families and once your home has been blessed with one, you will be forever hooked on the breed. They are addictive and you may soon find that just one of these large cuddly teddy bears is just not enough.
RagaMuffins are wonderful with children. Their calm and patient temperament lends itself to their boisterous, robust play of youngsters and they can easily be found attending tea parties or taking rides in baby strollers. RagaMuffins want to please, and some pet owners even report they can be taught tricks, such as fetching. They also make wonderful companions for those who live alone because they provide much needed company and support. They listen to you and offer their love as a response.
As a breed, these cats also travel well. Their easy-going personality makes them adaptive to almost any environment or situation, as long as they have their humans' attention and interest. Some RagaMuffins have even been taught to walk on a leash.
They are quite likely to go limp in your arms, as the rag part of their name implies. As for their disposition, they tend to be calm and are likely to be found curled in your lap as you read a book or watch television. Yet, these are not lazy cats. Just pull out their toys and you will find them ready for action. Because they are very trusting animals they must be kept indoors only. There are far too many dangers for them beyond the front door.
Breed History
The RagaMuffin was developed in 1994 from Ann Baker's "Cherubim" breed, which began in Riverside, California in the early 1960's. The exact development of the breed is clouded. The full story will likely stay a mystery, but the end result of the RagaMuffin breed is as rewarding as it is pleasurable.
The name RagaMuffin was given because the original gene pool was developed from the street cats of Riverside, California. They were truly ragamuffins, endearing street urchins. The breeders worked very diligently to develop these cats with their unique appearance, while preserving their original characteristics, which were prized within the breed. The CFA granted registration status in 2003, making it the newest breed in this organization at this writing.
The overall impression of a RagaMuffin cat is that of a people-lover, with personality traits of those similar to an endearing lap dog. Each one of these cats thrives on attention and it is not unusual for any one of them to greet you at the door, follow you from room-to-room and become your faithful companion. They make wonderful family pets, with so much affection to give, they have much to share with everyone in the family, including your other pets.
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