Ragamuffin cat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ragamuffin |
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| Origin | United States |
| Breed standards | |
| CFA | standard |
| ACFA/CAA | standard |
| Domestic cat (Felis catus) | |
The Ragamuffin is a type of house cat. It was once thought to be a kind of Ragdoll cat. But in 1994, it became its own separate breed. Ragamuffins are known for being very friendly. They also have thick, soft fur that feels like a rabbit's. Like Ragdolls, they are quite lazy. Because of this, they should live indoors as pets.
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What Ragamuffins Look Like
Ragamuffins are strong, heavy cats. They need about four to five years to grow to their full size. These cats have a body that looks like a rectangle. They have a wide chest and strong shoulders. Their neck is short.
Their head is broad and shaped like a gentle wedge. They have a round forehead and a medium-short nose. The nose has a clear dip. Their muzzle is wide with puffy whisker pads. Ragamuffins often have a small fatty pad on their lower belly. Their fur is a bit longer around their neck and face. This makes it look like they have a fluffy collar, called a ruff. Their fur is soft, thick, and silky.
Colors and Patterns
Ragamuffin cats can come in any color or pattern. Their coats can be one solid color. They can also have stripes, spots, or patches. Common colors include white, black, blue, red, and cream. You might also see chocolate, lilac, cinnamon, or seal brown. Some cats have mixed colors. Their eyes can be any solid color. Some Ragamuffins even have different colored eyes, which is called heterochromia.
History of the Breed
The Ragamuffin breed started from cats called IRCA Cherubim Cats. These cats were developed between 1971 and 1994. They included different lines like Miracle Ragdolls and Honey Bears.
Their close relatives, the Ragdolls, were started from only the IRCA Ragdoll lines. This happened earlier, from 1971 to 1975.
How the Ragdoll Breed Started
In the 1960s, there was a regular white Domestic long-haired cat named Josephine. She was not a special breed. Josephine had several litters of kittens that were normal. Then, she had a litter of kittens that were unusually calm and gentle. When her next litter was also gentle, a cat breeder named Ann Baker bought some kittens. She wanted to create a new breed, which became the Ragdoll. The fathers of these kittens were not officially recorded.
In 1975, some Ragdoll breeders left Ann Baker's group. Baker then decided to create her own cat registry. She trademarked the names "Ragdoll" and "Cherubim." She set up her own group, called the International Ragdoll Cat Association (IRCA). Ann Baker made strict rules for anyone who wanted to breed or sell cats with these names. Her IRCA Ragdolls could not be registered with other cat groups.
How Ragamuffins Became a Separate Breed
In 1994, some IRCA breeders decided to leave Ann Baker's group. They wanted more freedom. Because Ann Baker owned the names "Ragdoll" and "Cherubim," the group had to choose a new name. They called their cats Ragamuffins. One of the group's founders, Curt Gehm, suggested the name.
To make the breed healthier and friendlier, the group allowed some mixing. They carefully bred Ragamuffins with Domestic long-haired cats. These domestic cats had to look like the Ragamuffin standard. Later, they also allowed some breeding with Persian cats. For a while, they even allowed some breeding with IRCA Ragdolls. Today, a cat must have at least one Ragamuffin parent to be called an "Authentic RagaMuffin."
The United Feline Organization (UFO) was the first to accept the Ragamuffin breed. Soon after, the American Cat Fanciers Association (ACFA) accepted them. Finally, the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) accepted them in 2003. They became a full championship breed in 2011.
Ragamuffin vs. Ragdoll
The biggest difference between Ragamuffins and Ragdolls is their color. Ragdolls must have point coloration. This means their ears, face, paws, and tail are darker than their body. Ragamuffins, however, can be any color or pattern.
Ragamuffins are described as having a "sweet" look. They have large, rounded eyes that pinch a little at the corner. Ragdolls have thinner, slightly angled eyes. Ragamuffins also have rounded areas between their ears. Their nose has a gentle scoop. Ragdolls have flatter areas on their head. Ragamuffin coats are plush and soft. Ragdolls can have either silky or plush coats.
Coat Colors
Ragamuffins come in all patterns and colors. Cats with point coloration can be registered and bred. However, they are not allowed to be shown in CFA cat shows. Ragamuffin eyes can be any solid color. Some cats may have different colored eyes, which is called heterochromia.
