Description: Ragamuffin
The Ragamuffin is a delightful and affectionate cat breed known for its plush, rabbit-like fur and exceptionally gentle disposition. Originating in the United States in the 1990s, Ragamuffins were developed from Ragdoll cats, emphasizing robust health and friendly personalities. They are large, sturdy cats with a soft, semi-long coat that comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns. Ragamuffins are famous for their docile, easygoing nature; they enjoy cuddling and are comfortable in families with children or other pets. Their expressive eyes and sweet demeanor make them popular companions. Despite their luxurious coat, Ragamuffins have relatively low grooming needs due to their fur’s resistance to matting. If you seek a loving, calm, and social feline friend, the Ragamuffin is a fantastic choice for households wanting a devoted and affectionate cat.
Ragamuffin ratings
Properties
The Ragamuffin is a large, affectionate, and docile cat breed known for its plush coat, expressive eyes, and endearing personality. Developed in the United States in the 1990s, the Ragamuffin originated as a variant of the Ragdoll breed and quickly gained recognition for its distinct characteristics. One of the most notable features of the Ragamuffin is its luxurious, medium- to long-haired coat, which feels soft and silky to the touch and comes in a wide array of colors and patterns, including solid, tabby, tortoiseshell, and pointed varieties. Despite its abundant fur, the coat is relatively easy to maintain as it is less prone to matting than other long-haired breeds; regular brushing once or twice a week generally suffices to keep it looking its best.
Ragamuffins are renowned for their gentle and sociable nature. They are often described as ‘dog-like’ due to their tendency to follow their owners from room to room, greet family members at the door, and enjoy being held or cuddled. These cats are highly adaptable and get along well with children, other cats, and even dogs, making them ideal companions for families, singles, and seniors alike. Their calm and tolerant disposition means they are less likely to be startled by noise or changes in routine. However, their trusting nature also means they may be less wary of strangers or unfamiliar animals, and for safety reasons, it is recommended to keep Ragamuffins as indoor-only pets.
In terms of physical characteristics, Ragamuffins are robust cats with broad chests, substantial bones, and a muscular build. They typically reach full maturity and size between four and five years of age. Males generally weigh between 15-20 pounds, while females are somewhat smaller, weighing between 10-15 pounds. Another signature feature is their large, walnut-shaped eyes, which can be blue, green, or gold, and often impart a sweet, trusting expression.
Ragamuffins are intelligent, curious, and enjoy interactive play. They are quick learners who often master games like fetch or puzzle toys and appreciate enrichment activities. Their vocalization is usually soft and melodious, conveying their needs or seeking attention without being demanding. With proper care, good nutrition, and annual veterinary check-ups, Ragamuffins are generally healthy and can live upwards of 12-16 years. Overall, their affectionate demeanor, striking appearance, and adaptable personality have secured the Ragamuffin a spot as one of the most beloved companion cats.
Appearance
The Ragamuffin is a large, heavily boned cat breed that is best known for its luxurious, long fur and sweet, expressive face. At first glance, Ragamuffins bear a close resemblance to the Ragdoll breed, but with some subtle distinctions. These cats have a sturdy, broad body with a rectangular outline, making them appear both strong and plush. Their chest is typically broad and their shoulders, hips, and hindquarters are well-developed, giving the Ragamuffin a solid, muscular feel when held.
The Ragamuffin’s head is another defining characteristic. It is a broad, modified wedge with rounded edges, full cheeks, and a noticeable, puffy whisker pad. The muzzle is rounded and blends smoothly with the rest of the face. Their large, walnut-shaped eyes are one of their most striking features, contributing to a sweet, open expression. Eye colors can be almost any hue, including blue, green, gold, or even odd-eyed (two different colored eyes), and sometimes the shades are particularly intense.
The ears of a Ragamuffin are medium in size, set on the sides of the head and slightly tilted forward, with lightly rounded tips. The fur on the ears can be tufted, adding to the breed’s overall plush look. The neck is short and strong, often with a prominent ruff of longer hair around the chest, reminiscent of a lion’s mane.
The coat of the Ragamuffin is long, dense, and silky, similar to bunny fur. Despite its length, the coat is relatively low-maintenance and usually does not mat easily. It comes in nearly every color and pattern imaginable, including solids, pointed, tabby, tortoiseshell, and more. Common colors include white, cream, blue, brown, black, and orange, often combined in beautiful bicolor or tricolor patterns.
The tail of a Ragamuffin is long, bushy, and plumed, balancing out the cat’s overall robust appearance. Their large, round paws may have tufts of fur between the toes, further enhancing their endearing, plush look. Overall, the Ragamuffin exudes a teddy bear-like charm, with a soft, inviting presence that makes them highly sought after as companion animals.
History
The Ragamuffin is a relatively young breed of domestic cat, with its history beginning in the United States during the 1990s. The breed has a direct connection to the more well-known Ragdoll cat, and its roots can be traced back to Ann Baker, a California-based breeder who first developed the Ragdoll in the 1960s. Baker was known for her strict approach to breeding, even establishing her own registry— the International Ragdoll Cat Association (IRCA)— to maintain control over the development and sale of Ragdoll cats.
In the early 1990s, a group of breeders working within Baker's IRCA became frustrated with her restrictive policies and wanted to continue improving upon the breed and seek recognition from mainstream cat associations, which was not possible under Baker’s rules. As a result, these breeders decided to break away and establish a new breed, which they called the Ragamuffin. This new breed was designed to retain the Ragdoll's best qualities—its affectionate temperament and plush, semi-longhaired coat—while allowing for the introduction of new colors and patterns not permitted by the Ragdoll standard at that time.
To achieve this, the founders of the Ragamuffin breed initially crossed their cats with Persians, Himalayans, and domestic longhairs. This careful outcrossing introduced greater genetic diversity and additional desirable traits, such as a wider range of coat colors, improved head shape, and a more substantial, plush texture to the fur. The result was a large, luxurious cat with an incredibly sweet and tolerant temperament, much like the Ragdoll, but with its own unique aesthetic qualities.
The process of gaining official recognition for the Ragamuffin breed began shortly after its establishment. The American Cat Fanciers Association (ACFA) was one of the first major registries to recognize the Ragamuffin in 2001, followed by The International Cat Association (TICA) and later the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) in 2003 and 2011, respectively. Today, the Ragamuffin is celebrated for its endearing personality, captivating appearance, and relatively robust health. Though still less common than the Ragdoll, the breed continues to gain popularity among cat enthusiasts worldwide, valued as both a show cat and a loving companion animal.