Breed characteristics
Profile
Section 2 – SEMI LONGHAIR – Group 1
The breed name RagaMuffin came about because the original gene pool developed from the street cats of Riverside and the M is capitalised because (according to a founding US breeder) they are big huggable, loveable Muffins.
The overall impression should be one of a large, muscular, heavy cat; every possible colour and pattern is allowable. These semi-longhaired cats have a dense silky coat like that of a heavily furred rabbit and their fur grows longer around the neck and face (ruff), increasing in length toward the stomach and gives a wispy frill on the hind legs. Although still fairly new to the UK, their popularity is growing steadily.
History
The RagaMuffin owes part of its origin to the Ragdoll breed (as you would expect from its name). The original breeder who developed Ragdolls in Riverside, California, Ann Baker, trademarked the names “Ragdoll” and “Cherubim” and set up the International Ragdoll Cat Association in 1971 to register all Ragdolls – they were not allowed to be registered with other cat registries. Anyone wishing to breed or sell Ragdolls was expected to adhere to Ann Baker’s strict restrictions. Inevitably, some breeders eventually decided they wanted to form their own group, and in 1994 a group of IRCA breeders did just that. Unable to use the breed name Ragdoll, and wanting to register their cats with ACFA (American Cat Fanciers Association) they originally chose the name Liebling, but then one of the new group, Curt Gehm, suggested RagaMuffin, and this was chosen. Wishing to take their cats in a different direction, and in order to improve health and temperament, the new group made use of a limited amount of outcrossing to Domestic Longhair cats, and later Persians. RagaMuffins were granted championship recognition with ACFA in 2001, registration status with CFA in 2003, followed by championship status in 2011. GCCF granted championship status on 17 June 2015.
Appearance and Colours
There are obvious differences between the Ragdoll and RagaMuffin breeds, in spite of originating from the same background. The RagaMuffin is a substantial cat, reaching maturity at around four years of age. The breed is muscular and well boned with a soft semi longhair coat, with the females usually substantially smaller than the males.
The head of the RagaMuffin should be very broad with rounded contours and of moderate length. The forehead, muzzle and cheeks are also rounded to emphasise the broadness of the head. The puffed whisker pads emphasis the sweet look and gentle expression of the breed, and avoid a snipey, pinched look. The profile should show a well developed chin that is slightly tapered; there is an obvious nose break and then the nose is straight to the tip. The ears are medium sized with a slight forward tilt and should be well furnished and in proportion to the head. The eyes are a special feature and should be large, walnut shaped and spaced well apart with a sweet gentle expression. Their eyes can be any solid colour, the more intense the better, with some exhibiting heterochromia (eyes of different colours). A short, strong neck leads to a rectangular body, broad across the chest and shoulders with the hindquarters as broad as the shoulders. The tail should be well furnished, plume like, medium at the base with a slight taper to the tip. The legs and paws are also heavily boned, with the paws being large and round with tufts beneath and between the toes. The coat is medium to medium-long, plushy in texture, soft and dense and with an undercoat. There is usually a slight ruff around the neck and the edges of the face, spreading down across the shoulder blades and back, with the coat on the flanks and underparts being medium to medium-long and thick and with the appearance of knickerbockers on the hind legs. With the exception of the Siamese colourpointed pattern that is synonymous with the Ragdoll, all colours and patterns are allowed with or without white for show purposes. However, the colourpointed RagaMuffin variant is essential to the breed to produce the Mink (darker pointed) pattern. There is no emphasis on the symmetry of pattern or white spotting. The nose leather and paw pads are accepted in all colours and in any colour combination, not necessarily related to coat colour.
Personality
The only extreme allowed in this breed is its very docile nature. These cats love people and are extremely affectionate and cuddly, with a tendency to go limp/relaxed when held; they will do nearly anything for a tummy rub. Whilst not terribly athletic, they love playing, climbing scratch posts, chasing laser lights and fetching toys. They greet family members and strangers at the door. RagaMuffins remain underfoot and want involvement in what their owners do. They get on very well with other pets and children too although they can adapt to a wide range of lifestyles. They are never aloof and thrive on companionship. The calm and even-tempered RagaMuffin is an ideal family cat. He or she does not mind being held or carried around by a child or dressed up and pushed in a doll’s pram. They are playful and smart – one of those cats who enjoys playing fetch and learning tricks and they have an energy level which means they will not wear out before the child does!! The RagaMuffin is also friendly toward other pets including dogs, other cats, birds, rodents and lizards. To this gentle giant, everyone is his friend. Nonetheless, it is always a good idea to introduce pets slowly and in controlled circumstances to ensure that they learn to get along together.
Care
The RagaMuffin has a soft, plush, low maintenance coat which is easily cared for with a few minutes of brushing or combing once or twice a week. The RagaMuffin’s soft coat is long but its texture is tangle-resistant. Weekly brushing or combing is all that is needed to remove dead hairs and keep it looking beautiful. Females usually weigh 10 to 15 lbs and some males weigh more than 20 lbs. The lifespan of the RagaMuffin is 12 to 16 years.
