Petside.co.uk

Breed Profile

Size: Large
Origin: America
Colour: All Colors

A recent American breed, similar to the Ragdoll but in a new range of colours.

Owner's Guide

Domestic Breed. A recent American breed, similar to the Ragdoll but in a new range of colours.

Appearance: A luxuriant, long-haired breed, it is described as 'the new rag-type cat with the coat of many colours'....a 'large cat with silky, plush non-matting fur and large, expressive oval eyes.'

History: One of the newest of all breeds, the Ragamuffin was created in 1994. Pat Steckman describes how this came about: 'Ann Baker founded an organization, the International Ragdoll Cat Association, whose cats are not shown.

In early 1994 a group of breeders from IRCA formed a new group and breed called the Ragamuffin, which has been accepted as an experimental breed by ACFA'. According to another source, the Ragamuffin is already recognized for competition by the United Feline Organization in America and can be registered with the American Cat Fanciers Association, although not, as yet, shown with them.

Personality: Terms used to describe this breed include docile, quiet, affectionate, intelligent, playful, placid and loving.

Colour Forms: On the subject of Ragamuffin colour, Judy Thomas, writing in 1996, comments: 'The conformation and pattern standards for the Ragamuffin are virtually identical to that of the Ragdoll, but Ragamuffins include many more colours. All varieties of pointed colour, including Lynx Point, Tortie Point and Red Point, all the Mink and Sepia colours produced by the introduction of the Burmese gene and all the colours of the Persian Cats are accepted in Solid, Mitted and Parti-colour varieties.'
She explains further: 'Seal, Blue, Chocolate and Lilac Pointed, Mitted and Parti-colour Ragamuffins are virtually indistinguishable from Ragdolls; the other colours resemble Ragdolls in conformation but differ in colour.'

Breed Clubs:

Ragmuffin Associated Group, which describes itself as 'the parent club of the Ragamuffin.'. Address: 5759 Cypress Cir., Tallahassee, Florida 32303, USA.

Ragamuffin Fanciers Association. Address: RR 1, Box 185, LeRoy, IL 61752, USA.