Ragamuffin

Origin and History

The Ragamuffin is a large, affectionate breed descended from the Ragdoll, with a wider range of colors and patterns. It was developed as a separate breed in the United States in the 1990s. It retains the Ragdoll's docility and large build; the key difference is that it comes in a far greater variety of colors and patterns.

Appearance and Coat

It has a large, muscular and solid body and big, expressive eyes; males can be quite heavy. Its semi-long, silky and soft coat tangles relatively little because it has little undercoat. It comes in many colors and patterns and forms a ruff around the neck and a plume on the tail.

Personality and Temperament

The Ragamuffin is extremely docile, calm and devoted to people. It loves being held, following its owner around and spending time together; it is considered "dog-like." With its patient, gentle nature it gets along perfectly with children, older people and other animals. Because of its calm nature, it is mainly suited to indoor living.

Care and Nutrition

Its silky coat is kept healthy by brushing two to three times a week. Because of its large body, maintaining an ideal weight is important for joint health; since its calm nature can create a tendency toward obesity, regular play should be encouraged.

Health

Because the Ragamuffin is related to the Ragdoll, it may share similar hereditary predispositions. Chief among these is the heart muscle disease hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM); regular echocardiography screening is recommended. Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) may occur in some lines. Because of its large build, ideal weight management is also important.

Who Is It Suitable For?

The Ragamuffin is ideal for families looking for a calm, affectionate, lap-loving companion, homes with children, older people and apartment dwellers. It may seem too clingy for those looking for an independent cat.