RagaMuffin

RagaMuffin cats have a sweet, docile temperament that makes them ideal "lap cats." Calm and affectionate, they make wonderful companions for anyone who desires a big, mellow, cuddly cat who gets along well with people of all ages.http://www.iams.com/iams/en_US/jsp/IAMS_Page.jsp?pageID=CBD&breedPage=ragamuff.html

These cats have a large skeletal frame and long, silky coats. Their coats may be of a solid color, or show tortie, tabby, pointed, or spotted markings. Their broad faces and puffy whisker pads lend a characteristic "sweet look" to this breed.http://www.cfainc.org/breeds/profiles/ragamuffin.html http://www.iams.com/iams/en_US/jsp/IAMS_Page.jsp?pageID=CBD&breedPage=ragamuff.html

Compared to many breeds, RagaMuffins are slow to reach full maturity. They usually don't attain their full adult size until around age four. With proper care they tend to live long and healthy lives, often reaching 18-20 years of age.

RagaMuffins are weaned when around twelve weeks old, and most breeders will not send them to their new homes until they are sixteen weeks of age.http://www.ragamuffin.com/news.htm

The cost of a purebred RagaMuffin kitten is $1200 on average. Adult cats are usually available from breeders for significantly more affordable prices.http://www.pet-adoption-guide.com/ragamuffin.html

ORIGIN OF THE RAGAMUFFIN CAT

The RagaMuffin's history has been a source of ongoing intrigue and drama in the breeding community.

It is universally accepted that RagaMuffins have their roots in the Ragdoll breed, which was developed by Ann Baker of Riverside, CA in the 1960's. It's most often theorized that the Ragdoll began via crosses between unpedigreed longhaired cats that showed desirable traits, though many believe the breed resulted from crossing Birmans, Persians, and Angoras with random domestics cats. What is known for sure: the foundation cat of the breed was Josephine, a semi-feral female longhair with the physical appearance of a Turkish Angora.http://www.iams.com/iams/en_US/jsp/IAMS_Page.jsp?pageID=CBD&breedPage=ragamuff.html

Baker founded her own registery, the International Ragdoll Cat Association, in 1971. Her goal was to control the breed by maintaining a proprietary interest, and she trademarked the Ragdoll name in order to further her ongoing control. Ragdoll catteries were compelled to buy franchises from Baker in order to set up breeding programs, and those who purchased licenses were required to get her approval of all Ragdoll matings and pay her 10% on all profits from kittens sold. Needless to say, many breeders were not at all pleased with Baker's demands. Further animosity was borne of her requirement that cats could only be registered through her organization, and were consequently alienated from the potential to register and show via mainstream cat associations. In 1975, there was a major exodus of breeders from Baker's IRCA, and those who left formed a new organization called the Ragdoll Fanciers’ Club International (RFCI). Drama between those who chose to stay with Baker and those who freed themselves of her control continued through the 1980's, but in 1993 the vast majority of breeders were ready for something new. They renamed the breed "RagaMuffins" so as to avoid Baker’s trademarked name, and began the work of establishing the credibility of the newly named breed.http://www.iams.com/iams/en_US/jsp/IAMS_Page.jsp?pageID=CBD&breedPage=ragamuff.html

In February 2003, the RagaMuffin was accepted by the Cat Fancier's Association (CFA) into the Miscellaneous class. Currently all major cat associations except the CCA recognize the RagaMuffin breed.

RagaMuffins are generally healthy, robust cats; however, they may share in some of the health problems common to Persians if they have Persian ancestors in their bloodline. These health problems may include polycystic kidney disease (PKD) and feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. A reputable breeder will be able to provide you with detailed ancestry information on their available cats, so you will know what health issues are in your prospective pet's lineage.http://www.iams.com/iams/en_US/jsp/IAMS_Page.jsp?pageID=CBD&breedPage=ragamuff.html

Because Ragamuffins tend to be calm, loving "lap cats," they are often prone to obesity. Owners should carefully monitor the food intake of these cats, and seek veterinary advice on their dietary requirements if weight gain becomes an apparent problem.http://www.pet-adoption-guide.com/ragamuffin.html

RagaMuffins have thick, silky fur that requires weekly grooming, preferably with a steel comb. These cats do quite a bit of shedding, and grooming is essential to prevent their fur from matting. More frequent grooming may be necessary if your Ragamuffin has a Persian in it's bloodline--ask your breeder to clarify on this if it is a concern on selection of your new pet.http://www.iams.com/iams/en_US/jsp/IAMS_Page.jsp?pageID=CBD&breedPage=ragamuff.html

Ragamuffins are gentle, trusting cats that should always be kept indoors for safety's sake. They should not be let outdoors unless kept on a leash or within a fully enclosed yard.http://www.iams.com/iams/en_US/jsp/IAMS_Page.jsp?pageID=CBD&breedPage=ragamuff.html