Ragamuffin

The history of the Ragamuffin is directly linked to that of the Ragdoll. It is Ann Baker, a Californian, already a Persian breeder, who is said to have adopted the kittens of a half-wild stray cat with semi-long hair in 1963. This cat called Josephine had been hit by a car, and when she recovered, her character had completely changed. She was calm, gentle, and affectionate. To Ann Baker's great surprise, the kittens are said to have inherited this character trait. This is how she decided to begin breeding a new breed called Ragdoll. Ann Baker was a rather eccentric person, and the stories she told about the origin of this breed were contradictory and incoherent. She wanted to maintain control over the evolution of her breed and imposed strict rules on people who wanted to breed her Ragdolls. In 1994, four breeders disapproving of Ann Baker's practices separated and created a new breed called Ragamuffin. These cats were crossed with Persians, Himalayans, and other semi-long-haired stray cats to differentiate this new breed from its ancestor. Crossing Ragamuffins with Ragdolls was still allowed until 2010. The purpose of this breed is above all to maintain the gentle and affectionate character rather than a particular look. This breed is not yet recognized by many feline associations. Since January 1, 2009, the WCF has also recognized the breed.

It is a breed described as very docile, extremely affectionate, and calm. They are not very athletic but they would nevertheless very much like to play. They would like to live with other people in the house and follow them everywhere to participate in the day's activities. Ragamuffins are also described as confident cats and therefore quite fearless. They should be kept indoors for their own safety. These character traits, however, remain perfectly individual and are primarily a function of each cat's history, regardless of breed.

The Ragamuffin is a breed of semi-long-haired cats whose physique still closely resembles that of its ancestor. These are also large cats with slow growth. They reach maturity around three or four years of age. They can then weigh up to nine kilos for a male and six kilos for a female. Their body is rectangular, quite muscular with a broad chest and powerful shoulders but a relatively short neck. The head is triangular, with good cheeks and a well-rounded skull. Its eyes are almond-shaped, which gives it a very gentle air. Its fur is dense and very soft, resembling that of a rabbit. The hair is longer around the head of the neck and under the belly. The standard of the Ragamuffin remains close to that of the Ragdoll. However, the Ragamuffin's nose is shorter and more concave than that of the Ragdoll which terminates in a straight line. Instead of having a flat skull between the ears, it is well-domed. It is also rounder and the ears lean slightly forward. Breeders also take care of the almond shape of the eyes, while those of the Ragdoll are rather oval. Crossing with other breeds is allowed every five generations to maintain the health of the breed. All colors are admitted.