About RagaMuffins
How I Became Interested in RagaMuffins
Whilst doing some research into the Ragdoll I became aware of the RagaMuffin breed, which is a close relative of the Ragdoll. I was instantly captivated by the beautiful spectrum of coat and eye colours permitted in these beautiful cats and I decided to find out as much as I could about them. After a long time researching them I decided to begin breeding them, my search took me to the USA and after speaking to many RagaMuffin breeders I have organised to import a few to help me begin
In In recent months I, along with several others have noticed that there have been adverts in cat magazines and online sites selling low cost RagaMuffin kittens, when in fact the kittens being produced are nothing more than Ragdolls crosses. I have also heard of breeders crossing unregistered Ragdolls to Siberians and claiming those kittens are RagaMuffins too.
The RagaMuffin is a bona fide breed in itself and although still quite rare it is recognised by most cat registration bodies throughout the world. From June 2009 the GCCF will recognise the RagaMuffin name and breeders will now be able to register their cats and kittens for the first time in the UK.
Only by importing the 'Authentic' RagaMuffin in the UK and adopting strict registration and breeding policies, along with recognition of the RagaMuffin name with the GCCF, I feel is the way forward to ensure that the two breeds, although having common ancestry, are in fact 2 separate and completely different breed of cat.
Like myself, I am sure many others will be captivated by the wide spectrum of coat and eye colour that can be produced along with the well known wonderful raggie temperament.
The History of the RagaMuffin Cat
The story of the RagaMuffin begins with an accident. During the 1960s, Ann Baker, a Persian breeder, developed a friendship with a neighbour who fed and cared for a colony of feral cats. A car struck one of these cats, named Josephine, who had previously given birth to wild kittens. After Josephine returned to health, she delivered a litter of kittens that impressed people with their sweetness and sociability. Although any difference in temperament could be explained by natural variation or having different fathers, a highly unscientific theory, that the accident somehow accounted for the kittens docile nature persists to this day. Baker gathered as many of Josephine's kittens as possible and began breeding to preserve the wonderful personality of these cats that went as limp as a rag doll when cuddled. She gave the cats the angelic name Cherubim.
The most well-known of Josephine's random-bred offspring were Buckwheat, a black shorthair female who resembled a Burmese, and Daddy Warbucks, a male with Birman-like points (dark face, ears, tail and legs) and mitts (white paws). Many of the Cherubim had points and mitts, but others came in a rainbow of solid colors and bi-color variations. Baker called these non-pointed and non-mitted cats Miracle Ragdolls. Determined to direct the progress of her Cherubim cats, Baker developed strict rules for anyone wishing to breed them. She alone knew the ancestry of each cat and made all breeding decisions. In 1967, a group split away from Baker's control, taking their cats to mainstream registries to show and make their own breeding choices. They chose to call their cats Ragdolls and to breed only pointed cats in three patterns.
Bitter over this defection, Baker took steps to exert greater control over the development of "her" breed. She set up her own
registry, the International Ragdoll Cat Association, ( IRCA ) and required all her breeders to register only with her. Baker patented the name Ragdoll for use only with cats of her breeding and registry. Catteries were franchised and paid royalties for each kitten sold. For more than 20 years, Baker's program continued, with Cherubim breeders relatively content to enjoy raising the kittens while allowing Baker to make marketing and breeding decisions. Eventually, even her loyal group developed misgivings about Baker, who struggled to keep a healthy cattery while handling the responsibilities of the registry. Her stories about the breed's origin grew increasingly strange, linking them to extraterrestrials and human-gene-implantation experiments. By 1993 a group of breeders including Janet Klarmann, Curt Gehm and Kim Clark persuaded Baker to retire and planned to take over management of the association. After a few months, however, Baker refused to relinquish control. Regretfully, the group voted to leave IRCA and seek recognition with established registries.
Since their cats included all colors and patterns and they signed contracts not to use the Ragdoll name, the first crisis focused on what to call the cats, in the process of submitting a standard to American Cat Fanciers' Association. Klarmann credits Curt Gehm of Liebling Cats in Virginia with the choice of "RagaMuffin" because they came from the endearing little urchin cats of Riverside.
The M is capitalized "because they're big huggable, loveable Muffins," says Janet Klarmann, who operates Encore Cattery. The new name stuck and in May 2001 the cats gained championship recognition. The American Association of Cat Enthusiasts, United Feline Organization and Cat Fanciers' Federation also recognize the breed.
A Breed Apart
From the beginning, RagaMuffin breeders have faced the challenge of gaining acceptance for their cats as a distinct breed, 
despite their common origins with Ragdolls. The patterns that form so important a part of the Ragdoll standard receive little emphasis from RagaMuffin breeders. They accept every color and pattern, with or without white. But the differences go deeper than that. The RagaMuffin has a distinct head shape. Rather than having a flat plane between the ears, the skull has a slight dome. The RagaMuffin has a shorter nose than the Ragdoll, and walnut-shaped eyes rather than oval. While the Ragdoll profile exhibits a gentle curve with the final segment straight, the RagaMuffin standard requires an obvious nose dip or scoop. RagaMuffin breeders aim to produce a rounded, more heavily boned cat Kim Clark, owner of Ultimate Rags cattery in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., echoes the words of other breeders when she describes the RagaMuffin's coat as texturally similar to a rabbit's coat, shorter and thicker than the Ragdoll's medium-long, silky coat.
When asked about the cats' personality, Janet Klarmann, the ACFA and AACE breed committee chairperson, says, "That's the best part," using words like "wonderful" and "perfect" to describe her favorite breed. Melody, her first Cherubim, impressed her with an unhesitating sociability though she was cage-raised. "Their ideal family would probably include children," says longtime breeder Curt Gehm. "This is the kind of pet that children will remember for the rest of their lives."
RagaMuffin Breed Highlights
Appearance
Ragamuffins are large, muscular, heavy cats that do not reach full maturity until approximately 4 years old. Females can be substantially smaller than males. The look of the body is rectangular, with a broad chest and powerful shoulders supporting a short neck. This muscular and fit cat often has a fatty pad in the lower abdomen. The head is a broad modified wedge with a rounded forehead and obvious nose dip. Large walnut shaped eyes give a sweet appearance. These longhaired cats have a dense silky coat, like that of a heavily furred rabbit, and their hair grows longer around the neck and face (a ruff), increases in length toward the stomach and gives a wispy frill on the hind legs. Every possible colour and pattern is allowable, with little emphasis placed on perfection of markings."
Personality
The only extreme allowed in this breed is its very docile nature. These cats love people and are affectionate and cuddly, with a tendency to go limp when held. They do nearly anything for a tummy rub. While not terribly athletic, they love playing, climbing scratch posts, chasing laser lights and fetching toys. They greet family members and strangers at the door.
Lifestyle
RagaMuffins remain underfoot and want involvement in what their people do. They get along well with children and other pets. Although they can adapt to a wide range of lifestyles, they are never aloof and thrive on companionship.
Grooming
The plush, low-maintenance coat resists matting and is easily cared for with a few minutes of brushing or combing twice a week.