RagaMuffin

Closely related to the Ragdoll, the RagaMuffin was founded when breeders wanted to bring in new colours and patterns. Others wanted to widen the breeds gene pool, and because the Ragdoll breed’s founder controlled that breed rather strictly, a new breed was created.

Outcrossing to Himalayans, Persians and other domestic longhairs, breeders managed to create a large, semi long-haired cat with a wide range of colours, but the same super relaxed nature – in fact the only extreme thing about the RagaMuffin is their laid back, ‘anything goes’ attitude to life.

Super affectionate and friendly, with a tendency to go limp and relaxed when carried or held, the RagaMuffin is in many ways an excellent family cat. They adore contact and a tummy rub, lap time and cuddling up with their humans, or any willing human, not necessarily their own. As a people-loving cat, it has earned itself the nickname “Velcro Cat”. The RagaMuffin gets on well with other pets and visitors, travels well, and can also be walked on a lead. It is important to note that the RagaMuffin does not fully mature until it reaches 4 years of age. The extended kittenhood period means more play, energy and fluffiness. 

They get on well with animals and children, they are playful and amusing, and clever at solving puzzles. They do have a tendency towards laziness if not encouraged to move in later life, but they are so adorable it is hard not to want to interact with them. The RagaMuffin is intelligent and patient, it can play fetch and be taught tricks. 

Encourage the RagaMuffin to move by using food dispensing toys and puzzles for at least part of their daily food ration. Food should be rationed and not free-fed as the RagaMuffin has a definite enthusiasm for food.

Provide some cat-trees, comfy spots and sunny spots, as they will love a leisurely laze in the sun or snuggled up somewhere warm in cold weather. A few daily games of chasing small toys or catching ‘things on strings’ will keep your RagaMuffin moving and healthy. As a placid cat, the Ragamuffin needs interactive exercise in addition to play, in order to keep them in shape.

The RagaMuffin can cope with the outdoors and will enjoy some time outside, but supervised in a secure garden, or with free access to a secure cat run only. They are far too laid back to let out into ‘the wild’, they will absolutely end up in a van to the other end of the country or stolen by someone they’ve befriended.

It is best to keep the ragamuffin as an indoor cat, as this breed can be very trusting, which makes them vulnerable to predators. 
 

Every cat is unique and each has their own particular likes, dislikes, and needs when it comes to food. However, cats are carnivores and every cat must obtain 41 different and specific nutrients from their food. The proportion of these nutrients will vary depending on age, lifestyle and overall health, so it's not surprising that a growing, energetic kitten needs a different balance of nutrients in her diet than a less active senior cat. 

Other considerations to bear in mind are feeding the right quantity of food to maintain 'ideal body condition' in accordance with feeding guidelines and catering to individual preference regarding wet or dry food recipes.

The RagaMuffin’s diet and weight should be monitored as they are sluggish by nature, which makes them prone to cat obesity. Making sure to keep the RagaMuffin exercised and stimulated will be great ways to make sure your indoor cat doesn’t start to pack on the pounds.

The RagaMuffin coat is going to need a few minutes grooming per day but shouldn’t be too difficult to care for – the texture should be tangle-resistant. A daily grooming session is a good time to bond with your cat and check over for minor wounds or parasites.

Remember that a greasy coat can be evidence that your cat is no longer attempting to groom themselves, which can be indicative of poor or failing health or excessive weight. As with all cats, Ragamuffins benefit from regular vaccination, parasite control and an annual veterinary health check.

The RagaMuffin is laid back to the point of horizontal most of the time, and while this makes them an incredibly tolerant family cat, and well able to cope with a busy household, extra care must be taken to ensure children are not taking liberties and subjecting the cat to unfair treatment. If that isn’t an issue, and the time is there to play with, and groom, your RagaMuffin, they make a fabulous family companion.

The RagaMuffin are almost never found in rescue shelters; however, you may be lucky and find one that is after a new home. RagaMuffin’s are the perfect pet for every household. However, the same characteristics that make Ragamuffins the ideal companion, make them a less ideal choice for people who are busy working and are out of the house for long periods of time. 

They are not overly demanding; they simply do not like to be alone.  It has been proven that being alone or ignored for long periods of time can stress them and actually make them sick. Pease consult the adoption organisation, if you are adopting, for details on a specific cat’s character.