The United Kingdom RagaMuffin Cat Society

The Story of the RagaMuffin Cat

Introduction

The story of the RagaMuffin dates back to the early 1960’s when Mrs Ann Baker in California was very active in ‘developing’ various new breeds. The story starts with an accident . 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 kitten’s 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 colours and bi-colour 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. Ann Baker was considered an eccentric personality and working with her could probably be described as ‘dictatorial franchising’.

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, 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 programme 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.

By 1993 another group of breeders left including Janet Klarmann, Curt Gehm and Kim Clark. They persuaded Baker to retire and planned to take over management of the association. However, a few months later, Baker refused to relinquish control. Regretfully, the group voted to leave IRCA and seek recognition with established registries. Since their cats included all colours and patterns and they signed contracts not to use the Ragdoll name, the first crisis focused on what to call the cats when 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 recognise 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 colour 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 it a sweet expression. These semi-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, as well as a wonderful, plumed tail. Long fur between the toes is part of the breed as well as tufts around the ears known as furnishings. Neutering at around 6 months makes the RagaMuffin truly blossom.

Every possible colour and pattern is allowed, with little emphasis being placed on perfection of markings.

Personality

The only extreme allowed in this breed is its friendly, sociable, intelligent, and docile nature. The RagaMuffin is a gentle giant with a big heart.

These cats have the most loving personalities, and are affectionate and cuddly, with a tendency to go limp when held. They will do anything for a tummy rub. RagaMuffins are great companions no matter whether you’re single or living as part of a big family and will reward all your love and attention. They can make great support cats, and we believe they are just the best stress management under the sun. They will greet their owners at the door and introduce themselves to visitors without prompting.

Lifestyle

RagaMuffins remain underfoot and want involvement in whatever their people are doing.

Settling into family life is easy for this breed as they are very human orientated and can adapt to a wide range of lifestyles. They enjoy being picked up and played with by children and have made great therapy cats for many because of their calm and patient nature. No wonder they are known as the ‘teddy bear’ of the cat world.

That doesn’t mean they don’t enjoy as much play time as any other breed.  RagaMuffins can ramp up the energy when they want to, they can rough and tumble with fellow felines and have endless fun with any toy you give to them. Playing ‘fetch’ is a favourite. They are rarely aloof and thrive on companionship.

Grooming

The RagaMuffin has a soft plush, low-maintenance coat which is easily cared for with a few minutes of brushing or combing twice a week. It comes in a multitude of colours and patterns which include:

Colours: Seal, Blue, Red, Silver, Shaded, Smoke, Cameo and Cream.

Patterns: Colour Point, Mink, Sepia, Solid, Tabby, all with or without white.