RagaMuffin

Temperament

The RagaMuffin is one of the most docile and gentle pedigreed cats. It likes being carried, often goes limp in your arms like a plush toy and happily spends evenings on a lap. It greets every family member warmly and usually meets guests without fear. It talks very little, and when it does, its voice is soft and brief. Although it can look lazy, it enjoys play, and some RagaMuffins learn to fetch and walk on a leash. It is patient with children and accepts dogs and cats well, though it rarely stands up for itself, so with a dominant pet, make sure it is not being pushed aside. It handles a few hours alone calmly, but it is happiest when someone is nearby. This is a cat that follows people around rather than staging midnight races.

Energy

calmvery energetic

Affection

independentvelcro pet

With children

not idealgreat

With other pets

difficultgreat

Trainability

stubborneager to learn

For first-time owners

for experienced ownersyes

With strangers

waryoutgoing

Playfulness

dignifiedeternal puppy

Shedding

minimalheavy

Grooming

easydemanding

Being left alone

strugglescopes well

Apartment living

needs a house and yardgreat in a flat

Talkativeness

quietchatterbox

Indoor-only life

needs outdoor accessgreat

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the RagaMuffin for?

The RagaMuffin is a good choice for families with children, older people and first-time owners who want a gentle, cuddly apartment cat. It does well in a home with a dog. Choose a different breed if you want a very active or independent cat, or one that goes outdoors: the trusting RagaMuffin handles outdoor dangers poorly. In Poland, there are only a few breeders.

Size and looks

Care and exercise

The RagaMuffin's semi-long coat is soft, feels like rabbit fur and resists matting. Combing it once or twice a week with a long-toothed comb is enough, with special attention to the armpits, behind the ears and the britches. An occasional bath may be needed. The biggest challenge is weight: the breed has a natural fat pad on the belly, which makes extra pounds easy to miss. Measure its food every day and provide 2–3 short play sessions, for example with a wand toy or a ball. The RagaMuffin matures very slowly, up to four years of age, so a young cat may still be growing. As a big cat, it needs a sturdy scratching post and a large litter box.

Health and breed-related conditions

The CFA describes the RagaMuffin as a generally healthy breed with no specific genetic diseases. As in other cats, though, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and polycystic kidney disease can occur, so breeders screen their breeding cats with genetic tests and heart ultrasounds. Because the RagaMuffin descends from the Ragdoll, in which the HCM-linked MYBPC3 R818W mutation has been described, a test for this variant is a sensible addition. The most common practical problem is obesity: VCA points to the fat pad on the belly, which makes excess weight easy to overlook. VCA gives a life expectancy of 15–18 years, although independent population data are lacking for such a young breed.

• hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)The CFA lists HCM among the diseases possible in the breed; the related Ragdoll has a known MYBPC3 R818W mutation.
• polycystic kidney disease (PKD)Possible, as in other longhaired cats; breeders test their breeding cats.
• obesityThe breed has a natural fat pad on the belly that hides excess weight; portions need to be measured.

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

The RagaMuffin grew out of the Ragdoll's story. In the 1960s, Ann Baker in California created the Ragdoll and founded her own registry, the IRCA, which also included a variety called the Cherubim. In 1994 a group of breeders left the IRCA because they wanted to breed without imposed rules and trademarks. They gave their cats a new name, RagaMuffin, and widened the gene pool by crossing them with, among others, longhaired domestic cats. As a result the breed has more colors than the Ragdoll, but pointed cats cannot be shown. ACFA and UFO were the first to recognize it; the CFA accepted it into the Miscellaneous class in 2003 and granted championship status in 2011.

Fun facts

• The English word ragamuffin means a scruffy urchin, a funny contrast with the cat's dignified looks.
• Pointed kittens can be born in RagaMuffin litters, but they cannot be shown in the CFA.
• The RagaMuffin keeps maturing until as late as four years of age.
• The breed allows all eye colors, including odd eyes.

Frequently asked questions

This breed also appears in

• Long-haired cat breeds
• Largest cat breeds
• Calmest cat breeds

Sources

1. 1CFA – RagaMuffincfa.org
2. 2VCA Animal Hospitals – RagaMuffinvcahospitals.com
3. 3Wikipedia – Ragamuffin caten.wikipedia.org
4. 4PMC – Genetic Basis of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in Catspmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
5. 5FIFe – Breedsfifeweb.org
6. 6WCF – Breed standards semi-longhairwcf.de

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.