Ragamuffin

According to the CFA, the Ragamuffin is a sweet, docile, affectionate cat that is eager to please. It's known as a lap cat that can curl up with a favorite person for hours. Many learn to wear a harness and walk on a leash, and some learn to fetch. The GCCF also describes the breed as very docile and even-tempered, with a strong desire for human company, intelligent, and prone to going limp when held.

It isn't very vocal. It is generally tolerant of children, other pets and people living alone; the CFA and the GCCF both advise slow, supervised introductions so the Ragamuffin isn't dominated by another animal.

It suits families who want a lot of time with their cat, who like to hold it, and who are looking for a calm house cat.

Because it is a large, heavy cat, support its whole body when you pick it up, and don't let children carry it.

The Ragamuffin's story is bound up with the Ragdoll's. According to the GCCF, Ann Baker, who developed the Ragdoll, trademarked the name and from 1971 ran a closed registry called the IRCA. In 1994 a group of breeders left that system, and since they couldn't use the Ragdoll name they called their new breed "RagaMuffin." To improve health and temperament they used limited outcrossing to Domestic Longhairs and later Persians. The CFA tells a similar story: in the early 1990s breeders who left Baker's registry brought in carefully chosen domestic longhairs, and kept the Ragdoll's large frame and mellow nature while creating a breed with a different type and a very different color range. The name nods to its street-cat ancestry.

Recognition dates among registries:

• ACFA: Granted championship status in 2001 (according to the GCCF).
• CFA: Began registering the breed in 2003 and granted championship status in 2011.
• GCCF: Granted championship status on June 17, 2015.
• FIFe: The Ragamuffin doesn't appear as a separate breed in FIFe's rules; FIFe recognizes only the Ragdoll.

According to the CFA, a medium-to-large, heavily boned, muscular cat. Males can reach about 20 pounds and females 15; the GCCF gives a typical weight of 10 to 20 pounds. The breed matures very slowly and may take 4 years to reach full size.

• Head and eyes: The GCCF describes a very broad, rounded head with puffed whisker pads and a gentle expression; the eyes are large and walnut-shaped, may be any solid color, and some cats have two different colors.
• Coat: Medium to medium-long, soft, dense and silky; the CFA compares it to rabbit fur. There is a ruff around the neck and face.
• Colors: The biggest difference from the Ragdoll: every color and pattern is accepted except colorpoint, with or without white. According to the CFA, pointed cats are for breeding only and can't be shown; the GCCF adds that the pointed variety matters to the breed because it produces the Mink pattern.

The coat is silky and, according to the CFA, resists matting. Combing once or twice a week with a long-toothed comb is usually enough; an occasional bath is fine. Ask the breeder or your vet which products suit your cat's coat.

• Nails: A scratching post is a must; trim nails the way your vet shows you.
• Play: The CFA says some learn to fetch. Give short daily play sessions and safe high places.
• Space: Being a big cat, it does best with a large litter box, a sturdy cat tree and a comfortable bed.

More in our post on cat grooming.

We found no source with a special diet recommendation for the Ragamuffin. A balanced, complete cat food suited to its age and lifestyle is enough. In a big, calm cat the main issue is amount: measure the food rather than eyeballing it, subtract treats from the daily amount, work out the daily amount with your vet and weigh your cat once a month. A thick coat makes weight hard to judge by eye; the scale is the best measure.

The information below is for general awareness; for diagnosis and treatment, talk to your veterinarian.

The CFA says the breed has no breed-specific genetic problems, but that hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and polycystic kidney disease (PKD) can occur in any cat; the GCCF says "no reported problems in this breed" at the moment. Because these two diseases matter in cats generally, they're still worth asking the breeder about.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)

HCM is the most common heart disease in cats: the muscle of the heart's left ventricle thickens. According to the Cornell Feline Health Center, most cats show no signs early on; as it progresses you may see fast or labored breathing, lethargy, loss of appetite, or sudden hind-leg lameness or paralysis. The gold standard for diagnosis is an ultrasound of the heart (echocardiography). In Ragdolls there's a known gene change for HCM (MYBPC3) and UFAW writes that it's very common in that breed; but UFAW's page covers only the Ragdoll, and we found no source on whether the same gene test applies to the Ragamuffin. So ask the breeder for the parents' heart ultrasound results. The GCCF notes that the imported cats UK breeders used tested negative for HCM and PKD.

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD)

PKD is an inherited disease in which cysts form in the kidneys. In a 2026 study in Japan covering 61,968 genetically tested cats from 14 breeds, after genetic testing began (2019 to 2022) the share of Ragamuffins carrying the PKD gene fell by 57.7%; Scottish Folds and Persians also saw clear drops. That shows testing works, but it also shows the change is present in the breed. Ask the breeder for the parents' PKD test results and ultrasound findings.

We found no independent lifespan study for the Ragamuffin. The GCCF gives the breed's lifespan as 12 to 16 years; that's an expectation in the registry's description, not research data. Ideal weight, regular vet checkups, heart and kidney monitoring and a safe home affect lifespan the most.

• Consider a shelter too: Purebred cats and large longhaired mixes end up in shelters. If you want a Ragamuffin or something like it, follow adoption listings.
• If you buy from a breeder: Ask to see the parents; ask for the heart ultrasound (echocardiography) and PKD test results and vaccination records. Make sure the cat isn't being sold as a "Ragdoll": the name is trademarked, and according to FIFe only the blue-eyed Siamese-pointed pattern is recognized in the Ragdoll.
• Red flags: Sellers who won't show the mother, always have kittens, offer no paperwork or rush you to buy now.
• Legal registration: In Türkiye, microchipping and PETVET registration are mandatory for cats. Details in our PETVET registration and microchip post.
• First days: International Cat Care advises starting a new cat in a single room, leaving a hiding place and letting it come to you rather than forcing contact. If you have another cat at home, see introducing a second cat; our first week with a new cat post walks you through the rest.