What is the difference between a ragamuffin and a Ragdoll Cat?
Last updated on February 26th, 2023 at 07:42 pm
It is understandable that people often get these types of cats mixed up. When looking at a ragamuffin vs a ragdoll there isn’t a whole lot to distinguish the two. Even PetMD gets it mixed up. If, however you look at the Cat Fanciers Association website you will find that in fact, these are different types.
The ragdoll and the Ragamuffin are large, good-tempered, sweet cats, and they can both often weigh in at 15 pounds or more. They have a VERY similar look, but one of the main differences is the colouring of their coat, the ragamuffin has more diversity.
Ragamuffin vs Ragdoll – Here is the Main List of Items.
- Coats. Ragamuffin Cats have a wider variety of coats, and that includes a lot of white, but they do not have the point-type colouration. The points on Ragdoll cats are exclusive to the Ragdoll breed. Points mean that the Ragdoll has darker colours on their legs, paws, ears, face and tails than they do on the rest of its body. Yes, Ragdolls can have socks or white on their paws. Both breeds have the same long coat and a plumed tail, but ragamuffins are less likely to matt.
- Eyes. One of the telltale signs of a Ragdoll Cat is its extremely beautiful bright blue eyes. All purebred Ragdoll Cats have blue eyes. If their eyes are a different colour they are not purebred. Ragamuffin Cats can have different colours of eyes and they can appear more rounded, similar to a walnut.
- Temperament. There isn’t a whole lot of distinction between the two types when it comes to temperament. They are both very docile and will both make really great household pets, especially for children. They are playful, but they are also very cuddly. Ragdolls separate a little bit on this point because they are considered more floppy. Which doesn’t really make sense unless you have held both types of cat. The Ragdoll is a very floppy type of cat and will be a pleasure to hold.
- Nose. The Ragamuffin has more rounded contours between their ears and a nose scoop. This is in contrast to the Ragdoll cat which is supposed to have straight lines.
- Topline. Ragamuffins have a flatter topline, whereas Ragdoll Cats are supposed to have a more angular topline with a hindquarter that is a little more raised.
- Texture. The Ragdoll cat allows for both the plush style coat and the silky style coat. The Ragamuffin however is supposed to be plush only.
The History of the Breeds
Both of these amazing breeds, the Ragdoll and the Ragamuffin were developed by humans. They both begin with the Ragdoll. The Ragdoll was first and was developed in the 1960s in California by a breeder named Ann Baker. She created cats that had all of the Ragdoll personality traits, affection and love.
From there as the breed became more well-known other breeders began to add to the genetic mix. As you can expect there wasn’t always agreement on which was best and which wasn’t. The Ragamuffin appeared from this separation of breeding. Some of the breeders went left and kept on with the Ragdoll, and some breeders went right and developed the Ragamuffin. Both breeds came from the same original cat, and that was a ragdoll who went limp when picked up, and that was the reason for the name.
A Ragamuffin
A Ragdoll
Ragdoll cats can also be black…well…kinda.
Which One Should I Choose For My Family, Ragamuffin vs Ragdoll?
Part of the reason you are here is that you are likely doing research on what kind of cat you should get for your family. I get it, sometimes it is hard to choose. The difference between these two types of cats is actually pretty small. They will both make great family pets (I know from experience) and they will both be a great choice. The real difference comes down to personal choice. If you like the points, blue eyes and floppy nature get a Ragdoll. If you like various colours, and different-coloured cat eyes then get a Ragamuffin.
One more thing to consider is that a Radolls coat will be a little more maintenance than a Ragamuffin. In the conversation of Ragamuffin vs Ragdoll, you will need to watch for matting. Although both cats can and will matt the Ragdoll will matt more frequently, especially as they age and clean themselves less.
The other small but important distinction is that Ragdolls don’t have an undercoat which may be less of an issue for people with allergies. This means they don’t really do the dander thing, and that might be important for you.
Are Ragamuffin Cats Rare?
The Ragamuffin is a new breed when it comes to Cats. It wasn’t fully recognized until 1994 as a separate breed. This makes them a very uncommon breed. However more and more breeders are being added to the mix and that is creating more available kittens for adoption.
Do Ragamuffins Go Limp?
As mentioned above this is part of the distinction when considering Ragamuffin vs Ragdoll. The Ragdoll Cat is known for going limp, whereas the Ragamuffin cat is not. That doesn’t mean that a Ragamuffin WON’T go limp it just isn’t part of their breed characteristic.
Are Ragamuffin Cats Talkative?
My experience with these types of cats is that yes they are talkative. The reason is that they are bred to be more of a docile, indoor cuddly cat. These types of cats including the Ragdoll and the Ragamuffin, even the Burmese are known for being more talkative. Having said that they are very patient with children and will follow you around the house, and want to be where you are. My cat sits in my office with me as I write this. She has her own chair. Ragamuffins don’t reach maturity till they are 4 or 5 years old, so expect some kitten-like behaviour up until that point.
Where Do Ragamuffin Cats Come From?
As mentioned above the Ragamuffin originates from California. They were an offshoot of the Ragdoll Cat breed which was also started in California. As the Ragamuffin breed has diversified, there are many breeders now around the world.
Ragdoll vs Ragamuffin
If you are a cat lover, you have surely heard of the sweet, affectionate Ragdoll cat. However, you may not have heard of the Ragamuffin, as it is slightly less popular or well-known right now.
Both breeds are actually closely related and originated from the same original cat– a cat by the name of Josephine.
Though they are closely related, the Ragdoll and the Ragamuffin do still have some differences that help to distinguish them and set them apart from one another. Read on to learn more about both the Ragdoll and Ragamuffin breeds of cats.
What Is a Ragdoll Cat?
Firstly, a Ragdoll cat is a breed that is known to be sweet, affectionate, and playful. This is part of why the breed is so popular. They are large cats that come in different coat colorations and have long hair.
For eye color, the Ragdoll has blue eyes that are almond-shaped. This cat is also known for a special trait–they go completely limp and relax when they are picked up.
This is something that cats do when they are kittens, but Ragdolls never grow out of the trait as adult cats. The Ragdoll was first bred in the 1960s by a breeder named Ann Baker.
What is a Ragamuffin Cat?
The other breed of cat that we are discussing is the Ragamuffin cat. It is a breed that descends from one Ragdoll parent and one parent is another longhaired cat like a Persian or Turkish Angora.
First, they were called Liebling, which is German for darling, but then their name was changed to Ragamuffin to reflect their Ragdoll heritage. It was not until 1994 that the Ragamuffin was recognized as its own breed of cat, and it gained full recognition by the Cat Fanciers Association in 2011.
Ragdoll vs Ragamuffin Cats
Size
The Ragdoll and Ragamuffin cats are actually the largest domestic cats, besides the Maine Coon cat, of course. One breed is not bigger than the other.
They both usually weigh in between 8 and 20 pounds. It typically takes them 3 to 4 years to reach full size from when they are kittens– both breeds are slow to mature.
Personality
Ragdolls and Ragamuffins are both great family pets, because they have gentle and affectionate dispositions.
They are both better suited to being indoor cats than outdoor cats, which is something to take into consideration when choosing a pet! They have some of the characteristics of a dog, as they are more affectionate with their owners than some other breeds of cat may be.
The Ragdoll also has a charming tendency to go limp in its owner’s arms– hence the name of the breed. However, while Ragamuffins may sometimes do this, too, it is not a common hallmark of the breed like it is for the Ragdoll.
Appearance
The biggest differences between the two breeds actually come into play when it comes to their appearance.
Ragdolls, for instance, can only have blue eyes. Their eyes are also almond-shaped. Ragamuffins, though, have rounder and more walnut-shaped eyes, and they can come in other colors besides blue.
When it comes to their coat, Ragdolls come in 6 colors. These colors are lilac, seal, blue, chocolate, cream, and flame. They then can also come in 3 different patterns, these being colorpoint, mitted, and bicolor.
Lynx and tortie variations can be seen, too. Ragamuffins can come in much more variety of coat color. Some of these include cinnamon, platinum, and fawn.
Their coat patterns usually echo that of the Ragdoll but are not limited to those 3 patterns either. They can also come in patterns such as tuxedo or smoke.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a Ragdoll and a Ragamuffin?
Ragdolls and Ragamuffins are both types of cat and are actually very similar. However, they are not the same kind of cat.
The main difference between a Ragdoll cat and a Ragamuffin cat is the animal’s coloration. Ragdolls have blue eyes, while Ragamuffins can have more of a higher variety of eye colors.
Ragdolls come in 6 different coat colorations, while the Ragamuffin can have much more variation in coat color and pattern.
What 2 breeds make a ragamuffin cat?
The Ragamuffin cat is a breed that was crossed between two different breeds of cat to get the breeders’ desired results.
The first breed that was used to create the Ragamuffin breed is the Ragdoll cat. The second breed of cat that was used to create the Ragamuffin is not as known– it is believed to have been a few different breeds of longhaired cats with desirable features, such as Persians, Turkish Angoras, or Himalayans.
Now, the Ragamuffin cat can simply be bred with another Ragamuffin cat.
How do I know if my cat is a Ragamuffin?
There are some features that a Ragamuffin cat possesses that can help you to identify whether or not your cat is a Ragamuffin. Ragamuffins are large cats with a long body and can be said to be heavily boned.
Ragamuffins also have long tails and plush, long coats that help them to appear even larger than they actually are. This can be common with long haired cats.
They have medium-sized heads and their eyes are rounded and walnut shaped, rather than almond-shaped like some other breeds of cat. They can appear in many coat patterns and colors as well.
Do Ragamuffins go limp?
Many know that Ragdoll cats have the tendency to fully relax and go limp in an owner’s arms or lap. This is because this breed has remembered this reflex from when they were kittens and being carried around by their mother.
It is an endearing and quirky trait! As Ragamuffins are bred from Ragdolls, you may wonder if this is a trait that has been passed down from their Ragdoll parent.
Luckily, Ragamuffin cats do sometimes have the tendency to stretch out and go limp or flop in their owners’ arms as well, just like the Ragdoll breed!