Ragamuffin Vs Ragdoll: Similarities And Differences

Both Ragamuffin and Ragdoll are amazing breeds. They feature appealing looks and affectionate personalities that make them desirable as family pets.

But, how exactly similar are these two breeds? They share some temperament traits, however, each of these cats has some specifics related to their breed.

Also, there are some differences in their overall appearance. 

Ragamuffin, as well as Ragdoll, is an awesome cat. If you have to choose only one, this text can be helpful. Let’s learn all the important details on the Ragamuffin vs Ragdoll differences and similarities.

Ragamuffin Vs Ragdoll Overview 

Origin

The Ragamuffin isn’t as common as the Ragdoll breed. As a matter of fact, it’s considered a rare cat breed.

This cat actually originated from the Ragdoll. Certain breeders wanted to add some variety to the coat color and body size of the Ragdoll cat.

To achieve this, they crossed Ragdoll cats with other breeds, like Himalayans, Persians, and other long-haired domestic cats. This is how the Ragamuffin came into existence in the 1990s.

The Cat Fanciers Association recognized it as an official, separate breed in 2011.

This cat’s close relative, Ragdoll, was developed during the 1960s in California. According to VCA Animal Hospitals, a Persian cat breeder from Riverside named Ann Baker developed the Ragdoll breed in Riverside, California.

Ann crossed a stray, domestic long-haired white cat named Josephine with male cats from her cattery. These offspring had sweet temperaments, beautiful appearance, and non-matting coats.

The Ragdoll breed was officially accepted by the CFA in 1993.

Size

The Ragamuffin and Ragdoll are similar in size.

According to the Ragdoll growth chart, these cats weigh 8 to 20 pounds. The average weight of the Ragamuffin breed is 10 to 15 pounds.

When it comes to height, the Ragamuffin is a bit taller with an average height of 10 to 15 inches. On the other hand, Ragdolls are typically 9 to 11 inches tall.

Coat Type And Colors

The Ragamuffin cat has a silky, medium-to-long coat. The fur of this cat is longer near the neck. 

This breed can basically be seen in all colors and patterns. The Ragamuffin can have points, but this isn’t always the case.

The pointed coat is exactly what the Ragdoll breed is recognized for. This cat has a long, soft, and plush coat.

The main six pointed coat colors with the Ragdoll breed are blue, chocolate, cream, lilac, red, and seal.

Head And Body Features

The Ragamuffin has a rectangular body, broad chest, and broad shoulders as well. This cat’s paws are large, round, and have tufts. Its tail is long and bushy. 

The Ragdoll cat has a long and muscular body. Its legs are stocky, and its neck is thick and short. The Ragdoll’s tail closely resembles that of the Ragamuffin.

Ragamuffin has large, walnut-shaped eyes that can be of any color. On the other hand, the Ragdoll has oval-shaped eyes that are almost always blue.

The Ragamuffin’s head is broad and wedge-shaped. Its muzzle is round and small, and its ears are medium-sized.

CFA Ragdoll breed standard describes this cat’s head as proportionately large with a broad wedge. Ragdolls also have wide-set, medium-sized ears.

Temperament

The Ragamuffin is an extremely docile, friendly, and affectionate cat. It isn’t overly demanding and tends to get on well with everyone, even with other pets and toddlers.

Most Ragamuffins like being held or at least tolerate this well. One thing this adorable fluffy cat enjoys the most is getting a lot of attention from its humans.

This breed is even tolerant of strangers and unlikely to become shy when you have guests over. The Ragamuffin loves to learn tricks and can even be taught to walk on a leash.

The other great thing about these cats is that they don’t get stressed or scared easily. At the same time, this can sometimes get them into trouble since they may fail to detect danger on time.

This is why the best way to take care of a Ragamuffin cat is by keeping it indoors. One thing to keep in mind with this breed is that it has low to medium energy levels. This indicates that there’s a chance you’ll need to convince this cat to exercise.

Similar to the Ragamuffin, the Ragdoll is also loving with its humans and enjoys being held. It’s also likely that a Ragdoll will wait for you at the front door and snuggle up in bed with you whenever it has a chance.

This breed is tolerant, undemanding, and calm. It makes a devoted and loyal companion. Since it’s so loving and sociable, it’s best not to leave this cat alone too long, as it could develop separation anxiety.

Both Ragdolls and Ragamuffins are not typically very vocal, except when they are hungry or excited. This is when you’ll likely hear some meows and chirps from these cats!

Health Issues

Since they’re closely related, Ragamuffins and Ragdolls can develop similar health problems.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is one of the most common severe conditions among these breeds. 

This condition causes the muscular walls of a cat’s heart to thicken, resulting in a decreased efficiency of its heart. Mark D Kittleson and Etienne Côté [1] explain how there isn’t a known treatment for this disease yet, despite many efforts. 

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is another inherited condition prevalent in both Ragamuffins and Ragdolls. This disease causes cysts on cats’ kidneys from their birth which can grow larger over time and disrupt overall kidney function.

Just like with HCM, there isn’t a single treatment for PKD. However, there is management in the form of pain medications, fluid therapy, specialized diet, and antibiotics.

Lifespan

Life expectancy is another common trait of Ragamuffins and Ragdolls.

Most of these cats live around 12 to 15 years. Of course, to have any of these cats by your side as long as possible, you should provide them with adequate care and regular veterinary visits.

Care

Care requirements are an important factor to consider when choosing your future animal companion.

Let’s see how demanding both Ragdoll and Ragamuffin cats are in this area.

Grooming

You probably expect both of these breeds to shed excessively, considering their long coats.

Well, the Ragdoll cat breed only has a single coat, without an undercoat, meaning that it sheds far less than other cats with this coat type. However, a Ragdoll isn’t considered hypoallergenic, and there is still a chance it may cause allergic reactions in humans.

Brushing this cat’s coat once or twice a week is recommended to keep it neat and nice and to avoid matting.

The Ragamuffin cat’s shedding levels can be described as moderate. It does shed, but this shouldn’t be too worrying.

It’s necessary to brush this cat a few times a week to avoid loose fur and hairballs.

Nutrition

Both Ragamuffins and Ragdolls are large cat breeds. They need a high-quality diet to stay healthy, however, cat parents should be very careful here.

Both these cats have a tendency to overeat, often resulting in obesity. The main ingredient in these cats’ diet should be animal protein.

You should avoid giving them carbs, as well as food containing fillers and preservatives. Also, Ragdolls and Ragamuffins shouldn’t have cat treats too often.

They get everything they need from their cat food. This also means you shouldn’t share your food with your feline friend.

In case of any doubts about a cat’s diet, the best thing to do is consult a veterinarian.

Exercise

Neither Ragdolls nor Ragamuffins are high-energy cats.

This can be considered as a positive trait, however, no matter what breed your cat is, it should have regular exercise.

Exercise provides your cat with entertainment and something to do even when you’re away from home.

Furthermore, regular exercise helps keep your cat at a healthy weight. This is especially important with cats prone to obesity.

Ragdolls and Ragamuffins aren’t lazy potatoes, but they do like to spend time just chilling and snuggling with you.

This means that there’s a chance you’ll need to encourage both these cats on some moving.

Training

Both Ragdolls and Ragamuffins are intelligent cats.

However, there are some differences between them in terms of trainability. Ragamuffins are more trainable than Ragdolls.

They love to learn and please their owners, while Ragdolls are more unbothered and laid-back.

This means that having a Ragamuffin will require providing it with regular mental stimulation in the form of puzzle games, frequent changes of toys, and engaging in everyday play.

Final Thoughts

When deciding between a Ragamuffin and a Ragdoll, it’s important to note that these two breeds share many similarities due to them being closely related.

At the same time, there are some key differences between these two:

• Coat color: Ragdoll cats are widely recognized for their pointed coats. On the contrary, Ragamuffins can have coats in almost any color or pattern, and patterns aren’t always present with this breed.

• Eye color: While Ragdolls always have blue eyes, Ragamuffins can have eyes in any color.

• Trainability: Ragamuffins are more trainable and eager to learn.

• Availability: Ragdolls are typically easier to find, since they are one of the most popular breeds nowadays, while Ragamuffins are still considered rare.

When it comes to their personality, these two cats are very similar. They’re both affectionate, calm, loving, and sociable. You certainly can’t go wrong with choosing any of these cats as your future pet!

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