Ragamuffin ( Liebling)

The RagaMuffin, known too as the Liebling, is a large semi-longhaired cat that was developed in the United States. Adults are heavy and muscular, with a soft, dense coat and a rounded, sweet expression. The breed sits very close to the Ragdoll and shares its calm, people-oriented character, though the RagaMuffin allows a far wider range of coat colours and patterns.

Weight is one of the things that sets the breed apart. Plenty of toms reach 15 to 20 pounds, while queens tend to be a good bit lighter. These cats are slow to mature and might not reach their full size and weight until roughly four years of age. For all their bulk, RagaMuffins move quietly and would sooner stay at floor level or on a lap than climb to a high shelf.

Temperament is the main reason owners settle on the breed. RagaMuffins are friendly, warm and patient, and as a rule they get on grand with children and other household pets. They trail their people from room to room and often go limp when lifted, a trait they carry over from the Ragdoll.

Who it suits

The RagaMuffin fits homes after a steady indoor companion rather than an independent or high-energy cat. It does well with families, with older owners, and in homes that already keep other placid pets. The breed hates being left on its own for long stretches, so it suits people who are about the house often or who keep a second pet for company. First-time cat owners generally cope with the breed easily, since it is calm and forgiving.

The RagaMuffin traces straight back to the Ragdoll, a breed created in California during the 1960s by the breeder Ann Baker. The Ragdoll earned its name for large size, a docile nature, and the habit of going completely slack when held.

In 1994 a group of breeders parted ways with Baker's Ragdoll programme. They wanted to broaden the breeding stock and take in a wider range of coat colours and patterns than the Ragdoll standard permitted. Because the Ragdoll name was trademarked, the new group had to find a different name for their cats.

The breeders landed on the name RagaMuffin for the new line. Outcrossing to other longhaired domestic cats served to widen the gene pool while holding on to the gentle temperament and plush coat that owners valued.

The RagaMuffin won championship recognition with the Cat Fanciers' Association in 2011. The breed is still less common than the Ragdoll, and many breeders keep their focus on temperament and coat quality alongside the broadened colour range. In Ireland it remains a rare sight, and prospective owners usually work through a registered breeder rather than a rescue.

The RagaMuffin is a substantial cat with a broad chest, heavy boning and a rectangular body. The head is a broad modified wedge with a rounded forehead, full cheeks, and a short nose that shows a gentle dip in profile. The eyes are large and walnut-shaped, set well apart, and they lend the breed its soft, sweet look.

The coat is semi-long, dense and silky, with longer fur about the neck and on the hind legs. The tail is long and carries a full plume. Because the coat texture resists matting better than some longhaired breeds do, grooming is a moderate task rather than a heavy one.

Coat and colours

Unlike the Ragdoll, the RagaMuffin standard takes in the full spread of colours and patterns. That covers solid, tabby, tortoiseshell, calico and pointed coats, with or without white. Eye colour is not tied to coat colour, so any eye colour is allowed. Kittens are frequently born paler and grow into their full colour and coat density across the first few years.

The RagaMuffin ranks among the most people-focused of all cat breeds. It goes looking for company, meets the family at the door, and will often settle on a lap for long spells. Many go limp and relaxed when lifted, which makes handling straightforward.

With strangers the breed tends to be trusting rather than shy, though it varies from cat to cat. RagaMuffins are patient with children and put up with handling well, which is part of why they suit families. They also tend to accept other cats and placid dogs once introductions are made slowly.

The breed is quiet, with energy in the low to moderate range. RagaMuffins play in short bursts and take to interactive toys, but they are no great athletes and make few demands. Because they bond so tightly with their household, they can grow unsettled if they are left alone for long spells on a regular basis.

The RagaMuffin's silky coat holds off matting better than many longhaired breeds, but it still asks for a routine to stay clean and free of tangles, above all around the neck and the hindquarters.

Grooming

• Brush two to three times a week with a wide-tooth comb or a slicker brush
• Check the ruff and hind legs for tangles during moulting seasons
• Trim nails every two to three weeks
• Clean the ears and check the teeth weekly; brush the teeth once the cat accepts it

Exercise

• Offer short interactive play sessions once or twice a day
• Use wand toys and balls to keep the cat on the move and stave off weight gain
• Provide a sturdy scratching post and a low to mid-height cat tree
• Rotate the toys to keep an indoor cat interested

Environment

The RagaMuffin is an indoor cat. It is heavy and trusting, which leaves it poorly suited to free run of the outdoors. Provide warm resting spots, a quiet feeding area and clean litter trays. Because the breed bonds so closely with people, a companion pet helps when the household is out during the day.

As an obligate carnivore, the RagaMuffin needs a diet built around animal protein. Choose a complete and balanced cat food that suits the cat's life stage. Because the breed is large and matures slowly, kittens do well on a growth formula until around 12 months, and large or slow-maturing cats may stay on kitten food a little longer on the vet's advice.

Portion control counts for more with this breed than with most cats. RagaMuffins put on weight readily, so feed measured amounts rather than leaving food down all day.

Treats and supplements

Keep treats to no more than about 10 percent of daily calories and take that share off the meals. Fresh water should always be within reach, and some cats drink more from a pet fountain. A balanced commercial diet usually supplies every nutrient the cat needs, so give supplements only where a vet recommends them, for instance to support skin, coat or joints in an older cat.

The RagaMuffin is generally a healthy breed with a typical lifespan of 12 to 16 years. Its broad gene pool, built up through outcrossing, helps underpin its overall hardiness. Even so, the breed carries some inherited risks in common with the Ragdoll, and responsible breeders screen their cats.

Weight management crops up again and again. The breed's large frame and easygoing nature make obesity easy to slip into, which in turn lifts the risk of diabetes and strain on the joints.

Preventive care

• Annual veterinary exams, with twice-yearly visits for senior cats
• Keep vaccinations and parasite control up to date
• Dental checks and tooth brushing at home
• Hold the cat at a lean body weight
• Ask breeders about HCM screening and PKD genetic testing

The RagaMuffin's calm, people-focused nature makes it more cooperative than many cats. It will not work for praise on its own, but it responds well to food rewards and enjoys the attention that training brings. Litter training is usually plain sailing, since the breed is naturally clean.

Keep sessions short, a few minutes at a stretch, and wrap up while the cat is still keen. Consistency from everyone in the household helps the cat learn what to expect.

Basics

1. Set up a quiet, easy-to-reach litter tray and reward early use
2. Teach the cat to come to a sound or word paired with a treat
3. Introduce a scratching post and reward its use to spare the furniture
4. Practise gentle handling for nails, ears and the carrier
5. Add simple tricks such as sit or target touch once the basics are solid

The RagaMuffin reaches sexual maturity at the usual feline age, but it is slow to reach full physical maturity and may not finish growing until around four years old. Breeders generally hold off until a cat is physically mature and has passed health screening before they breed from it.

Queens carry a typical feline gestation of about 63 to 67 days. Litters tend to run small to average in size. Kittens arrive with paler coats and grow into their full colour, density and body size gradually across the first few years.

Rearing young RagaMuffins goes best with early, gentle handling and exposure to the run of household life, which supports the friendly, trusting temperament the breed is known for. Some breeders still outcross to approved lines to keep up genetic diversity and cut the risk of inherited disease. Prospective owners should seek out breeders who test for HCM and PKD and who socialise their kittens well before they head to new homes.

Registering a Ragamuffin ( Liebling) in Ireland

An ISPCA branch or a vet scanning a found Ragamuffin ( Liebling) gets exactly as far as her record allows. Give the scan somewhere to land: a free profile with your name, your number, and her photo. Register your cat once and it holds for good.

The fifteen digits on your Ragamuffin ( Liebling)'s vet paperwork want a registry. United Pet Club lodges them free, keeps them current through every move, and leaves the record findable whenever a scanner asks. Microchip registration plus a free account: both sorted in one cup of tea.