The ACFA RAGAMUFFIN Standard

Revised August 2006

General

The RagaMuffin is a large breed, well balanced both in personality and physical characteristics. While their characteristic sweet results from the size, shape and setting of their expressive eyes combined with puffy whisker pads, no physical characteristic is extreme. The RagaMuffin is a substantial cat with boning consistent with its size. A RagaMuffin reaches full maturity at approximately four years of age. While the breed is large, females may be substantially smaller than the males. Both sexes should be muscular and heavy with a fatty pad on the lower abdomen. RagaMuffins are wrapped in luxurious coats of nearly every color and pattern, including the occasional and welcomed appearance of the white tipped tail. RagaMuffins are bred to be sociable, intelligent, affectionate, cuddly companions who are playful and entertaining all through their lives.

Head

Shape/Size. The head is a broad modified wedge, with a rounded appearance. The forehead should be moderately rounded. The head is medium in size, in pleasing proportion to the body; the appearance of which is softened by the surrounding fur. Muzzle is rounded, slightly shorter than moderate in length, emphasizing the broadness of the head. There is puffiness to the whisker pad, which results in the characteristic “sweet look” of the RagaMuffin. Cheeks are full.

Profile. In profile, the chin is round, a nose dip gives the impression of a smooth scoop, not a break, and flows gracefully into a gentle, convexly curved forehead and top of head.

Neck. The neck is short, heavy and strong, particularly in older males. An allowance is made for jowliness in mature adult males

Ears. The ears should be set as much on the side of the head as on top of the head. Medium in size, tilted slightly forward, rounded, with moderate furnishings, in pleasing proportion to the head. Ear tufts are allowed.

Eyes. Large, walnut shaped and expressive, moderately wide set, a slight oriental tip to the eye is acceptable. The more intense the eye color, the better. Lighter eye color in dilutes is allowed. Eye color requirements are as follows:

Eye Color Requirements

Color Points. Blue eyes

Minks. Green, Blue/Green, Green/Blue, Aqua, Blue, Odd Eyes

Sepias. Gold, Gold/Green to Green/Gold, Odd Eyes

Solids (and Silvers). All colors including Odd Eyes

Note: The walnut shaped eye is best viewed at eye level. Observed from above, when the cat is looking up tends to make the eye appear more round.

Body

Rectangular, broad chest and broad shoulders, and moderately heavy muscling in the hindquarters with the hindquarters being equally as broad as the shoulders. There should be a fatty pad in the lower abdomen. These cats are fully fleshed. The backbone and ribs should not be visible to the eye and upon palpation should feel well covered with flesh. Full maturity is reached at four years of age at which time the RagaMuffin can sometimes be described as Rubenesque.

Tail

Long, in proportion to the body. It is fully furred, similar in look to a plume or soft bottlebrush, medium at the base with a slight taper.

Legs and Paws

Legs should be heavily boned, medium to medium-long in length with the back legs slightly longer than the front legs, yet in proportion to the body. The paws should be large and round, able to support the weight of the cat without splaying, and with tufts beneath and between the paws.

Coat

The fur is to be medium to medium-long. Texture is to be soft, dense and silky. Texture will vary slightly with color. Fur length is to be slightly longer around neck and outer edges of face, resulting in the appearance of a ruff, and increasing in length from top of head down through shoulder blades and back, with the coat on the sides and stomach being medium to medium-long. The fur on the front legs is thick and short to medium in length. The fur on the hind legs is medium to medium-long and thick with the appearance of a wispy frill on the hindquarters.

Color

Every color and pattern is allowable with or without white. Any amount of white is allowed e.g. white spots on paws, back, chest or belly; a blaze, a locket, white tip on tail, etc. The degree of symmetry, whether in the pattern or the white spotting, is of no importance. Nose leather and paw pads are accepted in all colors and in any color combination, not necessarily related to coat color. Cats with white on feet may have pink paw pads or they may be bi-color or multi-colored. Body darkening in older cats; and lighter or incomplete markings in kittens and young cats is allowed.

Amenable

The RagaMuffin is known for being and easy-going cat that is easily handled, even by strangers. While some RagaMuffins may be upset by surroundings and grumble a bit, they should never attempt to bite or scratch the Judge or handler.

Allowances

Head. Delicate features in females; undeveloped eye color in young cats, particularly minks.
Body. Underdeveloped fatty pad in young cats; lighter weights in young whole cats; finer boning in females.
Coat. Lack of or short ruff on whole cats and kittens; short fur on legs of cats with medium coat; seasonal changes in coat length and color; body darkening in older cats.
Preferences. Affectionate nature and deep, bright eye color.

Outcrosses

ACFA: Siberian
[In CFA, there are no allowed outcrosses.]

Note: Foundation Registration—The IRCA Ragdoll and Miracle Ragdoll are the foundation cats of the RagaMuffin and are the only cats allowed to be foundation registered.

The RagaMuffin is fully fleshed—a large, cuddly, teddy-bear of a cat!