General
The RagaMuffin is a large breed, well balanced both in personality and physical characteristics. While their characteristic sweet expression 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 colour and pattern, including the occasional and welcomed appearance of a white tipped tail. RagaMuffins are bred to be sociable, intelligent, affectionate, cuddly ‘teddy bear’ companion cats who are playful and entertaining throughout their lives.
Head
Shape/Size
The head is a very broad with a rounded appearance. The forehead should be moderately rounded. The head is medium sized, in pleasing proportion to the body; the appearance of which is softened by the surrounding ruff. The 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 full and well developed, slightly tapered but not receding. An obvious 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, the more intense the eye colour, the better. Lighter eye colour in dilutes is allowed. Eye colour requirements are as follows:
Darker Points (Tonkinese restriction of the coat colour) (Also known as Mink): |
Green, Blue/Green, Green/Blue, Aqua, Blue, Odd Eyes |
Burmese Pattern (Also known as Sepia): |
Gold, Green, Gold/Green to Green/Gold, Odd Eyes |
Selfs (including Smokes): |
All Colours, including Odd Eyes |
Tabbies (including Silvers): |
All Colours, 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 round.
Body and Tail
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 and such the backbone and ribs should not be visible. Full maturity is reached at four years of age at which time the RagaMuffin should be heavy boned, strong and muscular.
Tail
Long, in pleasing 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 colour. 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 knickerbockers.
Colour
Every colour 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 colours and in any colour combination, not necessarily related to coat colour. Cats with white on feet may have pink paw pads or they may be bi-colour or multi-coloured. Body darkening in older cats; and lighter or incomplete markings in kittens and young cats is allowed.
Amenable
The RagaMuffin is known for being an easy-going cat that is easily handled, Allowances may be made for different surroundings but RagaMuffins should be amenable at ALL times.
Allowances
Head
Less heavy features in females; undeveloped eye colour in young cats, particularly in the darker points pattern.
Body
Underdeveloped fatty pad in young cats; lighter weight in young, entire cats; slightly finer boning in females.
Coat
Lack of or short ruff kittens; seasonal changes in coat length and colour; body darkening in older cats.
Preferences
Affectionate nature and deep, bright eye colour.
SCALE OF POINTS
| Head - 50 in Total | |
| Shape: | 15 |
| Sweet Expression : | 5 |
| Ears: | 5 |
| Eyes: | 10 |
| Muzzel: | 5 |
| Profile: | 10 |
| Body & Neck - 25 in Total | |
| Type to include fatty pad between hind legs: | 15 |
| Legs & Paws: | 5 |
| Tail: | 5 |
| Coat - 10 in Total | |
| Texture & Condition: | 10 |
| Temperament: | 15 |
Total |
100 |
| Withhold Certificates or First Prizes in Kitten Open Classes for: | |||
| 1. | Fine Bone | 8. | Pointed Ears |
| 2. | Short Coby Body | 9. | Visible Tail Kink |
| 3. | Narrow Head | 10. | Short hair on the body and/or tail which gives the impression of a short haired cat |
| 4. | Pinched or narrow muzzel | 11. | Any defect as listed in the preface to the GCCF S.O.P. Booklet |
| 5. | Round Eyes | ||
| 6. | Cranial Doming | ||
| 7. | Roman Nose | ||
