RagaMuffin History
The Original IRCA Cherubim Cats

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RagaMuffins officially became a new breed in 1994 with our acceptance into ACFA (American Cat  Fanciers Association) as an Exhibition Breed and developed by our Founding Breeders: 

 

Curt Gehm (deceased) - Liebling Cats
Janet Klarmann (deceased)  - Encore Cats
Kim Clark (retired) - Ultimate Rags 

Other significant contributing breeders, now retired, include: Judi Morrison deceased (Rivendell Rags), Pat Flynn (Behrfoot Rags), Pastor Melinda Villareall (God’s Lil’ Gift)

 

Prior to becoming RagaMuffins in ACFA, the cats were collectively known as IRCA Cherubim Cats and registered in Ann Baker’s IRCA registry, the International Ragdoll Cat Association.  

Ann’s breeding efforts began in the early 1960’s and was officially established in 1971 with the formation of IRCA and her first line of cats were developed, the IRCA Ragdolls which were selected to be only color pointed cats. 

Over the next 23 years she would continue to develop other new breeding lines using other breeds and increasing genetic diversity; These lines were inclusive of all colors and patterns. All of the breeding lines developed through those years were collectively named as her Cherubim Cats and registered in IRCA per their developmental lines - all these lines together are our original founding   breeding lines.

 

Breed Development Timeline

RagaMuffin Development Timeline

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NOTE: Our ‘cousin’ breed known today as the Ragdoll is a very early offshoot of ONE (1) line of Cherubim Cats -> the IRCA Ragdolls only.

Four (4) years after the establishment of IRCA, in 1975 a small group of breeders decided to leave and take their color pointed IRCA Ragdolls to develop a Cat Fancy Ragdoll breed to be Recognized by more established, mainstream registries such as TICA, FIFe, CFA, etc. They developed a new Standard of Perfection under these registry rules using only some, but not all of the color pointed early development IRCA Ragdoll lines and none of the other Cherubim lines which were not developed yet.  Thus began our ‘cousin’ breed known as just Ragdolls today.

The intervening 19 years of different, separated breeding cats and breeding selection for different traits between Cat Fancy Ragdolls and IRCA’s Cherubims resulted in two distinctively different physical types of cats by the time RagaMuffins entered the Cat Fancy’s mainstream registries in 1993.  


 

RagaMuffin Foundation Cats

included only Cherubim lines previously registered in IRCA as:

Miracle Ragdolls

Solid, Tabby, mink, Sepia

"a highly upgraded Ragdoll”

Honey Bears

All Colors

IRCA verison/style of Older Type Persian

Maxamillions

Silver and Silver Tabbies

 

IRCA Ragdolls

 Color Pointed only

NOT the early offshoot Cat Fancy Ragdolls

Note: Ann continued to develop more lines for a short time until her death in 1997 after RagaMuffins were established as a separate breed.  These fledgling new lines were not used in the development of our RagaMuffins: Ragdoll Tu, Catenoids, Ragdoll Hobby Type, Baby Dolls, Angels, Shu Schoo, Symoneese/Symonees, Manxees, Fuzz

 

Our Founders were all actively breeding across the spectrum of Cherubim Cat lines in IRCA until 1992 when, due to Ann’s declining health and stability, they decided to leave IRCA and seek recognition as a breed within the formal Cat Fancy organizations.  

Their contracts with Ann stipulated that should the breeders continue to breed IRCA cats outside of her registry, the name ‘Ragdoll’ could not be used to describe the cats produced. The name Cherubim had also been trademarked by Ann by this time.  So despite the fact RagaMuffins were in fact the original Cherubim Cats and it would have logically made sense to retain Cherubim as our breed name, the need to ‘re-brand’ arose to remain ethically adherent to their contracts.

Curt Gehm penned the name RagaMuffin for the new breed for the first time on the ACFA application for Breed Acceptance, paying homage to the originator Ann Baker. As Curt put it, “because it made sense to say “(Ann) Baker’s” made Muffins.” The name had been intended as a temporary placeholder to later be changed. However, with the original cat Josephine having been a domestic longhair Angora-type cat that had almost literally taken off the street, the lovable street-urchin image conjuring name RagaMuffin seemed to fit and has stuck ever since then. 

Later the same year that ACFA Accepted the RagaMuffin as a breed, UFO followed suit and thus began the march into the other mainstream registries such as with the tireless efforts of the Founding Breeders and several early new Breeders in showing RagaMuffins to gain recognition; Notably Lisa Rowe (Heavenly Muffins), Pat Messner (Scallywag Rags), Sonia Rolston (Big Bear Cats), Becky von Stetten (Cityname), Karen Hoffman (Ultimate Rags partner).

 

Registry

Accepted

Breed

Championship

Breed

ACFA

American Cat Fancier’s Association

1994

2001

UFO

United Feline Organization

1994

Registry Dissolved

ICE

International Cat Exhibitors (offshoot of UFO)

1994

WCF

World Cat Federation

 

2008

CFA

Cat Fancier’s Association

2003

2011

CCA

CCA-AFC Canadian Cat Association

 

2014

GCCF

Governing Council of the Cat Fancy

2009

2015

CCC

Chats Canada Cats

 

2015

TICA*

The International Cat Association

*BREED NOT RECOGNIZED

 

The Board Room Kittens

These kittens were integral in our advancement from Accepted breed to Recognized Championship breed in ACFA.  Presented to the ACFA Board of Directors at the Annual Board Meeting in 2000, these kittens made the 3,000+ mile trip like troopers and represented RagaMuffin kittens. They exemplified both Muffin conformation and disposition beautifully.

The Board Room KittensThe Board Room KittensThese kittens were integral in our advancement from Accepted to Recognized Championship Breed in ACFA. Presented to the ACFA Board of Directors at the Annual Board Meeting in 2000, these kittens made the 3,000+ miles trip like troopers and represented RagaMuffin kittens. They exemplified both Muffin conformation and disposition beautifully.

 

Standard of Perfection

The original Standard of Perfection for the RagaMuffin was written for ACFA and UFO based on CH Encore Cat's Robin Goodfellow, aka Puck, a Seal Point and White male who later went on to become a Grand Champion in ACFA after Breed Acceptance and earned many other top titles in other registries.

 

  CH Encore Cat's Robin Goodfellow, aka PuckCH Encore Cat's Robin Goodfellow, aka PuckSeal Lynx Point & white male
Sire: Pizzicato Pizzazz of Encore
Dam: My Minuet of Encore

Our original Standard of Perfection was written based off of CH Encore Cats Robin Goodfellow.
1995 - 1996 UFO's 3rd Best Kitten
1995 - 1996 UFO's 18th Best Cat
"
He is also known as "Puck". He was named for the mischievous fairy in "Midsummer Night Dream" and does his best to keep us all entertained with his loving and playful nature. Puck was the first RagaMuffin ever shown in competition. He was barely 4 months old when UFO held their very first show in Bradenton, FL. We were thrilled and honored that he received a "Best Kitten" that day and then went on to be named UFO's Third Best Kitten in 1996. We showed him the remainder of the show year in the adult class and were astounded that he received 19th Best Cat in the same year!

Puck has now been retired from breeding and has been adopted into a home that can offer him all the attention that that he wants and needs! He's traded the Florida sand for New Orleans jazz!"

- Janet Klarmann, Encore Cats
CH Encore Cat's Robin GoodfellowCH Encore Cat's Robin GoodfellowCH Encore Cat's Robin Goodfellow, aka PuckSeal Lynx Point & white male
Sire: Pizzicato Pizzazz of Encore
Dam: My Minuet of Encore

Our original Standard of Perfection was written based off of CH Encore Cats Robin Goodfellow.
1995 - 1996 UFO's 3rd Best Kitten
1995 - 1996 UFO's 18th Best Cat
"
He is also known as "Puck". He was named for the mischievous fairy in "Midsummer Night Dream" and does his best to keep us all entertained with his loving and playful nature. Puck was the first RagaMuffin ever shown in competition. He was barely 4 months old when UFO held their very first show in Bradenton, FL. We were thrilled and honored that he received a "Best Kitten" that day and then went on to be named UFO's Third Best Kitten in 1996. We showed him the remainder of the show year in the adult class and were astounded that he received 19th Best Cat in the same year!

Puck has now been retired from breeding and has been adopted into a home that can offer him all the attention that that he wants and needs! He's traded the Florida sand for New Orleans jazz!"

- Janet Klarmann, Encore Cats

 

RagaMuffins are continuing to grow in public recognition and in demand across the world. However, they are still considered a Rare Breed; Less than 500 RagaMuffin kittens are born and registered every year.  This is the driving reason that RagaMuffin Breeders often have a waiting list and kittens are usually reserved before being born. 

Today, our RagaMuffins continue the legacy of our Founders in preserving the original Cherubim focus on personality, sweet appearance, and genetically diverse and sound health. Breeders and Exhibitors across the globe from the U.S.A. to Canada, the U.K., Italy, Austria, and Korea faithfully work to keep the this legacy growing - and will continue to do so tirelessly for the love of our RagaMuffins.

 

  Pizzicato Pizzazz of EncorePizzicato Pizzazz of Encore"Here is everybody's grandaddy! Pizzicato Pizzazz of Encore
Sire: Mister Mitts
Dam: Darling Maude

First, I'd like to show you a picture of Pizzicato Pizzaz. We call him Zazzie. Zazzie was our very first daddy cat and many of his children have become important cornerstones of the RagaMuffin breed. Zazzie retired to Texas to live the life of a cherished and pampered pet with his very own semi-private purrrrson. His new mommy also adopted Holly, one of Zazzie's wives and they warm the lap of a very special lady named Maura."
- Janet Klarmann, Encore Cats

Pizzicato Pizzazz of Encore
Sire: Mister Mitts
Dam: Darling Maude

"Here is everybody's grandaddy!" - J. Klarmann.  Zazzie, as he was affectionately called, was Janet Klarmann of Encore Cat's first Stud Muffin.  He has become an important Foundational cornerstone of the RagaMuffin breed and is at original Foundation level in many of the pedigrees today.

 

Encore's Ted E Bear of Ultimate RagsEncore's Ted E Bear of Ultimate RagsSeal Point, male.

IRCA Honey Bear, Foundation sire in ACFA

Encore's Ted E Bear of Ultimate Rags
Sire: Mister Mitts
Dam: Darling Maude

IRCA Honey Bear; RagaMuffin Foundation Sire

 

 

Missie Mittens of EncoreMissie Mittens of EncoreMissie Mittens of Encore
Sire: Diamond Stud
Dam: Joanie Mittens, a Blue Mitted female, is one of our matriarchs weighing in at 17 pounds. She has mothered some of the most beautiful RagMuffins with some of her boys growing up to 30 pounds.

Missie Mittens of Encore
Sire: Diamond Stud
Dam: Joanie
Mittens, a blue mitted female, is one of our Matriarchs weighing in at 17 pounds.  She has mothered some of the most beautiful RagaMuffins and with several of her sons growing to be 30 pounds. 

 

 

All that Jazz of EncoreAll that Jazz of Encore

All That Jazz of Encore
Sire: Mister Mitts
Dam: Darling Maude

Blue and White Male
Platinum Grand Champion, UFO
Diamond Grand Champion, ICE
Second Best Kitten 1997-98, ICE
12 Best Cat, SE Region, 1997-98, UFO

 

 

 

Liebling Cats PennyanydotsLiebling Cats PennyanydotsFoundational Queen at Liebling Cats.

Liebling Cats Pennyanydots
Sire: My Edward Duke of Windsor
Dam: Wallis W. Simpson of Liebling Cats

Foundation Queen at Liebling Cats

 

 


See more historic RagaMuffins on our website album

 

Historic Photo Archive of RagaMuffin Cats

 

(Photos added continuously, as time permits)


 

 

 

 

Special thanks to Kim Clark of Ultimate Rags (retired) and Lisa Rowe of Heavenly Muffins for all their work with the RagaMuffins and for providing the details and insights into our History written here over the course of several conversations, emails, and texts messages. Citation for information without hyperlink provided are via direct verbal interviews and electronic communications with these and other RagaMuffin breeders that apprenticed under one of the Founders or had actively worked directly with them during the development of RagaMuffins.  Specific contributing attributions available upon written request to [email protected].

Although now Over the Rainbow Bridge, another special thanks to Curt Gehm of Liebling Cats and Janet Klarmann of Encore Cats for all of the written communications they left behind in emails, forums, groups, and group listservers that allowed me to pull together their accumulated knowledge and experiences of how our RagaMuffins came to be.

Photo Credits: Historic photos provided by KimClark, Ultimate Rags, retired Founder; posthumously Encore Cats, Janet Klarmann, Founder; posthumously Liebling Cats, Curt Gehm, Founder.