Ragamuffin vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison

Ragamuffin vs American Wirehair - Breed ComparisonBoth Ragamuffin and American Wirehair are originated from United States. Both Ragamuffin and American Wirehair are having almost same weight. Both Ragamuffin and American Wirehair has almost same life span. Both Ragamuffin and American Wirehair has same litter size. Ragamuffin requires Moderate maintenance. But American Wirehair requires Low maintenance

History

ragamuffin - historyThe beautiful Ragamuffin cat is a domestic feline that was established as a separate breed in 1994. It is a variant of the Ragdoll cat.

It was during the 1960s that a regular long-haired cat that was also white and non-pedigreed produced different litters of kittens, one of which was an unusually docile litter of kittens.

The history of the RagaMuffin can in fact be traced back to the founder of the Ragdoll cat breed, Ann Baker. Breeders working with Ann decided to create their own breed, the Ragamuffin, in 1994. It is a fairly new breed and the Ragamuffin has inherited quite a lot of the Ragdoll cat’s qualities. It arrived in the UK in 2009.

american wirehair - historyThe American Wirehair started as a spontaneous mutation so that somewhere along the line, an unusual litter with this unique wiry type of fur was born.

The cat hails from New York and it was in 1966 that a couple of barn cats had a litter of kittens, some of which were born with this peculiar wiry hair. Only one kitten survived – a male – and later it was discovered that the gene responsible for the wirehair coat was dominant so that only one parent required the gene to produce Wirehair offspring.

Today, all American Wirehairs are descendants of this one surviving male kitten. Today the breed is still fairly rare. It is, however, recognized by the four largest North American cat associations.

Basic Information

Origin:
United States
United States
Weight Male:
5 - 9 kg
11 - 20 pounds
5 - 7 kg
11 - 16 pounds
Weight Female:
5 - 9 kg
11 - 20 pounds
5 - 7 kg
11 - 16 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 18 Years
12 - 16 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 6
2 - 6
Other Names:
None
None
Colors Available:
Lots of colors and patterns
Any color or pattern
Coat:
medium to semi-long, silky and plush
springy, coarse and wiry
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

ragamuffin kitten - descriptionRagamuffins are large, muscular cats and some of the larger ones can weigh up to 9kg.

The chest of the cat is broad, he has a broad head and a well-plumed tail. These medium- to semi-longhaired cats have a thick, plush, silky coat with a ruff around the neck.

The coat is available in a number of colors and patterns, but popular colors are tabby with white, brown, blue and tortoiseshell. The nose of the Ragamuffin is shorter than that of the Ragdoll and the eyes are walnut-shaped. The eyes can be green, blue, or gold.

Temperament:

The Ragamuffin cat is a little bit more energetic than the Ragdoll and is a loving, loyal member of his human family. He is a large but docile cat. These cats are amicable, playful and also intelligent.

Many people train them to walk easily on a leash. They make great companions for single people or families.

Calm and unruffled, he makes the perfect family pet. People are always ready to make a fuss of them because of their beauty and they are always ready to lap up the attention. In fact, these big cats are so fond of attention from their owners that they don’t like being left alone for long periods of time.

american wirehair kitten - descriptionThe American Wirehair is a medium-sized cat, strong and powerful, and can weight 5, 6 or 7 kg.

The head is in proportion to the body and the cat has a strong muzzle and chin. The ears are medium-sized and are rounded at the tips while the eyes are large, round, and set well apart.

It’s the coat that draws attention as unlike a regular cat’s silky fur, the fur of this cat is springy, coarse and wiry to the touch. The coat can be any color or pattern. It is the cat’s very coat that distinguishes it from all other breeds.

With this coat, the less grooming the better. Brushing or combing can damage it, so unless he is shedding heavily, leave it alone.

The only other care he needs really is nail trimming, to check inside his mouth for bad teeth and to also check inside his ears for redness. Both the teeth and the ears can be a source of pain for your pet.

Temperament:

The American Wirehair may have a harsh coat but there is nothing harsh about his personality at all. He is amicable and loving, getting on well with all members of his human family.

He is an independent cat and while he loves spending time with his family, he is quite capable of spending time on his own as well.

The American Wirehair is a playful cat so you want to give him some toys to entertain himself for when you’re not around.

Characteristics

ragamuffin cat - characteristicsYour RagaMuffin promises to make you a splendid pet. He is such an amicable cat, being social and friendly with his human family.

He also gets along with your visitors and any other pets you have in the house. Children love his playful, easy-going nature.

Having a Ragamuffin cat in your home is such a pleasure and this large cat is willing to go out of his way to be the perfect pet and companion for you.

american wirehair cat - characteristicsThe American Wirehair makes a splendid pet, and while he isn’t the best breed for children, he can make a good pet with those children who have been taught kindness, gentleness and respect for animals.

He is calm, quiet, dependent, and sociable and by providing him with a good home, he’ll prove to be a wonderful pet and companion.

Health Problems

ragamuffin kittens - health problemsRagamuffins are healthy cats with no known inherited diseases, but as with all cats you want to know something of the diseases that can plague cats.

You’ll want to check that your Ragamuffin has been tested for Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as well as Polycystic kidney disease.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy:

This is a commonly diagnosed cardiac disease in cats. Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy causes the muscular walls of a cat's heart to thicken. The heart can no longer work sufficiently. It seems as though genetics plays a role as there are some cats that seem to battle with this disease more than others.

If you catch the disease early enough, the vet can devise a treatment plan to improve the cat’s quality of life.

Polycystic kidney disease:

Although you find this disease more frequently in Persian cats, this inherited disorder can be found in other cat breeds too. Liquid-filled sacs develop in the kidneys, growing in size and taking over kidney tissue which ultimately leads to kidney failure. Your cat will have nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and lethargy, and your cat will have to get to the vet.

american wirehair kittens - health problemsThe American Wirehair is a healthy type of cat but any cat can develop health issues.

Be aware of Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy – a common form of heart disease in cats where there is the thickening of the heart muscle.

Be careful of overfeeding your cat as obesity is a major contributory disease to many illnesses that a cat gets. Excess weight can contribute to diabetes and arthritis and put pressure on your cat’s joints. Certainly, carrying extra weight can shorten your cat’s life. Make sure your cat gets smaller, healthier meals and that he is active and exercised.

Caring The Pet

ragamuffin cats - caringThe Ragamuffin's longish coat will require some brushing at least once a week to keep it soft and silky.

These are big cats so you will need to provide him with an adequate diet. He is a carnivore and will therefore require meat.

Kittens will eat 4 meals a day while the adult Ragamuffin can have 2 bowls of food. Cats can sometimes be fussy eaters so you want to be sure to give him what he likes from the wet and dry cat goods you get.

The better quality food he eats, the healthier he will be. Your Ragamuffin's dietary needs will also depend on his age.

He should never be without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

If you have any questions about how to look after your Ragamuffin in the best possible way, speak to your local vet.

General:

american wirehair cats - caringBrush the cat gently once a week. Your cat will love the connection you and he has. While you brush him, make a point of checking inside his ears and inside his mouth as well. It is also time to trim his nails. If you are hesitant to do this, ask you vet for suggestions or you can make use of a pet groomer too.

Make sure your pet cat is free from parasites such as fleas, ticks and heartworm. Your vet can recommend a treatment and it is also a good idea to talk to your vet about vaccines for your cat.

No unwanted kittens:

Have your American Wirehair spayed or neutered to prevent unwanted kittens and to promote better health for your cat.

Diet:

Always choose healthy food for your pet, bearing in mind that cats are carnivores, which means that you need to choose cat-food for your pet that has fish and meat in it. It can be difficult making good homemade food for your cat but there are excellent commercially prepared cat foods to ensure your cat gets the correct balance of nutrients and calories. Bear in mind that your cat's nutritional requirements change through their different stages of life.

Comparison with other breeds

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  6. Ragamuffin vs American Curl - Breed Comparison
  7. Ragamuffin vs American Keuda - Breed Comparison
  8. Ragamuffin vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison
  9. Ragamuffin vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  10. Ragamuffin vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  11. Ragamuffin vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
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  25. Ragamuffin vs British Longhair - Breed Comparison
  26. American Wirehair vs Abyssinian - Breed Comparison
  27. American Wirehair vs Aegean - Breed Comparison
  28. American Wirehair vs African Serval - Breed Comparison
  29. American Wirehair vs Chausie - Breed Comparison
  30. American Wirehair vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison
  31. American Wirehair vs American Curl - Breed Comparison
  32. American Wirehair vs American Keuda - Breed Comparison
  33. American Wirehair vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison
  34. American Wirehair vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  35. American Wirehair vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  36. Applehead Siamese vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  37. Ashera vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  38. Asian vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  39. Asian Semi-Longhair vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  40. Australian Mist vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  41. Balinese vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  42. Bengal vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  43. Bicolor vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  44. Birman vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  45. Blue Russian vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  46. Bombay vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  47. Brazilian Shorthair vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  48. Bristol vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  49. British Longhair vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
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