The Ragamuffin is a large breed, well balanced both in personality and physical characteristics.
Their characteristic sweet and gentle expression results from the size, shape and setting of their expressive eyes combined with puffy whisker pads however no physical characteristic is extreme. The Ragamuffin is a substantial cat with boning consistent with its size. A Ragamuffin reaches full maturity when approximately 4 years old. The breed is large but females are substantially smaller than the males. Both sexes should be muscular and heavy with a fleshy pad on the lower abdomen. Ragamuffins have luxurious coats of most colours and patterns including a white tipped tail. Ragamuffins are bred to be sociable, playful, intelligent and affectionate companion cats.

The head is very broad, of moderate length and with rounded contours. The forehead should be moderately rounded, not domed. The muzzle and cheeks are also rounded, emphasizing the broadness of the head. There is puffiness to the whisker pad, which contributes to the characteristic "sweet and gentle expression" of the Ragamuffin.

In profile, the chin is full and well developed, slightly tapered but not receding. An obvious nose break at the nasal bridge, straight at the tip and flowing into the forehead, over the top of the head and down the back of the head.

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

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

Eyes are large, walnut shaped and spaced well apart. A sweet gentle expression is essential. The more intense the eye colour, the better. Eye colour requirements areas follows :

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.

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 as such the backbone and ribs should not be visible. Full maturity is reached at 4 years of age at which time the Ragamuffin should be heavy boned, strong and muscular.

Well furnished tail in proportion to the body, similar in look to a plume or soft bottlebrush, medium at the base with a sight taper.

Legs should be heavily boned, medium to medium-long in length with the back legs slightly longer than the front legs, but 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.

The fur is to be medium to medium-long. A plush texture which is soft and dense and with an undercoat. Texture may vary slightly with colour. Fur length is to be slightly longer around the neck and the outer edges of the face, resulting in the appearance of a ruff, and increasing in length from the top of the head down through the 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. There is a tendency for the coat to be slightly curled on the underbody.

Every colour is allowable, including the Burmese and Tonkinese Colour Restriction, 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.

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.

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