Ragamuffin vs Nebelung - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

The Nebelung is a new breed of cat originating in the USA. It is a close relative of the short-haired Russian Blue.

The name Nebelung means 'creature of the mist' in German. This is because of the cat’s beautiful silver-blue coat.

It was in the mid-1980s that Cora Cobb had a domestic shorthair cat mated with a Russian Blue, with one kitten from the litter having long, blue hair. She started a breeding program and in 1987 the Nebelung was given status as an entirely new breed by The International Cat Association as well as the American Cat Fanciers Association.

The 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.

The beautiful Nebelung is a rare domestic medium-sized cat with a long muscled body and long legs. They weigh between 3 and 6kg. The oval-shaped eyes are green or a yellow-green color and the eyes are large and pointed. The coat of the cat is long and thick with an undercoat and grey in color with the males and some females having a ruff round the neck.

Temperament:

The Nebelung is a lively, playful cat that is good-natured and loves to be around his human family. People who have owned them say they behave a lot like dogs. It means you can have him trained to walk on a leash.

He is somewhat aloof with strangers. He is a gentle cat and very intelligent, forming tight bonds with some special members of his human family. They love to be petted and stroked by this favorite human being.

The cat also communicates well. They like their litter box kept nice and clean and they can be quite finicky when it comes to their food.

Because of their playfulness, make sure you have lots of puzzle toys for him. They’re cats that like things to remain the same – no sudden changes for them as they become stressful. Because of their quiet natures, they don’t relish the idea of wild, undisciplined children and would prefer to live in a home with a few adults,

Ragamuffins 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.

The Nebelung is a gentle, quiet cat that simply wants to live in harmony with the human family he loves.

He prefers a quiet, consistent kind of lifestyle. He is active, social, and fun around them but is reserved with strangers.

He is a loyal and loving cat and can become dejected if he doesn’t receive the same amount of love and attention that he craves and which he is so willing to give.

Your 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.

These beautiful cats don’t have many health issues. They are generally healthy cats.

Don’t allow your cat to become overweight as this can bring on a host of health conditions. There was a time when cats didn’t get much older than 10 years of age, but with advancements in good nutrition and good veterinary care, a cat can reach 15 to 20 years of age.

Certainly, as your beloved pet starts to move into his senior years, he will face aging problems. Aging cats are susceptible to faltering vision, arthritis, hearing loss, thyroid problems gum and teeth disease, diabetes, incontinence, and even dementia.

Remember to continue feeding your senior cat the best quality cat food there is.

Ragamuffins 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.

Diet:

This cat, as a carnivore, should be fed a high- quality cat food that is high in protein. The poorer quality foods won’t have the right mix of vitamins and minerals – so important for your pet.

These inferior foods often lack the right nutrients and can make your cat sick. Make sure you give your cat a top protein diet with ingredients that must have taurine, an important amino acid.

The Nebelung has a long, double coat and even though the cat isn’t a heavy shedder, it will require a brush every week to prevent the coat from becoming tangled.

Make sure you have everything you need for welcoming a cat into your home. He will need food and water bowls, warm, soft bed, litter box, climbing tree, scratching post, collar, grooming accessories, and a cat-carrying box for when he needs to go to the vet.

Ensure you take your pet to the vet as soon as he shows signs of illness. There are some terrible cat illnesses and they can cause a lot of discomfort and pain for your furry friend.

The 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.