Both the Ragdoll and the Ragamuffin are breeds which were developed and their history is intertwined beginning with the Ragdoll. This charming cat first appeared on the scene in the sixties and was bred and developed by a Californian cat breeder called Ann Baker. Her cats and kittens were well known for their kind and affectionate natures with very endearing personalities and so the Ragdoll was born.
However, as the breed became popular, more breeders started producing these adorable felines and this is when a disagreement on which direction the breed should go that the Ragamuffin appeared with some breeders going down one route and other breeders taking another. However, both breeds claim to be the prodigy of the Mother cat whose name was Josephine. This lovely cat would go limp when she was picked up and stroked which is how the name Ragdoll came about.