Ukrainian Levkoy vs Ragamuffin - Breed Comparison

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 Ukrainian Levkoy is a distinctive looking cat with its folded ears. This is a new breed of cat, only being developed recently early in the 2000s.

The cat was first developed by Elena Biriukova in Ukraine, by crossing the hairless Donskoy cat with the Scottish Fold. Also, Oriental and domestic cats were also brought into the mix.

This particular cat breed was recognized in 2005 in Ukraine and recognized in Russia in 2010. The cat isn’t recognized by any of the major international cat organizations.

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.

With his distinctive appearance, the medium-sized, muscular but slender Ukrainian Levkoy cat weighs in the region of 3 to 6kg.

He has these inward-folding ears with very little hair. These are two distinctive features of this cat. The skin is soft and wrinkled, the eyes large and almond-shaped while the ears are also large and set wide apart and high on the wedge-shaped head.

He has long, slender legs and a narrow tail. The litter size of these cats is generally 3 to 6.

Temperament:

Friendly and playful, the Ukranian Levkoy is also intelligent and enjoys having human companionship.

He is social and will make friends of other pets in the house. He is also compatible with children.

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.

The Ukrainian Levkoy, even though he is fairly docile, is a very sociable cat that thrives on human interaction. He is able to get on well with children as well as with other pets. He is also quite a vocal cat and will let you know when he is hungry or wants to play. Some call them ugly and others call them sweet - whatever you make of the Ukranian Levkoy, he needs your love and care to be the best pet he can be.

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.

These cats are generally considered to be healthy cats. Having said that, they can be predisposed to the same conditions that the Donskoy and Scottish Fold breeds face.

It is always beneficial to know and recognize some of the symptoms of a sick cat - lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, heavy breathing and lack of appetite. Then it's time to schedule a visit to your local vet.

While there aren't any breed-specific health problems associated with the Ukrainian Levkoy, it is imperative to have him vaccinated against the deadly cat diseases that there are.

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.

As with all cats, it's important to keep up your Ukrainian Levkoy's regular veterinary checkups. This means you can get to any health concerns early so that your vet can come up with a treatment plan for your pet.

Some cat lovers make a point of scheduling yearly wellness visits with their vet, and this can be a good thing. Cats are natural scratchers so make sure you invest in a scratching post for him.

The inside of the Ukrainian Levkoy's ears should be examined regularly for signs of dirt and wax build-up. It can lead to infection. Speak to your vet about your cat's ears if yourself.

The Ukrainian Levkoy is an active cat and if he is an indoor cat, he will definitely need a climbing tree or some kind of cat perch to leap up onto.

The Ukrainian Levkoy is a hairless cat, so you won't brushing your cat's hair but he will need to have a bath. The skin can become oily and attract dirt. Diet is absolutely important. You'll need to make sure you're feeding your cat a high protein diet as every cat is a carnivore. A cat like this needs to stay in shape to avoid cat diseases related to being overweight.

Most Ukrainian Levkoys need to be kept warm, so you might well have to invest in a jacket or jersey to keep him warm on a cold day.