The RagaMuffin Cat and the Princess

by Michael & Laura
(London UK and Everett, WA)

Café Mocha Valencia - Photo copyright Helmi Flick

Café Mocha Valencia - Photo copyright Helmi Flick

I’d like to talk about the RagaMuffin cat and the Princess. They are both the same. You see, if you believe that life goes on after death but in a different form then this gloriously attractive RagaMuffin cat was a princess in her former life. It must be the case judging by her beauty and distinguished bearing. Her former life as a princess must have been a privileged one and looking at her beauty it should have been. But nature has a way. And this very pretty female cat, called Café Mocha Valencia (great name) had it tough for a while in her life until she came home to a place where she is truly loved. Here is the story by the person who lives with her and loves her...Laura..:-

“Speaking of shelters... attached is my shelter cat Mocha's photo shoot with Helmi this past September at the TICA Annual..” Below is the video of the results of that shoot

Mocha's a Ragamuffin that I adopted from Purrfect Pals (new window opens), the shelter I volunteer with. I found out that she'd originally been a breeder surrender then went out to a home that dumped her at a kill shelter a year later. Thankfully her chip brought her back to our shelter.

Next family had her for about a year and was back and forth to the vet because she was peeing on the bed. Vet found nothing wrong with her - told them it was "environmental" and they finally said they "just didn't want to deal with it" and signed her over to be euthanized. Ends up the family had THREE children under six years old - all boys. Thankfully the vet thought to scan her for a chip as he knew they'd got her from a shelter and so her life was again saved.

Café Mocha Valencia 1 The vet called our shelter and let us know that one of his vet techs wanted to take her. Well ends up same thing with her - peeing on the bed - she had a three year old boy. So she brought her back to us.

When I got her in Mar of 2008 she was shaved into a lion cut - ridiculous since her coat doesn't even mat. She was absolutely TERRIFIED of little kids and though friendly to adults you couldn't touch her face, paws, tail or bend over to pick her up - she'd run and hide. Knowing this was probably due to the abuse, I just stepped back and let her come to me.

A few months later she was throwing herself at my feet. And after having her meet neighbours' kids and having them spoil her with chicken baby food she quickly learned that they weren't all horrible (though I'm not convinced LOL!). I started showing her in the Household Pet class part way into the 2008/2009 show season and she finished 2nd in the Northwest and 8th Internationally. Right now she's Best in the Northwest (with more than twice the points of the cat in 2nd!) and the show this past weekend jumped her from 9th Internationally to 5th.

She loves being shown and her shaved down coat has grown back in soooo gorgeous 🙂 She's also the most affectionate cat I've ever known. She's also featured on TICA's website - http://tica.org/public/hhp.php (new window). I can also now lay her on her back and clip her nails - with her trying to head butt me the entire time LOL ..Just thought you'd love to hear one incredible happy ending for a shelter cat 🙂 “

Laura

mocha in fancy dress The RagaMuffin cat and the Princess – Notes:

  1. By the way, RagaMuffin cats are purebred cats a bit like Ragdoll cats. You can read about these two breeds here: RagaMuffin and Ragdoll.
  2. RagaMuffin in old English word (well not that old, still used I’d say) that means: child dressed in rags, child dressed in dirty old clothing. How apt because this girl is dressed in a beautiful coat.
  3. The pics in the video were shot at the TICA Annual in Orlando.

Laura has her own book keeping business, Cascade Accounting and Tax Services, her own YouTube Channel.

From The RagaMuffin cat and the Princess to RagaMuffin Cats

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The RagaMuffin Cat and the Princess

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Mar 27, 2012
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because she's not a Persian NEW
by: Laura - Mocha's owner

Mocha's a RagaMuffin - an entirely different breed. I did find out she does have Persian in her line, though. Persians and Siberians were breeds used with the Ragdoll to make the RagaMuffin.

The standard for the RagaMuffin calls for the slight nose break, puffy cheeks, domed forehead, walnut-shaped eyes, etc that she has. Persian breed standard is a flat face, round eyes that line up with the nose, cobby body shape, etc. Yes - it was originally more a face like Mocha's but not anymore. And anyone breeding "doll face" Persians are backyard breeders breeding solely to make money - not for the love of or to better the Persian breed.


Jan 20, 2012
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Beauty is in the eye of the beholder NEW
by: Anonymous

She truly is a beautiful cat and I'm clearly not the only person who thinks so. Why is it then, that her sweet face with it's open features is no longer the breed standard for persians and some other breeds? I've read some really horrible disparaging remarks on cat forums saying that "doll faced" persians are not pedigrees and yet that is how they originally looked before someone thought it would be a good idea to introduce cranial defects. When the vast majority of the public prefer the old look, why are breeders pandering to the whims of a panel of judges who are in all reality a minority of the population. A flat face is not for the good of the cat's health, it is more for the prestige of the breeder.

Cafe Mocha Valencia is a great advert for both rescue cats and the original beauty of cats. Long may she continue to spread the word.


Oct 10, 2011
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wow!!!!!
by: meow girl

what a adorable kitty!!!i LOVE cats and kittens and those pictures.that is a RAGAMUFFIN?It looks like a munchkin!!!!OMG!!!OMG OMG OMG OMG.oh my GOD!!!like.....wow...SO CUTE!!!!WOW WOW WOW WOW .....cute...NO...so cute......NO...THE MOST CUTEST THING EVER....NO...adorable....SO!!!


Aug 16, 2011
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well.. more than that
by: Laura (Mocha's mom)

She was a cat that people gave up on and twice was nearly euthanized. And now she's a celebrity and a loving family member 🙂


Aug 15, 2011
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Well Done
by: Michael

Well done Laura. Great to hear. She deserves all the awards and thanks to you for making sure people recognize what she is: a beautiful purebred cat.


Aug 15, 2011
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aww thanks 🙂
by: Laura (Mocha's mom)

Just got back from the TICA NW Regional Show and Awards. Mocha got her trophy for Best in the Northwest as well as her Lifetime Achievement Award! 🙂

She's an amazing cat and a true testament to what love and patience can do for a troubled cat. I adore her.


Jun 22, 2011
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The most beautiful
by: Michael

When I see her again after quite a long time it confirms that she is one of the most beautiful cats I have ever seen. In the top three for me.....Well done Laura.


May 25, 2011
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Mocha's reign continues
by: Laura

She finished this season TICA's Best Household Pet in the Northwest again 🙂 She only finished 14th Internationally, though, because we only did about half the amount of shows we did last season.


May 03, 2011
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Lucky Girl!
by: Anonymous

She is absolutely stunning! I am so grateful that you had the patience and determination to bring out her true loving personality. She deserves to be spoiled rotten for the rest of her (hopefully very long) life!


Jan 26, 2011
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OHMIGOD
by: Frances

You're Cat is soooo cute and loving. That video of her Purrrr made me laugh, I talk to my cat the same way. She's a Ragdoll and had a meow sort of like that. She rolls her "r's" its sounds like
Grrrrraawwww.

Does she love that blanket so much because she travels with it?


Sep 09, 2010
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A Question
by: Anonymous

Will you email me please? I have a question about your cat. Dzlchick2@yahoo.com
No I don't want her or anything like that I just am curious to know if I have some of her past info.


Jun 03, 2010
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update on Mocha's show results
by: Laura (Mocha's mom)

Just wanted to report that Mocha finished this past show season as BEST Household Pet in the Northwest and 7th Best in the entire world! We'll be at the Northwest Regional in Bellevue, WA in July where we'll accept her trophy for BEST :)!!!

Laura


May 31, 2010
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I am so glad you and Princess found each other!!
by: Roe

Laura, I am so glad that you and Princess found each other, and that she is learning that all kids aren't bad!! We have adopted a Ragamuffin cat from a shelter that found her and her littermates dumped in a field. Our Misha is the most affectionate, loving and sweet cat I have ever met, and loves attention, so I am glad that you two found each other and that you both are very happy!


Jan 25, 2010
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article about the "wedding" 😉
by: Laura (Mocha's mom)

http://pdxneatsheet.com/neat-event/cat-wedding-portland-voodoo-doughnut-tncc/


Jan 15, 2010
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How cute
by: john

Laura,
Now I see why you are so proud of Princess Mocha.
Her purring and meowing are so loud.Plus I love the way she interacts with your ferrets.

Thank you for sharing videos of your family.


Jan 14, 2010
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Update on Mocha
by: Laura (Mocha's mom)

Mocha's still holding her "Best in the Northwest" Household Pet with TICA this season. She's slipped to 10th Internationally because unfortunately I just can't afford to "campaign" my cats around the country like others do. We've done about a show a month this season while some have done two or three a month! But ah well - I know she's "Best" 😉 - I don't need a trophy to prove that.

Some funny news. Mocha's getting married at the end of the month! We're heading to a show in Portland, OR and my friend Heather found out that Voodoo Doughnuts has a wedding chapel. So she said that Mr. Mollie, her cat that also competes in the HHP class, and Mocha should get married. We called the shop and also alerted the media. Mocha's got a gown and veil flying in from Hong Kong and Mollie's been ordered a top hat and tux LOL The doughnut shop is so excited about this they're making special doughnuts that look like Mocha and Mollie to give us - LOL!

We're doing this just for fun but also to let people see the great cats you can adopt as adults from shelters. Purrfect Pals, the shelter Mocha came from, is going to be at this show and volunteers will be her Bridesmaids and an adoptable Tortie kitten her ringbearer. I'm going to make a chain of cat food cans to tie to my car bumper and an "Our Cats Just Got Married!" sign for the rear window LOL

I'll be sure to post links to vids as I'll film everything.


Dec 28, 2009
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Hi Laura
by: Michael

Hi Laura, I just returned to this page and it is a very nice page because Mocha is probably the prettiest cat on the site! And the story is so good too.

If you have the time I would like you to tell us how your princess does at cat shows and so on.

In the meantime here is another video of Mocha and ferret companion:

And a Webshots image:


Dec 26, 2009
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Great RagaMuffin Ambassador
by: Curt Gehm

Thank you Laura for adopting her and turning her life around. She's become a wonderful Ambassador for the RagaMuffin Breed within TICA.

Were you able to get her ACFA or CFA RagaMuffin Breed registration Certificates? She could be shown within her Breed in the Alter Classes in those Associations if you had thar documentation.

Curt Gehm
Liebling Cats
RagaMuffin Breed Founder


Oct 20, 2009
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beautiful cat
by: kathy

What a beautiful cat you have. I have a cat that was reincarnated and came back as herself. My cat midnight was about 14 years old when my life went through some changes. She went to live with a friend of mine and she was killed in a household accident. About 3 months ago a cat that looked just like her showed up with our landlord. We adopted her as she is the old Midnight exactly.


Oct 17, 2009
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Beautiful story for a beautiful cat
by: Ess

What a wonderful story. She is gorgeous. Love the videos.
--Ess


Oct 17, 2009
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Mocha's Story
by: Morette

Mocha is definitely a special kitty, and I'm so glad she found Laura. While others gave up on Mocha, Laura had the heart and the patience to help her become a happy member of the family. And I love the way you told their story.


Oct 17, 2009
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Update
by: Michael

Well here is some more on the princess:

In the first video is Laura preparing her for a show? Not sure but she is terribly cute and getting ready to WOW!

And this was what her coat looked like when Laura adopted her:

Mocha RagaMuffin cat at the time of her adoption

Laura was calling her "Truffula Tail" since she thought her tail looked like a Truffula Tree from The Lorax.

To follow Mocha's progress this show season (2009) go to
TICA Standings.


Oct 16, 2009
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WONDERFUL!!!
by: Laura - Mocha's mom

Oh this page gave me chills, Michael - it's so wonderful!! 🙂 I feel so honored to have Mocha on your wonderful website - thank you!

By the way - for those wondering her name came from the fact her Seal Mink Tortie and White coat has all the colours of my favourite coffee drink - the orange mocha. And being in the Seattle area and a complete coffee addict it just seemed too perfect.

Thanks again!
Laura


Oct 16, 2009
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Ragamuffin princess cat
by: Rudolph.A.Furtado

A true "Cinderella cat" story. Really beautiful well maintained cat.


6 thoughts on “The RagaMuffin Cat and the Princess”

  1. The author of the best comment will receive an Amazon gift of their choice at Christmas! Please comment as they can add to the article and pass on your valuable experience.
  2. Hi Michael. I’m really sad to let you know that my beautiful Café Mocha Valencia passed away this past October just one day shy of her 17th birthday. She had rapid onset kidney failure and was back and forth to the vet for a couple of weeks. She got to the point where she couldn’t walk without falling over since she was so weak. I had to make the painful decision to let my beautiful girl go. I was devastated but glad that she was able to have those 14 great, well loved years with me. I miss her terribly.

    Reply
    • Oh dear Laura. She was so beautiful. I am sad. I know how you feel. It hurts like hell. And yes, you both had a great time together. Great memories that you can hold in your mind always.

      Reply
  3. I am shocked to read her story. I love RagaMuffins and often look at pictures. I’ve seen hers online for years. Every time I see her profile picture she seems even more beautiful. How could anyone send her to be killed. Glad she has a great home now!

    Reply
  4. By the way, Michael, this page enabled the vet tech who was Mocha’s last owner to find me. She came out to a cat and met me and Mocha and I got to hug her for her part in saving Mocha’s life that day by finding out she was chipped 🙂

    Laura

    Reply

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