The Ragdoll and the Maine Coon are large-sized cats with long hair and a friendly, loving personality. They are affectionate and gentle felines that will get along well with children and other pets.
As for their origins and their appearance, there are some differences between the two breeds. Maine Coons cats are typically larger and taller than Ragdoll cats and are also often great hunters. Below you can learn a little more about these cat breeds so that you can buy the one that best suits your needs.
Maine Coon Origins
The Maine Coon comes from the United States, and there are many legends about the origin of this cat. One of the legends states that the Maine Coon is a mix between a cat and a raccoon, which is biologically impossible. To date, the origin of this breed remains a mystery, and it is not known for sure how this charming cat appeared.
Ragdoll Origins
Unlike the origin of the Maine Coon, the history of the Ragdoll is known. The Ragdoll was developed in the 1960s by breeder Ann Baker from free-roaming cats. It was registered with the CFA in 1993 and is therefore considered a relatively young breed.
Breeder Ann Baker gave home to several cats roaming her neighborhood, and it is believed that she raised a long-haired domestic white cat with other male cats; hence, the Ragdoll breed was produced.
The Differences Between Maine Coon and Ragdoll
Below you can find out the differences between the two breeds:
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Size
In terms of size, both breeds are large, with robust and striking bodies. In length, they are usually between 35 and 40 inches. Although both breeds can be essentially the same size, Maine Coons cats can grow larger and larger, especially males.
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Weight
A male Main Coon weighs between 6 and 11.3 kg, while females can measure between 4 and 5 kg approximately. In the case of Ragdolls, the male can weigh between 6 to 8 kg and the females between 4 and 5 kg, just like the Maine Conns cats.
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Height
Maine Coons are tall cats that can be 10 to 16 inches tall, while Ragdolls can be 9 to 11 inches tall.
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Body shape
Maine Coons cats have a rectangular body and are usually robust and muscular. Its legs are thick, its chest is broad, while its tail is similar to a raccoon.
In turn, Ragdolls also have a muscular body, and their perch is wide, but their legs are stubby, and their tails are long and sharp. The head of both breeds is wedge-shaped, but Ragdolls have plump cheekbones, and Maine Coons have more square cheeks.
Maine Coons have larger, more prominent ears, while Ragdolls have proportionally sized ears.
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Eye Color
Ragdolls eyes are usually oval and bright blue, especially in purebred cats. While the eyes of Maine Coons have more rounded eyes and can be copper, green, gold, etc.
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Coat
The Maine Coon cat has medium to long hair with a wild, hairy appearance, a lighter outer coat, and a thick undercoat (especially in winter). One aspect of the Maine Coons coat is its resistance to water, which allows it to swim and walk through snow without a problem.
A Ragdoll cat has long hair, and its coat is silkier and softer, similar to a rabbit’s fur, and does not usually have a hidden undercoat. The coat is also designed to be waterproof but not as efficiently as the coat of the Maine Coons.
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Colors
Maine Coons cats usually come in a wide variety of colors and patterns. In the pattern, you can find them: Bi-color, Solid, Smoke, Tabby, Tortoiseshell, etc. Even in the Tabby variant, you can find different patterns like Classic Tabby, Mackerel Tabby, and Patched Tabby. And the colors can be black, white, gray, brown, cream, and blue.
In the case of Ragdolls, they can also be found in different colors and patterns. But this breed has colored dots; the color of the body is usually lighter than the tips of the tail, the tips of the ears, the face, and the legs. The color of the tips can be very dark brown, lilac-blue, chocolate, red, or cream, and the pattern can be Van, Bi-color, Colourpoint, Tortie, or Lynx.
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Shedding and Grooming
Both breeds do not require excessive maintenance because their coat does not tangle easily. You can brush your cat 2 or 3 times a week to avoid hairball and knot problems. It is an important practice, especially in the shedding season.
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Food
The Maine Coon cat and the Ragdoll cat are large breeds and need more food than the other cat breeds.
Also Read: Maine Coon Personality: Everything You Need to Know
Ragdoll vs Maine Coon Personality Comparison
The Ragdoll cat and the Maine Coons have very similar personalities. They are playful, intelligent, affectionate, elegant, and have a good connection with all family members. Among the personality traits are:
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Affectionate
They are both affectionate and friendly cats. They can show their affection by rubbing their cheek against you, with a purr, or by banging their head on you. Both breeds enjoy petting and like to receive affection and attention.
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Sympathetic
The Maine Coon and the Ragdoll are friendly pets and interact well with pets and with children. Human company is very important to both races, and you will always be greeted at the house door with joy.
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Intelligent
Both the Ragdoll and the Maine Coon are very intelligent cats; you will have an amazing and intelligent companion with either of the two cats.
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Shy
Both breeds are usually shy with strangers. They have to become familiar with the person who comes to their house. This warming process is faster in Maine Coons cats.
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Playful
Ragdolls and Maine Coons are generally very playful, no matter how big or old they are. They love games alone and also have fun playing with humans.
Ragdoll vs Maine Coon Health Issue Comparison
Maine Coons and Ragdolls are usually healthy breeds, but certain diseases are common in both breeds, such as:
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Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
HCM is a heart disease caused by the thickening of the heart muscle tissues and is common between the two races.
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Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia occurs when the size of the cat highly stresses the muscles and ligaments. It is very common in Maine Coons and male Ragdolls.
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Polycystic Kidney Disease
It is a disease that affects both Maine Coons and Ragdolls cats. PKD or polycystic kidney disease is an inherited disorder where cysts appear at birth and lead to kidney failure.
Final Words
If you want to buy a cat, you should know that both Maine Coons and Ragdolls are friendly felines, docile, intelligent, and affectionate with humans. They can live happily with one person, with a partner, or with a large family. They tend to get along well with children and other pets.
Both breeds require a lot of affection, and you will need time to share and interact with them; they need affection and constant attention. Both Maine Coons and Ragdolls are kittens with similar personalities, with whichever you will feel happy and satisfied.
