Difference Between Maine Coon Cats and Ragdoll Cats

Having a new cat addition to the family is always exciting and fun. These fur babies make your life merrier and keep you on your toes! However, choosing the right cat breed can be a little challenging when you have different options to choose from.

If you are wondering, “Are Maine Coons better or Ragdolls?” let us tell you both are adorable, gorgeous cat species that make you fall in love with them immediately. They are big babies and make great indoor cats (Maine Coon are good hunters).

Choosing between Maine coon and Ragdoll is no more challenging when you know all about them. Here’s everything you need to know, from their origin, weight, and grooming to temperament and lifespan, so that you can decide easily.

Maine Coon vs Ragdoll – An Overview

Maine Coon and Ragdolls are not entirely different from each other and have many similarities, like their temperament and friendly nature. However, their size, fur, hunting skills, lifespan, etc., make them different from each other.

Let’s have a detailed look at the differences and similarities between Maine Coon and Ragdoll.

Origin

Maine Coon

Declared as the State Cat of Maine, the exact origin of Maine Coon is fairly unknown. While some suggest that they belonged to the Queen of France and originate from there, others indicate that they are a hybrid between cats and raccoons. Both these theories do not stand ground, yet it is believed that they are a cross-breed of long-haired and short-haired cat breeds. Maine Coons have high importance among farmers as they are excellent hunters and keep mice away.

Ragdoll

Ragdolls are a fairly new species of cats bred by Ann Baker in 1960. Stories circulate that she loved the temperament of some cats in her neighborhood so much that she bred them together. The female cat believed to be Josephine, produced the Ragdoll bread. Despite being a comparatively new breed, it has become popular and recognized as the fifth most beloved cat breed in American Cat Fanciers’ Association.

Size

Both Maine Coon and Ragdolls are huge babies weighing up to 20 pounds. They are among the biggest cat species.

Weight

The average weight of a female Maine Coon is between 10 and 15 pounds, while the male Maine Coon weighs somewhere between 15 to 25 pounds. Though they are the largest domestic cat breed, if your cat weighs more than 25 pounds, they shift towards the obese side.

On the other hand, male Ragdolls weigh between 15 and 20 pounds, whereas female Ragdolls are similar in weight to female Maine Coons.

Height

Both breeds are similar in size, but they can vary in height.

The Maine Coon is larger in height than the Ragdoll breed and reaches up to 16 inches in height. Ragdolls usually reach around 9 to 11 inches, with the male counterparts larger than the female.

These cat species are about 40 inches in length.

Fur

Maine Coon is larger in appearance, and because of its long-haired Maine, it looks beautiful. They have fluffy legs and feathery neck ruff, all covered by tufts of fur. Their thick fur coat enables them to stay outside during winters in tough weather. You can find Maine Coon in various colors and patterns. The colors include black, white, cream, blue, tortoiseshell, tabby, and bi. You can check Maine Coon fur-friendly brushes here.

On the contrary, Ragdolls have medium-length hair fur. Their colored fur complements the blue eyes, giving a spectacular look and making them one of the most attractive cat breeds. You can find this gorgeous breed in chocolate, seal, blue, lilac, red, cream, and bi-colors.

Patterns

Maine Coon and Ragdoll come in various patterns, giving you numerous options to choose from. The Maine Coon has around 7 patterns, out of which tabby is the most common. Other popular Tabby patterns include the Classic Tabby Pattern, Mackerel Tabby Pattern, and Ticked Tabby Pattern.

Though Ragdolls do not have so many patterns to offer, the four patterns they come in are loved by everyone – color print, mitted, bi-color, and van. The bi-color species usually have white and darker markings on the paws, chest, underbodies, and back with a few spots on the body.

Grooming

Grooming these huge babies is one of the major commitments when you get one for your family.

Maine Coons have long hair and need to be groomed regularly to keep them tangle-free and in good health. Maine Coon hairs are long and require brushing two to three times every week. Make sure to give them baths with shampoos made for this breed and clean with a damp cloth to manage debris and dead hair.

Ragdolls also need adequate care for their fur to keep it looking good and save them from dermatological issues. Brushing them every other day is an excellent way to keep their fur from mat and tangles.

Temperament

Friendly: The Maine Coon and Ragdoll cat breeds have a friendly, laidback yet social attitude that makes them an instant favorite in the room. While Ragdolls may take some time to socialize with new people, Maine Coons are somewhat more engaging and can be called the ultimate party animals. You can easily discipline them.

Family dogs: They exhibit similarly gentle behavior and are a perfect choice for families with young children. None of the two species are aggressive and go well as family pets. They do not use their claws and teeth much, unlike other breeds, and are quite well behaved.

Dog-like: Another fact about Maine Coons and Ragdolls that may surprise you is their interest in playing “fetch,” a game usually associated with dogs. Both breeds tend to exhibit many other dog-like behaviors too. Check this if you planning to have Maine Coon and Dog in the same house.

Relaxed: Besides being playful, these cat species do not exhibit highly energetic behavior, which is a relief being a cat parent! They won’t be running around the house or causing trouble so that you can have your time in peace.

Intelligent: Main Coon and Ragdoll are intelligent cat breeds, with the former considered more intelligent than the latter. They exhibit their intelligence in many ways, including

• Respond to their name
• Easily trainable (Maine Coon > Ragdolls)
• Perform tricks

Docile: While Maine Coons have established their reputation as docile cats, you may be surprised to know that Ragdolls are no less. They get their name from curling into a floppy ragdoll when being carried around. Ragdolls love to be carried around and lazy down in their owner’s lap; Maine Coons are not fans of lying on their humans.

Indoor/ Outdoor

Maine Coon can live well outside and inside the house, whereas Ragdolls are more of indoor cats. Maine Coon cats being ferocious hunters are adaptable to living outside as they have been used as mouse hunters by farmers. On the other hand, Ragdolls love to be lazy around and stay inside the house.

Health

Maine Coons living inside need around 30 minutes of exercise daily, whereas outdoor Maine Coon cats do not need exercising as they move around outside enough. It is somewhat related to their eating patterns. Ragdolls are not inclined towards jumping or playing much and do not seem interested in exercise.

Besides hip dysplasia, polycystic kidney disease, and urinary tract infection, obesity is a major health concern for Maine Coon and Ragdoll cats. We have to admit that huge cats look utterly cute, yet you need to find the fine line between being cute and obese.

You must weigh your cat every few weeks to ensure that they are under the normal weight range, as obesity can take a heavy toll on their health and lead to further medical issues.

Maturity and lifespan

Maine Coon cats take around 3 years to mature and live for as long as 10 to 14 years. Contrarily, Ragdolls mature up to 4 years of age and live for 12 to 15 years.

The lifespan of any breed you choose also depends highly on the environment and their health conditions. Cats who live indoors and have better access to veterinary facilities tend to have a longer, healthier life than those who spend more time outside as they are more susceptible to diseases.

Price

Though none of the species are “cheap,” you can find Ragdolls at a price lesser than Maine Coons. Ragdolls range from $400 to $1000, while Maine Coons sell at an average price of $1000, going up to $2500 for each pet.

Considering the difference in prices, you may choose Ragdoll if you are looking for a less expensive breed. But, be sure to make the final decision after considering all other factors.

The Bottom Line

Choosing a pet for your family is a tough choice, especially when you have to choose between two adorable breeds. Maine Coons are the bigger cats, but Ragdolls are equally cute.

Both are quite similar in temperament, yet Maine Coons are more sociable, easily trained, and exhibit more dog-like features than the Ragdoll species that likes to be lazy around the house more. Maine Coons do well both inside and outside and are excellent mouse hunters, whereas Ragdolls are more of indoor pets.

The article explains how Maine Coon and Ragdoll breeds are alike in many aspects with slight differences in size, personality, lifespan, and costs – choose wisely!

Also, check the following differences of Maine coon with other breeds

• Difference between Maine coon and Bob Cat
• Difference between Maine coon and Lynx
• Difference between Maine Coon and Norwegian Forest Cat
• Difference between Main coon and Normal cat