Ragdoll breed guide
 

• Ragdolls are a good choice for busy families, as they can tolerate reasonable levels of household noise. 
• Their playful nature also means they love being around children, provided they’re well-socialised, their space is respected and interactions are supervised.
• Their love of human attention means they’re well-suited to owners who work from home or who can spend plenty of time interacting with them.

• Ragdolls love to get involved with day-to-day activities. Depending on your Ragdoll’s personality, they might sit next to you, follow you everywhere or snuggle up with you at bedtime. 
• As one of the largest domestic cat breeds, fully mature female Ragdolls can weigh up to 7kgs (15lbs) and fully-grown male Ragdoll cats are even larger, weighing over 9kgs (20lb).
• Ragdolls have a similar personality to dogs – they form close bonds with their owners, are naturally affectionate and love learning tricks. 
• Ragdolls are typically quiet and not very vocal (although this can vary between individual cats). Instead, they like to rub against your legs, walk around with their tail raised and make eye contact to communicate that they need something.

• Ragdoll cats are easy to train because they’re intelligent and respond well to treats and praise. 
• They take well to litter tray training and can be taught a wide range of tricks, using positive reinforcement techniques.

• As a relaxed breed, Ragdolls may need some encouragement to exercise. Short play sessions and fun games each day help keep them physically active. 
• This breed can easily gain weight, so training sessions and interactive toys can help keep them trim.

• When they’re happy and feeling safe, Ragdolls will often roll onto their back and show you their belly. Just remember that they may not want a belly rub, though! Giving them attention and stroking them on the head acknowledges their feeling of trust.
• Ragdolls love to play, so owners should set aside time each day to play and bond with their cat.
• The Ragdoll’s friendly, outgoing nature means they often approach strangers, so are at risk of being stolen.

Like all cat breeds, Ragdolls are prone to certain health conditions. In our experience, diarrhoea was the second most common condition we saw in Ragdolls in 2024. In the same year, we paid £1236.96 to treat Princess Sofia the Ragdoll.

To help you prepare for any other potential issues, we’ve put together health issues we see most commonly in Ragdolls.

• Ragdolls have a distinctive ‘pointed’ coat, with dark faces and pale bodies. They’re found in six colours: seal, red, chocolate, cream, blue and lilac.
• Their fur is soft, silky and smooth. They’re considered to be a medium-haired breed, not a long-haired breed.
• Unlike their Persian, Siberian or Ragamuffin cousins, Ragdoll cats have a single coat with no undercoat. This means there’s much less fur to manage and less shedding. Even so, they shed more and require more grooming than the average short-haired cat. 
• When grooming your Ragdoll cat, wide-tooth combs and brushes are best. Aim for at-home grooming sessions at least twice a week. It’s best to start when they’re a kitten, so they become comfortable with being groomed and it’s a positive experience. 
• Some Ragdoll owners also take their cats to be professionally groomed. This breed can sometimes benefit from a hygiene clip around their backend.

• When weighing out your cat’s food, follow the guidelines for your chosen food. If you need to adjust the quantity based on their age, size or activity level, ask your vet for advice. If you have cat insurance with Petplan, you can also use our Pet Expert Chat feature to connect with vet professionals for advice. Just log into your My Petplan account to get started. 
• As a large breed, Ragdolls may need more food than other breeds, but this needs to be balanced with their activity levels. 
• If your Ragdoll lives indoors or is neutered, they may need fewer calories, so adjust their portion accordingly.

Adopting a rescue cat can be an extremely rewarding experience, and there are lots of cats waiting to find their new home. As a popular pedigree breed, there might not always be Ragdolls in rehoming centres, but it’s worth contacting local centres to ask. 

Petplan also works with rehoming centres across the UK, including Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, Blue Cross and Cats Protection.

If you’d like to buy a Ragdoll kitten, the first thing to do is create a list of responsible breeders. In the UK, Lucy’s Law means cat breeders should always allow you to meet the mother cat at the same time as the kittens, in their home. As a popular breed, you might need to join a waiting list.

Observe how the mother cat interacts with you and the breeder and ask questions about her temperament and health. Kittens should never go to their new homes before they’re eight weeks old. Breeders who work with Petplan will also offer four weeks of free insurance, which you can then extend. 

Whether from a rehoming centre or a breeder, ensure that your new kitten or cat is well socialised as this plays a huge role in their personality and ability to thrive as a companion. 

Rehoming or acquiring a cat is a big decision. It’s important to do your research and make sure you’re fully prepared to support your new cat’s needs – especially if you’re a first-time cat owner.