How to Tell if My Cat is a Ragdoll?

If you are trying to find out if a cat is a Ragdoll cat, then there are a few steps that could lead you toward the correct answer. If you think your cat might be a Raggie, then checking for some specific breed traits might help you find your answer.

Please note that there are only two ways to know for sure if your cat is a purebred Ragdoll:

• If the cat has official papers from an authorized cat association like CFA or TICA – Ragdoll breeder stating that the cat is a purebred pedigreed Ragdoll.
• If the cat takes a DNA test – this can confirm or deny that the cat is a Ragdoll or Ragdoll mix. If your cat does not have papers from a breeder, then the only way to confirm that it is a Ragdoll is by performing a DNA test.  Update: I learned from this post on our Facebook Group that the UC Davis Cat Ancestry test is better and that another is the Wisdom Panel Complete Cat DNA Test.

Aside from official papers or a DNA test, you can find out if your cat is a Ragdoll or maybe part Ragdoll by analyzing the cat. Here’s what you should do:

Analyze the Cat’s Physical Traits:

If your cat looks like a Ragdoll, it must be a Ragdoll. But what does a Ragdoll cat look like? Here are a few key areas that you should check:

Check the Eyes

Almost all Ragdoll cats have blue eyes. It is one of the best-known traits of the breed. While there are Ragdoll cats with non-blue eyes, these are not accepted by Ragdoll associations. If your kitty has beautiful blue eyes, you should keep looking because you are on the right track.

Check the Cat’s Size and Weight

Ragdolls are large in size compared to other cats. Adult males weigh between 12 and 21 lbs, and adult females weigh between 8 and 15 pounds. Start by weighing your cat to see if it matches this weight class. If it does, keep looking because you may have a Raggie. You might have a half-breed if you have a small cat with Ragdoll features.

Check the Cat’s Coloring

Ragdoll cats have many colors and patterns. They can be blue, seal, chocolate, lilac, cream, tortie, mink, solid, or flame. As for the patterns, they can be bi-color, van, mitted, or colorpoint. You should see pictures with the variations of these Ragdoll colorations to see if your cat looks like any. Also, check to see if your cat is pointed. It’s pointed if the fur on its body is lighter than the points on its face, ears, tail, and legs.

Check the Cat’s Coat

Ragdoll cats have an exceptional coat texture. Their fur is luxurious and very light to the touch. In addition, they have medium-long fur and shed very little compared to other cats.

As a result, grooming Ragdoll cats is relatively easy, especially if you have the right tools. For example, suppose your cat’s fur is easily matted. In that case, you might not have a Ragdoll because one excellent characteristic of this breed is that they don’t get mats as quickly as other long-haired cats.

Analyze the Cat’s Personality and Temperament

Ragdoll cats are not only famous for their fabulous fur and beautiful blue eyes. They are among the most famous cats because they also have delightful personalities. They are great with people, they are easygoing, and they are delightfully floppy. Here’s what you should be looking for:

Analyze the Cat’s Personality

One of the best Ragdoll personality traits is how they become entirely relaxed when picked up. They lie limp, like dolls, which is how the breed got its name. While there are some exceptions, their floppy personality is a characteristic of Ragdoll cats. If this sounds like something your cat does, then you may have a Raggie.

Analyze the Cat’s Engagement Level

Ragdoll cats are called puppy dog cats because they are incredibly playful. Many enjoy playing fetch with their owners, and they will take advantage of the opportunity to play with you. Naturally, some Ragdoll cats are more playful than others, but all Raggies are engaged in playtime. Does your cat like playing with toys? Have you ever tried playing fetch? You should give it a try. Even if it doesn’t answer your Ragdoll breed question, you will have a lot of fun.

Analyze the Cat’s Social Skills

Ragdoll cats are excellent companions and have a particular affinity for humans. They are great with people and also children. They become very fond of their masters and enjoy spending a lot of time with them. They can turn into feline bodyguards because they follow their owners all over the house, including the bathroom.

However, they usually don’t draw much attention; they enjoy being close to their human companions, so you often find them lying quietly, close to you. Ragdolls are also very good with dogs, making this breed one of the few appropriate for cat and dog households.

Check the Cat’s Documentation

If you have any documentation for your cat, it could help you determine if it is a Ragdoll. If it meets all the breed characteristics, then the cat should have a pedigree clearly pointing out its breed and genealogy.

If you don’t have that, you should look for the cat’s medical records. When the cat is vaccinated or examined by a veterinarian, sometimes they can make a good guess about its breed. Still, a DNA test is the only thing that will help you know for sure. Also, if you have any information about the cat’s parents, that could be extremely useful.

Take a Test:

I did a Wisdom Panel DNA Test on my cats, and it told me their breed, among many other things:

A Floppycats reader, Beth, took a test for her cat using the Basepaw kit, and here is what she said:

“The whole process was straightforward. First, I ordered the kit online. It arrived 2 days later. The kit consists of a box, which is also used to return the kit with the postage included.

Inside the box are the instructions and a tube that contains a swap and mixing liquid. I created an account on basepaws.com and registered the kit with Bailey’s information.  

• I took the swap and rubbed/swirled it along the inside of Bailey’s cheek and gums for 10 seconds.
• Then I inserted the swab into the end of the tube with the liquid and shook it up.  

I returned it to the box and mailed it through USPS. Then I waited.  They say it takes 4-6 weeks. So I sent Bailey’s kit on 6/14 and received the results on 7/30.

I received an email once the results were ready. The results include the breed analysis, the health markers, the feline breed categories, and an overview of each breed.”

Seek a Professional Opinion

Suppose you think that your cat has all the Ragdoll traits. In that case, you can seek a professional opinion to get confirmation. Here’s who you can talk to:

Contact the Official Associations

You can contact the Ragdoll Fanciers Club International or the Cat Fanciers Association and ask them for an opinion on your cat. They can also help you get in touch with reputable Ragdoll breeders who can help you determine if your cat is a Ragdoll.

Speak to Your Veterinarian

You can also talk to your veterinarian about your cat’s breed. Your doctor can help you determine if your cat is Ragdoll. The vet can analyze the cat, as well as its documents, and answer your questions. Have you managed to tell if your cat is a Ragdoll? This breed has many exceptional traits; if your cat shares them, you might have your very own Raggie. Tell us all about your process in the comments section below.

Key Differences Between Ragdoll and Siamese Cats

Ragdoll and Siamese cats can share the seal color pattern of their fur and the deep blue color of their eyes, which is why people usually confuse them. However, there is only a little more they have in common. From fur length and origins to their personality and care needs, these breeds are very different. In the following section, we’ll go into the details of just how much.

Ragdoll Siamese Mix

Unofficially called a “Ragamese,” the mix between Ragdoll and Siamese cats is very popular with cat lovers. Since this is not an official breed, the kittens share the characteristics of their Ragdoll and Siamese parents but in various proportions. Keep in mind that with mixed breeds, there is a high possibility that the kittens will take more characteristics from one parent than the other. So Ragamese cats can be very different from themselves.

The typical Ragamese cat looks like a Ragdoll with shorter fur (or a Siamese with longer fur). The Ragamese is friendly and social like its Ragdoll parent, but also energetic and talkative like their Siamese parent. However, this can easily be the other way around.

Ragamese cats are a good match between two good-looking breeds with beautiful personalities, so the results are bound to be a delight in any Ragdoll-Siamese proportions!

Appearance

Ragdoll and Siamese cats are different in appearance mainly due to size and coat.

Ragdolls are larger than Siamese cats, weighing approximately 12 pounds. Siamese cats typically weigh 8 to 12 pounds, which makes them visibly smaller. The other main differentiator is coat size and texture. Siamese is a short-haired breed, while Ragdolls are a long-haired breed. Siamese cats have short silky coats, while Ragdolls have long fluffy coats similar to the touch of rabbit fur.

In terms of colors, Ragdoll and Siamese cats are best known for their seal point variety. But both breeds have many other colors, like blue point, chocolate point, flame point, cream point, or lilac. In addition, both breeds come in various patterns – tabby, tortie, or lynx. The key differences are brought on by the size and texture of their fur, making each breed unique.

Both breeds share one other distinguishing characteristic – their bright blue eyes. Seal points usually have deep blue eyes, while lilacs and cream points have lighter shades.

Another differentiation factor is the cats’ noses. Although not all Siamese cats share this characteristic, they are well-known for their long noses. At the same time, Raggies typically have short, delicate noses.

Personality

This is where Ragdoll and Siamese cats differ the most. Ragdolls have a unique floppy personality and are known worldwide as the calmest, friendliest, and most relaxed cat breed. When they are picked up, Raggies become relaxed, lying limp, like dolls…ragdolls, if you will. This is how they got their name, but more on that below.

While this might be their best-known personality trait, Ragdoll owners will tell you that their best trait is their affinity to humans. Raggies love humans and, most of all, their pet parents.

They are curious to know everything their humans are doing, and they love spending time with them. They are not usually big attention seekers and will be happy to be in the room next to their humans. Ragdolls are great with children but also with dogs and other pets. They are the gentle giants that everybody loves.

Siamese cats are a different kind of lovable. They are also very interested in their human family members but are much pushier when it comes to attention. Siamese cats know that they are the main characters in every story and let everybody know. They are highly energetic, tirelessly playful, and a delight to be around because you will never get bored around them.

Unsurprisingly, they are also very talkative cats and will make their point of view heard every single time. Not to mention curious. Siamese cats love exploring the house, going through cabinets, drawers, and whatever they can get their paws on. Their energetic personality makes them very compatible with dogs, often calling out their puppy buddies to come and play.

One characteristic that might surprise you is that Ragdoll cats are very independent. In contrast, Siamese cats are very dependent on the attention of their human families. Raggies love attention, seek it, and offer it, but when their pet parents are busy, they find ways to entertain themselves. On the other hand, Siamese cats need all the attention they can get and suffer when they don’t get enough of it.

Origins

Their origin is yet another significant difference between Ragdoll and Siamese cats.

Siamese cats have origins in Thailand, and they are known from back to the 1300s, making them one of the oldest breeds ever known. Siamese arrived in America in 1878 when President Rutherford B. Hayes received a female Siamese cat from the American consul in Bangkok, whom he named Siam. Since then, Siamese cats have become one of the most popular cat breeds in the United States.

On the other hand, Ragdoll cats are one of the most recent cat breeds, with their origins in California in the 1960s. Ann Baker bred the first-ever Ragdoll cats. It all happened when she bred Josephine, a white Angora Persian cat queen.

The latter had a Siamese coat pattern to longhaired Burmese and Birman males. From these kittens, Baker continued a detailed breeding process and developed the Ragdoll breed we know and love today. Find out more about Ragdoll cat history.

Care

As mentioned above, Siamese cats need a lot of attention. They can get depressed if they don’t get enough attention, so the most significant consideration in caring for them is spending time with them and playing with them.

Siamese love playing with their humans and will do their best to be the center of attention every time. Unfortunately, they are not suitable pets for people who spend all day at work since those couple of hours in the evening will not count as enough quality (and play) time.

Ragdoll cats, on the other hand, are more independent. They welcome human affection and attention, but they also enjoy playing on their own. Therefore, they are a much better fit for somebody who spends weekdays at the office. The most significant point in caring for them is grooming because long-haired cats need extra attention in this department.

You need to become a master with the comb and deal with knots and tangles. I even wrote a book about how to properly groom Ragdoll cats and other long-haired cats like Norwegian Forest Cats or Maine Coons. Siamese cats, on the other hand, are much easier to groom since they have short hair.

Regarding disease predispositions, Siamese cats are likely to develop convergent strabismus. This will make them cross-eyed but will not affect their health. In addition, they are prone to developing bladder stones. On the other hand, Ragdoll cats are prone to developing heart disease. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is hereditary in Ragdoll cats. They should be tested for the genetic mutation that causes this disease before they are bred.

Training

Teaching a cat to do tricks is a complex process that requires a lot of dedication on the owner’s part, but both Ragdoll and Siamese cats are excellent to work with. Siamese might be easier to train because they often engage in training as a play activity. This is the angle you want to take when training a Siamese to get results.

With Ragdolls, on the other hand, you need to spark their curiosity, and they will be along for the ride. The gentle giants are brilliant cats that will learn quickly if they’re interested in what you’re teaching them.

How to Tell What Breed My Cat Is

If your cat has papers attesting to its breed, then that is official proof of your cat’s breed. Its pedigree attests to its breed and provides information about its parents. If your cat doesn’t have a pedigree, on the other hand, you need to follow a different process.

You can take your cat to the vet; the doctor will assess its characteristics and provide more information about the breed. Another alternative, as mentioned above, is to take a test like the Basepaw kit and get a detailed account of your cat’s breed.

How to Identify the Breeds in a Mixed-Breed Cat or Kitten

Identifying the breeds in a mixed-breed cat can be extremely difficult. In kittens especially, since they don’t have their definitive characteristics yet. The genetic cat breed test is clearly the most informative way to find the breeds that the cat comes from. The main advantage is that it can be performed at any age and will provide detailed information.

If information about the parents is available, this will also help greatly. If possible, analyze the parents and determine what breeds they are. Key areas to look for are size, weight, coat length, eye color, and color pattern, as these might guide you toward the source.

Mixed breeds do not officially belong to any cat breed. However, depending on the length of their coats, they are usually referred to as Domestic Short, Medium, or Long Hairs.

• Domestic Shorthair (DSH)

The domestic shorthair is the most common variety of mix-breeds in the world, which you would call any cat with short hair. They come in all sizes, as well as all color and pattern varieties.

• Domestic Medium Hair (DMH)

Mix-breed cats from parents with short and long hair usually turn out as Domestic Medium Hair cats. This is because their coats are a mix of short and long hair. They can have coats slightly shorter than two inches or a combination of long and short fur altogether, which has a distinctive look – a rarer coat than long-haired cats.

• Domestic Long Hair (DLH)

With two to six inches long fur, Domestic Long Hair cats are always a sight.