Ragdoll Cat Price Guide – What You Need To Know Before Buying a Ragdoll Cat

The Ragdoll Cat Price Range

The Ragdoll cat price range can vary greatly. Usually, it starts around $1200 for a pet Ragdoll and can go all the way up to over $5,000 for a show or breeder quality Ragdoll.

A long time ago (or it seems like it), I wrote a blog post about buying a Ragdoll cat. The Ragdoll cat price does vary quite a bit depending on the potential show and breeder quality of the cat in question.

I thought it would be fun to show the prices of the Ragdoll cats my family has purchased:

• Rags, purchased in 1989 with his brother Cosby – $350/ea
• Caymus and Murphy, purchased in 2004 – $600/ea (reduced by $50 each because my parents were buying 2)
• Charlie and Trigg, purchased in 2009 – $800/each (reduced by $50 each because I was buying 2)

If you want to buy a Ragdoll kitten, then the first thing you have to think about is why you are buying it for – as a pet, to take to cat shows, to breed, or to breed and take to cat shows. This is the main stepping stone because it also tells you where to buy your Ragdoll kitten from.

Some breeders only sell show-quality, which increases the price, while others only sell pet quality Ragdoll kittens, which are purebred Ragdoll cats but have some breed characteristic defects that disqualify them from shows. Pet quality cats cost less than show quality, making them the most affordable Ragdoll kittens.

If you want to purchase a breeder quality Ragdoll cat, then you should be prepared to spend more than you would on a pet or show-quality kitten. Breeder quality cats come with a certificate that attests that they are free from genetic diseases and that they are authorized to breed purebred Ragdolls. Pet and show quality, on the other hand, are sold neutered/spayed.

Show/breeder quality are the most expensive because they present the characteristic features of the breed perfectly, so they are fit to be shown in official cat shows. They also have a reproductive certificate, which increases their price even further. Why are these Ragdoll cats so expensive? Because not only are they show-worthy, but they can breed show-worthy kittens.

Breeder And Show Quality Price

A show-quality Ragdoll kitten will likely cost between $1500 and $4000, while a breeder-quality Ragdoll kitty will be somewhere between $1800 and $3000. If you want a Ragdoll kitten that's strong for both show and breeder qualities then you'll pay a premium - somewhere between $2300 and $5000.

There are a number of factors to consider when you’re trying to find the right breeder. You don’t want to be scammed with either a diseased cat, or even no cat at all.

The onus is on the buyer to do their research. There are many great breeders out there, and there are many scammers or back-yard breeders. A backyard breeder isn’t necessarily a scammer, but they won’t follow the right procedures, they might skip important early vet visits, and they might mislead you on the pedigree of a kitten, either intentionally or through inexperience.

Step one is to check the breeder out online. Start with their website – does it look professional, or has it been thrown together? Not all breeders are web designers but if they’re at all reputable then they will want to advertise themselves in that way.

Also, look beyond their own site. Google the name of the breeder and “complaints”, to see what shows up.

Next up, you’ll want to get in touch and establish their credentials and expertise. Is it a breeder, or just a broker? Do they have both parents, and can they offer proof of the Sire and Dam’s medical history and genetics?

Find out how long they’ve been in business, and if they allow visits. If they do, then make the effort to go and visit in advance. The traveling expenses upfront are more than worth it if you end up avoiding paying higher prices for a cat that shouldn’t be sold. Make sure the cats look well cared for, and smell – you shouldn’t be able to smell any cat urine, or any perfume used to cover it up. Many of the breeders I’ve interviewed agree with me about avoiding perfumed cat litter.

The final price for a Ragdoll cat also depends on the breeder and the medical procedures they have performed on the kittens before selling them, such as veterinary checkups and spaying/neutering (for non-breed-quality kittens). In some states, the breeders have to complete the full course of vaccination before they can sell the cats.

The cost of these procedures will be included in the overall purchase price the breeders set for the Ragdoll kittens, so make sure you inquire about them. The more of these the breeder performs, the less you will have to take your new kitty to the vet.

If you are looking to buy two or more Ragdoll kittens, ask the breeder for a discount because this is common practice. Any breeder is happy to have the kittens stay together, so they will be pleased to sell you more kittens.

If you are looking to buy two or more Ragdoll kittens, ask the breeder for a discount because this is common practice. Any breeder is happy to have the kittens stay together, so they will be pleased to sell you more kittens.

Different Ragdoll Patterns and Their Prices

It depends on the breeder if they choose to charge more for a specific color or pattern. It's really important to first find a list of breeders that you are interested in adopting from. Once that is solidified and vetted (you've done your due diligence to make sure they genetically test their cats for disease and you know they are a legitimate/reputable breeder), you can reach out and ask about the colors they produce. At the same time, you can ask if a certain color or pattern costs more.

Most breeders only vary the price based on the "quality" of the cat - whether it's a pet, show, breeder, or show breeder. Many do not price kittens differently based on color patterns. However, some will price them differently based on sex, as a female kitten is more expensive to spay than it is to neuter a male kitten.

While compiling the research for this post, we reached out to several reputable Ragdoll cat breeders to come up with the price ranges. Many of them offered further insight that was interesting enough to share on this post. In other words, it’s important to find a Ragdoll cat breeder you like and then ask further questions than just price – because not all prices are created equal:

Prices vary greatly in the different areas of the US. I believe they tend to be highest on the east coast, especially near the large cities. I would say there is more of a varying degree also between the type of breeder you are buying from now.

Where those who show and have been around a while are charging more than smaller breeders who do not show but still have registered kittens. I would say that the rock bottom minimum is likely $850-$900 but that likely doesn’t include early spay/neuter which all reputable breeders do now.

• While I hate to begin a conversation with prices, most buyers think they’re going to get a quality, well-bred Ragdoll for under $1000…sigh
• None of us breed minks, sepia, green-eyed or yellow-eyed Ragdoll…they’re not in breed standards, can’t be shown in CFA or TICA, can’t even be registered as Ragdoll in CFA.
• I am sure you are aware of this, but adopters should be aware of the type of breeder they are dealing with. It’s not just as simple as price. There are so many “backyard” breeders out there. Do they test their breeder cats? Do they feed quality food? Are the cats loved, treated as family members, given proper medical attention, and live in the house? Are the kittens raised with love, healthy and well socialized, etc.
• My kittens have had their first set of booster shots, dewormed, altered, and microchipped when they leave me at 14 weeks old. They also leave here with a substantial kitten kit of holistic hard food, canned food, two types of freeze-dried turkey/chicken treats, a bag of litter, assorted toys, and a handmade bed.
• Sometimes it’s more than the price of the kitten – they can come with shots, health guarantees, spaying or neutering, TICA or CFA registration
• Breeders who responsible spay and neuter – when kittens have already been spayed or neutered (all reputable breeders require this and it is usually quite expensive plus then you have to deal with the aftercare - keeping the kitten quiet and confined, not allowing them to jump, hoping they don’t rip their stitches, get an infection, or get a hernia, and of course, there is always the slight risk they might not make it through the surgery)

When you decide to buy a Ragdoll kitten, you have to consider the price you are going to pay to the breeder, but also the cost of caring for your Ragdoll cat. Raggies are more expensive than many other breeds, so you might be focused on the initial investment. But keep in mind that there is also a long-term investment that you have to be ready to make in your Ragdoll cat.

The cost of caring for a Ragdoll cat is higher than that of caring for a regular cat. Ragdolls are large size cats, which means that they need more food and specialized accessories like grooming tools for cats with long coats, cat beds, cat scratchers, and cat towers for large-sized cats, which are more expensive. Aside from these, you should also consider the cost of veterinary bills for vaccinations, regular checkups, and, if needed, for special interventions.

The initial price of the Ragdoll cat is only the beginning of the investment. The total cost includes the long-term cost of caring for your Ragdoll cat.

Since this is such a popular topic, I went ahead and asked our Facebook community – How much did you pay for your Ragdoll kitten/cat? What year was it? Are you a breeder – do these prices pretty much match your ranges?

Really though – the question about Ragdoll Cat Price should ALSO include the total cost of a cat in 1 year’s time. A kitten can be quite expensive because of vaccinations and whatnot. A cat can still be expensive because of food, litter, vet bills, etc. Do you have an idea of what you budget for your kitty every year?

There are benefits to buying a cat, and there are benefits to adopting. There’s no single right answer. If you plan to adopt then you might struggle to find a Ragdoll cat near you – it’s a very specific breed to be looking for. However, you can sometimes arrange for transport to get your cat to your home.

Adopting means that you’re less likely to know much about your new kitty. If you’re taking your new pet from the cat owners then they may be able to tell you more, but if you’re adopting from a shelter then you could be pretty blind on its history. The initial cost might be lower but expenses further down the line, for unknown medical conditions, could mean a high price in the future.

Price for Pet Quality

Expect to pay somewhere between $1200 and $2800, although maybe more. Some breeders charge more for females due to the fact that spaying costs more than neutering, while some breeders will charge more for rare or non-traditional color patterns, like Torties, Creams, Lilacs, and Flames.

Price for Show Quality

The price for a show (alter) quality Ragdoll is likely to be somewhere between $1500 and $4000. These cats are perfectly marked for cat shows, but they’re spayed or neutered.

Price for Breeder Quality

You should be paying somewhere between $1800 and $3000 for a breeder-quality Ragdoll. These cats might not have perfect markings, but they are fit, suited to breeding and have been tested to show that they’re free from any genetic diseases.

Price for Show/Breeder Quality

For a cat that is both strong and fit enough for breeding (and free of genetic diseases), and that has perfect markings, you will likely have to pay somewhere between $2300 and $5000.

Keep in mind that average prices for Ragdoll cats differ from one breeder to another and also depends on the kitten’s parents.

Why are there discrepancies in Ragdoll cat prices?

Aside from the quality of the Ragdoll cat, another major factor that impacts the price is the color/pattern. While blue and seal point Ragdolls are the most common variety, red and lilac Ragdolls are rare, which also makes them more expensive. Please note that each color/pattern may come at a different price.

How to buy a Ragdoll cat without being scammed?

There are a number of ways to avoid being scammed. They aren’t always guaranteed but follow these steps to ensure you give yourself the best chance of buying from genuine Ragdoll breeders who know what they are doing:

• Check out their website and search the internet for any complaints or reviews
• Pay attention reading the advert or website – does it sound like someone who cares about cats? This might seem subjective but it’s often an easy way to spot someone in it just for the money!
• Try searching online for the picture of the cat in the advert. If it appears on other websites it’s likely fake or a stolen image
• Pay a fair price – now that you’ve got an idea of the price of a Ragdoll cat, don’t jump at what looks like a bargain. It’s probably a low price for a (bad) reason.