Ragdolls Vs Himalayan Cats – Breed Comparison And Differences.

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Choosing between a Ragdoll and a Himalayan cat can be rather difficult. Both breeds boast awesome personalities, docile nature and affection. Both these cats are rather big-boned and are generously draped with an incredible coat.

While Ragdolls and Himalayans are so much alike, there are differences that clearly distinguish these two breeds. Let’s take a closer look into the comparison of both these breeds.

Ragdoll VS Himalayan.

Himalayan cats were derived by the crossing of the persian and siamese cat. Himmies are a medium sized placid breed that exhibits kitten like behavior. They are laid back, gentle and highly affectionate. Ragdoll cats are a possible mix of birman, persian and burmese. They are intelligent, bigger, muscular and low maintenance. Raggies are known for their floppy tendencies and Dog-Like behavior.

Appearance.

Color of Coat.

All Ragdoll cats are born completely white as their colour only start to appear a few weeks after birth. Ragdolls come in 6 different point colours. Namely red, seal, blue, lilac, chocolate and cream. With full colour present at age 3-4 years.

The cat’s coat colour depends entirely on its genes which includes an enzyme that is temperature-dependent, therefore the ragdoll’s coat colour is dependent on its body temperature in regards to its surroundings.

With regards to a Himalayan cat, their bodies are mostly white or cream in colour, with points of different shades and colours. Just like the ragdoll point, the Himalayan point shares the same colour points on their extremities such as seal, chocolate, red, lilac and blue.

The Chocolate and Lilac point Himalayans are the most difficult to produce since they require both parents to carry the gene. Below is a list of the different colour combinations for both Himalayan and ragdoll points.

SEAL – Seal point ragdolls have deep dark brown points with a warm cream colour that fades subtly across the cat’s tummy and chest.

CHOCOLATE – Chocolate point reggie or himmie are ivory with gradual shading to a lighter colour towards the stomach. Their points are warm milk chocolate in colour.

LILAC – Lilac point have a pure white body with a warm natural grey and a pink tone. This type of ragdoll is the diluted form of a chocolate coloured ragdoll.

RED – Red pointed ragdolls or Himalayans commonly known as flame point have a bright white body with a pale shading of their point tone. Their points are normally deep red or a bright apricot shade.

BLUE – A blue point cat have cool shades of white across that beautifully blends into points of a grey-blue colour.

CREAM – Cream points are bright white in colour with cream points and a subtle pink undertone.

Pattern.

Ragdolls come in 3 different patterns.

Colourpoint – The colourpoint pattern is the classic pointed pattern, where the ears, face, tail, and feet are all clearly defined with a darker colour. These areas which have the darker shade are referred to as points.

Bicolor – A Bicolour pattern of a ragdoll refers to the white inverted ” V ” pattern on the face that runs down to the legs and belly.

Mitted – Ragdolls that have a mitted pattern have a solid white stripe that runs from the hindquarters to the chin along the belly.

Himalayan Cats come in 3 patterns as well.

TABBY – A Himalayan cat with a tabby pattern has a distinctive “M” shaped mark on its forehead with stripes across its face and certain body parts.

LYNX – Lynx point Himalayan cats are stripe with a similar resemblance to a tabby cat. These stripes are overlaid on solid colours of the face, legs and tail.

TORTOISESHELL – Tortoiseshell pattern himalayans have particolored coats with patches of various shades. Pattern can present with large patches or a fine speckled pattern.

Fur.

Ragdolls have one of the best coats of all cats. These semi-longhaired cats have soft silky fur that attracts many people to this breed. Ragdolls don’t have an undercoat which means the fur isn’t thick which drastically reduces shedding as well as mats, However, regular grooming is required.

Himalayan cats are long-haired similar to the Persian breed. These cats have super thick and fluffy hair that is fine, which requires daily maintenance. Although himmies are not very big in size their highly dense fur coat make them appear large. Himmies have a double coat which means an increased volume of the cat’s fur, proper hygiene must be practised to keep the fur in good shape.

Size/weight.

Ragdolls are one of the largest domesticated cat breeds, with a sturdy body, a large frame and proportionate legs. Male ragdolls are generally larger with a fully grown male weighing between 12-20 pounds, while female ragdolls could weigh between 8-15 pounds. However, there are some exceptions as some ragdolls grow way bigger weighing more than 20 pounds.

Himalayan cats on the other hand are medium to large in size with excessively long fur. They are not very big but they have big, heavy bones. Himmies usually weigh between 7-12 pounds, with some males exceeding this range.

Eye Color and Facial appearence.

CAT	EYE COLOR	FACIAL FEATURES
Ragdoll	Shades of Blue	Medium-sized head & ears. Triangular face, oval eyes.
Himalayan	Brilliant Blue	Roundhead and round large eyes. Flat face (peke faced) or doll face.

Personality.

Friendly.

Ragdolls are one of the most sociable and friendly cat breeds. They feed on interaction as they have a natural desire for company and attention. They also make good lap cats and they are rather content relaxing on their owners for hours.

Their subtle nature is what makes them approachable and in return, they will reward you with cuddles as well as the most welcoming sense of affection. However, ragdolls are also known for being mean, while this is not a behaviour that’s associated with this breed, it’s often caused by underlying issues and changes in the cats daily routine.

Himalayan cats are very friendly as well, they enjoy the company of other humans and pets. They are known for their attachment to families or to one specific person. These cats get involved with families and strong bonds are shared. They are also extremely welcoming to other family members as well as pets and in a matter of time they blend in comfortably.

Playful.

Ragdolls are playful cats but aren’t overly active. They enjoy playing with toys as well as spending time with their human counterparts. These cats are not your typical domestic cats. They are known to be more dog-like as they share common dog-like behaviour, such as their playful nature and devotion to their owners.

They can be trained to play games and to do simple actions, the same as how you would train a dog. For example, playing fetch is not uncommon with raggies.

At first glance the Himalayan cat can be seen as lazy and sluggish due to their appearance, however don’t be fooled as these cats are playful and interactive. They are partly siamese and that genetic make up is very evident in their character as the possess bursts of energy which stimulates their playful side.

Himmies show equal interests in displaying a balance of playfulness and a softer peaceful side, therefore attracting people to this breed.

Affectionate.

Ragdolls are highly affectionate cats as they love the company and the presence of their owners. They thrive on companionship and the close relationship they share with the ones they are attached to. Their affectionate character can be seen in their behaviour and sometimes clingy gestures, like following their owners wherever they go, cuddling and rubbing themselves on those they are attached to.

In comparison, Himalayan cats are quite affectionate in their approach and how they like to be treated. Their ability to display a playful side and a softer more affectionate side is truly a desirable trait. They love to cuddle, rub themselves on their owners and make themselves comfortable on their parents laps. Both breeds display affection and it can be seen in their behaviour. This behaviour consists of:

Their love for Cuddling.

The way they groom/ lick their human parents.

The tag along and following, wherever their owners go.

Their need for companionship.

Intelligence.

Ragdolls are very intelligent cats, they can be taught to play certain games and they respond well to training. These shared dog-like characteristics make them easy going, aware and very involved. While most cats are not very active and involved, these beauts love the interaction and the thrill of enquiring new territory. These cats are intelligent enough to comprehend and understand simple commands as well.

Descended from a Siamese cat, the himalayan cat shares some of that intelligence and playfulness. Himmies can be taught certain games and simple commands. Their intelligence is very evident in they way they communicate, their ability to show affection as well as in the way they can be trained to do various things.

Gentleness.

The Ragdoll cat breed is known for being gentle giants as they are highly sweet with a passive nature. They are floppy, tolerant and extremely humble but they won’t hesitate to voice themselves when they disapprove of something. Likewise, himmies are just the same, displaying gentleness in their urge for affection as well as their subtle sweet nature.

Both these cat breeds are laid back and are very sociable towards others. They make for great support pets as they boast devotion and loyalty. Check out this amazing book below that is filled with authentic factual and practical information regarding the ragdoll cat breed. This book covers care, behavior, diet, and breed-related queries to help you learn more about the Ragdoll breed.

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Characteristics.

Behavior Towards Kids.

Ragdolls and Himalayan cats do well with kids as they are very tolerant and kind in nature. They are playful and interactive but soft, as their gentleness is seen. These cats almost resemble kids and will therefore do well with kids as long as they are treated good.

However, both breeds are very vocal and will not hesitate to reprimand behaviour they disapprove of. As we know kids can be mischievous at times, for this reason they need pets who are pleasant and very forgiving. Both ragdolls and Himalayans fit this requirement perfectly.

Behavior Towards Other pets.

Cats in general are very territorial as they feel treathened by other pets that are in their surroundings, not quite with himmies or ragdolls. These breeds do really well with other cats and dogs. The fact that they love affection and companionship is the reason they are fine with other pets.

The only requirement is that the pets must be of a similiar nature and temperament. These fur balls are not violent but rather friendly towards other pets. With the right combination of pets, these fur beauts will do extremely well with adapting and welcoming these pets.

Destructiveness.

Ragdolls are more or less gentle and placid in nature, therefore they tend to not show signs of destructiveness. In the same way we need to understand that all cats are capable of being destructive as all cats have sharp claws hidden in their paws.

That said, depending on the personality of the cat and changes in the cats routine, its possible for them to scratch. A scratch post will be ideal to prevent scratching in case the cat acts out.

Himmies on the other hand are not destructive at all, but just because they are cats they will feel natural urges to scratch as its an important way for them to maintain their claws as well as stretch. Therefore always keep their claws maintained and get a scratch post to save your furniture in case they feel the need to scratch.

Maintenance.

Ragdoll Cats Require:

Bathing every 4-6 weeks to maintain the coat.

Brushing at least 2-3 times a week since they don’t have an undercoat.

Himalayan Cats Require:

Bathing is essential every 2-3 months to remove oils and dirt.

Daily brushing to prevent mats and tangles. This is because they have long, thick hair with an undercoat. If not brushed it could cause tangles and mats to appear.

Himalayans shed alot, brushing reduces shedding. If not the loose hair can really cause havoc in your home.

They also need their face wiped since some himmies are flat faced, their eyes are watery. If not wiped the corners of their eyes could stain.

Price.

BREED	KITTEN	SHOW QUALITY	SHELTER
Ragdolls	$400 – $1000	$1200 – $2500	$100
Himalayan	$500 – $900	$1200 – $2500	$75 – $150

KITTEN – The prices of kittens depends on the type of breeder. Registered breeders cost way more as they produce more quality kittens free from defects. Backyard breeders are more cheaper, but the kittens can present with sicknesses and illnesses that may have passed down to the offspring.

SHOW QUALITY – These type of cats are in the best quality in terms of health, care and overall wellness. These cats are often used for competitions therefore cost a lot more.

SHELTER – Shelter cats are not sold but are available for adoption. For this reason a minimal fee is required.

Health.

Ragdolls are an averagely healthy breed, they are prone to certain diseases and health issues. Most registered breeder try to prevent the reoccurrence of certain genetic defects to produce healthy kittens, however certain issues only present later in the cat’s life. An early diagnosis is vital to prevent premature death. Medical checkups are required at least once a year.

Ragdolls are prone to :

Hypertropic Cardiomyopathy.

Polycystic Kidney Disease.

Gum Diseases.

Obesity.

Urinary Tract Infections.

Himalayan cats health are average as well since they are prone to a lot of hereditary health issues, therefore the breeder you choose must be registered and reliable. There is also a lot of common ailments associated with this breed especially himmies that are flat-faced.

Himmies are prone to:

Polycystic Kidney Disease.

Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome.

Breathing problems due to narrow nasal passage. This problem is only associated with flat faced Himalayans ( Brachycephalic).

Watery Eyes.

Obesity.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy.

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