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Ragdoll cats and Persian cats are very different from each other with very distinguishable characteristics. Both these breeds are purebred with beautiful coats and affectionate personalities. Choosing between these two breeds is rather difficult since both cat breeds have different qualities to offer, which may be attractive, depending on what you looking for.
Lets take a closer look at both breeds to understand the differences, behaviour, requirements and characteristics of these two beautiful breeds.
Appearance.
Coat
Ragdoll cats have one of the best coats ever, almost like rabbit fur which is super silky and shiny. These cats don’t have an undercoat which makes them lower maintenance than other semi-longhaired cats since their fur isn’t prone to tangles and mats. This means that shedding is reduced and brushing may be required less often compared to normal longhaired cats.
Persian cats are known for their thick, long fur that’s over a dense white undercoat. These cats are generously draped with long fur that requires a high level of maintenance. Due to the density and texture of their double coat, tangles and mats are easily formed. Daily brushing is required to reduce shedding and to keep their coat tangle free and healthy.
Color / Pattern
Ragdolls come in a variety of different colors and patterns which only appear after a few weeks after birth. These cats are born completely white without any shadings or patterns and soon develop their markings. Ragdoll’s coat’s color and patterns are gene-dependent but are also determined by the temperature of their surroundings.
Ragdolls come in many different color variations but with 6 recognized colors namely seal, chocolate, lilac, red, blue, and cream. This gives owners a variety of colors to choose from. They are also multi-patterned with 3 different patterns to choose from such as
1. Colorpoint – The colorpoint pattern is the classic pointed pattern, where the ears, face, tail, and feet are all clearly defined with a darker color. These areas which have the darker shade are referred to as points.
2. Bicolor – A Bicolor pattern of a ragdoll refers to the white inverted “V” pattern on the face that runs down to the legs and belly.
3. Mitted – Ragdolls with a mitted pattern have a solid white stripe that runs from the hindquarters to the chin along the belly.
Just like the ragdoll breed, Persian cats come in many different colors and patterns but their are only seven groups that is recognized by the CFA. The solid color, silver and golden, shaded and smoke, tabby, parti-color, calico and bicolor and lastly himalayan. There are also many variations and mixes that are too many to name.
Size / Structure
Ragdolls are large muscular cats with big bones and a sturdy structure. These cats have a large erect frame that is proportionate to the legs and overall body structure. Their broad muscular chest adds to their big size along with their long fluffy tails.
Normally male ragdolls are much larger with a fully grown male weighing between 12-20 pounds, while female ragdolls weigh between 8-15 pounds with an overall height of 8-15″ and body lenght of 15-20″. In some cases, ragdolls can grow over the 20-pound mark or even reach 25 pounds.
Persian cats are medium sized cats with good muscle tone and with huge amounts of fur that adds to their size. Their bodies are short and thick, with thick stumpy legs with a short chubby neck and short tails.
Normally male Persian cats are heavier than females, with males weighing an average of 9-14 pounds while females weigh an average of 7-11 pounds, with an average height of between 8-10″ and length of 14-18″. However these are just estimates as some Persian cats may be higher or lower the average weight and height.
Facial Features & Eye Color
| CAT BREED | EYE COLOR | FACIAL FEATURES |
| Ragdoll | Shades of blue | Medium sized head and ears, pronounced cheek bones and a triangular face with oval eyes. |
| Persian | Blue, green and copper | Round large head, small ears, large round eyes, flat face & a shorter nose with narrow nostrils. 2 types, doll face & flat face. |
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Personality & Temperament.
Affectionate
Ragdolls are highly affectionate cats as they love company and interaction. They thrive of human attention and the close bond that they share with their human counterparts.
Their affectionate nature can be seen through their behavior, like their ability to welcome you at the door, following you around the house as well as enjoying cuddles and alone time with the ones they are attached to.
Gentleness
Ragdolls are given the name “Gentle Giants” for a reason as their size don’t match up with their gentle, subtle personality. They are sweet with a passive nature are very tolerant. They are also floppy and extremely humble but they wont hesitate to voice themselves when they disapprove of something.
Likewise, Persians are equally gentle and sweet. They are very humble and reserved compared to other cats. They are laid back, very relaxed, and forgiving. Persians are a lot quieter though as they come across as inactive since they are unlikely to participate or play.
Friendly
Both Ragdolls and Persian cats are very sociable and friendly. They love human interaction and affection as they are attracted to company and companionship. These cats do well with anyone, even those who are unfamiliar.
Their subtle timid nature is what makes them a good fit to almost any family. While both breeds are friendly, ragdolls are more demanding in their constant need for attention and human presence.
Intelligence
Ragdolls are one of the most smartest cats, therefore people refer to them as dog-like. These cats will greet you at the door and follow you around the house just like a dog. They know exactly how to get things as they aren’t shy to make their voices heard. Raggies are very trainable and can be taught simple games, tricks and commands.
However, Persian cats are not very smart with an intelligence level of 4 out of 10. This is because they are slow learners and their ability to hunt and protect themselves are very poor. This is due to their feline instinctive ability being underdeveloped.
This makes them less active which decreases their chances of ever participating in any activities, however if you intend on training them it will require patience and effort.
Playfulness
Ragdolls are very playful cats but aren’t overly active like the Siamese breed. They love playing with toys as well as with their human counterparts. However normal toys wont satisfy them very long. They need interactive toys that will trigger and stimulate their instinctive nature.
Toys that are entertaining and have motion are ideal. Raggies can also be taught to play games like ‘fetch’ and other simple tricks. These cats love to be involved and will blend in perfectly into your family.
Persian cats are not very active but they do have a playful side to them just like any other breed. They need to be encouraged and stimulated to engage in any activity. Toys and treats can be used to entice them. Ultimately it will take some time and patience to train the cat to a certain type of play.
If you looking for a cat that’s active and playful by nature, the Persian breed is not what you’re looking for.
Characteristics.
Companionship
Ragdolls and Persian cats require companionship as a necessity. These cats are highly affectionate and they need intimacy to thrive. Ragdolls are more demanding compared to Persians which makes them needy at times. Persians, do love companionship but are more independent as they also enjoy personal time alone.
With ragdolls its difficult to have personal time since these cats are constantly following you around in search for attention or affection. Ultimately these qualities are not breed specific but rather dependent on the personality of the cat.
Behaviour towards kids
Ragdolls and Persian cats do well with kids as they are very tolerant and kind in nature. Both these cats resemble kids in their subtle and submissive temperament. These are the kind of cats that will forgive easily and will not hold grudges, since kids are mischievous and prone to interfering and fidgeting with them.
On the other hand ragdolls are very vocal, even though they aren’t aggressive they will reprimand behaviour they disapprove of, likewise with persians.
Behaviour towards other pets
Both Ragdolls and Persians are not territorial as they are not threatened by other pets within their surroundings. Both these fluffy beauts wont mind sharing their space with another pet.
The determining factor is the temperament and nature of the pet they are going to share their space with. Any dog or cat that shares the same docile nature and personality will be compatible.
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Care.
Brushing.
Ragdolls lack an undercoat which makes it less likely for tangles to form. Brushing is only required 2-3 times a week in order to prevent any tangles that could occur and to remove any lose hair.
This will reduce shedding and enhance the cats health coat. The use of a soft bristle brush will be ideal for ragdolls since they fur is alot more soft and silky.
Persian cats have a double coat that is thick, silky and fluffy. The presence of this luxurious coat comes with high maintenance requirements as these cats need daily brushing to prevent tangles and mats from being formed.
Brushing must be practiced from an early age to ensure the cat becomes accustomed to this grooming practice. A good metal comb that has narrow and wide spaced teeth works best for detangling.
Bathing.
Ragdolls are generally very clean but a monthly bath can help maintain the cats natural shine and remove any dirt. Normally baths are required every 2-3 months but depending on their coat condition, the frequency of bathing may increase.
You will need a good shampoo and conditioner that is feline friendly and safe for sensitive skin. You can also try out the waterless shampoo that’s quick and effective.
Persian cats tend to get greasy and frequent baths are needed to maintain their healthy coat. Bathing must be practiced from an early age to allow the cat to get used to this grooming process. A bathing routine of once a month is ideal to keep the cats fur clean and shiny.
If you feel the cats fur is greasy feel free to change the bath routine to twice a month. Do not exceed two baths a month as too much bathing can dry out the cats skin.
You will need a good degreaser to remove the excess oils from the cats fur. You also need a good shampoo that’s natural and free from irritants and fragrances.
Claws
Both cats require their claws to be trimmed regularly. Every two weeks is ideal to keep their claws under control.
Eyes & Nose
This refers to Persian cats who are Brachycephalic which means flat faced. These cats have distorted skulls and small nose. Thus they have narrow nasal airways and breathing is difficult. Therefore regular cleaning of their nose is a requirement to remove anything that might restrict their breathing passage.
Flat faced Persians also suffer with watery eyes as they have improper tear drainage. This Discharge collects on the sides of their eyes and becomes a brown color due to bacterial growth. If left unclean it can stain the cats fur in that area.
Medical checkups
Veterinarians recommend that medical checkups be done once or twice a year in order to improve these cats lifespan. Both breeds have certain diseases that they are prone to and if undiagnosed, it can be fatal.
Routine checkups help catch such underlying issues early so treatment can be administered immediately. To preserve their lifespan.
Flat faced Persian cats are more at risk for health issues since they have a restricted facial structure, therefore breathing is difficult. For persian cats its necessary to have them checked 2 times a year.
Price.
| BREED | KITTEN | SHOW QUALITY |
| Ragdoll | $400-$1000 | $1200-$2500 |
| Persian | $500-$1200 | $1300-$5000 |
Price is determined by the quality of the cat and if its purebred. Normally unauthorized breeders sell these cats cheaper since their is no guarantee against certain diseases and defects.
Authorized breeds sell their kittens for much more since they offer health guarantee against defects. They use medical technology to scan and get rid of certain medical issues to insure these traits are not passed down.
Health.
Ragdolls are an averagely healthy breed but are prone to certain diseases and health defects. Most registered breeders try to prevent the reoccurrence of such hereditary issues in order to produce quality kittens. However some health issues may only show up few years later in the cats life, therefore early diagnosis is essential.
Health issues associated with Ragdoll cats:
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Polycystic Kidney Disease
- Urinary Tract blockages
- Obesity
- Dental issues
Persian cats are not a healthy breed since they have alot of hereditary health issues associated. Latest study showed that at least 64,9% of Persian cats have atleast one medical disorder. Routine medical checkups and care is key to preserve their their lifespan.
Health Issues associated with Persian cats.
- Polycystic Kidney Disease
- Retinal Atrophy
- Hair coat disorders
- Dental Issues
- Bladder Infections
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Lifespan.
| BREED | LIFE EXPECTANCY | MEDIAN AGE |
| Ragdoll | 15-20 Years | 15 Years |
| Persian | 12-17 Years | 14 Years |
