Have you finally decided to get a cat for a pet? It’s essential to carry out a research and compare the two breeds to see which one suit your needs best. Ragdoll and Maine Coon cat breeds have various similarities and differences. They are similar in demeanor and integrity. They are both gentle and gentle cats though Maine Coon cats are better hunters and mousers than Ragdolls. They also have similar temperament and sizes, and they cost just about the same.
Ragdoll vs. Maine Cool cat Breeds Similarities
Ragdoll vs. Maine Cool Origins
For you to understand the different characteristics between Ragdoll and Maine Cool cats, it’s important to understand their origins.
Maine Coons
Despite being a well-loved and a popular cat, Maine Coon’s lineage and history remains steeped in intrigue and mystery. Up to this day, it’s unclear how this longhaired and fabulous cat came to appear in Maine State. This cat has mysterious roots, and she has been classified as the ‘State Cat of Maine’!
In 2015, the U.S. voted the Maine Coon as among the top three most desired cat breeds. While the origin of the Maine Coon cat isn’t so clear, it hasn’t stopped myths from going round. The most widespread myths that go around are that:
- Maine coon cats are descendants of Viking Ship Cat breeds.
- Maine Coon cats are a part of Raccoon cats!
- Maine Coons have royal heritages that have links to Marie Antoinette.
We can get into these myths in a detailed way to determine the authenticity about them, and you can decide which folklore tale to believe or not.
Myth 1: Are Maine Cats descendants of Viking Ship Cat Breeds?
Among the most common folklore myths says that Vikings had travelled overseas, with their long-haired, long ship companions. These cats are said to be Norwegian Forest Cat breeds, and they are known for their excellent hunting skills. Whatever the breed that these cats were, their main job on the ships was reducing the mouse population on the ships.
Rumor has it thatas one of the ships docked in Maine County, a long-haired ship cat used to roam freely onto the dry land, and he mated with a local short-haired domestic Maine cat. It’s believed that the Maine cats are as a result of this mating.
This cat breed is said to be a true possibility of the Maine Coon cat origin since there are many physical characteristics that are similar between the Norwegian Forest and Maine Coon cat breeds.
Myth 2: Do Maine Coon Cats have any Similarities to Raccoons?
Before getting carried away with this myth, it’s important to note that scientists have confirmed that it’s just a myth. Actually, they state that it’s an impossible fact biologically for Maine Coons to be Raccoon offspring after mating with the long-haired domesticated cats. The reason that this myth is considered to be a possibility is that there are several similarities between Raccoons and Maine Coons. These characteristics include:
- Large bushy tails
- They both have large physiques
- They both have black rings at their tails’ ends
- They are both great climbers
- They have semi-prehensile paws
- Both cat breeds enjoy playing in water
- Maine Coons have similar colors to Raccoons
- Both species love water
- They are both visually similar
There are potential links between the two cat breeds, bearing in mind that the name “Maine Coon” is closely linked to Raccoons. The word ‘Coon’ was derived from ‘Raccoon.
Myth 3:Do Maine Coons have Royal Heritages?
The final myth has a royal twist included in it; many people believe that Maine Coons are descendants of Marie Antoinette’s Turkish Angora pet cats. While it’s safe to assume that Maine Coons have royal heritages, does this myth have any truth in it?
Dering the era of the French Revolution, the Queen of France at the time named Marie Antoinette was desperately attempting to flee France. Captain Clough was very sympathetic to Marie Antoinette’s cause; he planned to smuggle her across the seas, on a ship that was heading to the U.S. Marie was overly passionate about her Turkish cats, therefore she insisted that her 6 cats must accompany her on the journey as well.
Sadly, she never made it to the U.S. since she was seized and executed on 16th October 1793. Her royal cats remained aboard the ship and made it to Wiscasset, Maine. The Captain released these cats that are said to have mated with the domestic local shorthaired cats in Maine. The offspring are said to be the Maine Coons.
Ragdolls Cat Breeds Origin
In comparison, Ragdolls’ history and origin is well-known; they were developed wholly from free-roamin
g cat breeds in the 1960s by Ann Baker, who was a breeder from Riverside California. Ragdolls are said to be relatively young because they weren’t registered by the CFA until 1993.
CFA states that Ragdolls have their background from Ann Baker giving some free-roaming cats a place to call home in the neighborhood. She adored the cats’ temperament a lot; hence she decided to combine them together.
Many people believe that Ann Baker had a long-haired domesticated who has called Josephine, with other male cat breeds that she had in her home. The offspring is what is known as Ragdolls, and they’re very loveable because of their unique temperament characteristics.
Ragdoll vs. Maine Coon Size
If you prefer having large cats for pets, both Ragdolls and Maine coons are ideal choices. Not only do they have an average weight of 20 – 25 lbs., the males can even reach an approximate height of 11-16 inches!
Both cats have huge features that match their huge proportions, though Maine Coons have larger and more pronounced ears than Ragdolls.
Looking at their big paws is a good indictor as to how large the Ragdoll or Maine Coon will become. As a rule of thumb, if the cats are pure breeds, they shouldn’t have any features that are more pronounced than others.
Ragdoll vs. Maine Coon Height
While Ragdolls and Maine Coons are said to be large cats, it’s very likely that the male or female Maine Coons will be taller than Ragdolls.
There’s some overlap degree in terms of their heights; on average Maine Coons are likely to have a height of 8-16 inches, while Ragdolls are likely to have a height of 9-11 inches.
Male Maine Coons tend to grow larger than the females, whereas there isn’t a height difference in Ragdolls.
This table gives a better insight of the height and weight differences between the females and males of each species.
| Cat Breed | Ragdoll | Maine Coon |
| Height (Males) | 9 – 11 inches | 10-16 inches |
| Height (Females) | 9 – 11 inches | 8-14 inches |
| Weight | 8 – 20 lbs. | 8-25 lbs. |
There isn’t a great difference between the weight in Ragdolls and Maine Coons. Actually, both cat breeds grow into heavy, large adult felines. Both cat breeds are similar in that females weigh less than the males.
An average Maine Coon male weighs 6.8 -11.3 kilograms while the females weigh 3.6 -5.4 kilograms. Ragdoll males weigh 6.8 – 9.07 kilograms, while the females weigh 3.6 – 6.8 kilograms.
Ragdoll vs. Maine Coon Length
According to research, there are several answers in regards to the Ragdolls and Maine Coon cat breeds length. Whether the two cat breeds have similar lengths is debatable!
Statistics show that Maine Coons length ranges from 19 – 40 inches while Ragdolls length range between 17-21 inches. Other sources claim that Ragdolls length is approximately 35 – 40 inches.
Ragdoll vs. Maine Coon Ragdoll Size
There’s a slight cross-over in terms of length for both cat breeds. Generally, Maine Coons have the potential to be far larger as compared to Ragdolls. If the available statistics are true, then the answer about their sizes is totally different. The longer lengths in Ragdolls and Maine Coons mean that they have almost similar lengths and sizes.
Ragdoll vs. Maine Cool Shape
If you want to compare the differences and similarities in the two cat breeds, it’s important to consider their shapes.
Both Ragdolls and Maine Coons are large cats. They have broad chests and muscular bodies. They also have long, rectangular-shaped bodies, and the bodies are proportional, meaning that no areas in their bodies are more dominant than others.
Both cat breeds have large ears that are tapered off to a point and they have wedge-shaped heads. Ragdolls have smaller ears than Maine Coons, which many people consider to be more proportional to their bodies, though Maine Coon cats have distinctive ears.
Ragdolls can be easily identified by their rounded face shapes. There’s a difference in terms of the breeds’ muzzles since Maine Coons have squared muzzles that shouldn’t be pointed or tapered. In comparison, Ragdolls faces are gently rounded.
Ragdolls and Maine Coons have substantial, sturdy, medium-length legs. They have rounded paws that are proportional to their bodies. Though both cat breeds have tufts that grow from the paws, Maine Coons’ paws are ‘well tufted’ while Ragdolls have ‘feather tufted’ paws.
Finally, both Ragdolls and Maine Coons have long hair that doesn’t grow fully until they reach two years of age. Both breeds have slow rates of growth, since Maine Coons reach their full sizes when they’re about three to five years of age, while Ragdolls achieve maturity at about four years of age.
Ragdoll vs. Maine Coon Colors
Maine Coons come in almost all colors, even blue! According to the CFA, Maine Coons come in seventy five different colors, meaning that there is literally perfect Maine Coon color available for everyone. When purchasing Maine Coons, it’s important to remember that there are certain colors that aren’t acceptable under pedigree banners. These colors include:
- Himalayan pattern
- Lavender
- Chocolate
- Any of the above color combinations with white
In comparison, Ragdolls are only available in six colors including:
- Blue
- Lilac
- Chocolate
- Red
- Cream
- Dark brown (Seal)
Ragdoll Patterns vs. Ragdoll Patterns
Maine Coon cat breeds come in various patterns, including:
- Tabbies with White
- Tabbies
- Solid
- Shaded
- Smoke
- Tortoiseshell
- Parti-Color
- Bi-Color
- Shaded
Tabby Maine Coons are the most common and are further identified by these pattern classifications:
Classic Tabby Pattern
These Maine Coons are characterized by clearly defined, broad, and dense markings. They’re blotched on the sides and have an ‘M’ marking on their foreheads. They also have butterfly wing patterns that cover their shoulders. These cats have unbroken necklace markings on their upper chest and neck regions.
Mackerel Tabby Pattern
These Maine Coons have dense and clearly defined parallel stripes that run down their sides. They also have ‘M’ markings on their foreheads and thin pencil lines running from their heads to shoulders. They have unbroken necklace markings on their chests and necks.
Ticked Tabby Pattern
This Maine Coon cat breed has pronounces ticking on their bodies and clearly defined tabby markings over their legs and faces, and on their undersides.
Ragdolls have four patterns:
Mitted Pattern
Ragdolls have white belly stripes and white front feet. They have white boots going up to the back of their legs. They may be having a star, blaze-shaped, or hourglass white patches on their foreheads, or noses.
Colorpoint Pattern
These cats don’t have any white markings on the coats.
Bi-Color Pattern
All their paws, underbodies, and chest areas are white. They also have a ‘V’ upside-down white marking on their faces. In some cases, they have white splashes on their backs. The darker markings are only visible on their masks, ears, tails, and some dots on their bodies.
Van Pattern
These Ragdolls have some darker spots on their ears, tails, and masks.
CFA states that Ragdolls feature colored points, which can either be solid, lynx, tortie, or torbie. These points mean that their body colors are lighter shades than the points on their ears, tails, faces, and legs.
A fascinating fact about Ragdolls is that their kittens are born with pure white fur! Their colors and patterns start developing as they begin to age; it occurs because of genetic mutations in the Ragdolls.
Ragdoll vs. Maine Coon Fur Coats
Maine Coon cats are renowned for their long fur coats that often have shaggy and heavy appearances. These cats have three layers of fur; they have two dense and shorter undercoats, while the third outer layer is longer.
They have tick coats, especially in winter when the fur becomes denser to enable them deal with the cold weather conditions. As warmer climate conditions set in during spring, they begin shedding considerable amounts of fur, as they begin preparing for the heat.
Maine Coons are easily distinguishable by the long furs around their neck regions, also known as mane. This mane makes them have similar appearances to ‘little lions. These coats are also semi-water repellent.
When comparing Ragdolls and Maine Coon fur coats, it’s clear that both coats have similar appearances, making it difficult to differentiate the two breeds without taking a closer look.
However, Ragdolls have medium to long fur coats. These coats consist of two layers; the layer is a small wooly undercoat that comes with profuse guard hairs. Ragdoll cats have non-matting and flowing hairs across their bodies, though it is longer around their tails.
Ragdoll vs. Maine Coon Eye Color
The easiest way to differentiate Maine Coons from Ragdolls is by looking at their eyes. Adult pure breeds Maine Coons have large eyes that can either be gold, copper, or green in color. In comparison, Ragdolls have beautiful round eyes with a vivid blue color.
This identification factor isn’t applicable to all Maine Coons since White Maine Coons have odd (two different colors) or blue eyes.
An interesting fact about these two cats’ eyes is that their kittens are both born with blue eyes. Though Ragdolls retain the blue eye color, Maine Coons’ eyes change as they age color
Ragdoll vs. Maine Personality
When speaking about the personality of a cat, we’re talking about the cat’s inbuilt traits that she has been born with.
Maine Coons and Ragdolls are both friendly cats and you can’t go wrong if you choose any of the two. They’re both laidback in nature, gentle, and sociable cats. Both cats are highly intelligent and friendly to children.
The table below summarizes the personality traits of the two cat breeds, and highlights small differences that prospective pet owners can consider when selecting the cat that will best suit their needs.
| Personality Trait | Maine Coon | Ragdoll |
| Docile/Gentle | Docile & Gentle | Docile & Gentle |
| Friendly | Very Friendly | Very Friendly |
| Sociable | Highly Sociable | Highly Sociable |
| Dog-like Behavior | Very Dog-like | Has some Dog-like Behavior |
| Intelligence | Highly Intelligent | |
| Voice | Very talkative and vocal; she chatters, chirps, and trills | Not as vocal. Generally a quiet cat in nature |
| Affectionate | Extremely affectionate | Extremely affectionate |
| Lap cat aspect | Some Maine Coon cats love being cuddled and picked up, though not all of them | Loves to be held on the laps |
| Energetic | Moderately Energetic | Moderately Energetic |
| Aggressive | Not aggressive unless she is provoked | Non-aggressive |
Let’s take a closer look at these personality traits:
Friendly
Ragdolls and Maine Coons are renowned for their friendly and outgoing personalities. Maine Coon cats are more confident and are comfortable in approaching strangers and being friendly with them.
In comparison, Ragdolls are more reserved and take their time before warming up to strangers.
Both cats are happy when you spend time with them. However, they differ slightly since Maine Coons prefer staying close to you, getting affection and cuddles from time to time. Ragdolls are more intense since they are lap cats, and are happier when held on humans’ laps. Both male cats are more sociable and friendly than the female cats.
Docile/ Gentle
These cats are also known as the ‘gentle giants’ because they are docile and gentle. They are both laidback in nature, non-aggressive, and gentle cats, making them ideal pets for families with young kids.
If you’re looking for a laidback cat, and tolerant to kids running around and loud noise, Ragdolls and Maine Coons are ideal pets for these scenarios.
Sociable
Both cat breeds are highly sociable and are dog-like naturally since they enjoy spending time with their family members. Actually, you’ll often feel like you have a dog in the house, rather than a cat. These cats love following humans around from one room to another.
Affectionate
Ragdolls and Maine Coons are affectionate cats. Ragdolls tend to be needier than Maine Coons because they prefer sitting on your laps.
Dog-Like
Both the Maine Coon and Ragdoll cat breeds are dog-like in nature. These cats will:
- Follow you around
- Fetch balls
- Greet you at your door when you get home
- Be very loyal to you and your family members
- Enjoy spending time and playing with you
However Ragdolls aren’t very vocal while Maine Coons enjoy talking to you the whole day
Intelligence
Both cats are trainable and highly intelligent. It’s a good idea to train them when they’re still young since they become less trainable as they grow older.
Voice
The main differentiating character trait between Ragdolls and Maine Coons is their voices. Maine Coon cats are talkative and are happier chattering to you, and they can even engage in a conversation with you! In comparison, Ragdoll cats rarely talk and they’re generally quiet in nature.
Lap cats
Maine Coons aren’t lap cats and they prefer sitting next to you, rather than being held. It’s a wrong assumption that Maine Coons don’t like being cuddled since some of them love being picked up from time to time.
Ragdolls are generally lap cats and enjoy being cuddled and sitting on your laps. If you can’t hold them, you’ll always find them very close to you.
Aggressive
Ragdolls and Maine Coons aren’t aggressive in nature. They rarely attack and are said to have tolerant and laid-back temperaments.
Energetic
Maine Coon kittens are very energetic, meaning that you should provide them with enough toys to keep them busy and entertained. As they age, their energy levels decrease, and they can be mistaken as being lazy.
Ragdolls are moderately energetic cats and they don’t enjoy activities like jumping.
Final Say
Both cats have outstanding personalities and characteristics, and they are ideal for pets in families with young kids! Whether you choose the Ragdoll or Maine Coon cat, you won’t be disappointed as long as you give them enough attention, proper diets and vet care to ensure that they live healthy lives and longer!