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American Shorthair vs Ragdoll
The American Shorthair is a durable, independent short-coat; the Ragdoll is a large, docile, clingy semi-longhair.
Verdict
Both are calm, quiet, family-friendly cats with top marks for children. They differ in size, coat and closeness. The Ragdoll is large, up to about 20 lb for males, with a soft semi-long coat that wants combing twice a week. It scores top marks for affection and for other pets, tends to relax when held and prefers company to solitude. The American Shorthair is smaller, with a short hard coat, and it is more independent, so it copes better with a workday alone. Both list a heart condition.
Choose the American Shorthair if
- You are away for part of the day.
- You want a short coat with minimal grooming.
- You want a more active cat.
- You want a wide choice of over 80 colours and patterns.
Choose the Ragdoll if
- You want a large, docile, lap-seeking cat that relaxes in your arms.
- You have other pets or young children.
- You will comb the coat twice a week.
- You want a very quiet cat for an indoor home.
Where they are alike
Both are common to very common breeds that suit apartments and busy households. Ask your vet and your breeder about heart screening for either.
Side by side
| American Shorthair | Ragdoll | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Shorthair | Longhair and semi-longhair |
| Origin | North America, from European cats brought by settlers | Riverside, California, United States |
| Size | Medium | Large |
| Typical weight | 6-15 lb (2.7-6.8 kg); males are larger | Females 8-15 lb (3.6-6.8 kg); males 12-20 lb (5.4-9.1 kg) or more |
| Lifespan | — | Recent UK data put the median near 12 to 13 years |
| Coat length | Short | Long |
| Coat | Short, dense, hard-textured coat that protects against cold and scratches | Soft, silky, semi-long coat made mostly of guard hairs, with little undercoat |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | — | Championship breed since 2000 |
| How common | Common | Very common |
| Affection | 3 | 5 |
| Energy | 3 | 2 |
| Playfulness | 3 | 3 |
| Talkativeness | 2 | 1 |
| Grooming needed | 2 | 3 |
| Shedding | 3 | 3 |
| Good with children | 5 | 5 |
| Good with other pets | 4 | 5 |
| Happy alone | 4 | 2 |
| Trainability | 3 | 3 |
| Suits a small home | 4 | 4 |
| Allergies | No breed is hypoallergenic. The dense coat sheds steadily, and people who react to cats are likely to react to this breed. | No breed is hypoallergenic. The Ragdoll's coat has little undercoat and sheds moderately, but people who react to cats usually react to this breed too. |
| Suits | A family or first-time owner that wants a calm, durable, low-maintenance cat that copes with busy homes. | A family or a household with other pets that wants a large, placid, affectionate indoor cat and will comb the coat twice a week. |
| Less suited to | Anyone looking for a very talkative, clingy or highly acrobatic cat. | Anyone who wants an active, climbing cat, a cat that copes with long hours alone, or a breed with no known heart risk. |
| Registries that recognise it |
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| Health conditions to watch |
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Facts come from each breed's profile. Scores run from 1 (low) to 5 (high) and describe a breed in general. Every cat is an individual, so meet the cat before you decide.
Last reviewed November 7, 2026