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Burmese vs Ragdoll
Both are affectionate family cats; the Burmese is playful, talkative and short-coated, the Ragdoll large, placid, quiet and semi-long-coated.
Verdict
Both rate 5 for affection and children. The one thing that decides it is energy and size. The Burmese rates 4 for energy, 5 for play and 4 for voice, and is a medium cat with a coat that needs almost no grooming. The Ragdoll is a large, placid cat that rates 2 for energy and 1 for voice, and its semi-long coat needs combing about twice a week. Choose the Burmese for a lively, talkative cat and the Ragdoll for a quiet, gentle one.
Choose the Burmese if
- You want a playful cat that stays kittenish for years.
- You want a very short coat with almost no grooming.
- You enjoy a talkative companion.
- You want a medium cat of about 9 to 13 lb.
Choose the Ragdoll if
- You want a large, placid cat, with males typically 12 to 20 lb.
- You want a quiet cat, with voice at 1.
- Your household has other pets, since it scores 5 against 4.
- You will comb a semi-long coat about twice a week.
Where they are alike
Both cats rate 2 or lower for independence, so neither suits a long working day away. Each is an affectionate, indoor family cat.
Side by side
| Burmese | Ragdoll | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Shorthair | Longhair and semi-longhair |
| Origin | Burma (Myanmar), developed in the United States and Britain | Riverside, California, United States |
| Size | Medium | Large |
| Typical weight | 9-13 lb (4-6 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 | 12-16 years | Recent UK data put the median near 12 to 13 years |
| Coat length | Short | Long |
| Coat | Very short, fine, glossy, satin-like coat | Soft, silky, semi-long coat made mostly of guard hairs, with little undercoat |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | Championship breed since 1936 | Championship breed since 2000 |
| How common | Uncommon | Very common |
| Affection | 5 | 5 |
| Energy | 4 | 2 |
| Playfulness | 5 | 3 |
| Talkativeness | 4 | 1 |
| Grooming needed | 1 | 3 |
| Shedding | 2 | 3 |
| Good with children | 5 | 5 |
| Good with other pets | 4 | 5 |
| Happy alone | 1 | 2 |
| Trainability | 4 | 3 |
| Suits a small home | 4 | 4 |
| Allergies | No breed is hypoallergenic. The very short coat sheds lightly, but people who react to cats may still react to a Burmese. | 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 | An owner who is home a lot and wants a loving, playful cat that stays kittenish for years. | 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 who is away for long hours, or who wants a quiet, independent 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