Compare
Cornish Rex vs Ragdoll
A small, restless, thin-coated cat against a large, placid, semi-longhaired one that goes limp when held and suits families.
Verdict
Choose by activity level. The Cornish Rex is small and scores top marks for energy and play, with a thin coat that needs little grooming. The Ragdoll is Large, scores low for energy, and tends to relax when held. It rates top marks with children and other pets. The Ragdoll's semi-long coat needs combing about twice a week. Neither does well alone for a workday. Choose the Cornish for a playmate, and the Ragdoll for a docile family cat.
Choose the Cornish Rex if
- You want a small cat that plays hard.
- You want a thin coat with minimal grooming.
- You can keep the home warm.
- You want a more energetic companion than a placid one.
Choose the Ragdoll if
- You want a large, calm, affectionate indoor cat.
- You have children or other pets, since the Ragdoll rates top marks for both.
- You will comb the coat about twice a week.
- You will ask the breeder about heart disease, the one condition on its watch-list.
Where they are alike
Both score top marks for affection and both rate low for independence. Both are CFA championship breeds, and both want people around.
Side by side
| Cornish Rex | Ragdoll | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Rex, hairless, fold and dwarf | Longhair and semi-longhair |
| Origin | Cornwall, England | Riverside, California, United States |
| Size | Small | Large |
| Typical weight | 6-9 lb (2.7-4.1 kg); males are slightly larger | Females 8-15 lb (3.6-6.8 kg); males 12-20 lb (5.4-9.1 kg) or more |
| Lifespan | 12-15 years | Recent UK data put the median near 12 to 13 years |
| Coat length | Short | Long |
| Coat | Very fine, soft, tightly waved coat of down hair only, with no guard hairs | Soft, silky, semi-long coat made mostly of guard hairs, with little undercoat |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | Championship breed since 1964 | Championship breed since 2000 |
| How common | Uncommon | Very common |
| Affection | 5 | 5 |
| Energy | 5 | 2 |
| Playfulness | 5 | 3 |
| Talkativeness | 3 | 1 |
| Grooming needed | 2 | 3 |
| Shedding | 2 | 3 |
| Good with children | 4 | 5 |
| Good with other pets | 4 | 5 |
| Happy alone | 2 | 2 |
| Trainability | 4 | 3 |
| Suits a small home | 4 | 4 |
| Allergies | No breed is hypoallergenic. The thin coat sheds less hair than most, but allergens come from saliva and skin as well as fur. | 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 active household that wants a playful, people-loving cat and can keep the home warm. | 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 | A cold house, a home that is empty all day, or anyone who wants a calm lap 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