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Devon Rex vs Ragdoll
A small, restless, thin-coated clown against a large, placid, semi-longhaired cat that goes limp when held and suits families.
Verdict
Energy is the main difference. The Devon Rex is small, plays hard and clings to a person all day. The Ragdoll is Large, scores low for energy and voice, tends to relax when held, and rates top marks with children and other pets. The Ragdoll's coat needs combing about twice a week, while the Devon's thin coat needs little. Both score top marks for affection and neither is happy alone for long. Choose the Devon for a small playmate, and the Ragdoll for a docile family cat.
Choose the Devon Rex if
- You want a playful, curious cat.
- You prefer a small cat of 6 to 9 lb.
- You want little grooming.
- You will ask your vet about hereditary myopathy, atopic dermatitis and patellar luxation.
Choose the Ragdoll if
- You want a large, calm, affectionate indoor cat.
- You have children or other pets.
- You will comb the coat twice a week.
- You will ask the breeder about heart disease.
Where they are alike
Both score top marks for affection and both are home-loving cats that do best with company. Both are CFA championship breeds.
Side by side
| Devon Rex | Ragdoll | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Rex, hairless, fold and dwarf | Longhair and semi-longhair |
| Origin | Devon, England | Riverside, California, United States |
| Size | Small | Large |
| Typical weight | 6-9 lb (2.7-4.1 kg); males are somewhat 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 | Soft, short, wavy coat with sparse, curled guard hairs; fragile whiskers | Soft, silky, semi-long coat made mostly of guard hairs, with little undercoat |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | Championship breed since 1983 | Championship breed since 2000 |
| How common | Common | Very common |
| Affection | 5 | 5 |
| Energy | 4 | 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 | 1 | 2 |
| Trainability | 4 | 3 |
| Suits a small home | 5 | 4 |
| Allergies | No breed is hypoallergenic. The Devon Rex sheds less hair than many cats, but allergens also come from saliva and skin. | 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 warm, busy home with someone around much of the day and a taste for a clinging, playful cat. | 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 left empty all day, or someone who wants a calm cat that keeps its distance. | 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