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Ragdoll vs Siamese
A large, quiet, placid pointed cat against a slender, talkative, active one; both are blue-eyed and devoted.
Verdict
Both are pointed, blue-eyed, devoted cats that want someone home, but they sit at opposite ends on voice and energy. The Ragdoll is large, placid and nearly silent, with a silky coat to comb twice a week. The Siamese is slender, active and talks constantly, with a short coat that needs almost no care. Choose the Ragdoll for a family home and a soft, quiet lap cat. Choose the Siamese for a lively companion that follows you around and answers back, if someone is home most of the day.
Choose the Ragdoll if
- You want a quiet cat, scoring 1 for voice against 5.
- You want a placid cat; it scores 2 for energy against 4.
- You have young children or other pets; it scores 5 for both against 4.
- You want a large cat of 8-20 lb.
Choose the Siamese if
- You want almost no grooming; it scores 1 against 3.
- You want the cleverer, more playful cat, scoring 5 for intelligence and 4 for playfulness.
- You want a talker that follows you from room to room.
- You prefer a medium cat of 6-12 lb.
Where they are alike
Both score 5 for affection and 2 or lower for independence, so each wants a person at home for most of the day. Both are common or very common breeds with pointed patterns and blue eyes.
Side by side
| Ragdoll | Siamese | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Longhair and semi-longhair | Shorthair |
| Origin | Riverside, California, United States | Thailand (formerly Siam) |
| Size | Large | Medium |
| Typical weight | Females 8-15 lb (3.6-6.8 kg); males 12-20 lb (5.4-9.1 kg) or more | 6-12 lb (2.7-5.4 kg); males are larger |
| Lifespan | Recent UK data put the median near 12 to 13 years | 12-15 years |
| Coat length | Long | Short |
| Coat | Soft, silky, semi-long coat made mostly of guard hairs, with little undercoat | Short, fine, glossy coat that lies close to the body, with no undercoat |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | Championship breed since 2000 | Championship breed since 1906 |
| How common | Very common | Common |
| Affection | 5 | 5 |
| Energy | 2 | 4 |
| Playfulness | 3 | 4 |
| Talkativeness | 1 | 5 |
| Grooming needed | 3 | 1 |
| Shedding | 3 | 2 |
| Good with children | 5 | 4 |
| Good with other pets | 5 | 4 |
| Happy alone | 2 | 1 |
| Trainability | 3 | 5 |
| Suits a small home | 4 | 4 |
| Allergies | 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 a household with other pets that wants a large, placid, affectionate indoor cat and will comb the coat twice a week. | A person or family at home often who enjoys a cat that talks, follows them about and wants to be involved in everything. |
| Less suited to | Anyone who wants an active, climbing cat, a cat that copes with long hours alone, or a breed with no known heart risk. | Anyone out all day, anyone who wants a quiet cat, or a household that cannot give a lot of attention. |
| 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