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Ragdoll vs Sphynx
A large, placid, silent, long-coated cat against a medium, hairless, noisy and lively one; both are devoted and need someone home.
Verdict
Both cats are affectionate and want someone home, but they differ in coat, energy and voice. The Ragdoll is large, placid and nearly silent, with a silky coat to comb twice a week. The Sphynx is medium, hairless and playful, and it needs regular bathing, skin care and a warm home. Choose the Ragdoll for a quiet family cat that is reliable with children and other pets. Choose the Sphynx if you are home most of the day and will keep up the skin routine.
Choose the Ragdoll if
- You want a quiet, placid cat, scoring 1 for voice and 2 for energy.
- You have young children or other pets; it scores 5 for both against 4.
- You prefer combing a coat to bathing a bare cat.
- You want a large cat of 8-20 lb.
Choose the Sphynx if
- You want a cat that sheds almost no hair, though it can still trigger allergies.
- You want a very playful cat, scoring 5 for playfulness against 3.
- You want a medium cat of 6-12 lb.
- You will bathe it regularly and keep it warm and out of the sun.
Where they are alike
Both score 5 for affection and have low independence, so each suits a person at home for most of the day. No breed is hypoallergenic, and each lists hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as a concern.
Side by side
| Ragdoll | Sphynx | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Longhair and semi-longhair | Rex, hairless, fold and dwarf |
| Origin | Riverside, California, United States | Toronto, Canada |
| 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 | Often quoted at 10-15 years |
| Coat length | Long | Hairless |
| Coat | Soft, silky, semi-long coat made mostly of guard hairs, with little undercoat | Hairless or covered in fine down; skin feels like suede |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | Championship breed since 2000 | Championship breed since 2002 |
| How common | Very common | Common |
| Affection | 5 | 5 |
| Energy | 2 | 4 |
| Playfulness | 3 | 5 |
| Talkativeness | 1 | 3 |
| Grooming needed | 3 | 4 |
| Shedding | 3 | 1 |
| Good with children | 5 | 4 |
| Good with other pets | 5 | 4 |
| Happy alone | 2 | 1 |
| Trainability | 3 | 4 |
| 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. | No breed is hypoallergenic. The main cat allergen comes from saliva and skin, not only hair, so a hairless cat can still trigger symptoms. |
| 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 most of the day that wants a warm, outgoing, attention-loving cat and does not mind regular bathing. |
| 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 cat that can live outdoors, or anyone who dislikes skin care routines. |
| 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