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Ragdoll vs Tonkinese
A large, quiet, placid semi-longhair against a medium, playful, moderately talkative short-coat; both suit families and want company.
Verdict
Both cats are affectionate, score 5 with children and other pets, and want someone home. The thing that decides it is energy and coat. The Ragdoll is large, placid and nearly silent, with a silky semi-long coat to comb twice a week. The Tonkinese is medium, playful and moderately talkative, with a silky short coat that needs almost no care. Choose the Ragdoll for a calm lap cat that relaxes in your arms. Choose the Tonkinese for a lively, clever cat that wants to play and talk.
Choose the Ragdoll if
- You want a quiet, placid cat; it scores 1 for voice and 2 for energy.
- You want a large cat of 8-20 lb.
- You are happy to comb a coat twice a week.
- You would ask your vet about hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Choose the Tonkinese if
- You want a very playful, clever cat, scoring 5 for both.
- You want almost no grooming.
- You enjoy a moderate voice, scoring 4 for vocal.
- You would ask your vet about gingivitis.
Where they are alike
Both score 5 for affection, children and other pets, and both do well in an apartment. Each has a low independence score, so a household with someone around most of the day suits either. Both are CFA championship breeds, the Ragdoll since 2000 and the Tonkinese since 1984.
Side by side
| Ragdoll | Tonkinese | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Longhair and semi-longhair | Shorthair |
| Origin | Riverside, California, United States | Canada and the United States |
| 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 | Typically 12-16 years |
| Coat length | Long | Short |
| Coat | Soft, silky, semi-long coat made mostly of guard hairs, with little undercoat | Medium-short, close-lying, fine, silky coat with a lustrous sheen |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | Championship breed since 2000 | Championship breed since 1984 |
| How common | Very common | Uncommon |
| Affection | 5 | 5 |
| Energy | 2 | 4 |
| Playfulness | 3 | 5 |
| Talkativeness | 1 | 4 |
| Grooming needed | 3 | 1 |
| Shedding | 3 | 2 |
| Good with children | 5 | 5 |
| Good with other pets | 5 | 5 |
| 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 family or a person at home much of the day that wants a sociable, clever, moderately talkative cat. |
| 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 for long hours; the breed is prone to loneliness and boredom. |
| 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