The Personality of Ragdoll Cats

Let’s face it, Ragdoll cats are just about one of the most gorgeous and friendly looking of all cat breeds. But is beauty really only skin deep? Are they really friendly or do they have a dark side? What’s the true personality of Ragdoll cats?

In this post, I’m going to discuss the personality of Ragdolls and explain what you can expect from their temperament.

I’ll be focussing on the following topics:

Table of Contents

The Personality of Ragdoll Cats
Ragdoll Kittens vs Adults – What Are the Personality Differences?
Are Ragdoll Cats Sociable?
Do Ragdolls Make Good House Cats?
Do Ragdoll Cats Have the Temperament to Cope With Being Alone?
Summary: The Personality of Ragdoll Cats

In general, the Ragdoll personality is friendly, loving, calm and relaxed. Of all the cat breeds, Ragdolls are perhaps one of the most laid back and easy-going around.

The look and personality of Ragdoll cats is likely behind its popularity. It’s so well-loved that it’s consistently ranked as one of the most popular cat breeds in the USA by the Canine Fanciers’ Association.

In fact, the Ragdoll cat was voted as the top breed in terms of popularity in 2019, 2020 and 2021 in the CFA’s annual cat popularity review.

Ragdolls have very personable temperament and are arguably one of the most sociable cat breeds too. While some breeds can be very independent and manage relationships on their terms with their human cohabitors, Ragdolls crave company at home.

The sociable personality means many Ragdoll owners often find their cat following them around the house like a shadow!

It’s also not at all uncommon for Ragdolls to want physical contact with you, hence they will seek out opportunities for cuddling, stroking and sitting on your lap.

Aside from the amicable and sociable personality traits, Ragdoll cats are also curious, intelligent and loyal. This means they interact and engage with their cohabitors in an extremely endearing way.

It’s no surprise at all really that Ragdolls top the popularity stakes!

Ragdoll Kittens vs. Adults – Are There Personality Differences?

Despite their reputation as a lazy breed, the Ragdoll cat personality combined with curiosity and intelligence means it can be a very playful breed, especially in kittenhood.

Ragdoll kittens, like most breeds, are of course more playful than adults. Play is one of the ways that all young cats develop the strength and skills they’ll need for a healthy life, and Ragdoll kittens are no different here.

Of course in adulthood the Ragdoll reputation of being relaxed is true, but even adults enjoy play… though perhaps not as frenetically as kittens!

Are Ragdoll Cats Sociable?

Ragdolls are extremely sociable, confident, friendly and inquisitive and they love being around their housemates. This means they are very comfortable in a family environment and relaxed around people of all ages.

Ragdolls are also especially good cats for children. Their relaxed approach to life and sociable nature means they’re not as skittish around children as some other cat breeds. That said, all cats will react to, or take themselves away from, situations that become too rough.

In terms of other pets, most Ragdolls get on well with housemates such as dogs and other cats. However, their sociable personality means there is potential for them to get into trouble if they venture outdoors.

Since Ragdolls are friendly, trusting and curious, they may get themselves into situations with other less amiable animals. As a consequence, many people keep their Ragdoll as an indoor cat.

Do Ragdolls Make Good House Cats?

Yes, Ragdoll cats make excellent house cats. As I’ve touched upon, some people prefer their Ragdoll to remain house cats to keep them away from potential harm their personality can lead them into.

Others keep Ragdolls as house cats purely because their fine silky fur gets mucky quite easily… washing cats is often not an enjoyable experience.

The easy-going personality of Ragdolls means they are happy to live entirely indoors their whole life in practically all types of accommodation, from houses to apartments.

The only things Ragdolls require from their home is food, comfort and lots of love!

Do Ragdoll Cats Have the Temperament to Cope With Being Alone?

As a general rule, most adult Ragdoll cats will likely not be distressed at being left alone for 8 to 12 hours… though of course individual cat personalities can vary.

However, Ragdoll kittens will need to be trained to become accustomed to your absence and will not cope well with a large block of solitary time from the get-go.

As sociable cats, Ragdolls love the company of their family. Hence they tend to do better if they’re not left alone for too long, especially if they are indoor cats.

Any cat can become bored or distressed if left regularly for very long periods and this is when problems can occur. Lonely Ragdoll cats may:

Destroy furniture and soft fabrics
Self-groom to an excessive degree
Have “accidents” out of the litter tray
Cry or meow excessively
Lose their appetite or eat excessively
Become hyperactive when you return

The personality of adult Ragdoll cats is such that if you intend to be away from home for periods longer than 12 hours, you should consider having someone visit to spend time socialising with them.

Alternatively you may need a Ragdoll companion to keep them company!

Summary: The Personality of Ragdoll Cats

Ragdolls have a very loving and relaxed personality that makes them ideal cohabiting partners. Their relaxed view of the world and even-tempered nature means they are amazing family pets and particularly good with children.

As with any cat breed though, Ragdolls do need to have clear routine where people are at home, in particular if they are to be indoor cats.

Although they can be left alone at home for up to 12 hours, they thrive in environments where people are a regular feature of their home life: Ragdolls can suffer from separation anxiety if they’re regularly left alone for too long.

Aside from their gorgeous aspect, the personality of Ragdoll cats is perhaps the thing that sets them aside from many other breeds… and this is maybe the number one reason why they’re consistently one of the world’s most popular cats!

What are your experiences on / thoughts about the personality of Ragdoll cats? Please leave me a comment or ask a question in the section at the bottom of this page.

The Personality of Ragdoll Cats – What Are Ragdolls Really Like?