Ragdoll

Ragdolls are one of the better choices for a family with children. Expect a big cat that is low-energy, sheds a normal amount and needs regular brushing. It is a committed lap animal, so expect company whether or not you asked for it.

How long is that, really? Cats live longer than most people expect — about 11.7 years on average across every breed, and a well-looked-after Ragdoll can reach 25 years. A kitten you bring home this year will still be curled up somewhere warm long after you have finished school.

Sources: VCA Animal Hospitals · PDSA breed guide · Teng et al., Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (2024).

The Ragdoll was put together in California in the 1960s from a small group of longhaired cats, and it was bred for one quality above all others: an unbothered, hands-on temperament. Everything else about the cat follows from that. It tends to go floppy when you pick it up — that is where the name comes from — and it will follow you from room to room and settle wherever you settle. That makes it one of the easiest cats to live with in a house full of children, and one of the least equipped to look after itself outdoors, which is why Ragdolls are kept as indoor cats. They are also slow to finish: full colour takes about two years and full size about four, so the kitten you bring home is a long way from done.

Day to day. Low-energy — a warm spot and a bit of gentle play is genuinely all this one asks for, which makes it one of the easiest cats to live with.

The coat, honestly. This breed sheds a normal amount and needs regular brushing. A brush a few times a week and the occasional tidy-up keeps it in good order.

Company and noise. This one is a committed lap animal and quiet. Expect it on your lap, your keyboard and your chest at six in the morning — a cat bred for closeness does not negotiate. Give it a warm, high place to land in whatever room you are in; where you put things matters more with this one than what you buy.

• You want a cat that will put up with being picked up by a child
• You want a calm animal that mostly sleeps somewhere warm
• You like the idea of a genuinely large cat and have the floor space for it
• You want an animal that actually sits on you, not just near you
• You want a quiet home

• You want a pet that entertains itself while you get on with things
• A surprise vet bill would be a real problem this year
• A shelter cat would do everything this one does for a fraction of the price
• You are short on floor space — a big cat needs a big litter tray and a sturdy cat tree

Every animal is an individual, and plenty of Ragdolls live long, healthy lives. This is here so nobody is surprised — ask a vet, and ask whoever you get the cat from what they have tested for.

Rough running cost: $$$ (one of the pricier cats on our list) — because it is a big cat, so food, medicines and anaesthetics all cost more, and the breed has known health issues that can mean extra vet visits.

Those are relative bands, not live prices. For real numbers across every pet we cover, see the pet cost study and the cost calculator.

Picked for this breed’s coat, size, energy and known health issues, not a generic list.

Rescues do have Ragdolls and Ragdoll crosses, usually adults whose size, coat and temperament you can see rather than guess at.

Birman

A gentle, quiet colourpointed cat wearing four neat white gloves.

🐈 Average😌 Low energy🧹 Some shedding

Scottish Fold

The cat with folded ears — sweet-natured, and carrying a genuine welfare problem you should read about first.

🐈 Average😌 Low energy🧹 Some shedding

Siberian

A round, dense, affectionate Russian cat that is often easier on allergy sufferers than most.

🐆 Big🙂 Moderate🌬️ Heavy shed