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Ragdoll vs Scottish Fold: Cat Breeds Comparison

Are you thinking about getting a new cat for your family but are torn between the Ragdoll and the Scottish Fold? Keep reading to learn more about their similarities and differences.

While Ragdoll comes from United States, Scottish Fold has Scotland origin.

But honestly, breeds' origin doesn't reveal a lot about it, so please keep reading to learn more about these interesting breeds.

Although both breeds make excellent family cats, it's important to consider their differences as well.

Here is some basic information about these breeds:

Ragdoll vs Scottish Fold

Ragdoll
Length17 to 21 inches
Weight10 to 20 pounds
Overall Health
OriginUnited States
Life Span12 to 17 years
Scottish Fold
Length10 to 12 inches
Weight6 to 13 pounds
Overall Health
OriginScotland
Life Span11 to 14 years

Ragdoll vs Scottish Fold Appearance

Ragdolls are longer.

Ragdolls have an average length of 17 to 21 inches and a weight of 10 to 20 pounds.

On the other side Scottish Folds, have a typical length of 10 to 12 inches and an average weight of 6 to 13 pounds.

Temperament

No doubt, each cat has its own temperament, but we'll try to make some generalizations and help you choose the breed that will fit

Affectionate with Family

Looking for a perfect family cat?

Good news!

You won't go wrong with Ragdolls and Scottish Folds, who are known for being clingy. They need a lot of affection and love being around people.

These cats love their people, and being a part of a family is something that helps them thrive.

They will choose one person and claim as their person. In multi-human households, cats will choose a favorite, usually the person that does the most work around them.

Kid-Friendly

Owning a feline and having a kid can be challenging but also so much rewarding. This is especially true if you get a Ragdoll or a Scottish Fold because you will enjoy watching your kid growing with them together.

These breeds are major kids lovers, and describing them only as kid-friendly isn't enough.

Both breeds will monitor kids closely whenever you leave the room.

With so kid-friendly breeds around, your kid can easily learn how to behave around cats, and even how to train them. Treats can do wonders, even with cats.

Friendly Toward Strangers

Ragdolls are more friendly than Scottish Folds. What does it mean to you?

Generally you should avoid Scottish Folds in some cases:

  • Your home is always full of people
  • You like to make parties at your home
  • You consider getting a cat for office or working place
  • You travel a lot and plan to leave your cat with your friends
  • You plan traveling or commuting with your cat in the transporter

Otherwise no worries, both breeds should do fine, just Scottish Folds might be a more reserved in the beginning when meeting new people.

Pet Friendly

Cats are known for being independent creatures. They love being around people, but on their terms.

If there could be a towering safe place for them to overlook everyone and everything, they would claim it as theirs. Although they are independent, they still need affection and love, which is why some are extremely friendly.

Not only that they are friendly and affectionate toward people, but they are highly affectionate toward other pets as well, including dogs. These breeds are ultra-friendly, and they will enjoy multi-pet households.

If your home is blessed with multi-pets and you want a feline or another pet, you should focus on getting a friendly cat.

Bear in mind that some cats are more friendly than others are, but if you choose Ragdolls or Scottish Folds you won't make a mistake, and you will definitely get a polite and friendly furry pet toward other pets.

Potential for Playfulness

If your future cat's playfulness is an important thing for you, be sure to read this carefully.

Let's get straight to the point:

Ragdolls are more playful, and they will require you to invest some time in keeping them entertained, otherwise they might get bored and eventully destructive.

Scottish Folds aren't described by feline lovers as a breed of high playfulness, so if you're looking for a more laid-back breed for your appartment, they might be a great choice.

General Health

When it comes to their health and their overall well-being, both Ragdoll and Scottish Fold are considered breeds that have average general health.

Average health doesn't mean that your feline won't reach senior years, but means that you need to mind more on proper nutrition, invest in high-quality food, enable enough space for exercise indoors, and have a good veterinarian.

With these breeds you can expect slightly higher veterinarian costs if you miss providing regular veterinarian check-ups.

Grooming

These breeds are super easy to groom. When it comes to low maintenance both breeds are great options to consider having.

In general, both breeds are easier to groom than their other counterparts, no matter how long or short their hair might be. Safe and fast grooming has more to do with the cat's personality than hair length.

These cats are intelligent, calm, and affectionate which makes them 'easy to groom', although you will have to implement proper grooming practice.

These breeds are 'dog-like' when it comes to grooming, so make sure that you provide them a nice treat afterward. Treats can do wonders even for cats.

Shedding

Nobody enjoys the facts cats shed, but if you hate that, you should probably stick to Scottish Folds, as they shed less than Ragdolls.

However, don't forget that all cats need regular brushing, but how often depends on the breed.

Cats are not too fond of being handled, so invest in high-quality (and proper) grooming tools to make the brushing process easier and short.

Tendency to Vocalize

Both Ragdolls and Scottish Folds are known for being highly vocal breeds. They can talk all day long!

Cats enjoy social contact with people and they use their voices to get human attention, over and over again.

If you prefer quietness, or you have toddlers who sleep a lot, you might think about getting a less vocal feline.

Intelligence

It's a well-known fact that cats are among the most intelligent creatures alive. They are smart to react instinctively, fast to hunt, and smart to hide in a matter of seconds.

Intelligence is a factor to consider when getting a cat. If you want a super smart cat that can be trained but is also independent enough to learn on its own, both breeds are great to have around.

Did you know that cat intelligence is ranked on their sociability and willingness to interact with their owners?

These breeds are fast to interact, communicate, and demand a lot of your time and playtime to thrive.

The Final Word

We hope our Ragdolls vs Scottish Folds comparison helped you to choose the right breed for you.

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