Maybe your vases have been standing up straight for too long, and you’re looking for a fun cat to knock them over? Well, a Maine Coon Ragdoll mix is just about your best bet. Their sassy personality will have you giggling at their intelligence while fuming at their seemingly blatant disdain.
Either way, they’re a wonderful breed to have. Even with the love-hate moments, every minute with them is worthwhile. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about the Ragcoon cat breed.
Contents
Maine Coon Ragdoll Mix Characteristics
1. Origins
The ‘Ragcoon,’ as it is affectionately called, originated from the Maine Coon, mixed with a Ragdoll. The guestimated origin of the Maine Coon lies somewhere along the lines of sailors from Europe traveling to America with their kitties. This somehow mixed with the Ragdoll breed in America by a local breeder from California.
These two parent breeds have created an adorable, fluffy, feline floof ball. Since both breed characteristics are pretty similar, you’ll find that your Ragcoon is somewhat unpredictable as you’ll have no idea if they’re more Maine Coon or more Ragdoll. Either way, they’re an absolute treat to get to know.
2. Physical Traits
This beautiful beast can grow to weigh around 20 pounds and be approximately 16 inches tall. This is quite common for both parent breeds, so this gentle giant is just a little bit more to love. They tend to have mostly Maine Coon shaped faces. But luckily for you, they are most likely going to inherit their beautifully light-colored eyes from their Ragdoll counterpart.
You can expect a male to be bigger than the females but even the females will still be a bit larger than most cat breeds out there. The Maine Coon Ragdoll mix is generally quite fluffy with a thick coat for extra lovable cuddles (if they want to).
3. Behavior
The beautiful thing about these gentle giants is how smart they are. This makes them somewhat susceptible to training. You could train them to use their litter box as tiny kittens and expand their training to include fun tricks if they’d let you. But, they tend to enjoy the companionship and will willingly entertain you by drinking milk out of mugs or ‘giving paw.’
Fortunately, they are also primarily well-behaved. Unlike most dogs, they’re a little bit more conscious of the space they take up in the world.
Unlike the Ragdoll, the mix doesn’t act like the ragdoll when picked up. So, if this is a behavior that you were interested in, you’ll most likely do better with a purebred Ragdoll instead.
4. Personality
The Maine Coon Ragdoll is quite a unique breed. Their Maine Coon mixed genes offer you the best of both worlds. You’ll never have a day of boredom with a fun, intelligent little sass monkey, as they tend to smooth away any negativity with their big feather-wand-like tails.
These cats are best known for their personality and ability to adapt and get along with anything. They are relatively good at learning new tricks and can even be trained to walk on a leash or perform cool kitty tricks.
Despite their intelligence, they do not need as much mental stimulation. Unlike most humans, they can keep themselves entertained with just about anything. Whether you’ve got mice hanging from a string, a kink in your carpet, or just closed the door while in the bathroom. Your Maine Coon Ragdoll will try to figure it out and entertain themselves as they go along.
5. Temperament
They’re rather laidback and pretty gentle with people and other cats. Their affection levels and openness to strangers can change from kitten to kitten. So, it’s best to take things slow with your cat, and they’ll surely warm up to people on their own time.
Their docile nature means that despite their scowling faces, they have a very short mean streak, and their overall size makes them relatively confident (even cocky). So, you won’t have to worry too much about any scratches on your body.
This breed works well around children as they are curious and will not aggressively attack. They do well with cool toys and can show your tiny human a big fat great time. They can switch between being active and not at all.
In most cases, they’ll head out during the day (if they’re allowed) and will do everything they desire. But will always return, at some point, for a good nap and a delightful ‘Sunday lunch.’
Yes, they, too, love treats.
6. Appearance
This chunky munchkin is about a 50/50 break down the middle. You can expect both Ragdoll and Maine Coon features. Considering the eyes, the face, and the fluff, you can expect one fantastic feline.
Their appearances may vary — drastically. This is especially since they can take on any physical trait most prominent in their genetics. Luckily though, both parent breeds are relatively similar, so they’ll be big either way.
Coat Type and Color
Their coat colors can vary from white to grey to black or brown, and just about every usual cat color under the sun. The best way to figure out what your cat will look like is to have a look at the parents.
They will most typically take on the colors you see in the mom and dad, but there are examples of every kind of color. They tend to have double-thick fur coats, which is part of the DNA that helps them stay shielded from the elements. The topcoat allows them to remain free of unwanted water droplets, while the undercoat keeps them warm and snug.
Their fur is usually long and shaggy. So, you’ll have to keep an eye on their grooming habits. They can become quite matted if they tend to neglect themselves and human intervention doesn’t occur. So, for a happily healthy shaggy boy, keep a brush on hand and try to brush them twice a week.
They won’t shed too much during the stable seasons but will give you a new fur coat of your own during the shoulder seasons when they’re preparing themselves for the weather to come.
7. Care and Maintenance
This kitty likes to nibble. Their bigger size means they’ll need more food than most to thrive. Ensure that you’ve got a slow feeder for them to find their snacks when they’re hungry.
If you’re afraid that they’ll over-eat and pick up too much weight, keep an eye on them to figure out why they’re eating. Thanks to their intelligence, they can eat more than usual whenever they get bored. This means you’ll have to up the ante on their toys and watch for things that excite them.
Add some cat trees and dangling toys to your decor as a means for them to keep themselves occupied, especially if they’re mostly indoors.
Feel free to give them a little bit of milk and see how they feel. Of course, they’ll love it, but try not to give them too much milk as this can cause gastrointestinal issues as many a cat can be lactose intolerant.
Keep a couple of treats on hand and a little bit of catnip too, especially if they’re being good. This will help keep them fresh and full. It can also be used to help instill some good behavior and a few tricks too.
While they can keep themselves relatively clean as most cats do, you’ll also want to be conscious of how uncomfortable grooming can be for them. Since they have so much hair, you’ll have to start grooming them from a young age so that they can get accustomed to regular brushing.
They may only need a bath once in a while after some adventurous play. Certain things can get stuck in their coats and will cause stenches you wouldn’t want curling up on your lap. So, if you do notice something unsightly, plop them into a quick bath, clean and dry them, and send them on their way.
8. Preferred Environment
These cats are quite curious and love to explore. They also enjoy a few friendly games every now and then but tend to get quite bored if they’ve already figured out who is holding the laser. Make sure that they’re in a safe place to explore, and don’t be too alarmed if they’ve brought the odd cockroach or mouse for dinner.
Since they prefer being outdoors, they will go and find things to hunt. Or, feel sorry for you and teach you how to hunt instead. Nonetheless, they work well with other animals, so keeping them around your dogs and other cats won’t be a problem. Just ensure that they’ve been introduced properly and have adult supervision while getting to know each other.
Just because the Maine Coon Ragdoll mix is relatively docile doesn’t mean they won’t play rough and ruffle a few feathers of their own.
9. Health
Health issues can stem from a variety of things. Whether it’s nature or nurture is mainly a retrospective insight. However, maintaining health issues and ensuring that your kitty has the best possible care means learning everything you need to know about the possible ailments.
Maine Coon Issues
As with most animals, Maine Coons tend to be relatively healthy. But, they are susceptible to some hereditary issues. You can expect some physical problems to form in their joints and muscles, and hearts.
The Maine Coon can suffer from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), and hip dysplasia. SMA represents itself as progressive instability. This means that they’ll be unsteady and will have issues with posture. They can also lose motor neurons in the lower spinal cord, transcending to the hind limbs. You’ll notice this quite early, though, so keep an eye out around the four-month mark.
Other ailments like cardiac problems can be maintained with a healthy diet and regular attention to their overall health. Always be sure to take your feline friend for regular checkups to stay on top of things.
Ragdoll Issues
The Ragdoll receives its name from a genetic mutation that makes them go limp when picked up. This same mutation can be dangerous if they’re frequent flyers in the outside world. This fear and anxiety can cause them to go limp at the sight of oncoming traffic or vicious animals waiting to attack.
Other than that horrifying truth, you can also expect issues like obesity, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, bladder stones or other urinary infections, and even hairballs.
Nonetheless, you can always help them out with regular supplements and a vitamin and mineral-rich diet. This will help your cat maintain its strength to thrive in an otherwise dangerous future looming ahead.
It’s not to say that your cat will most definitely suffer from these issues, though; a quick screening at the vet can help you figure out what your cat is more susceptible to and give you and your kitty a fighting chance.
Maine Coon Ragdoll Mix Issues
Figuring out what kinds of issues your cat may have can easily be determined by the parent breeds. Since both breeds have cardiomyopathy in common, it’s prevalent for your mix also to have that issue.
In most cases, this breed is healthy. But, you’ll have to keep an eye out for any ailments always to be one step ahead of the things that pain them.
Lifespan
This cat can live anywhere from 12 to 14 years. If they’ve got a happy and healthy life, they’ll do better. So, ensuring your cat is fed with the right kinds of food, receives the necessary supplements, and is given all of the love, your cat will stay with you for quite a long time.
Where Can I Get a Maine Coon Ragdoll Mix?
If you’re searching the internet for a regal cat with lots of time to look at you askew, you’re on the right track with this bold yet dutiful being. First, the best bet is to check any rescue centers, shelters, or adoption agencies.
Scouring these options first ensures that you are not leaving a cat without a forever home. If you are deadset on this specific breed but cannot find it in your local shelters, then you’ll most likely start considering purchasing somewhere on the interwebs,
You’ll want to check that you’re dealing with a reputable breeder first if you do. Then, you’ll want to be sure that your kitten is well-looked after. Ask for pictures, certification, or even take a ride to the vet yourself.
A quick online search will help you find what you’re looking for but be sure to vet any unknown breeders or rehab centers before spending money on it.
Final Say on Maine Coon Ragdoll Mix
The Maine Coon Ragdoll is a unique breed of cat. Most times, you’ll find your mix is energetic, fun, and playful. They’ve mostly got exceptional personalities and will always surprise you with an excellent mouse or something else they’ve found in the garden.
Nonetheless, they’re a joyful addition to any household as their large stature, and tiger-like faces make for an amusing companion to your everyday living. Be sure to give them plenty of treats in training, and they’ll reward you with respect you didn’t know cats could provide.
If this is a breed that you’re keen on meeting, ensure that you’ve got the means and patience to provide them with a safe and warm home filled with lots of love and, did we mention treats?
Amanda created and owns The Discerning Cat. A lifelong cat lover she is the proud parent of two Siberian cats, Alexei and Vladimir. She is passionate about understanding cats and different cat breeds.