Maine Coon or Ragdoll?

[WhyBeDennyDifferent]

We desperately want a family cat but I just can’t make my mind up, they are both so beautiful.
Has anyone got either breed? I know more about ragdolls but haven’t had much experience with a Maine.

Help me decide!

My old Maine Coon girl was far from needy, she could be very aloof when she wanted too, but was mostly very loyal, to the point of once putting her self at risk to fight off burglars. She could be very, very feisty if needed. She was also very very clever, quirky & affectionate too, but affectionate with whom she chose, rather than anyone. She lived to be 21 & was very fit & Active up until her last few weeks. They certainly keep you entertained, she lived to jump in the bath with me & stole & stashed money behind pipes & don't get me started on her love of bringing me strange gifts. Giant pigs trotter bigger than her (& she was huge) was probably the oddest, never did find out where it came from.

DF has rag dolls, again beautiful cats, the Tom is a big dopey lump, they both just flop into when picked up, but he just stays there & just want cuddles. Both are good cuddly bears of cats, probably best if you have younger DCs as they never hiss or claw, but the female has a little more personality & is a little bit naughtier in general. Though compared to my old MC, I find them a bit boring. They do seem to be more prone to illnesses too

The coat of the Maine coon looks to be a touch more work than ragdoll which I’ll admit does put me off.

IME, id say it was the other way around. My old MC rarely needed grooming & if she did it usually meant a bath as she'd fallen into something & needed help. Otherwise she kept her own coat beautiful without help. DFs ragdolls on the other hand are pretty lazy, especially the tomcat, both need daily grooming. They are seal-point if that makes any difference.

I would say RDs are better suited as house cats though, at least IME, DFs are very happy as house cats & wont go out even when DF has tried. My MC on the other hand lived to be outside playing in the grass

2 Ragdolls here. So lovely, they come and join us for bedtime story and follow us to school! So gentle with children. They have never scratched or bitten.

Like human beings, cat personalities are formed by nature and nurture. Different breeds have different temperament tendencies but if they're not socialised properly or mistreated this will affect their character of course.

If you do decide to buy a kitten just make sure you get one from a very reputable breeder. The person I bought mine from runs a Facebook group for all her kittens' owners where we can ask questions, talk about our cats and generally get advice and support at any time. There are people on there who have had their cats for years and all the cats seem sweet natured and gentle so they are obviously bred to type and well cared for and socialised when they are kittens. Also, always make sure Ragdoll kittens have been tested for HCM and PKD genes as there are a lot of backyard breeders out there.

If you want to rehome rather than buy then there is a very good group on Facebook called Neutered Pedigree Cat Rehome Group UK, where there are often young Ragdolls and Maine Coons. I didn't know about it when I bought my Ragdoll.

I forgot to say, my Ragdoll barely needs grooming. It amazes me how her coat never knots and is always so soft and silky.

My ragdolls were ex queens. One had no kittens but the other had had three litters.

I have a rescue MC. She's the sweetest, gentlest girl and looove to play, but far from needy. Coat not a big issue - a brush or comb when being stroked every few days is fine. But watch for knots under the armpits which need scissoring off from time to time (one every few months)

I’ve just joined that group, thank you.

The breeder I’ve found doesn’t seem like a backyard one. She keeps the kittens till 14 weeks and is registered with the ragdoll club etc. She’s very passionate about her cats to say the least!

Thanks for all the advice.

Ragdoll all the way. Mine isn’t floppy, though, she’s batshit.

I have two rescue ragdolls. I echo the pp that says they need company and also the pp who said to get a good Hoover.
Here they are

Yours just cooking the tea there, chicken keeper?

Gorgeous.

Yep just cooking the Xmas day spuds. Whatever I'm doing Alfie wants to be doing too - worse than a toddler!!

You're welcome WhyBe.

Gorgeous cats PuppyMoney and accidental. Here's my girly:

I have a ragdoll, he's the best. Chilled out but very playful. He's such a personality! He's an only cat (and I go out to work...) but he's not needy. He likes to be in the room with me sometimes but sometimes sleeps off somewhere else in the house so it can be done with one but you have to be very careful with the kitten/cat you pick! He was asleep pretty much every time I went to see him, he's so chilled out. Hes also not really a fan of other cats!

Persian. Fluffy, docile, sweet and affectionate. Absolutely no trouble to have around. But not very bright and my two are not good at 'catting'

Thanks Allergic! The rescue is shortly expecting some Persians from a breeder that is giving up due to illness. I've seen pictures and they are gorgeous. (Not as gorgeous as my two though!) Magic & Maia, aka Fattycat and Snorgmaiden.

The coat requirements vary hugely from cat to cat. I have a litter sibling semi long hair cats, once is a knotty woolly mess the other is silky loveliness!!! Neither breed can say whether an individual will have a certain coat type.

Be very careful with breeders. Apparently the breeder was nice on the surface, but it was a kitten farm. And my two and the 4 others rescued at the same time were in terrible condition.

My friend bas a maine coon. He is horrible.
Huge. Annoying. Shits everywhere and has never used a litter tray preferring the floor. Menacing to the other cats she has and easily bullied them as he is so big.

Other friend has 2 ragdolls. Most gorgeous cats Ive come across. Lovely temperament.