Maine Coon vs. Ragdoll

hilgenep

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First off, let me apologize if this is not the best place for this post - feel free to steer me in the right direction!

Right now, I do not have a cat of my own but foster kittens about every couple of months for the local veterinary hospital. I will be adopting my own cat or kitten once my schedule settles down, probably in June or July. I know I've got a lot of time, but what can I say? I'm excited and like to do my research.

Let me preface this by saying that I am a huge advocate for rescue and will of course first check local shelters for the right cat or kitten. I will continue to contribute to rescue work in any way I can. However, I feel like I'm looking for a very specific temperament and appearance, so I'm not opposed to getting a kitten or retired adult from a reputable and responsible breeder. I was hoping to hear some experiences of Maine Coon and Ragdoll owners. I am drawn to the social, easy going, affectionate nature of these big fluffy breeds, but I'm not sure which is best for my lifestyle.

I love affectionate, snuggly, confident, people-oriented cats. I'm definitely okay with a cat that needs lots of attention. I'm a total homebody and will be around to give a cat as much lovin' as he needs when I get home from work. I would say the only trait I'm trying to avoid is overly-vocal. I think it's great when kitties like to have conversations with you, but I'm not a fan of being yowled at constantly. I work about 8 hours a day, so I need a cat that is okay with hanging out by himself for a while.

Which breed, from your experiences, would be best for me?
 

moorspede

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A snuggly, human orientated cat that doesn't mind being left alone all day? Have you thought of getting two so that they will be company for each other while you are away? 
 

primal cat

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I don't have Ragdoll experience, though one of my cats behaves as a Ragdoll is described. He isn't one though. My neighbors had 2 Maine Coon crosses (really, not just DMH). True to what I've read about them, they enjoyed company from humans and dogs. I cared for them while the neighbors were away on vacation, and they were mostly quiet, confident, easy going, and affectionate. They were inside/outside cats, which I disagree with, and would walk with me a while when I walked the dogs. They didn't mind the neighbor's work hours and lazed about. They weren't purebred though, and like the above poster mentioned, there were 2. You might want to also look into Siberians. I hear that they are pretty much how I described my neighbor's cats. Hopefully someone with real purebred experience will add to this. Good luck.
 
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sivyaleah

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Temperament of any animal is both a combination of breeding and how well they are socialized while young.

Some years ago, I had the opportunity to adopt a purebred Ragdoll. To make a long story short, she was a very unhappy cat due to living conditions and lashed out at me on a meet and greet, with no provocation.  

On the other hand, my rescued long hair Tortie who is a domestic cat, has what everyone calls a Ragdoll demeanor.  Very laid back, calm, sweet, and floppy when you hold her.  Someone must have done a good job socializing her when young.  

If you're set on a purebred I'd suggest doing research for breeders that are recommended by others and have good standing in various cat affiliated associations such as TICA.  Look at photos of past cats to see if their cats match what you expect one of that breed to look like. Make yourself familiar with what each breed should look like.  

There are many out there that while registered don't quite have the appearance that one might hope for. Maine Coons in particular sometimes don't quite have the high angular ears with good tufting one associates with the breed. We've been considering one for the future and I've been surprised how many do not fit the look I'm after.

I do agree with considering 2 kittens, not one if you can afford to do so.  Being out of the house for many hours with a very young cat to amuse and fend for itself is not ideal.  

Last, most cats once spayed/neutered are not as vocal as prior.  Some breeds are known for being more talkative such as Siamese but again, one never knows until you have the cat how talkative it is.  Our Tortie has a lot to say some days, other days not so much.  Our boy, a ginger tabby/bi-color never says a peep!
 
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hilgenep

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Temperament of any animal is both a combination of breeding and how well they are socialized while young.

Some years ago, I had the opportunity to adopt a purebred Ragdoll. To make a long story short, she was a very unhappy cat due to living conditions and lashed out at me on a meet and greet, with no provocation.  

On the other hand, my rescued long hair Tortie who is a domestic cat, has what everyone calls a Ragdoll demeanor.  Very laid back, calm, sweet, and floppy when you hold her.  Someone must have done a good job socializing her when young.  

If you're set on a purebred I'd suggest doing research for breeders that are recommended by others and have good standing in various cat affiliated associations such as TICA.  Look at photos of past cats to see if their cats match what you expect one of that breed to look like. Make yourself familiar with what each breed should look like.  

There are many out there that while registered don't quite have the appearance that one might hope for. Maine Coons in particular sometimes don't quite have the high angular ears with good tufting one associates with the breed. We've been considering one for the future and I've been surprised how many do not fit the look I'm after.

I do agree with considering 2 kittens, not one if you can afford to do so.  Being out of the house for many hours with a very young cat to amuse and fend for itself is not ideal.  

Last, most cats once spayed/neutered are not as vocal as prior.  Some breeds are known for being more talkative such as Siamese but again, one never knows until you have the cat how talkative it is.  Our Tortie has a lot to say some days, other days not so much.  Our boy, a ginger tabby/bi-color never says a peep!
Totally agree that socialization and inherent personality can play a much bigger part than breed, which is why my search is most certainly going to start in the shelters for an adult. I'm not dead set on getting a purebred cat, just hoping to get an idea of what breed I should be looking for if I don't find the right cat for me through rescue. I've found a highly reputable and recommended MC breeder with the look I like, but I've found it to be a little trickier with Ragdoll breeders.

I should've also clarified that if I do turn to a breeder, I would be inquiring about retired adults. I've fostered single kittens before and they are MUCH more trouble than when they have a playmate, so if I do decide on getting a kitten, I would almost certainly get a pair. I definitely wouldn't expect a kitten to be alone all day. 
 
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hilgenep

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A snuggly, human orientated cat that doesn't mind being left alone all day? Have you thought of getting two so that they will be company for each other while you are away? 
If I were to get kittens, I would get a pair, but I should've clarified that I'm hoping to find an adult. I don't have a ton of experience with adult cats and I was under the assumption that a well-adjusted adult cat would be okay with normal work hours. I was interested in MCs because I've heard they are a good balance of affectionate and independent. If most cats aren't okay with 9-5 hours then I will postpone my search.
 

Willowy

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Yes, I think an adult is best, so you can find the particular personality you want, whether from a shelter or a breeder. It's always a gamble with kittens. Even well bred purebreds aren't all exactly alike so you never know what you'll end up with. I've found that purebred cats are almost as variable in temperament as moggies, but a retired show cat may be better socialized than most cats.
 

marrin713

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Husband had Ragdoll. Most awesome cat in the universe. Personality plus, easy to train, and very snuggly. He was actually runt of a litter and was given to the xW. He was a little too young to be taken away from mother so he really did look at my husband as his mother.
 
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