Ragdoll Siamese Mix: Traits, Facts, & Habits

The Siamese is one of the most iconic breeds in catdom. Elegant and sleek, the Siamese embodies Hollywood-esque glamour. The Ragdoll, by comparison, is like all the comforts of home in feline form. Picture a cat who melts into your arms like an old-fashioned rag doll.

When we cross these two breeds, each parent brings a set of traits to the mix. A few of these physical traits are similar enough to pass along predictably, but when crossing two such fascinating breeds, we are bound to get some beautiful surprises.

Blending two breeds produces a cat that may display traits from both breeds in roughly equal proportions or extremes of each type. The breed characteristics of each parent serve as a point of reference for what to expect. Regardless of which breed your kitten resembles most, you’ll have a unique feline blend that combines the characteristics of two excellent companion breeds.

Siamese Breed History

The Siamese has a storied history in the United States. Recognized by the Cat Fancier’s Association (CFA) in 1906, the Siamese is one of the earliest pedigreed breeds. The original Siamese had a more generic body type before fashion changed the breeders’ emphasis, creating an extremely thin, angular feline. Both her distinctive blue eyes and her ombre coloration are linked. The genetic mutation that causes blue eyes, her mask, ears, tail, and legs to be much darker than her body pattern (colorpoint) is Himalayan. It is recessive, which means both parent cats carried the mutation if it appears in your kitten.

Ragdoll Breed History

The breed has only existed since the later twentieth century. A California breeder established the Ragdoll breed in 1966. Ragdoll Cats were established through the idea and efforts of one woman with a cat named Josephine. Josephine was a white Angora-Persian-type cat with a Himalayan coat pattern. When her owner picked her up, she would go limp like a rag doll. Her owner, Ann Baker, hoping to reproduce her look and laid-back personality, bred her to longhaired males of two particularly affectionate breeds to found a new breed.

Ragdoll Siamese Mix

Predicting a cross with common physical traits is more straightforward than with more different breeds. When you cross a Siamese and a Ragdoll, the characteristics the two breeds share should be reasonably predictable. For example, Siamese and Ragdolls have blue eyes and dark points from the Himalayan mutation. The genes that cause the colorpoint (Himalayan style) pattern and the presence of blue eyes in both parents ensure that any kittens produced will be 100% blue-eyed and colorpoint.

Temperament

Ragdoll Siamese mix cats will likely be affectionate and upbeat. Your kitten may be an average climber and appreciate a cat tree to sit atop. The Ragdoll side of the family is sweeter-natured than the sassier Siamese, so your kitten may be anywhere on the continuum, but she’ll surely want to be by your side as much as possible. Both parent breeds love people time and will sleep with you, sit with you, and can even be taught to play fetch.

Size & Appearance

A Ragdoll Siamese mix will likely blend two different body types and be larger than a regular Siamese, weighing between ten and fifteen pounds. Because she’ll be a shorthaired cat with dark points, she’ll look like a strikingly large Siamese. The basic conformational styles of the Ragdoll versus the Siamese make the look of their offspring hard to predict. The Ragdoll has a relatively large head with a slightly concave profile atop a strong neck. She’s a broad-bodied cat with heavy bone and width across her shoulders and hindquarters. Her large paws are tufted like snowshoes. Male Ragdolls may weigh up to twenty pounds.

The Siamese, on the other hand, is as elegant and refined as the Ragdoll is solid. Her long neck supports her iconic Siamese wedge-shaped head with its long, straight profile. Her slender limbs and dainty paws help a lithe, muscular body weighing up to fifteen pounds. Discovering whether your Ragdoll Siamese cross is more like one parent or the other or is a perfect blend will be a fascinating journey as she grows. Because she’s half Ragdoll, she may take over two years to fully mature.

Coat & Colors

Although colorpoint kittens are born nearly white, their points deepen in color as they age. The color within those points will depend on the parent’s base coat color. Ragdolls have six recognized point colors: seal, blue, chocolate, lilac, red, and cream. The Ragdoll patterns may partially shade these points, and within the points, the color may be solid, lynx, or particolored. Registered Siamese may only have solid seal, blue, chocolate, or lilac points. The coat types of the Siamese and the Ragdoll also differ in length and texture. Your blended kitten will have short Siamese-type hair because that’s dominant to long hair.

Grooming

Because Ragdoll Siamese kittens will inherit the Siamese short coat, they’ll be reasonably simple to groom. Unless your kitten has a health problem, you’ll have an easy time minimizing cat hair in the house. Your kitten will appreciate being curried to loosen shed hair and then brushed with a soft bristle brush. You may only need to brush her a few times per week outside of shedding season, but brushing every has other benefits. Brushing stimulates oil production in the hair follicles to keep your cat’s haircoat healthy and glowing. Like all cats, they’ll need their nails trimmed periodically. Brush their teeth with veterinary toothpaste to help prevent periodontal disease.

Living Requirements

Cats need to feel safe and secure in their homes. They’ll appreciate plenty of hiding places. Designate a quiet area for their food and water safely away from their litterbox. Everyday household items may pose a hazard to your curious companion. Even though your Ragdoll Siamese mix may not be an avid climber, double-check your counters for anything your cat could break or might hurt themselves.

Exercise

Lions and tigers hunt, and your Ragdoll Siamese has this in common with her wild relatives. They stalk, play with, and kill their prey instinctually. They keep their claws healthy, stretch their legs, and mark territory by scratching surfaces with their claws. Scratching is natural and healthy behavior but can be destructive in the house. Cats need outlets for these instinctive behaviors to keep their bodies strong and relieve boredom. Cat trees and sisal scratching posts are perfect alternatives to channel her scratching appropriately.

Your Siamese Ragdoll is safer being an indoor-only cat but still needs adequate exercise. Obesity causes many health problems in companion cats, so find toys for your buddy to “hunt” to keep her healthy and entertained. Tunnels enchant cats, and they will “catch and kill” small stuffed toys, especially those you dangle at the end of a stick. Ragdolls and Siamese like to fetch, so toss some toys for your kitten and reward her with praise and a small treat if she brings them to you. Both kittens and adult cats benefit from several short sessions a day of interactive activity.

Training

Your Ragdoll Siamese mix will likely be happy to learn tricks for treats. Gentle positive reinforcement is best for this mix because both parent breeds love people. The first thing your kitten needs to learn is to use the litter box. Use your cat’s instincts to guide positive behavior in your home. Cats should be handled gently and introduced to other family pets calmly to encourage positive interaction between pets and people.

Common Training For Cats

• Use the scratching post or cat tree only.
• Keep claws retracted when playing with people.
• Eliminate only in the litter box.
• Biting is for toys only.
• Games and tricks.
• Standard commands like sit, stay, roll over, jump, high-five, play a game, time to eat, come here, etc.
• Tolerating the grooming process.
• Familiarity with being bathed.
• Riding calmly in the car.

Health

Your Ragdoll Siamese may have a few genetic health issues, but there are a few things you’ll need to keep your eye on beyond the ordinary. Ragdolls have a few health issues, but you’ll need to watch for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and urinary tract issues from that side of the family. On the Siamese side, there are some additional health concerns. Consider these and consult your veterinarian if you notice anything unusual. Because the Ragdoll Siamese may look like a 100% Siamese cat, mention his heritage to your veterinarian.

Amyloidosis

Amyloid protein can accumulate in the internal organs, typically the liver. Amyloid buildup can cause organ failure. While there’s no cure for amyloidosis, diet, and medication can support the affected organ.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) decreases the heart’s efficiency by causing the heart’s walls to thicken. The cause of HCM remains inconclusive, but there appears to be a genetic component. Proper diagnosis and treatment can help, although the prognosis for this disease varies. Some cats with HCM show no symptoms, but others exhibit labored breathing and lethargy from congestive heart failure. If your cat is symptomatic, your vet may use an echocardiogram or genetic testing to confirm the presence of the condition and prescribe medication to help your cat live more comfortably. Asymptomatic cats may live for many years, but the disease is progressive.

Megaesophagus

Megaesophagus has no cure, and Siamese cats are susceptible to this rare congenital condition. The tube to the stomach (esophagus) acts as if it is stretched out. Food never makes it to the gut but instead is regurgitated. If your kitten regurgitates food frequently in a tube shape, consult your vet immediately. Feeding your cat as she “stands” or changing the consistency of her food may help, but the prognosis is poor for animals with this condition. They often develop aspiration pneumonia.

Cancer

Lymphoma, thymoma, and adenosarcoma strike Siamese cats more than many other breeds, but most cases can be treated. Consult your vet to see if regular blood screenings for lymphoma are appropriate for your Ragdoll Siamese mix. These cancers can cause the production of abnormal white blood cells or tumors that can constrict the intestines. See your veterinarian if you notice swollen lymph nodes, weight loss, labored breathing, or sudden vomiting and diarrhea as soon as possible.

Convergent Strabismus

While convergent strabismus isn’t a problem in Siamese cats, you may notice that your Ragdoll Siamese blend’s eyes appear crossed (strabismus). In Siamese cats, this doesn’t seem to decrease their vision.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)

Siamese cats have a higher genetic instance of Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). Progressive Retinal Atrophy causes blindness and may not strike until a cat is over a year old. If her parents have been genetically screened for this disease, you’ll know if she may be a carrier. It’s a recessive trait, so both parents would have to carry the gene for the disease to affect her, but she could pass it along if she has offspring.

Nutrition

While your Ragdoll Siamese is a kitten, feed her food specially designed for this life stage. Ragdolls are particularly slow to mature, so consult your veterinarian to see if she needs a kitten formula through her second year of life. Ragdolls are not physically mature until they are three years old, so be sure you feed them for slow, steady growth. This mix could be prone to excess weight gain. If your cat becomes heavy, you should limit or eliminate free feeding. This mixed breed may benefit from a slow feeder or puzzle feeder.

Any cat food you choose should be Association of American Feed Control Officers (AAFCO) certified as a complete and balanced diet for your feline. In the wild, animal meat comprises the most significant part of the feline diet. Cats evolved by consuming high amounts of protein, moderate amounts of fat, and a minimal amount of carbohydrates. Their prey provided adequate vitamins and minerals. Regardless of which type of food you choose, read the label. Look for meat, meat by-products, or seafood among the first few ingredients. A food with these ingredients listed first probably contains enough animal-source ingredients to supply essential amino acids and fatty acids without additional supplements. A low-magnesium wet food may be worth the extra expense for cats prone to urinary tract issues.

Breeders & Kitten Costs

Because your Ragdoll Siamese is a mixed breed, a kitten should cost much less than their purebred parent breeds. Purebred Siamese may be $600 and up, and for a Ragdoll, closer to $1,000. Because both Siamese and Ragdolls are in demand as purebreds, a blend is likely from an accidental litter. Be wary of anyone selling kittens who won’t answer your questions or seems to produce many litters yearly. The price of a Ragdoll Siamese mix will vary based on what the market in your area demands. Even though this blend may sound trendy, your kitten should cost less than a registered purebred of either breed.

Have the supplies you need for your new kitten before she arrives to help her transition more quickly to your home. Have her litter box waiting in an area separate from her feeding station. You may wish to have her a bed, a crate for transport, some toys, and grooming tools. If you don’t already have an established relationship with a local veterinarian, be ready to locate one for your kitten’s first vaccinations and a general wellness check. Expect to spend about $500 to $800 for your kitten and supplies if you’re starting from scratch.

Breeders may not advertise these mixed kittens, but you can check online for Siamese and Ragdoll breeders in your area, and they may be able to steer you in the right direction. Your veterinarian may know of available kittens and regularly check your local rescue and shelter pages.

Rescues & Shelters

You’ll find plenty of beautiful kittens when you visit a shelter. Finding a Persian Ragdoll mix specifically may be a challenge. Both parent breeds may cost as much as several hundred to over $2,000 for high-quality bloodlines, so breeders will try to limit accidental litters. Depending on your needs, you may find a kitten with the look and temperament to make you happy at the shelter. The Humane Society of the United States, your local shelter, and your veterinarian are reliable resources for finding reputable shelters and rescue groups.

Check your local shelters and rescue groups in late Spring and early Summer if you’re in the market for a kitten. They’ll likely have a vast array. If you are willing to adopt an older cat, you’ll be able to see the adult and interact with them one on one. When you meet an adult cat, what you see is what you get. Most kittens are playful but settle as they approach adulthood, so you may not get an accurate picture of their personality.

Final Thoughts

Both the Siamese and the Ragdoll are popular breeds, and both breeds make wonderful companions. If you have the opportunity to bring a Ragdoll Siamese blend into your home, keep a few things in mind to help her stay healthy for the long haul. Be sure to let your veterinarian know her heritage so the two of you can monitor her weight and breed-specific health conditions.

Laser pointers and interactive toys are great choices to provide your Ragdoll Siamese blend exercise and strengthen your bond. This slow-maturing, indoor-only mix will hopefully live as long as seventeen years. Remember that each cat is a unique individual, and being a mixed breed adds to the mystery. Your beautiful Ragdoll Siamese blend will keep you smiling with her cheerful, cuddly personality.