Male vs. Female Ragdoll Kittens
What are the differences: Male vs. Female Ragdoll Kitten?
Should I get a Male or Female Ragdoll kitten?
Which gender should I choose?
People who want to adopt a Ragdoll kitten frequently ask us whether they should adopt a male or a female kitten. Others have existing perspectives based on their own experiences that lead them to want a particular gender. The questions and opinions range among the following examples:
I have young children. Which ragdoll kitten gender will be better for them?
I already have { a dog / a cat / two dogs / etc. }. Which ragdoll kitten gender will adapt better to my other pets?
I heard that males are more lively, so I want a calm female.
I heard that males are more playful, so I want a male.
My friend has two males and they don’t get along well, so I want a new female to go with my male.
My last two cats were females and they were very cuddly, so I want another female.
Females have a better personality, so I want to get a female ragdoll kitten.
Google says that males are more affectionate, so I want a male.
What is your opinion about male vs. female kittens? Which is better?
… and many more similar questions and opinions.
These are good questions and we have lots of good answers!
Simple Answers about Personality
Believe it or not, gender is not a very significant predictor of personality. Gender also doesn’t much affect a new kitten’s ability to get along with another cat or dog.
The Ragdoll’s wonderful personality is strongly associated with the nature of the breed itself. Compared with other breeds, the ragdoll is known for its desire to be with people and for its laid-back nature.
Male vs. Female Ragdoll Kittens – Longer Answers
Much of the behavior of a ragdoll kitten is just normal behavior that is completely independent of gender.
Kitten behavior changes throughout the day. They have periods of play where they can be very lively. There are periods of sleep where they prefer to be more tranquil. These are not gender specific and they are not personality dependent – they are feline characteristics.
Just like people, ragdoll kitten behavior changes as they mature. Imagine the playfulness of children during their toddler years when they run everywhere. Their inquisitiveness is on display as they explore and learn and grow. During adolescence they will gain confidence and independence. Then as they reach young adulthood, ragdoll kittens (like people) will slow down while still enjoying periods of focused play. Both female and male kittens will behave similarly during these phases.
Once your kitten reaches 5 months old you will need to get him neutered or get her spayed. After alteration, the differences between the genders are even less apparent.
Ragdoll compatibility with other dogs and cats
Compatibility between a ragdoll kitten and other pets (cats, dogs, etc.) depends on a number of factors, some of which aren’t related to the new kitten.
You know your existing pets and their personality, so you will be the best judge of their willingness to accept a new ragdoll kitten into their lives. Slowly introducing the new kitten into your home will allow time for both your existing pets and your new ragdoll to become acquainted to new smells, new noises and new experiences. Increasing their interaction in an incremental way will help minimize threats to the territory of the existing pets and will help the new kitten learn that she shouldn’t feel threatened. Within a short time they will learn to tolerate each other and may even play together. We hear stories from our extended ragdoll family about how their sweet new kitten is cared for and protected by a nurturing dog. It is really quite amazing how well the ragdoll nature prepares them for coexistence with other pets.
Something Interesting to Consider
Many people swear by one gender or the other as being more affection or more playful than the other gender. But the truth is that it would be virtually impossible to run a scientific experiment to prove this. You would have to have the very same environment and circumstances (basically creating a cat equivalent Groundhog Day movie experience) to run test after test on a statistically significant number of (probably hundreds) male vs. female Ragdoll kittens. The tests would need to run for several years to measure personalities and behavior as they change from child-kittenhood to adult-cathood. Everything in the testing environment would have to be the same in order to isolate the influence of just one variable – the gender of the kitten.
We have found that for each person with a story about their own experience or that of someone they know, there is someone else with the opposite experience in terms of the genders and their nature, and they are all right! The great thing is that with the ragdoll breed, you pretty much can’t go wrong when the kittens come from a healthy cattery with great opportunities to socialize the kittens when they are young.
So what should I do about it? Should I pick a male or a female?
The best thing to do is to talk with us and help us understand what personality, color, pattern and gender you are looking for. We can then recommend which of our available kittens are more like the personality you want. The reality is that they all have great personalities because they are socialized by us and our three lively young children who love to pack them around and engage them in play.
We have cute fuzzy furballs who love to curl up in your lap, purr, have their chin scratched, and go to sleep. Both males and females.
We have excited athletic pouncers who are fascinated with a ribbon wand and love to jump several feet in the air trying to catch the ribbon. Both males and females.
We have bold courageous kittens who love to explore, and others who would are more timid and uncertain when presented with a new experience. Both males and females.
When it comes right down to the point of the question, let us help you find a sweet kitten who will melt your heart with the color, pattern, personality and gender that you want. Get ready to adopt the most awesome kitten there is!
