The Ragdoll cat is an affectionate breed with dog like devotion to their owners and a tendency to follow them around, they are also known for being a breed that has a calm, chilled personality, making them great companions for the elderly, as well as for families with young children, but are Ragdoll cats good with dogs?
Yes, Ragdoll cats are good with dog’s due to their lack of aggression towards other animals, making them a great breed when you have other pets. Ragdoll cats are very social and love lots of attention and affection whether that’s from humans or the family dog.
So now we know that Ragdoll cats do get along with dog’s, let’s dig into some more important information that will give your favourite pets the very best chance of getting along.
Best Dog Breeds that Get Along with Ragdoll Cats
If properly introduced your pet dog and cat are most likely to cohabit fine with each other. Though certain dog breeds behaviours will affect how they get along with cats, but dog breeds known for having low energy and easy-going personalities typically mesh the best with cats. Below are some great choices of dogs that will get along with your Ragdoll cat.
Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers are one of the best dogs for cats, they are both kind and empathetic.
Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever is a lover not a fighter, a gentle giant who will enjoy befriending your cat.
Beagle
The Beagle seems to enjoy feline company. There is a good chance they will view your Ragdoll as a sibling, or fellow member of the group as Beagles have a pack mentality.
Shetland Sheepdog
The Shetland Sheepdog is known to be cat friendly. They have mild nature, are highly trainable and have a welcoming attitude. This breed tends to bark when they are bored, so a kitty sibling can help keep them company, and give you a bit of peace and quiet too.
Newfoundland
The Newfoundland is easy going and friendly with other pets.
Cocker Spaniel
Although many Spaniels were bred to hunt, it was for birds, not mammals. They have a good willing temperament and are friendly to felines in the family.
How to Introduce a Ragdoll Cat to a Dog or a Puppy
For every pet, the introduction process is essential for their long-term happiness and safety. Getting your pets to get along is very important for their well-being as well as the safety of everyone else. Sometimes it can be hard for two new companions to get acquainted with one another at first, but there are some general rules of thumb you can follow that we will cover now.
Scent Acclimation
One of the initial things you can do is let your pets get used to one another’s scents without being in physical contact with each other, you could achieve this by sharing their bedding or feeding each of them either side of a door, other methods include sharing toys and swapping the rooms they spend most time in. These are just a few ideas, but anything you can think of where they will meet each other’s scents without being psychically together will work.
Initial Meetings
Once the pets are used to each other’s scents alternate between putting one of them in a protected area such as a carrier, or cage etc, and letting the other wonder freely around.
Supervised Physical Contact
This is best done only if your dog is trained and takes commands. Keep your dog on a leash, rewarding both pets often for positive behaviours. Do not tolerate any aggression
Sharing Your Home
After enough meetings with your dog on a leash to assure you that both animals are safe and calm together, you can let both pets roam free in your house. At first you can give them their own rooms so when you’re not there to monitor you can make sure they will be safe.
Here are some more general tip to consider…
Introducing Cat to Dog Tips
Move at a speed that is safe for both pets. It could take a few days / months or longer.
Reward both pets making sure to give love and praise equally.
Remember that each pet may respond at different paces so be patient
Consider dominance, some dog breeds may naturally be dominant, and cats can be territorial so over time they should come to some agreement.
Is the Ragdoll the Cat Breed for You?
Though we have confirmed that Ragdoll cats are good with dogs, this is just one of many questions that needs answering before choosing if a Ragdoll cat is the right pet for you and your family, so let’s go over some more personality traits of the Ragdoll cat to help you make an informed decision.
Personality of the Ragdoll cat
- They have a docile and placid temperament and are affectionate.
- They love people and will show it by sitting on your lap and following you around, room to room, often whether you want them to or not.
- They are a very relaxed breed so generally don’t look for trouble.
- They grow quite large and do require regular grooming as they have luscious coats. Though their lack of undercoat means they shed less than other breeds with longer coats.
- Due to their chilled out and calm personality it makes them the perfect breed for the elderly and families with young children.
Conclusion
The Ragdoll is best described as affectionate, intelligent, relaxed in temperament, gentle, and an easy-to-handle lap cat, who get on well with adults, children, and other pets including dogs. They can also be trained to walk on leashes, fetch toys and have a playful nature that lasts into their senior years.